Fall Day Trip in Strasburg

Quick reality check (so we don’t get stuck)

• Strasburg Rail Road does not currently allow boarding at Cherry Crest. You have to board at the SRR station only, so you can’t “ride to the farm and back” by train. Do the train ride first, then drive 5 minutes to Cherry Crest. cherrycrestfarm

• The regular SRR excursion is ~45 minutes round-trip; special events aside. Discover Lancaster+1

• Cherry Crest’s fall hours run select weekdays/weekends (many Fridays & Saturdays are 10am–10pm; weekdays vary). Check the calendar for your exact date. cherrycrestfarm

• Cherry Hill Orchards has pick-your-own apples in fall; hours/varieties change by week—confirm the current PYO page. Cherry Hill Orchards+1

• Food stops: Speckled Hen (7am–3pm; brunch Sun 8–2) and Strasburg Creamery (commonly 12–9pm; verify day-of). Speckled Hen+1

The “best order” day plan (template for a Fri/Sat)

8:15–9:15 AM — Breakfast at Speckled Hen (great coffee, easy parking). If it’s Sunday, brunch runs 8–2. Speckled Hen
10:00 or 11:00 AM — Strasburg Rail Road: book the regular excursion (Coach or First Class). Board at East Strasburg Station; it’s ~45 minutes round-trip through the countryside. Strasburg Rail Road+1
11:45 AM–3:30 PM — Cherry Crest Adventure Farm: drive over after the train (≈5 minutes). Do the corn maze and a few farm attractions; Fridays/Saturdays stay open late in peak fall so you’re not rushed. cherrycrestfarm+1
3:45–5:15 PM — Cherry Hill Orchards: pick apples and grab cider/donuts at the market. Check same-day PYO hours/varieties before you roll. Cherry Hill Orchards+1
5:30 PM — Treat call: stroll Main Street for Strasburg Creamery ice cream or circle back earlier for a late lunch at Speckled Hen if you skipped breakfast. Strasburg Creamery and General Store+1

Tickets & tiny tactics (so it feels seamless)

• Book SRR first (pick a mid-morning departure). You’ll board/return to the same station—no farm boarding permitted. Strasburg Rail Road+1

• Buy Cherry Crest admission online for your date; it can get busy on festival Saturdays. Check the events calendar if you want fireworks/music nights. cherrycrestfarm

• Confirm PYO apples the morning of your visit (hours and varieties move with the season). Cherry Hill Orchards

• Rain/mud note: Cherry Crest may modify attractions after heavy rain; the maze can close if conditions are poor. Wear boots if it’s recently wet. cherrycrestfarm

Addresses (drop into your phone)

• Strasburg Rail Road: 301 Gap Rd, Ronks, PA 17572. (Board here, return here.) Facebook

• Cherry Crest Adventure Farm: 150 Cherry Hill Rd, Ronks, PA 17572. (Parking onsite; train passes the farm but you don’t board here.) cherrycrestfarm

• Cherry Hill Orchards: 400 Long Ln, Lancaster, PA 17603. Cherry Hill Orchards

• Speckled Hen: 141 E Main St, Strasburg, PA 17579. Speckled Hen

• Strasburg Creamery: 1 W Main St, Strasburg, PA 17579. Strasburg Creamery and General Store

Need another fall daytrip idea……click here

Did you know? Lancaster, PA is Home of the Oldest Pretzel Bakery in the US

The Julius Sturgis Pretzel Bakery is located in Lititz, a small town in Lancaster County. Julius Sturgis opened the bakery in 1861, and it became the first commercial pretzel bakery in the United States. The building the bakery is housed in was built in 1784 and was one of Lititz’s first structures. The bakery also appears on the National Register of Historic Places. 

The Sturgis family still runs the bakery today, with tours of the bakery available. To visit the bakery for a tour or to purchase their pretzel products, you can access the website here. 

Bread, Rice, and Corn: Comparing Medieval Europe, Japan, and Early American Meals

Explore what daily meals looked like in medieval London & Paris, Japan, and early America—grains, proteins, flavors, and cooking traditions.

Introduction

What people ate tells us a lot about how they lived. In medieval London and Paris, Japan, and early America, meals weren’t just about taste—they were about survival, religion, social rank, and the seasons. Let’s look at how three different societies solved the same basic challenge: feeding people with the tools and traditions they had.

Read More Here

I’ve put together a 6-Week Buyer’s Guide Series that walks you through everything from getting pre-approved to closing. Would you like me to send it to you?

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Series 1: The Core Buyer Journey (6 weeks)

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4. How Big of a Home Do You Need?

5. Making Sense of Home Appraisals for Buyers 

6. Closing Day & What to Expect/

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