11 Things to Do in Lititz PA, Historic Smithton Inn
BOOK NOW
11 Things to Do in Lititz PA, Historic Smithton Inn

11 Things to Do in Lititz PA

October 28, 2021

flag Lititz PA was voted “Coolest Small Town in America” in 2013 from Budget Travel Magazine and for good reason!  Pronounced "Lit-its", Lititz is a really charming, walkable, small town in northern Lancaster County.  Located in “Amish Country”, members of the Amish community live throughout the region.  Founded in early 1756 by German-Moravian settlers, Lititz is now home to people of all religious affiliation.

The streets of Lititz are filled with historic buildings which contribute to the town's charm.  The architecture of these buildings is unique in Lancaster County, and you’ll enjoy strolling the streets to take it all in.  Along Main Street you'll find Linden Hall, a private all-girls school, located next to the historic Moravian Church right on Main Street.  Next, on the opposite side of the street, you'll find the Johannes Mueller House which is home to the Lititz Historical Foundation and Museum.

Our list of things to do while visiting Lititz, Pennsylvania includes everything from hikes & shopping to tours & restaurants.

 

This blog is all about 11 Things to do in Lititz PA

 

Shop ‘til You Drop!

shop Lititz is truly a great “shopping-walking” town, so wear some comfortable shoes & stroll the streets Main Street (772) and Broad Street (501) for some of the best non-chain shopping you’ll find in Lancaster County. Here are some of our favorite shops:

Hike / Bike the Warwick to Ephrata Rail Trail (WERT)

11 Things to Do in Lititz PA, Historic Smithton Inn
Photo by Nancy Reber

The railroad was one of the key factors driving wealth and prosperity in Northern Lancaster County.  The rail trail that connects downtown Lititz to downtown Ephrata has transformed abandoned rail lines into a beloved trail that connects these two towns.  The WERT Trail (stands for Warwick to Ephrata Rail Trail) is a combination of paved and gravel trail.  The WERT trail is well maintained and relatively flat.  It's 8 miles long and there are places you can rent bikes at both ends of the trail!  There are lots of places to stop along the way including  Reiff's farmers market, the Nibble McGibbles Gnome Village and the bridge over the Conestoga River.

 

 

Eat at Terrific Local Restaurants

pub Lititz is home to a number of fantastic locally owned eateries! From fancy-schmancy to casual, there’s a restaurant for every time of day and every mood.  Here are a handful of our favorites:

RELATED:  9 Best Lititz Restaurants

Tour the Julius Sturgis Pretzel Bakery

pretzel bakery Julius Sturgis Pretzel Bakery |219 E Main St, Lititz

At the Julius Sturgis Pretzel Bakery you'll discover one of the oldest pretzel factories in the country!  You’ll learn the history of pretzels and the different types (hard vs. soft) that are native to the region.  Then you'll have the opportunity to see how their traditional hard pretzels are made, and you’ll even have the opportunity to twist one for yourself for instance!  After you’ve soaked in all your new knowledge you can stroll through their gift shop to pick up a few mementos from your tour.

 

Plan Your Visit Around a Special Event

Lititz is well known for organizing fantastic community events all year-round! Many visitors plan their entire getaway to Lancaster County based on these events… especially the Fire & Ice Festival and the Lititz Craft Show, two massive events with a HUGE following.  One thing’s for sure, all these events are well organized and well attended, so for a guaranteed fun time, plan your visit when one of these events is scheduled.

 

Save Room for Dessert

cookies Hershey PA is known as the ‘Sweetest Place on Earth”, and we think Lititz is a close second!  Lititz home to Wilbur Chocolate and a number of other "sweet" shops where you can buy fantastic fresh-baked cookies, cupcakes, gourmet desserts and candy for instance.

 

Visit a Distillery

rye Stoll & Wolfe Distillery | 35 N Cedar St Rear, Lititz

Lititz is home to the Stoll & Wolfe Distillery, just a block off the main drag in downtown Lititz, PA.  At Stoll & Wolfe, they distill Whiskey using the recipe and methods passed down by legendary PA Master Distiller Dick Stoll.  They produce award winning Rye and Bourbon Whiskeys, plus some delicious Vodkas and Gins.  Stop in for a tasting flight or a cocktail to discover 250 years of local Pennsylvania distilling history.

 

RELATED:  Ephrata Mash Tour

 

Visit the Lititz Historical Foundation and Museum

historic building Johannes Mueller House | 137 - 145 E. Main Street, Lititz

The Lititz Historical Foundation and Museum are set in the Johannes Mueller House, located at 137 – 145 E. Main Street in Lititz.   The facility is run by costumed volunteers who provide 45-minute guided tours to visitors.  Gift Shop and Museum hours of operation are from 11 a.m.- 5 p.m., Monday-Saturday beginning Memorial Day through the last Saturday in October.  They’re open from 11 a.m.- 5 p.m. every Friday and Saturday in May, November and December.  The entire facility closes for the season the weekend after Christmas.

 

Stroll Through Lititz Spring Park

ducks Lititz Spring Park | 24 N Broad St, Lititz

Lititz Spring Park is a real treat to explore!  The Park is a private park, owned by the Lititz Moravian Congregation and maintained by the Churches of Lititz, for public use. It houses a Welcome Center in what had been the Lititz Train Station.  Lititz Spring Park boasts a number of walking paths, an incredible duck stream, a charming Gazebo and an amphitheater where community concerts are held.  For more information:  https://www.lititzspringspark.org/ .

 

 

Keep an Eye out for Rock Stars!

11 Things to Do in Lititz PA, Historic Smithton Inn
Taylor Swift and Crew Pose for LNP Photographer during visit to Rock Lititz

Rock stars like Taylor Swift, Usher and Willie Nelson all turn to Rock Lititz, an amazing entertainment company that's a one-stop-shop for live experiences like stadium rock concerts.  Grab a drink at Per Diem, the Hotel Rock Lititz Restaurant, and fingers crossed for you'll spot one of your favorite performers!

 

Check out the PA Wolf Sanctuary (a short drive from downtown)

11 Things to Do in Lititz PA, Historic Smithton Inn
Photo by Shane Clark

PA Wolf Sanctuary | 465 Speedwell Forge Rd, Lititz

The PA Wolf Sanctuary is one of the most popular and unique tourist attractions in Lancaster County.  Book your tickets ahead of time and tour the wonderful enclosures which are home to rescued wolfs (they do NOT breed new wolfs here!).  There are number of tour options including special events like full moon bonfire events to choose from.  Check out their website for schedules, pricing and more.  If you fall in love with this wonderful sanctuary, you can support their efforts by buying some great gifts in their shop or you can make a tax deductible donation.

 

 

 

Spend the night at a Bed and Breakfast Ephrata PA

bed with flowers and chocolate Historic Smithton Inn Bed and Breakfast:  900 W. Main Street, Ephrata

For a getaway consider staying in the next town over from Lititz, in Ephrata PA.  You should book your overnight stay at the Historic Smithton Inn Bed and Breakfast. Our fully restored boutique Lancaster Inn is a destination in its own right, and is one of the oldest buildings in Ephrata.

Book one of our Fireplace Rooms and enjoy a cozy getaway with a fireplace and a private bath. Put on on one of our high-quality robes before nestling up by the fire (you can even add a bottle of wine & a fresh cheese platter!). In the morning, you'll love the delicious homemade breakfasts we prepare for you each day! A few of our specialties include Crunchy Baked French Toast with Berries or Margarita Breakfast Pizza with Roasted Potatoes. We predict it will be your favorite part of the day!

BOOK YOUR STAY today and have the perfect Ephrata PA long weekend getaway at the Historic Smithton Inn!

People Also Ask:

Q:  What is Lititz Known For?

A:  (1) Lititz hosted the first ever 4th of July festivities held in the US back in 1813. (2)  Lititz was voted the Coolest Small Town in American in 2013.

Q:  Is Lititz PA in Amish Country?

A:  Yes, Lititz is located in Northern Lancaster County, also known as "Amish Country"

Q:  Where did Lititz get its name?

A:  Members of the Moravian Church founded Lititz in 1756 and named the town after a castle in Bohemia near the village of Kunvald. The roots of the Moravian Brethren's Church date back to the ancient Bohemian Brethren's Church founded in 1457 in Kunvald.

We hope you enjoyed our blog about Things to do in Lititz PA.  We have some other related blog posts we think you might like as well:

 

Like what you see? Save any of these pins (or possibly all of them) to your travel planning board(s).  This will give you an easy way to find your way back here!  You can check out our other blog posts  for more ideas and pins!

11 Things to Do in Lititz PA, Historic Smithton Inn 11 Things to Do in Lititz PA, Historic Smithton Inn 11 Things to Do in Lititz PA, Historic Smithton Inn 11 Things to Do in Lititz PA, Historic Smithton Inn