Six Reasons We Love Lancaster, Pennsylvania

I love traveling, especially when I can make a day trip of it. Being outside of Washington, DC it's easy to get to a lot of different locations that have various things to offer. Have you been to Lancaster? It's only about two hours from me and parts of the drive are serene. Driving in a comfortable vehicle makes it better too! I drove there in and American built Toyota Highlander. With 25 highway miles, review mirrors with an expansive view, and a double moonroof, the drive to Lancaster was easy and fun. 

Here are six reasons we love Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

1. Lancaster is home to the oldest continuously operating Farmer's Market in the country. You'll find everything from freshly made pastas from Buona Tavola, to local vegetables, cheese, and meats, and lots of Amish favorites like, shoofly pie and whoppie pies of all flavors and sizes. Being in a spacious vehicle made it easy to stock up on my favorites at the market.

2. The arts are thriving here. Lancaster has a historic gallery row located on the first and second blocks of North Prince Street. On the first Friday of each month head to the city to discover innovative exhibitions, performances and mingle with locals while enjoying the arts scene. There is even a hotel, Lancaster Arts Hotel, dedicated to sharing art with its guests and patrons. The hotel also takes part in First Fridays.

3. There are lots of cute cafes in Lancaster. If you're looking for a busy spot to grab coffee, or get work done, I recommend Prince Street Cafe. If you're looking for a more quaint spot that locals frequent, try Square One or Chestnut Hill Cafe.

4. It might be surprising, but Lancaster has great restaurants with all kinds of international cuisine. A few of my favorite restaurants include John J. Jeffries Restaurant, which serves local fare; Gibraltar, which is known for its seafood dishes, and Cocina Mexicana, which serves Mexican fare, although I suggest the Peruvian Lomo Saltado dish.

5. The Fulton Theatre, aka Fulton Opera House, has been in the community since 1852 and prides itself on being the nation's oldest continuously operating theatre. It's located right near Central Market on Prince Street.

6. There's a big craft beer scene in Lancaster, and its surrounding areas. A few of the breweries include Iron Hill Brewing, Rumspringa Brewing Company,  Appalachian Brewing Company of Lititz, and Lancaster Brewing Company, to name a few.

Where are you headed this summer? Share your photos with us, and if you're driving an American made Toyota, don't forget to share it with us using the #LetsGoPlaces and #LOVEListed hashtags! We'd love to share your American travel with our fans.

Learn more about the American Built Toyota Highlander here.