Lancaster County is really hoppin’ this week end!  Elvis fans can do Elvis Birthday Bash at American Music Theatre  www.amtshows.com I would advise getting your tickets before you come, they usually have sell-out shows. If you are not so hoppin’ (like me) you can do Mozart and the Pianist at Fulton Theatre www.Lancaster Symphony.com If you are into doing something different how about a tour of Lancaster City on a segway www.redrosesegway.com. See there is something for everyone since this is just a sampling of all there is to do.

At this time of year are you looking for that special gift or just something to enhance your home? Maybe you don’t even know what you are looking for but when you do it will speak to you Why not try coming to see the wonderful antiques we have close by to us. Columbia has several nice antique places but by far the largest is Burning bridges antiques. This is 3 floors of an old hardware store that is a coop.

So you’ve spent 2 hours looking and you still haven’t covered all and you need food :0 so just 1 block down the street is a pharmacy (Hinkle’s) and they have an old fashioned lunch counter with good food for cheap.

Enjoy.

I wanted to bring everyone up to date on dinners being offered for Thanksgiving. http://www.padutchcountry.com/pennsylvania-dutch-country/thanksgivinglancaster.asp If you are in the county for Thanksgiving you can have the traditional dinner and never miss a beat. You might also stay and shop Black Friday, I’ve only every done this once (as an adult) and you really do get bargains and it isn’t full. Arriving at the mall at 3:30 am was different I was home by 9 am and went to bed.

Many B&Bs in Lancaster County are offering a free night to veterans on Nov. 10 as an appreciation for their serving our country. Let us not forget the other business’ that are doing special stuff for them as well, to get a full list go to http://www.authenticbandb.com/vets.htm

To add to the variety of  Lancaster County we have Alpaca Farms. One very close to me is Eastland Alpacas and this coming Saturday is their 9th Anuual Fall Open House They are also doing this the 12th. I’ve been there and these guys are so cute, you can get up close and cozy with them, if you want to. If you are a knitter they have yarn for sale plus some other ready made items. The real fun is the Alpacas!

I can’t believe that people are already organized enough to do their holiday shopping be it gifts are prep for the meals, paper goods etc. So far I haven’t given much thought to it, not even the food, imagine that For you the visitor we have great outlet centers, a nice mall and even the little out of the way places. So make the list and come on down.

Our local town of Mount Joy has something going on on 4th Fridays, and each month is different. Merchants stay open, discounts are offered and it is fun to walk the streets to take part in all of it. Someone has taken the time and made the effort to put together a walking tour to acquaint people with the Mount Joy I grew up knowing. i.e. the lawyers office was once a grocery/dry goods store. My Mother traded eggs for groceries there. A little boutique was once a jewelery store  where I registered my china when I got married, and on it goes. You are welcome to come learn about small town America on 4th Friday.

Fall is here and in full swing. So now our thoughts turn to Thanksgiving, Vogt Farm is offering a special and we can even offer a late, light breakfast if you do Black Friday at 3 am. But more important is that meal of Thanksgiving, we have numerous restaurants that serve a Thanksgiving meal (with reservations) so you won’t miss out on that tradition. Soon I will have that list and can help you. So get your plans made.

If fall is here, and it is, then it must be time for all that Halloween stuff. We have Halloween in Hershey www.halloweeninhershey.com on weekends. Jason’s Woods  also on weekends thru October www.jasonswoods.com 7-10 pm. If you are plannign on staying over be sure to have reservations because October is always busy, especially on weekends. When I was growing up the only thing I liked about Halloween was the candy costumes were secondary.

I really don’t think I could live where you don’t experience season changes. Fall is always a great reprieve from the heat of summer and with it comes certain smells, colors and things to do. I was talking with a friend the other day and we both said we were seeing the first signs of trees changing color, for now it is just the changes in greens but it will be followed rapidly with the oranges, reds and browns that make for a beautiful picture. As far a food is concerned it is the apple selection at the farmers market, and pumpkins galore. A farmers market visit is a must in the fall. Ours are Tuesday, Friday and Saturday.