• Menu
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary navigation
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Before Header

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • TravelingDad

Traveling Mom

Traveling tips, deals, info from moms and families

  • COVID-19
  • Road Trips
    • ROAD TRIPS ACROSS THE USA
    • ROAD TRIP PLANNER
    • ILLINOIS ROAD TRIPS
    • TEXAS ROAD TRIPS
    • GEORGIA ROAD TRIPS
    • CALIFORNIA ROAD TRIPS
    • NORTHEAST ROAD TRIPS
    • MIDWEST ROAD TRIPS
  • Destinations
    • Northeast
    • Southeast
    • East Coast
    • Midwest
    • South
    • Southwest
    • Northwest
    • West
    • US Cities
      • New York City
      • Chicago
      • Los Angeles
      • Orlando
      • San Diego
      • San Francisco
  • Disney
    • Disneyland
    • Walt Disney World
    • Disney Worldwide
    • Disney Cruise
    • Discount Disney World Tickets
  • Outdoors
    • Skiing
    • National Parks
    • RV/Camping
    • Beaches
  • Travel Resources
    • Babies and Toddlers
    • Free Things to Do
    • Packing
    • Discount Attractions Tickets
    • Discount Disney World Ticket
    • Discount Universal Tickets
    • Grandparents
    • Cruising
    • TravelingDad
  • Search
  • COVID-19
  • Road Trips
    • Road Trips Across the USA
    • Road Trip Planner
    • Illinois Road Trips
    • Texas Road Trips
    • Georgia Road Trips
    • California Road Trips
    • Northeast Road Trips
    • Midwest Road Trips
  • US National Parks
  • RV and Camping
  • Beaches
  • Disney
    • Disneyland
    • Walt Disney World
    • Disney Worldwide
    • Disney Cruise
    • Discount Disney World Tickets
  • Cruises
  • Skiing
  • Free Things to Do
  • Traveling with Babies and Toddlers
  • Traveling Grandparents
  • TravelingDad
  • US Destinations
    • Northeast
    • Southeast
    • East Coast
    • Midwest
    • South
    • Southwest
    • Northwest
    • West
  • US Cities
    • NYC
    • Chicago
    • Los Angeles
    • Orlando
    • San Diego
    • San Francisco
  • International
  • Travel Resources
    • Book A Trip
    • Discount Attractions Tickets
    • Discount Disney World Tickets
    • Discount Universal Tickets
    • Packing
  • Contact Us
  • About Us

Mobile Menu

  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
You are here: Home / Family Vacation Ideas / Family Vacation Ideas in the Northeast US States / The Amish Experience: Bet You Didn’t Know These Facts
Photo credit: Marina K. Villatoro /Gringa TravelingMom

The Amish Experience: Bet You Didn’t Know These Facts

September 4, 2014 //  by Marina Kuperman Villatoro//  Leave a Comment

FacebookTweetPinLinkedIn
Photo credit: Marina K. Villatoro /Gringa TravelingMom
Photo credit: Marina K. Villatoro /Gringa TravelingMom
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you click through and buy, TravelingMom may receive a small commission at no additional charge to you.

Here’s a weird confession! I have had a desire to visit the home of the Amish people, Lancaster County, for years. Yeah, I know that’s odd. Instead of dreaming about a vacation on a tropical beach all I can think of is to check out farmlands of mid-America.

TMOM disclosure graphicBut if you think about it, you will realize that it is a unique trip. Plus after living in Central America for years my boys have been to tons of beaches, but we don’t get much travel to the countryside with pristine farmlands and cultures such as the Amish.

This year I was lucky enough to travel to Pennsylvania with my extended family. It was a family reunion where my parents, my brother and his girlfriend, the kids and I all ended up learning something new.

Photo credit: Marina K. Villatoro /Gringa TravelingMom
Photo credit: Marina K. Villatoro /Gringa TravelingMom

Fun Facts About the Amish Way of Life

What we learned on our visit to Lancaster:

The Amish don’t have electricity, computers or phones in their house. However, they do keep phones and have electricity in their offices and on corners that serve several families at once.

  • If a man has a beard it means he is married.
  • The length of the beard reflects the length of the marriage.
  • They only go to school through 8th grade.
  • Their kids go to one-room school houses with one teacher. Older kids help the younger kids.
  • The Amish pay into Social Security, but they will ever take a payout. They don’t believe in relying on the government.
  • The Amish are extremely humble. They don’t want to ever stand out as more important as the other, because their religion specifies that every person is the same. And this includes people that are not part of their religion.
  • Amish don’t have churches, instead their parishes have around 25 families in each. And every other Sunday a household will host the services.
  • The minister isn’t chosen by anyone. When it’s time to choose a new minister a piece of paper will be put in the bible and whoever gets that bible will be minister for life.
  • A minister is almost like the president who sets and makes all the rules for that parish. They carry the most responsibility. This is super important for the Amish, especially if they have a modern minister which helps them become more part of the society.
  • When an Amish boy or girl turns 18 years old, the family gives them money and allows them be part of our world for two to four years. During this time they are allowed to drive cars, have computers, dress normally and do everything we all do, even partying. This tradition is kind of like ‘sowing your oats’ before committing to a simple, strict and religious life. Only 9% of Amish leave after this experience.
  • Amish are usually some of the first people on scenes of natural disasters to help. They believe everyone should help everyone else, but they never want to be mentioned or given any glory for this.
  • The Amish don’t use bikes. They have scooters that have wheels like bicycles. The reason why, bikes can take their kids pretty far. However, a scooter not so much.

The Amish Village Grounds Tour

Recommendation – When you first arrive do the short tour of the Amish House before heading out on to the main grounds. It’s only 15 minutes long, included in your entrance fee, and a good way to get the background about these humble people. It is easy for the youngest of kids to get into the tour. My four year old was really enjoying.

amish village 3
Photo credit: Marina K. Villatoro /Gringa TravelingMom

The Amish House and Village- Fun Facts

  • The Kitchen – This is the most important room in the house especially during the winter. It is warm and they don’t have central heat.
  • The Amish Bedroom – It is usually shared by many family members. The Amish are known to have anywhere between 5 – 13 kids.
  • The Amish Wardrobe – a) They don’t use buttons, b) nothing shiny is allowed and C) only certain colors.
  • The One-Room Schoolhouse – All the kids of an area that is walking distance from the house are taught in it.
  • Wooden Covered Bridge – There is a good reason why they cover their bridges. A wooden bridge that isn’t covered will last around 15 years while a covered one up to 125 years.
  • Tools – The tools that they use for their farming today look like they are from 500 years ago.

Information for Amish Village and Bus Backroads Tour

Address: 199 Hartman Bridge Road, Ronks, PA 17572
Phone: 717-687-8511
Hours: Monday-Saturday: 9am-5pm; Sunday: 10am-5pm
Prices:
Adults: $9.00
Children 5-12: $5.50
Children 4 & younger: FREE
(access to the entire Amish Village property is included in the cost of the tour).

Bus Backroads Tour

Amish Village Tour: (Includes guided house tour and self guided farm Tour)
Adults $9.00
Child (5-12) $5.50
Child (0-4) Free

Bus Tour Only: (Includes 90 minute countryside bus tour)
Adults $20.00
Child (0-12) $13.00

Premium Package Tour: (Includes both guided house, self guided farm tour and 90 min countryside bus tour)
Adults $26.00
Child (0-12) $16.00

FacebookTweetPinLinkedIn

Category: Family Vacation Ideas in the Northeast US StatesTag: outdoors, Pennsylvania

You May Also Like

  • Using a Family Vacation Photo for Your Christmas Card
  • little girl in tutu wearing beads and a tiara
    How To Experience a Disney Vacation at Home
Previous Post: « Discover Nebraska through National Landmarks
Next Post: 4 Things to Do in Cooperstown, New York with Kids »

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

  • Contact Us
  • About Us
  • Ask Us!
  • Privacy & Terms
  • Manage Push Notifications

Copyright © 2021 Traveling Mom ยท All Rights Reserved