Strasburg, PA

Not Just Another Shot in the Dark

Whether you’re looking for a fun family escape, a group outing or even a unique date night idea, miniature golf at Village Greens, Inc.  is both entertaining and healthy exercise.  And, beginning in May, it should be dark enough by 8:30 PM to try a delightful twist on the conventional game of mini golf with their First Friday Glo Golf events.

For the first Friday of every month, weather permitting, the staff will decorate the Orange Course with special lighting effects from black lights to patio lights to glo lights, and then turn off the overhead lamps.  You’ll get a glo-in-the-dark golf ball and your own glo-in-the-dark necklace to enjoy your game of miniature golf.  Each First Friday Glo Golf event will feature special genres of music or other entertainment events in addition to your round of golf.  Admission price for Glo Golf is only $10.75 for adults and $9.75 for children and seniors.  Village Greens also has a snack shoppe featuring milk shakes, ice cream, sandwiches and other assorted snacks if you work up an appetite while golfing.

Why not think about inviting your friends, your family or that special someone out for a glowing experience with Village Greens Glo Golf?  For more information, contact them at 717-687-6933, visit their website at www.villagegreens.com  or email them at village_greens@verizon.net.

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Canned Goods + Model Trains = Making a Difference

Canned Food Fridays Returns to Choo Choo Barn December 7, 14 and 21, 2012

Help the Choo Choo Barn feed local families in need by making its 24th annual food drive a success. Canned Food Fridays returns to the Choo Choo Barn in Strasburg, PA on December 7, 14 and 21, 2012 from 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. The food drive will benefit families in both Lancaster County and Chester County.

Admission to the Choo Choo Barn’s gigantic model train layout is free for those who donate at least one non-perishable food item on Canned Food Fridays. The
150 hand-built animations and 22 trains, which operate on the 1,700 square foot model train display, will amaze visitors of all ages. The display will be decked out with holiday decorations, 51 Santas and some Christmas magic! After exploring the unique model train display, children are invited to visit with Santa Claus at The Shops of Traintown, from 3:00 p.m. – to 8:00 p.m. As a special treat, children will receive a gift from the Choo Choo Barn and a coupon for a free cookie at Isaac’s Restaurant & Deli in Strasburg from Santa.

The thousands of canned goods collected this year will be donated to the Lampeter United Methodist Church Food Cupboard and the Chester County Food Bank. The Lampeter UMC Food Cupboard feeds hundreds of families from the Lampeter-Strasburg and surrounding areas every year. The Chester County Food Bank distributes over 1,000,000 pounds of food per year to more than 60 organizations, including food cupboards, area nonprofits and shelters.

For more information please visit www.choochoobarn.com,
www.facebook.com/choochoobarn or call (717) 687-7911.

Filed under: Lancaster, PA, See and do, Strasburg, Trains

Night Before Christmas Train New at Strasburg Rail Road

For decades, families have started their holiday season at Strasburg Rail Road with the traditional Santa’s Paradise Express
Train.  This year, Strasburg Rail Road is unveiling a new event called The Night Before Christmas. Departing Friday
evenings at 7 p.m., this holiday train builds on the anticipation of
Christmas Eve and the spirit of giving.

Dressed in PJs or holiday best, children snuggle onboard with their families enjoying milk and cookies and the warmth of
the potbelly stoves. As the train travels, readers dressed in a Victorian
nightshirt and cap delight the children with the holiday classic, The Night Before Christmas by Clement
Clarke Moore.

At the station, the fun continues with more old time holiday storybook readings in the quaint, heated Caboose (stationary).
Families can also enjoy the Tinsel Trolley ride (a self-propelled motor car), a
warm, fun trip down the tracks, all included in the ticket price. The Night Before Christmas Train runs
November 30, December 7 and 14 at 7 p.m. (For families wanting to meet
Santa aboard the train, Santa’s Paradise Express will chug along the tracks
November 23-25, December 1-2, 8-9 and 15-16, 2012.)

In the spirit of giving, families are invited to bring a new pair of pajamas to be donated to Water Street Ministries.
Just by attending this event families will help men, women and children who are in need in Lancaster County. Five dollars from every ticket
will support the work of Water Street Ministries. To learn more about the
organization, visit http://www.waterstreetministries.org

*Special thanks to Turkey Hill Dairy and Hershey Farm Restaurant & Inn, in-kind sponsors of the Night Before Christmas Train.

For information please visit www.StrasburgRailRoad.com, www.Facebook.com/StrasburgRailRoad
or call 717.687.7522

Filed under: Lancaster, PA, See and do, Strasburg, Trains

Santa’s Paradise Express Kicks Off Thanksgiving Weekend

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Christmas Comes to Choo Choo Barn

Holiday Display runs November 23 – December 31

Celebrate the holiday season as the Choo Choo Barn transforms Traintown USA^® to bring the magic of
Christmas to its gigantic model train display. For the second year, the homes
and businesses along the tracks have decked their halls to share holiday spirit
with the public from November 23 to December 31, 2012.

Search for the 51 hidden Santas and watch as Santa’s sleigh flies above the 1,700 square foot model train
extravaganza, which includes 150 hand-built animations and 22 moving trains.
Enjoy the holiday decorations throughout the display including holiday lights
and the snow-covered landscape. Plus, take a close look at the zoo animals in
Traintown to see how they’re celebrating the season.

The Choo Choo Barn is located along Route 741 East in Strasburg, PA. The display is open
daily from 10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., now through December 31, 2012. (The display is closed November
21, 22 and December 25). Admission price is $7 for adults and $4 for
children ages 3-11. For more details about the holiday display visit www.choochoobarn.com,
www.facebook.com/choochoobarn
or call (717) 687-7911.

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The Amish Village Introduces Backroads Bus Tour

Tour Lancaster County’s countryside and learn about the Amish way of life

As you drive around Lancaster County, do you find yourself wondering about the differences in the buggies you pass –
open vs. closed? Do you smile when you see an Amish youth on a scooter, but
wonder if they ride a bike? The new Amish Village Backroads Bus Tour will
answer all your questions as they come up while you tour around the beautiful
Lancaster County countryside.

The 90-minute tour, which operates daily, will take you off the beaten path, past working farms and along country
roads where buggies roll along and farmers work their fields. Your driver will
narrate as you gaze out the windows, giving you a behind-the-scenes look at
Amish life – history, customs, beliefs and traditions. Your fellow passengers
may even ask a question you hadn’t thought of! This is a great way to learn how
this special community thrives in a 21^st century world.

Each bus tour includes at least at one stop at unique locations such as an Amish home, quilt shop, bake shop or
seasonal market stands. You will pass a handful of Amish school- houses and
during the week you will see Amish kids playing in the schoolyards. On the tour
you will learn facts about Amish agriculture and many different Amish
businesses. On Sundays, you will see buggies galore as families gather for
church services or travel the back roads on a leisurely outing.

Amish Village Backroads Bus Tour is part of The Amish Village, an authentic Amish homestead along Route 896, just
down the road from Sight & Sound Theatres. The tour options include the
90-minute Bus Tour, as well as a Farmhouse Tour and self-guided exploration of
the Village grounds. Tours are offered separately or as a combination package.
The Backroads Bus Tour is currently available at 11:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. daily.

For current hours, admission rates, coupons and more please visit www.theamishvillage.net, www.Facebook.com/TheAmishVillage
or call 717-687-8511.

Filed under: Amish, Lancaster, PA, See and do, Strasburg

History Channel Series Filmed at Strasburg Rail Road

“The Men Who Built America” TV Show Premieres at 9:00 pm on October 16, 2012

Railroads played a crucial role in building America decades ago. So it is only fitting
that Strasburg Rail Road played a role in recreating that piece of history on the History’s new series “The Men Who Built
America,” premiering October 16, 2012 at 9:00pm EST.

The new History miniseries claims “America wasn’t discovered, it was built.” The
eight part series shines a spotlight on the influential builders, dreamers and
believers who transformed the United States into the greatest economic and
technological superpower the world had ever seen.  Among the men featured: John
D. Rockefeller, Cornelius Vanderbilt, Andrew Carnegie, Henry Ford and J.P.
Morgan. These men are depicted in the series, detailing how they created the
American Dream and transformed the nation as they built the oil, rail, steel,
shipping, automobile and finance industries.

Strasburg Rail Road served as the backdrop for the “rail”
industry segments. The History crew filmed at Strasburg Rail Road over the summer, using
engine 89 (Circa 1910) and the historic station platform for a number of
scenes. According to History, the series was created by “using
state of the art computer generated imagery that incorporates 12 million
historical negatives, many made available for the first time by the Library of
Congress.”

Founded during the first term of President Andrew Jackson,
Strasburg Rail Road grew up with America and today its mission is to preserve
railroading history. The rail road team is proud to play a part in this event
series that will show how these great men came to create the America of today.
Strasburg Rail Road will also be featured in an upcoming History show called
101 Inventions that Changed the World. 
The show is expected to air in January 2013. To learn more about Strasburg Rail Road visit www.StrasburgRailRoad.com

View the trailer: http://www.history.com/shows/men-who-built-america/videos/the-men-who-built-america-trailer#the-men-who-built-america-preview

Filed under: Lancaster, PA, See and do, Strasburg, Trains

Teddy Roosevelt Visits Strasburg Rail Road

During this election year, President Teddy Roosevelt is dropping by Strasburg, PA on
his Whistle Stop Tour. He will be giving a campaign speech from the platform of
the President’s Car/Parlor Car upon his arrival at Strasburg Rail Road on
October 6 & 7, 2012.

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Day Out With Thomas

Day Out With Thomas™: Mystery On The Rails Tour 2012, returns to Strasburg Rail Road on September 15-23, 2012 for nine days of train fun! Little engineers can help Thomas the Tank Engine™ find clues and solve the mystery at Day Out With Thomas! This fun-filled event offers families the opportunity to ride a train pulled by Thomas the Tank Engine, a full-sized operating steam locomotive. Children will take a ride along with their favorite engine, meet Sir Topham Hatt™, stop by the Imagination Station, and enjoy many other exciting Thomas-themed activities! Be sure to check out the new Tips section on Strasburg Rail Road’s website so you can make the most out of your Day Out With Thomas! http://strasburgrailroad.com/day-out-with-thomas.php

Day Out With Thomas includes:

• A 22-minute ride with Thomas the Tank Engine
• Games and activities featuring a mystery element.
• The opportunity to meet Sir Topham Hatt™, Controller of the Railway
• A Thomas & Friends Imagination Station; featuring stamps temporary tattoos, hands-on arts & crafts, train tables, and coloring sheets.
• Commemorative activities, merchandise and giveaways including a special reveal poster previewing new engines and a new destination from the upcoming 2012 Thomas & Friends feature, “Blue Mountain Mystery” Storytelling and video viewing Strasburg Rail Road’s “fun extras” include operating a hand-powered Pump Car, riding on the Cagney, a miniature steam train, and “steering” the pint-sized Cranky Cars around a track.

WHEN:          September 15-23, 2012

WHERE: Strasburg Rail Road, Rt. 741 East, Strasburg, Pa 17579

(GPS Address: 301 Gap Road, Ronks, PA 17572-9566)

INFO: www.StrasburgRailRoad.com or 717-687-7522

Filed under: Lancaster, PA, See and do, Strasburg, Trains

Girlfriends Getaway Weekend in Strasburg, Pa

The Strasburg Village Inn is holding its first annual Girlfriends Getaway Weekend!  With overnight stays on Friday, November 9 and Saturday, November 10, 2012, you and your BFF – friend, sister, mother, daughter – can get away together for some bonding time doing things girls of all ages like to do!  There will be a hospitality reception Friday evening, shopping and complimentary facials available right at the Inn on Saturday as well as a pajama fashion show and tickets to dinner theatre on Saturday evening.  Breakfast, lunch and dinner will be provided on Saturday, and breakfast will be provided on Sunday.

So here’s the chance to spend some quality time with that important person in your life that there often isn’t enough time for, and have everything taken care of for you so you can just relax and enjoy your time together.

Call the Strasburg Village Inn at 717-687-0900 for more information and rates.  And mention that you heard about it on the “Strasburg, PA website” for an extra gift at check-in (one gift per room).

Filed under: Lancaster, PA, Strasburg