Amish Country

Mom and Dad took us on vacation to visit Amish country the middle of June. We stayed at a WONDERFUL bed and breakfast in Paradise, PA in Lancaster County, Beilers Bed and Breakfast. I would highly recommend this to anyone visiting Amish Country. A couple with two school age children run it. They are wonderful. They were so kind to Emma letting them go into the part that is their home and play with their kids. Emma was still talking about Mrs. Barbie after we left. The Breakfasts that she prepares each morning are DELICIOUS. I am missing the baked oatmeal and fresh yogurt from a local Amish farm!! We started off our trip with a stop in Hershey, PA where we visited Hershey World. We took the tour to see how chocolate is made and then we went and got a Masters in Chocolate Tatsting (ha). I would not advise doing that....it is a waste of money. I would like to go back and visit the Hershey Museum...it looks like it would be worth the money. The tour is free and is really informative so I would definitely do that again but I would not pay to do anything else. It was still fun and we can saywe've been there". The following day we went to a few places in Amish Country, took a buggy ride and then saw a musical at the Sight and Sound Theatre. The next day we went all through Amish country visited stores, fed goats, rode on a train and got to see Thomas! Emma thinks she rode on Thomas but we didn't want to wait in that line so she just rode the train. She had a blast! That evening we had the privelege of eating with an Amish Family in their home. The food was SO fresh and so delicious. I actually enjoed english peas. YUM! There was a TON of food and every bit of it was wonderful...even the pickled beets. Saturday, we left to come home. On our way home we stopped in Gettysburg, Dad and Josh went to the Gettysburg Museum and Battlefield while Mom, Emma and I went to the outlets. We all enjoyed our time in Gettysburg! :)

At Hershey University

Emma is EXCITED about eating the chocolate! (even thought she doesn't look that way) A blurry picture of our "instructor" aka actor

Our chocolates placed in the appropriate boxes...yes we actually paid (or mom and dad did) $10 a person for 5 pieces of chocolate and a small bottle of water per person. Just think the amount of chocolate we could have bought for that amount of money.

These are the ways you identify the way chocolate taste. For example, the darker the chocolate, the more "woodsy" and "earthy" the flavor.

Emma was so excited about eating the chocolate that she even ate some of the reeses wrapper...she wouldn't wait for me to help her...surprise, surprise.

We rode a real Horse and Buggy...the crammed 7 adults and 1 child into the buggy. Lets just say our knees were knockin. Emma was VERY excited to ride in the horse and buggy. We went through an Amish farm and learned a little more about their beliefs.

Emma riding.

We went and had fresh made ice cream from fresh milk. So rich and so delicious! At that farm there was a bull dog and a peacock. The bulldog followed the peacock EVERYWHERE. It was really cute.

Baby Goat

Emma feeding it (yes she wanted to wear dresses alot)

She LOVED feeding the goats. It was too sweet.

Emma on the train.

Hangin out the window!

You have to ride the train "in style"!

"Classy Ladies" read books on trains.

and they wave at people as they pass

and they talk to their neighbors

AND the look forward to standing by Thomas The Train! :)

Thank you mom and dad for a wonderful vacation! :)