Affordable Outdoor Winter Activities in Lancaster County

There are plenty of things to do in Lancaster that are not only affordable but also enjoyable! Get outside this winter and enjoy all that the season has to offer with Christmas light displays, farm tours, and area hikes. Check out these great affordable outdoor winter activities in Lancaster that won’t break your budget.

Gaze at Christmas Lights

There are plenty of homes in the area with amazing Christmas light displays. Bundle up the family and create your very own driving tour of the lights for nothing more than a few gallons of gas. The Messick’s Farm and Tractor Light Show is a favorite stop in the area for those who love farm equipment. Go on a Christmas light hunt one winter night to view and appreciate the lights in your neighborhood as well for a very affordable outdoor activity. Find more light shows here.

Down on The Farm

Learn about how vital the Amish culture is to our area as well as their unique farm practices with a farm tour this winter. The Amish Farm is open every day from 10am-4pm with the exception of Christmas and New Years Day. Farm only tickets are available for $7.95 for adults, $5.95 for children, and FREE for those littlest farmers up through age 4. You’ll get to tour the 15-acre farm and see how all of the animals survive at cold Northeast winter. The farm has resident artisans that you’ll either see in action or as vendors. Take all day to explore the farm and view the unique hand-built structures that are still sound today.

Take A Stroll in The Park

Located on Harrisburg Pike, Long’s Park is known for their wide-open grass spaces as well as a fantastic playground that will ignite the imagination in the oldest kids. Long’s Park features over 80 acres of space including a 3-acre pond that would be beautiful to enjoy on a cold winter day. Bundle up and get some fresh air with the family for a few hours at the park to lift your spirits despite any cold winter weather.

Ride in A Buggy

Amish country is prevalent around the Lancaster area making for some great information and insight into how the Amish live. Check out this buggy ride located on the outskirts of the city that features different options for touring the Amish country and learning more about daily life. You can enjoy the “Cookie Run” which is a short buggy ride through an Amish farm with a stop to purchase homemade cookies if you would like. The jaunt is $10 for adults and $6 for kids 12 years old and younger.

Take A Hike

The Turkey Hill Trail maintained by the Lancaster County Conservancy runs along Susquehanna River just west of Lancaster. The trail itself features an up close and personal view of native animals and plants that enjoy the bounty of the area. Turkey Hill Trail forms a loop paired with the Enola low-grade trail making it an enjoyable hike. Make sure to wear the proper shoes as some spots of the path are steep and not recommended for every hiker.

There are plenty of budget-friendly things to do in Lancaster during the winter season: from the many places to explore the outdoors to discovering the Christmas lights in your area and touring an Amish farm. Enjoy the beauty of the winter season by choosing to spend time with those you love outdoors. Be sure to check out all of the fun and affordable outdoor winter activities in Lancaster that are coincidentally easy on your wallet.

This is a guest post written by Sam Lambert, an outdoor living expert. Sam loves cultivating his own fruit and vegetables in his backyard. You might have seen Sam riding past you on a local dirt biking trail or climbing a nearby rock wall.

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