Topic Wiki

Shuls:
Kesher Israel (great minyan with breakfast after shachris)
Chabad
Degel Israel

Hotels Near Shuls:
IHG Only one in walking distance from KI, 36min
Days Inn 17min from Chabad
ABVI 25min from Chabad
SPG, None are walking distance:
Sheraton 7k/C&P (3 suites, corner rooms are very large, kids aren't allowed in the club lounge)

FP 4k
FP 3k/C&P


Kosher Food:
Central PA's Kosher Mart
The shul has a limited number of items for sale including packaged food items and dairy including chalav yisrael milk, yogurt and ice cream. Kosher meat and chicken are available at:
  • Weiss Markets, 1700A Fruitville Pike, Lancaster (717) 397-8127
  • Wegman’s, 2000 Crossings Blvd, Lancaster (off Harrisburg Pike)
Chalav Yisrael (Kreider Farms) milk is available at:
  • Giant Food Store (at Stone Mill Plaza), 1360 Columbia Ave., Lancaster
  • Weiss Markets (Kendig Square) 2600 Willow Street Pike, Willow St, PA

Attractions - Harrisburg: - Check Groupon for Deals
http://www.hersheypark.com/
https://www.hersheys.com/chocolateworld/en_us.html
https://www.laketobias.com/
http://indianechocaverns.com/
http://www.crayolaexperience.com/easton


Attractions - Lancaster: Check Groupon for Deals
Dutch Wonderland
Cherry Crest Farm
Crayola Factory
Kreider Farm Tour
Turkey Hill Factory

Go 'n Bananas https://gonbananas.com/
Verdant View Farm Tours
« Last edited by RSM on August 19, 2023, 10:07:44 PM »

Author Topic: Lancaster, PA (And Hershey Park) Master Thread  (Read 196217 times)

Offline cozmohoot

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Re: Lancaster, PA (And Hershey Park) Master Thread
« Reply #220 on: August 24, 2017, 09:45:49 PM »
Any Hilton with a suite? I wanna use some points

Offline Cw3323

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Re: Lancaster, PA (And Hershey Park) Master Thread
« Reply #221 on: August 25, 2017, 11:29:47 AM »
Any Hilton with a suite? I wanna use some points
Double tree is very nice and it has a small indoor water park. great for kids

Offline good sam

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Re: Lancaster, PA (And Hershey Park) Master Thread
« Reply #222 on: August 25, 2017, 01:48:59 PM »
Planning an itinerary for Harrisburg next week, going with kids aged 1-8. Staying at Sheraton.

Considering how many here visit Lancaster and Harrisburg, the wiki is severely deficient. Here are some options we're considering:

1. Lake Tobias https://www.laketobias.com/
2. Indian Echo Caverns http://indianechocaverns.com/
3. Crayola Experience http://www.crayolaexperience.com/easton
I've been to Crayola, wasn't crazy about it but apparently the kids love it. It's about midway between Monsey and Harrisburg, so a good way to break up the trip. There's also a Groupon available for $14 (website rate is $18, on location is $20). https://www.groupon.com/deals/gl-crayola-experience-easton-pa
4. Hershey's Chocolate World https://www.hersheys.com/chocolateworld/en_us.html

Anyone been to any of those places? Any reviews?
What are the minyan options? Kesher Israel has a 6:45. Does Chabad have minyanim during the week? Can i expect pick-up minyanim at the Sheraton?

Any info would be appreciated. I'll update wiki with the above attractions.
If you don't care why would you comment?
HT: DMYD

Offline saw50st8

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Re: Lancaster, PA (And Hershey Park) Master Thread
« Reply #223 on: August 25, 2017, 02:40:47 PM »
Planning an itinerary for Harrisburg next week, going with kids aged 1-8. Staying at Sheraton.

Considering how many here visit Lancaster and Harrisburg, the wiki is severely deficient. Here are some options we're considering:

1. Lake Tobias https://www.laketobias.com/
2. Indian Echo Caverns http://indianechocaverns.com/
3. Crayola Experience http://www.crayolaexperience.com/easton
I've been to Crayola, wasn't crazy about it but apparently the kids love it. It's about midway between Monsey and Harrisburg, so a good way to break up the trip. There's also a Groupon available for $14 (website rate is $18, on location is $20). https://www.groupon.com/deals/gl-crayola-experience-easton-pa
4. Hershey's Chocolate World https://www.hersheys.com/chocolateworld/en_us.html

Anyone been to any of those places? Any reviews?
What are the minyan options? Kesher Israel has a 6:45. Does Chabad have minyanim during the week? Can i expect pick-up minyanim at the Sheraton?

Any info would be appreciated. I'll update wiki with the above attractions.


Indian Echo Caverns is really fun! I personally hated the Turkey Hill Experience. It's pretty useless. Go to a grocery store and get a few tubs of ice cream instead.

There's a Harley Davidson Factory in York but kids need to be 12+ to attend tours.

On the way from NJ, we stopped at Hopewell Furnace (https://www.nps.gov/hofu/index.htm) which was amazing! Great demonstrations on iron smithing.

Crayola factory is fun if your kids like arts and crafts kind of stuff.

Kilgore Falls is about an hour south of Lancaster and it was a really fun hike to a waterfall. We went there on our way to Maryland.


Offline good sam

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Re: Lancaster, PA (And Hershey Park) Master Thread
« Reply #224 on: August 25, 2017, 02:54:28 PM »
On the way from NJ, we stopped at Hopewell Furnace (https://www.nps.gov/hofu/index.htm) which was amazing! Great demonstrations on iron smithing.
What aged kids would you say would enjoy?
If you don't care why would you comment?
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Offline Live N Learn

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Re: Lancaster, PA (And Hershey Park) Master Thread
« Reply #225 on: August 26, 2017, 04:09:21 PM »
Double tree is very nice and it has a small indoor water park. great for kids

+1, I was there once on Sukkos, and they had Kosher breakfast.
".איזהו חכם, הלומד מכל אדם"

Offline Yammer

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Re: Lancaster, PA (And Hershey Park) Master Thread
« Reply #226 on: August 26, 2017, 10:54:35 PM »
Planning an itinerary for Harrisburg next week, going with kids aged 1-8. Staying at Sheraton.

Considering how many here visit Lancaster and Harrisburg, the wiki is severely deficient. Here are some options we're considering:

1. Lake Tobias https://www.laketobias.com/
2. Indian Echo Caverns http://indianechocaverns.com/
3. Crayola Experience http://www.crayolaexperience.com/easton
I've been to Crayola, wasn't crazy about it but apparently the kids love it. It's about midway between Monsey and Harrisburg, so a good way to break up the trip. There's also a Groupon available for $14 (website rate is $18, on location is $20). https://www.groupon.com/deals/gl-crayola-experience-easton-pa
4. Hershey's Chocolate World https://www.hersheys.com/chocolateworld/en_us.html

Anyone been to any of those places? Any reviews?
What are the minyan options? Kesher Israel has a 6:45. Does Chabad have minyanim during the week? Can i expect pick-up minyanim at the Sheraton?

Any info would be appreciated. I'll update wiki with the above attractions.
Did the Susquehanna glass factory although I hear that the tours are closed indefinitely.

Offline Eliyohu

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Re: Lancaster, PA (And Hershey Park) Master Thread
« Reply #227 on: August 26, 2017, 10:57:51 PM »


Planning an itinerary for Harrisburg next week, going with kids aged 1-8. Staying at Sheraton.

Considering how many here visit Lancaster and Harrisburg, the wiki is severely deficient. Here are some options we're considering:

1. Lake Tobias https://www.laketobias.com/
2. Indian Echo Caverns http://indianechocaverns.com/
3. Crayola Experience http://www.crayolaexperience.com/easton
I've been to Crayola, wasn't crazy about it but apparently the kids love it. It's about midway between Monsey and Harrisburg, so a good way to break up the trip. There's also a Groupon available for $14 (website rate is $18, on location is $20). https://www.groupon.com/deals/gl-crayola-experience-easton-pa
4. Hershey's Chocolate World https://www.hersheys.com/chocolateworld/en_us.html

Anyone been to any of those places? Any reviews?
What are the minyan options? Kesher Israel has a 6:45. Does Chabad have minyanim during the week? Can i expect pick-up minyanim at the Sheraton?

Any info would be appreciated. I'll update wiki with the above attractions.

Went to Lake Tobias about 10 years ago, I have no clue if it's the same now but was very enjoyable for kids and adults alike. Don't miss the petting zoo or "safari".
Iirc there's stuff to do on city island (?) As well.

Offline Yammer

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Re: Lancaster, PA (And Hershey Park) Master Thread
« Reply #228 on: August 26, 2017, 11:02:14 PM »



Went to Lake Tobias about 10 years ago, I have no clue if it's the same now but was very enjoyable for kids and adults alike. Don't miss the petting zoo or "safari".
Iirc there's stuff to do on city island (?) As well.

Safari in quotations?

Offline Eliyohu

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Re: Lancaster, PA (And Hershey Park) Master Thread
« Reply #229 on: August 26, 2017, 11:26:01 PM »

Safari in quotations?
Iirc the most dangerous animal that was roaming free there were emu maybe ostrichs, Iirc the ostrichs we're even caged. The "dangerous" animals are all caged. You're traveling in a school bus that the top was cut off, it's lots of fun and exciting to feed and touch the moose, deer (cow?) etc or if they try walking on to the bus (there's no door) it gets even more exciting. However it's not a safari in the classic sense.. nonetheless (or even more so) it's something that is enjoyable and will illict shrieks of joy and terror ;)

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Re: Lancaster, PA (And Hershey Park) Master Thread
« Reply #230 on: August 26, 2017, 11:34:17 PM »
Iirc the most dangerous animal that was roaming free there were emu maybe ostrichs, Iirc the ostrichs we're even caged. The "dangerous" animals are all caged. You're traveling in a school bus that the top was cut off, it's lots of fun and exciting to feed and touch the moose, deer (cow?) etc or if they try walking on to the bus (there's no door) it gets even more exciting. However it's not a safari in the classic sense.. nonetheless (or even more so) it's something that is enjoyable and will illict shrieks of joy and terror ;)
Thanks, was told by a local that it's a great destination...

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Re: Lancaster, PA (And Hershey Park) Master Thread
« Reply #231 on: August 27, 2017, 10:37:04 PM »
I know there's a Kosher Mart in Hershey with hot food, but is the Kosher mart in Lancaster open? And do they have hot food there?

Anywhere else in or near Lancaster to buy kosher food (pizza, etc.) without driving close to an hour to Hershey?

Offline BZ12

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Re: Lancaster, PA (And Hershey Park) Master Thread
« Reply #232 on: August 28, 2017, 12:25:38 AM »
Anyone have info if there's being a minyan in Lancaster this week Thurs 31st and Friday 1st? I have been unsuccessfully trying to reach out to the Lancaster shul for more info.
Degel Israel
1120 Columbia Avenue 
Lancaster, PA 17603 USA

Offline Ephraimh

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Re: Lancaster, PA (And Hershey Park) Master Thread
« Reply #233 on: August 28, 2017, 08:39:17 AM »
Anyone have info if there's being a minyan in Lancaster this week Thurs 31st and Friday 1st? I have been unsuccessfully trying to reach out to the Lancaster shul for more info.
Degel Israel
1120 Columbia Avenue 
Lancaster, PA 17603 USA
They usually struggle end of the week, especially that late in the season, I doubt it'll be minyan on Friday, 10-20% for Thursday

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Re: Lancaster, PA (And Hershey Park) Master Thread
« Reply #234 on: August 28, 2017, 02:23:12 PM »
Anyone have info if there's being a minyan in Lancaster this week Thurs 31st and Friday 1st? I have been unsuccessfully trying to reach out to the Lancaster shul for more info.
Degel Israel
1120 Columbia Avenue 
Lancaster, PA 17603 USA
Officially there are minyanim 7:30 and 8:30 for Shachris.
7:15 mincha
7:45 Maariv
Don't know if there'll actually be minyanim. Today and yesterday they had multiple minyanim it was packed.

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Re: Lancaster, PA (And Hershey Park) Master Thread
« Reply #235 on: August 28, 2017, 02:28:02 PM »
Officially there are minyanim 7:30 and 8:30 for Shachris.
7:15 mincha
7:45 Maariv
Don't know if there'll actually be minyanim. Today and yesterday they had multiple minyanim it was packed.
They can have 4 Miyanim per day during the week but on Friday it dies down and there's no minyan   

Offline BZ12

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Re: Lancaster, PA (And Hershey Park) Master Thread
« Reply #236 on: August 28, 2017, 03:21:58 PM »
Thanks.

Which of the two is more recommended for children ages 10 and below, "Cherry Crest Farms" or "Lake Tobias"?

Both seem like a fun experience

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Re: Lancaster, PA (And Hershey Park) Master Thread
« Reply #237 on: August 28, 2017, 04:51:12 PM »
Thanks.

Which of the two is more recommended for children ages 10 and below, "Cherry Crest Farms" or "Lake Tobias"?

Both seem like a fun experience
I've never been to Lake Tobias, but I've been to Cherry Crest several times, it's a great place to spend the day with children, pretty big variety of things to do.

Offline good sam

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Re: Lancaster, PA (And Hershey Park) Master Thread
« Reply #238 on: August 28, 2017, 08:11:11 PM »
Thanks.

Which of the two is more recommended for children ages 10 and below, "Cherry Crest Farms" or "Lake Tobias"?

Both seem like a fun experience
Just came from lake tobias. Kids loved it.
If you don't care why would you comment?
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Offline Live N Learn

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Re: Lancaster, PA (And Hershey Park) Master Thread
« Reply #239 on: August 29, 2017, 10:07:14 AM »
I've never been to Lake Tobias, but I've been to Cherry Crest several times, it's a great place to spend the day with children, pretty big variety of things to do.
+1
".איזהו חכם, הלומד מכל אדם"