PA Vaca - Day 5

This was supposed to be our Hershey Park day, but it was a rainy type of day and we didn't want to get caught in rain or have to leave the park early due to the weather so we decided to play tourists for the day!  Something I swore I'd never do, but our kids technically (well, Sis at least since Ra was born in Lancaster) are tourists!

We started out our day at my favorite place in downtown Lancaster.  Central Market is my favorite building and I loved going there for fresh produce, meats, etc.  It's the country's oldest continuously operating market.  Lancaster had numerous markets back in the day, but this one is the only one still operating.

Our kids got their first close encounter with Amish kids while at Market.  Out of respect for Amish beliefs, I didn't take any pictures but our kids saw first hand how well behaved they were and got to hear PA Dutch spoken by Amish.  They were amazed!

We splurged on milk from Maplehofe's, raw milk from Green Circle Organics, cherries from Meck's, and drinks from Mean Cup.  Sadly we got there too late for any long johns from Achenbach's at Stoltzfus Bakery, but our kids experienced Achenbach's delicious long johns a few years back when we stayed near Leola.  

We took the kids out to the square to show them a few buildings.  This clock at Penn's Square was made by Hamilton Watch which is where my Pappy Stauffer worked his entire life.  

We also showed them the Griest Building which was the tallest building in Lancaster until the Marriott took over the Watt & Shand building across the square and built it up taller than the Griest Building.

The old Watt & Shand building, now the Marriott and Lancaster Convention Center.  Glad to see the building still standing and being used.  Watt & Shand was the Macy's of Lancaster and I remember shopping there with my Nanny Stauffer both downtown and at Park City.

After our tour of downtown Lancaster, we took them to Roots for a completely different type of farmers market experience.  Mom and I use to go to Roots all the time when I was a kid.  We'd meet up with my grandparents there on Tuesdays.  Once mom moved to NC and we moved back to Lancaster, my Pappy Stauffer and I would meet there during the summers.  Ra would join us once he was born.  I prefer Central Market to Roots, but both markets carry similar items and very different items.  My love for Roots is tied more to the personal memories I have there than anything else.  

I took this picture for my dad who loves scrapple

A very different look to Roots, but you can still find good, local produce at great prices.

We let the kids get 6 different types of whoopie pies and the results were (without any bribing from me) that they they liked mom's whoopie pies best!

I took this picture for my friend Cara who always says Jersey has the best produce.  I disagree on corn and tomatoes but will give her the blueberries!

We took the kids into the auction house to show them some of the animals.  The many birds, bunnies, goats, ducks, sheep, etc. were an attraction for our kids.  Sis tried hard to convince us to buy her a bunny!  

After our visit to Roots, we headed to Lititz to get some Wilbur Chocolate.  When I was home in February I brought Wilbur Buds home and the kids went nuts for them.  

 Here is the Wilbur Chocolate Co in Lititz, Pa

Ra tried to get us to buy him this!

The NS siding where they deliver cars to Wilbur

The old train station now Welcome Center at the Lititz Springs Park

There is always something fun about watching the ducks at LSP.

LSP also has a caboose behind the station.  Andy and the kids were in there checking it out for what felt like forever!  They really enjoyed seeing a caboose restored to it's glory days.

I love walking through Lititz.  I use to coach lax camps in the summer at Linden Hall (oldest boarding/day school for girls - founded in 1746).  It's such a beautiful campus.  We'd eat pizza from Roma or stop into the Herb Shop (which is no longer there) or brave the crowds for the Lititz Arts & Crafts Show.  Lititz is such an adorable little town and where some of my favorite people live.

We enjoyed our window shopping along the streets of Lititz.

Homes and buildings are so adorable - and sooo Lancaster!

Lititz is home to a lot of VERY old homes too.

I just loved these window boxes with the old wooden shutters...

We decided to stop in the Julius Sturgis Pretzel Bakery.  PA Dutch country is known for it's German pretzel bakeries.  Julius Sturgis was the first commercial pretzel bakery and was started in Lititz.  

Getting ready to learn how to make pretzels

The explanation of the meaning for the twist in the pretzels.  Riley learned this at Grace in Utah.

First you need to roll your dough as long as the wooden dowel.

Then you make it smile.

Then you cross the ends.

Lastly, you bring the ends down and now you have a pretzel!

The bakery still makes their soft pretzels by hand in the bakery, but all others are made in a factory near Shillington.  The kids had a fantastic time learning to how make pretzels and how they are now made.

Andy had a desire for Mosby's Pub's wings.  We use to go there all the time with friends when we were dating.  Andy likes Mt. Joy - It's where his grandparents lived and where his dad and Aunt Shelby grew up.  We've actually gone to Mosby's with his dad & grandfather before Charlie passed.  It was where we had lunch with 4 generations of Chunko men.  Mosby's has been voted best wings in Lancaster.

Andy's plate of wings with extra suicide sauce - his all time favorite!

Riley was challenged to eat one whole wing dipped in sauce for $15.  Check out his expression!

The video of Ra eating the suicide wing

My rich Little Man!

What a busy day playing tourist!  At least we didn't go ride a buggy or hit up the Amish Farm and House, right?  We stayed away from Rt 30 East - never went further than Leola or Lititz!  The county's west side has always been the best side!  ;)