Hershey Park Gets National Acclaim!

According to "FamilyFun" magazine's April 2013 edition, Hershey Park is among the Top 10 amusement parks in the United States!  As if you couldn't guess, various Disney parks accounted for 6 of the Top 10 spots... so if you don't count Disney, Hershey Park is in the Top 4!  Having been to this delightful park every year since we arrived in Lancaster County ten years ago, we can attest to it's high ranking.  A combination of heart-pounding rides, wonderful music shows, and a fantastic water park make for a great day of fun for children of all ages.

Hershey Park is less than 30 miles from Lancaster, so it's an easy drive from the Apple Bin Inn.  We're also within easy driving distance to other awesome attractions and activities like Gettysburg, Valley Forge, Longwood Gardens, and King of Prussia Mall.  So make your vacation plans soon to beautiful Lancaster County ~ one of America's most popular destinations ~ and do it all from the Apple Bin Inn.  We look forward to seeing you soon!

 

 

Gettysburg Commemorates the 150th Anniversary of America's Greatest Battle

 

This summer marks the 150th Anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg, the pivotal battle of the Civil War. This turning point in our nation's greatest struggle took place July 1-3, 1863. Abraham Lincoln's immortal Gettysburg Address was delivered on November 19, 1863 to commemorate a portion of the battlefield as a national cemetary, to honor those who "gave the last full measure of devotion". The commemoration of the battle will involve many events in Gettysburg between June 28 and July 7, 2013, plus additional events November 17-24. To see a full list of events, click here for the official Gettysburg Commemoration website.  If you've never visited Gettysburg, you are in for an awe-inspiring experience... and if you've visited the battlefield before, this will be the perfect time to see it again in a whole new light.

So where will you stay?  Finding a room around Gettysburg during each year's July 4th anniversary weekend is always a challenge, but this year it will be almost impossible.  But don't worry... you can still experience the 150th Commemoration, and also enjoy the many sights and attractions around Pennsylvania Dutch Country... just plan your stay at the Apple Bin Inn, in the heart of Lancaster County!  We're located within an easy 75 minute drive from Gettysburg, and within minutes of all Lancaster County activities. We will be welcoming many Civil War buffs who are here for the Gettysburg festivities, and we even have a special section filled with Civil War books in our extensive library.   So come spend a few days at the Apple Bin Inn, and enjoy all that south central Pennsylvania has to offer!

Finally... "Noah" Returns to Lancaster County!

Okay, we're not talking about the REAL Noah... that would really bring the paparazzi to Lancaster!  We're talking about the live show at Sight & Sound's Millennium Theatre.  Since the last time "Noah" played in Lancaster, in 2004, they have produced many excellent shows, including the stories of Ruth, Daniel, Joseph, Adam & Eve, and Jonah.  But by most accounts, their production of "Noah" has been their best show ever, and we're really excited to have it back in town. 



If you've never been to the Millennium Theatre, the best way to describe it is "Bible Meets Broadway!"  Of course the acting and singing are wonderful, but what really steals the show are the set design and the animals.  Since the stage is 180 degrees wide and 40 feet tall, the audience truly feels immersed in the show... and when the ark is completed and filled with animals (both live and animatronic), it's quite literally a jaw-dropping experience.
 
The show runs from March 9th through November 2nd, with most dates having two or three shows. Many days and times are selling out fast, so make your plans to see "Noah" soon! 



And remember... the Apple Bin Inn is just minutes away from the theater, so why not add a stay at our delightful B&B when you come to beautiful Lancaster County!  We'll help make your visit to Pennsylvania Dutch Country truly memorable!  We look forward to seeing you soon!!

Shupp's Grove is a Picker's Paradise!

Among the many wonderful antique shops and markets in Adamstown is our favorite... Shupp's Grove.  Being outdoors among the trees and sun, while picking through table after table of interesting finds, is such a great way to spend an afternoon.  Open Saturday & Sunday, from April through October, Shupp's Grove highlights many specialty weekends to attract pickers from across America (click here for their 2012 schedule).  A tradition since 1962 (yes 50 years!), there's always something great to be found, and at very reasonable prices too!  There's even a nice snack shop, called Friar Tuck's Deli, where they serve homemade soups, sandwiches, and pies.  So make sure you leave time among your myriad of Adamstown antique stops for a few hours at this Lancaster County landmark.  See you there!

"Jonah" Was Amazing!

We previously talked about the new Sight & Sound show, "Jonah", in our January 20th blog post. The show premiered on March 10th, and we attended the show yesterday... and it was incredible! The set designs, costumes, music, and actors were all amazing. And the special effects were breathtaking!! We won't reveal the details of how they brought Jonah's famous undersea experience to life, but suffice it to say, it was worth the price of admission. This show definitely rivals their production of "Noah", which was also awesome, and which we hope returns to Lancaster County in the near future. But for all of 2012, and this year only, "Jonah" commands the Sight & Sound stage. Be sure to order your tickets early, because shows are already selling out for prime summer show times.

And don't forget, the Apple Bin Inn is within 10 minutes of the theatre. So book your room now, and come enjoy "Jonah" and all the other sights and attractions that Lancaster County has to offer!  Looking forward to seeing you soon!

"Jonah" Is Coming To Sight & Sound's Millennium Theatre!

One of Lancaster County's most popular attractions is the world renowned "Sight & Sound" Millennium Theatre, located just 10 minutes from the Apple Bin Inn.  We like to call it "Bible Meets Broadway", as the stories of the Bible come alive with original musical scores, inspiring actors, amazing sets and special effects, and even live animals... all presented on a breathtaking 180-degree stage that puts the audience in the heart of the action.  This year's show promises to be one of their best ever, as the story of "Jonah" is brought to life.  It's sure to be an amazing experience, and it's only playing for one season!  Shows take place from March 10 through December 29, 2012.  Full details are available on the Sight & Sound website, including videos, photos, show times, and online ticket sales.  Shows are selling out fast, so don't delay! 

And while you're making your show plans, why not plan your stay at the Apple Bin Inn.  With 5 delightful guest rooms, including suites and a private cottage, plus delicious country breakfasts and the warmest hospitality, we promise to add lasting memories of your visit to beautiful Lancaster County.  We look forward to seeing you soon!

Making Christmas Cookies With Our Guests!

The holidays are such a special time for our family, and also for our B&B guests!  This week we had a wonderful family from Australia staying with us.  They had asked if there was some holiday tradition that they could share with us during their stay, and we thought that making our annual Christmas cookies would be the perfect fun activity for us all.  Jamie prepared a large batch of cookie dough the night before, so we were all set for some baking magic when the Kelly family arrived.  After Sarah, Emma, Austin, and Lizzie donned their aprons, everyone got their hands covered with flour, as we rolled out the dough and began using our myriad of cookie cutters.  Cookie sheets rotated into and out of the ovens, as the pile of baked cookies grew.  Next we moved into the dining room, where colored icing and sprinkles had been prepared for decorating.  The artistry of children is always an amazing sight, and this evening was no exception.  Their mom, Jo, even added her touch of whimsy to the festivities. Of course the best part came at the end, as cookies were gobbled up by everybody.  Finally, it was time for the Kellys to retire to the Braeburn Cottage, where we had a 4-foot Christmas tree waiting for them to decorate with some of our traditional family ornaments.  We hope that we gave this delightful family some lasting holiday memories of their time at the Apple Bin Inn... we'll certainly remember our time with them fondly.  Happy holidays to our family, friends, and guests, wherever in the world they may be!

Holiday Shows are Awesome in Lancaster County!

With the holidays upon us, there's no better place to experience live holiday shows than Lancaster County!  Here's the lowdown on some of our favorite theaters:

"Sight & Sound" presents its annual production of "Miracle of Christmas" at the Millennium Theatre.  Shows continue through December 31st, on their amazing 180 degree stage.  Real camels, horses, and donkeys help the performers bring Bethlehem to life, in one of history's most important moments.  And if you arrive at the theater early, you can even interact with the cast members and animals!

The popular American Music Theatre presents its "Winter Wonderland" Christmas Show, with performances through Decvember 30th.  This original show, with its outdoor snowy theme, is sure to delight you with wonderful yuletide songs, dances, comedy, and a visit from Santa too!

The Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre's musical version of "Miracle on 34th Street" plays through December 23rd.  Come see and hear how a little old man with a white beard turns Macy's and Gimbel's into true Santa believers!

And if one dinner theater isn't enough for you, try the Rainbow Dinner Theatre's production of "Home for the Holidays".  This "all comedy... all the time" theater brings you a hilarious story about a young couple and their visiting parents, and how Christmas and Chanukah combine in one New York apartment.  Shows continue through December 30th.

When you're in Lancaster for the shows, be sure to stay a couple of nights at the Apple Bin Inn.  Our December rates in the main house are just $99 on weekdays and $129 on weekends, plus tax, with our scrumptious full country breakfasts included!  So give us a call, or visit our website for more information.

And don't forget, our Gift Certificates are perfect for family, friends, business associates, and clergy... and they never expire! 

October Means Halloween!

The second half of October brings one thing to everyone's mind... Halloween!  And Lancaster County boasts some fantastic activities for this all-American holiday.  Two of the best, and scariest, places to go are Jason's Woods and Field of Screams.  They each have multiple attractions that are sure to be hair-raising experiences for the bravest among you!  But don't worry... for the younger or less brave (like us!) there are many other wonderful Halloween activities in Lancaster County.  These include Dutch Wonderland's "Happy Hauntings", Red Rose Segway Tours "Ghosts and Graveyard Tour", and "Ghost Tours of Lancaster County".  So come stay with us at the Apple Bin Inn during your Halloween season... we promise to be a safe haven from the ghouls and goblins out there!

Landis Valley Harvest Days are Coming!

Landis Valley Museum will host its 52nd Annual Harvest Days Festival over Columbus Day weekend, October 8 & 9. If you don't yet know about Landis Valley, it's the country's largest Pennsylvania Dutch living history farm & village, interpreting PA German heritage from 1740 to 1940, including tours and traditional craft demonstrations. Their Harvest Days Festival celebrates traditional fall harvest events, and includes over 80 demonstrators who make the village come to life with activities to captivate every member of the family! And if you can't make it in October, don't worry... Landis Valley is a wonderful place to visit no matter when your travels bring you to Lancaster!  And to make your visit to Lancaster County complete, why not plan a stay at the Apple Bin Inn. We promise to make your trip to Pennsylvania Dutch Country unforgettable!

Annual "Snitz Fest" at the 1719 Hans Herr House in Willow Street

 

Come celebrate the very beginnings of colonial Lancaster County three centuries ago!  The 1719 Hans Herr House, right here in our little town of Willow Street, is the oldest home in Lancaster County, and one of the oldest Mennonite meeting houses in the western hemisphere.  On Saturday, October 1st they will hold their annual Pennsylvania German festival called "Snitz Fest" (snitz are dried apple slices used in baking pies and tarts).  This fun day features great food, costumed interpreters, hands-on activities and demonstrations of colonial-era arts, crafts and farm life, including threshing, quilting, loom weaving, heckling flax, churning butter, cooking over a fire, and making shingles, shoes, candles and corn husk dolls.  Enjoy a bit of local charm and history by stepping back in time in our little corner of Lancaster County!

  

33rd Annual "Long's Park Art & Craft Festival"

As Labor Day weekend approaches, it's time to make plans to attend the 33rd Annual Art & Craft Festival at Long's Park.  Held September 2 thru 5, rain or shine, this show is ranked among the top 10 in the U.S., and will feature exhibitors from all over the country.  Over 1000 artisans submitted their work for review by a panel of 8 national jurors, who then selected the best 200 for the festival (including about 50 who will make their first appearance at this show).  Exhibitors will display every imaginable type of work, including paintings, photography, woodwork, glass, ceramics, metals, clothing, leather, and many others.  Also included at the festival will be a wonderful assortment of music, bistro dining, and local wine and beer selections.  If you love all things "arts & crafts", it's an event not to be missed!

Long's Park is an beautiful 80-acre city park, with a 2-acre lake and tree-lined picturesque walkways. So come join the 20,000 art lovers expected to attend this 4-day event.  Once you've been to this festival, you'll want to make it an annual tradition for your visit to Lancaster County. 

Rooms here at the Apple Bin Inn are filling up fast for the holiday weekend, so give us a call soon!

Great Ethnic Restaurants Abound in Lancaster County!

Sure, Lancaster County is famous for wonderful "comfort food" restaurants like Good 'n Plenty, Plain & Fancy, and Shady Maple.  But many visitors aren't aware of the assortment of great ethnic restaurants in our beautiful corner of Pennsylvania. 

One of our favorites, and less than a mile from the Apple Bin Inn, is Wasabi Japanese Restaurant.  It's not a tepanyaki style (where they cook at your table and throw shrimp into their hats).  Rather it's a truly authentic Japanese eatery, with some of the best food this side of Tokyo (where I traveled about 30 times during my previous corporate life).  Their sushi bar is not large, but the selection and quality are excellent, and it's fun to watch the sushi chefs create their masterpieces.  Plus they've recently added some scrumptious Thai dishes to their menu.  So come give Wasabi a try.  You'll be very glad you did! 

And speaking of Thai food, another great place is Lemon Grass Thai Restaurant, right across the street from Rockvale Square outlets on Rt. 30.  Their delicious Thai cuisine, including many delightful vegetarian dishes, will keep you smiling all through dinner.

If Mexican food is your passion, then you should definitely plan a dinner at El Serrano.  Not only will you feel like you're in the heart of Mexico, but they also offer an array of Peruvian dishes that are quite unique.  There's also a fantastic tapas restaurant, called Culturas, on the property.  If you've never tried tapas (meaning "small plate"), then your taste buds are in for a real treat, as you and your friends sample a variety of mouth-watering Latin American foods!

If you have a taste for Indian cuisine, there's no better place than Taj Mahal.  Their authentic Indian fare, with unmistakable aromas and flavors, will awaken your senses and take you to the other side of the world.  And don't worry... even if you don't like your food too spicy, they will season each order to your individual taste.  We have frequent guests at the Apple Bin Inn who consider Taj Mahal a required stop during every visit to Lancaster County.

We'll introduce you to more of Lancaster's amazing variety of fine restaurants in upcoming blog posts, but for now... Let's eat!

Update ~ Independence Day Concert at Long's Park...

A follow-up to our previous post...  We attended the July 3rd concert at Long's Park, and all I can say is "Wow!" Not only was the U.S. Army Band as wonderful as ever, but the cannons seemed louder than last year (if that's possible), and the fireworks show lasted 40 minutes, with a 5 minute finale that was the brightest I've ever seen! The last time I was this awed by a fireworks display (and I'm really dating myself now) was in New York Harbor when the tall ships came in for the 1976 Bicentennial.

The estimated attendance at this concert was 35,000 people... reportedly the largest non-athletic event in Pennsylvania each year!  So if you missed this Long's Park concert, you should definitely put it on your calendar for next year!  And don't forget, these free concerts happen every Sunday at 7:30 PM, June through August, with a wide variety of musical performances.  The Apple Bin Inn is just 15 minutes from the concert amphitheater, so come spend the weekend with us, and enjoy all that Lancaster County has to offer :-)

Free Summer Concerts at Long's Park!

Tonight we attended a free outdoor concert at Long's Park in Lancaster. This was the fourth in a series of 13 free summer concerts that takes place every Sunday night at 7:30 PM during June, July, and August each year.  The featured stars tonight were the Grascals,  the award-winning country bluegrass group who took home three 2011 Bluegrass Music Awards including Instrumental Group of the Year. They have recently played with Vince Gill at the Grand Ole Opry, as well as Dolly Parton, Waylon Jennings, and Hank Williams Jr. The group consists of a 3-time mandolin player of the year, a 4-time banjo player of the year, as well as legendary fiddle and guitar players. Their names aren't well known outside country music circles, but the music they performed tonight made it clear that we were listening to country musicians among the best in the world.

The season's most anticipated event will occur next Sunday. The concert on July 3rd will be the third Lancaster performance by the U.S. Army's "Band of the Nation's Capital". This concert draws about 35,000 spectators annually! The evening always concludes with Tchaikovsky's stirring "1812 Overture", with about 20 real Civil War cannons exploding on cue during the last movement. And if that wasn't enough to awaken your senses, there's a huge fireworks display after the concert.  It's truly an event not to be missed, and we will certainly be there again this year!

To see details of all of this summer's concerts, simply click this link to Long's Park. We would be pleased to have you stay with us here at the Apple Bin Inn as you enjoy the many exciting activities throughout Lancaster County this summer. We look forward to hearing from you soon!

The "Turkey Hill Experience"... What a Fun Place!

Today we had the privilege of enjoying a preview tour of the "Turkey Hill Experience" that will open on June 4th. Turkey Hill Dairy was named for the hill overlooking the Susquehanna River where it was first located, and has been producing milk, ice cream, and iced tea products in Lancaster County since 1931. This new attraction highlights both the past and the present, in a 26,000 sq. ft. renovated factory that is now a modern museum. There are nine exhibit areas that allow visitors to see how the dairy works, how ice cream is made, how different teas are selected from around the world, and the history of the Turkey Hill Dairy. This is all accomplished through fascinating historical displays and interactive exhibits that kids of all ages will enjoy. You can even create your own ice cream flavor, packaging design, and TV commercial, which can be emailed to your home to impress your family and friends! There's also a delightful cafe that offers many flavors of Turkey Hill ice cream, iced tea, and lemonade. They're located just 15 minutes west of Lancaster, right off Rt. 30 in Columbia. We recommend that you add this to your itinerary of fun things to do in Lancaster County. And we hope to see you soon at the Apple Bin Inn!

Flowers are Blooming Like Crazy!



It's late Spring, the weather is finally getting consistently warm, and the flowers are obviously happy about it!  Annuals and perennials alike are showing their glorious colors and shapes, and the effect they have on everyone's spirit is quite amazing!  After the long winter, and a cold damp early Spring, it's so invigorating to see the splashes of color popping all over our property.  A freshly mowed lawn adds to the serenity, and the frolicking bunnies and squirrels make everything just about perfect.  We hope everyone is enjoying this rejuvenating time of year... and if you'd like to see all of these wondrous colors up close, just come to the Apple Bin Inn for a relaxing getaway in beautiful Lancaster County!  See you soon!!

By the way... if anyone can tell us the name of the unknown variety at the bottom of this post, please add a comment and let us know ~ Thanks!




Pink Geranium

 

Double Knockout Roses



Picasso Ivy Geranium




Purple Lanai

 


Nasturtium - the edible flower

  

White Peony (smells fantastic!)



Rhododendron


 



Who knows what this is???