Philadelphia, Longwood & Lancaster

Destination 01

Philadelphia

8 places

Two nights for Christmas Village, skating and Old City in the snow.

• Photo: Christmas Village · CC BY-SA 4.0

  Christmas Village in Philadelphia

  German-style Christmas market in LOVE Park and around City Hall, with wooden stalls, ornaments, bratwurst and Glühwein.

  Tip Weekday afternoons are calmer; stay until dark for the City Hall tree.

  ShopCenter City$1.5 hrLate afternoon

• Dilworth Park

  Plaza on the west side of City Hall with an outdoor ice rink and a lit Wintergarden in the holiday season.

  Tip Skate rentals are available on site; evening sessions under City Hall tower are the best.

  DoCenter City$60 minAfter dark
• Photo: Wobbanight · CC0

  Franklin Square

  One of William Penn's original squares, with a carousel, mini golf and a holiday light show set to music in December.

  Tip The light show runs several times each evening; catch one before dinner in Chinatown next door.

  SeeOld CityFree45 minEarly evening
• Photo: Sailko · CC BY-SA 3.0

  Elfreth's Alley

  Narrow lane of 18th-century brick houses, often called the oldest continuously inhabited residential street in the US.

  Tip Residents decorate their doors for the season; go at dusk and keep voices down, people live here.

  SeeOld CityFree20 minDusk
• Photo: lukemcurley · CC BY-SA 3.0

  Independence Hall

  Where the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were signed, with the Liberty Bell across the street.

  Tip Entry is by free timed ticket; reserve online in advance or arrive early for same-day tickets.

  SeeOld CityFree1.5 hrMorning
• Photo: James Cridland · CC BY 2.0

  Reading Terminal Market

  Indoor market under an old train shed since 1893, with roast pork sandwiches, Amish bakeries and cheesesteaks.

  Tip Get the roast pork with greens and provolone at DiNic's, then a doughnut from Beiler's.

  EatCenter City$75 minWeekday lunch
• Photo: IBLB · CC BY-SA 4.0

  McGillin's Olde Ale House

  Philadelphia's oldest continuously operating tavern, open since 1860 on a narrow Center City lane.

  Tip December evenings get packed; come in the late afternoon for a table.

  DrinkCenter City$60 minLate afternoon

• The Ritz-Carlton, Philadelphia

  Hotel in a domed former bank building on Broad Street, a block south of City Hall and Christmas Village.

  StayCenter City$$$$Overnight

Destination 02

Kennett Square

7 places

One night for Longwood's lights and a Brandywine Valley day.

• Photo: PLBechly · CC BY-SA 4.0

  Longwood Gardens

  Former du Pont estate garden; for A Longwood Christmas it lights its outdoor trees and fills the conservatory with decorated firs.

  Tip Book an entry time just before sunset to see the conservatory in daylight and the outdoor lights after dark.

  OutdoorsKennett Square$$$3 hrSunset
• Photo: Derek Ramsey · CC BY-SA 2.5

  Winterthur

  Henry Francis du Pont's country estate and museum of American decorative arts, dressed for the Yuletide tour in winter.

  Tip Reserve a Yuletide tour time; the house is seen by guided tour only.

  SeeBrandywine Valley$$$2.5 hrMorning
• Photo: Daderot · CC0

  Brandywine Museum of Art

  Converted mill on Brandywine Creek with three generations of Wyeth paintings and a large model railroad at Christmas.

  Tip The holiday model trains and handmade critter ornaments draw crowds; go on a weekday.

  SeeChadds Ford$$2 hrWeekday afternoon
• Photo: Heather · CC BY 2.0

  Chaddsford Winery

  Tasting room in a restored barn on US 1, one of the oldest and best-known wineries in Pennsylvania.

  DrinkChadds Ford$$60 minAfternoon

• Hank's Place

  Small roadside diner at the Chadds Ford crossroads, a longtime breakfast stop near the Brandywine Museum.

  Tip Breakfast is the draw; expect a line on weekend mornings.

  EatChadds Ford$60 minBreakfast

• Talula's Table

  Market and cafe on State Street by day; at night a single farm table seats one party for a long tasting dinner.

  Tip The farm table books up months ahead; the daytime market is walk-in.

  EatKennett Square$$$$3 hrDinner

• Hotel du Pont

  Grand 1913 hotel in downtown Wilmington, built by the du Pont company, about 25 minutes from Longwood.

  StayWilmington$$$Overnight

Destination 03

Lancaster

8 places

Two nights for Central Market, steam trains and Lititz.

• Photo: Jared Kofsky/PlaceNJ.com · CC BY-SA 3.0

  Lancaster Central Market

  Brick market hall that calls itself the oldest continuously operating public farmers market in the US, with Amish and Mennonite stands.

  Tip Open Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays only; come early for whoopie pies and shoofly pie.

  ShopDowntown$60 minSaturday morning
• Photo: Dough4872 · Public domain

  Strasburg Rail Road

  America's oldest operating short-line railroad, running steam trains through Amish farmland, with Santa trains in December.

  Tip Book Santa train seats early; a seat in the open-platform car is cold but has the best view.

  DoStrasburg$$1.5 hrWeekend morning
• Photo: Dough4872 · Public domain

  Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania

  State railroad museum across the road from the Strasburg Rail Road, with a hall full of restored locomotives.

  Tip Pair it with a Strasburg train ride on the same morning.

  SeeStrasburg$$1.5 hrMorning
• Photo: Doug Kerr · CC BY-SA 2.0

  Julius Sturgis Pretzel Bakery

  Lititz bakery opened in 1861, the first commercial pretzel bakery in the US, with short tours and a hand-twisting lesson.

  Tip Take the tour to twist your own pretzel, then buy hard pretzels in the shop.

  DoLititz$45 minMorning

• Lititz Moravian Church

  1787 church on Lititz's Church Square, the heart of the town's Moravian settlement, with candlelight services at Christmas.

  Tip Walk Church Square and the Moravian graveyard behind it, then browse East Main Street.

  SeeLititzFree30 minAfternoon

• Kitchen Kettle Village

  Cluster of shops in Intercourse selling jams, relishes, quilts and crafts, in the heart of Amish country.

  Tip Drive the back roads around Intercourse and Bird-in-Hand on the way; watch for buggies.

  ShopIntercourse$75 minAfternoon
• Photo: FossilDS · CC0

  Shady Maple Smorgasbord

  Huge Pennsylvania Dutch buffet in East Earl with roast turkey, chicken pot pie, shoofly pie and dozens of other dishes.

  Tip Closed on Sundays; come hungry and skip lunch.

  EatEast Earl$$1.5 hrDinner
• Photo: Smallbones · CC0

  Lititz Springs Inn

  Historic inn on the main square of Lititz, long known as the General Sutter Inn, with the Bulls Head pub downstairs.

  StayLititz$$Overnight