Berks County's German Heritage, Shopping Outlets, Hex Signs, Amish Farms
This lens provides you with regional information and resources to plan a trip to Pennsylvania Dutch (Pennsylvania Deitsch) country. Any vacation visit to Southern Pennsylvania simply must include a tour of the farms, valleys and byways where the Amish and Mennonite families still live a simple life. Their contribution to the local economy and culture is important and cherished by residents in the Berks, Lehigh and Lancaster county areas where the Amish still live and go to market, attend services, conduct daily business and raise their children.
Every summer at the end of June the Kutztown Festival celebrates the rich cultural heritage of the region.
The Amish culture is important to Berks and Lancaster counties, not only from a tourism standpoint, but also from its spiritual and economic contribution. Plan your visit to include a weekend if possible - Sunday morning buggies enroute to services on the busy roads are a common sight, no matter what the weather.
Pennsylvania Dutch (PA German) Photos
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Berks County Penn Dutch Tourism
- Pennsylvania Dutch (PA German) Photos
- Pennsylvania Tourism Information Centers
- Pennsylvania Dutch Country Hex Sign
- Hex Signs and Symbols
- The Pennsylvania Dutch Experience
- Attractions & Day Trips in Pennsylvania Dutch Country
- Books on Amish and Mennonite Culture
- Explore Reading Berks Attractions
- Cultural Events in Southeastern Pennsylvania
- Best Shopping in Berks County
- Pennsylvania Farmers Markets
- Regional Weather Info
- Reading Berks Regional Events
- Pennsylvania Visitors Notes
- Travel Assistant
- Reading-Berks PA Media Connections
- Reviews from Yelp
- Blogging Notes - Reading Berks
- Reading Area Job Finder
Pennsylvania Tourism Information Centers
Learn more about Pennsylvania Dutch Country and surrounding regions
- Pennsylvania Dutch Country - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- WikiPedia page about Pennsylvania German culture, history and tourism
- Reading-Berks Visitors Bureau
- Greater Reading Visitors Guide
Calendar of Events
Things to Do
Getaways
Places to Eat
Places to Stay - Around Town: Vignettes of Life in Reading
- Around Town: Vignettes of Life in Reading
With an upbeat attitude and a touch of humor, writer Bryan Wang depicts personalities, places, and happenings in Reading, Pennsylvania-from the ordinary and apparently mundane to the quirky, peculiar, or downright bizarre. - Reading and Berks County, Pennsylvania
- Directory for visitors and travelers in Reading and Berks County, Pennsylvania
- Attractions & Tours In Amish Country : Lancaster County PA Visitors Center
- Lancaster County Pennsylvania Dutch Convention & Visitors Bureau offers comprehensive visitor and travel information on local Amish attractions, tours, buggy rides, events, area activities, and the old-fashioned charm of the Amish.
Pennsylvania Dutch Country Hex Sign
This beautiful hex sign adorns the preserved covered bridge over the Tulpehocken Creek at the Berks County Heritage Center near Reading, Pennsylvania.
Hex Signs and Symbols
- Hex Signs at Amish Country News - Pennsylvania Dutch Country
- Explore Lancaster's Amish & Pennsylvania Dutch Country. Learn about the bright patterns and geometric forms called Hex Signs.
- The History of Hex Signs from the Pennsylvania Dutch Country / Lancaster County, PA
- Info from The Pennsylvania Dutch Country Welcome Center.
- Hex Signs Art Barn Tour
- Greater Reading/Berks County area Hex Art Barn Tour
- The Art and Magic of Hex Signs
- Hex Signs were first seen painted on the sides of barns, stables and houses of the Pennsylvania Dutch in the 18th century. The custom of using these signs was derived from the Old World, brought from Germany and Switzerland by German immigrants who settled in Pennsylvania.The name 'Hex', has two pos
The Pennsylvania Dutch Experience
Attractions & Day Trips in Pennsylvania Dutch Country
You CAN Get There, From Here
- Pennsylvania's Greatest Natural Wonder Crystal Cave Park
- Visit Famous Crystal Cave Park, the most popular natural attraction in Pennsylvania. This great underground wonder, located in the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch country near Kutztown, Crystal Cave has seen Millions of Visitors since discovery
- Historical Society of Berks County - Beer and Pretzels
- Learn about the rich brewery and bakery history of Reading, PA
- Hershey, PA The Sweetest Place On Earth! Call 800-HERSHEY for more information
- Online guide to Hershey, Pennsylvania, The Sweetest Place On Earth. Home of Hershey candy, Hershey Park, Hershey Hotel and streetlights that look like chocolate kisses.
- Wilbur Chocolate
- Wilbur Chocolate and Gerkens Cocoa strive to be your single-source to a complete line of cocoa, chocolate and confectionery ingredients.
- Our Candy Americana Museum - Wilbur Chocolate
- Visit Wilbur Chocolate in historic Lititz, PA. Wilbur buds are the basis for many chocolate confections made by US candy makers.
- Visit Rodale Institute - Leader in Organic Research and Sustainable Living
- Rodale Institute has been the leader in organic solutions -since 1947.Visit the farm near Kutztown, Pennsylvania. Rodale Institute is located on a 333-acre organic certified farm in Kutztown, Pennsylvania. The entire farm is devoted to research, education and certified organic production. In addition to the research experiments, the farm's production and demonstration areas offer visitors an opportunity to learn how agriculture can either contribute to environmental problems or be a significant solution in solving global warming, improving human nutrition and preventing famine throughout the world.
Books on Amish and Mennonite Culture
Real People: Amish and Mennonites in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania
Amazon Price: $8.99 (as of 12/17/2009) 
Amish Grace: How Forgiveness Transcended Tragedy
Amazon Price: $16.47 (as of 12/17/2009)
Amish Friends Cookbook
Amazon Price: $10.18 (as of 12/17/2009)
Amish Society
Amazon Price: $15.64 (as of 12/17/2009)
The Simple Life: Devotional Thoughts from Amish Country
Amazon Price: $5.97 (as of 12/17/2009)
Explore Reading Berks Attractions
- Centre Park Victorian Historic District
- One of Reading's first suburbs, this district is comprised of 840 Victorian and early 20th century a...
- Old Dry Road Farm
- Located on 200 acres of farmland, Old Dry Road Farm is a living history and educational center desig...
- American Museum of Veterinary Medicine
- A national, non-profit organization, the American Museum of Veterinary Medicine is situated on a sit...
- Central Pennsylvania African-American Museum, The
- Housed in the oldest African American-owned church building in Reading and Berks County, a registere...
- Mid Atlantic Air Museum
- Award-winning warbirds, classic airliners, and rare and unusual military and civilian aircraft and h...
Cultural Events in Southeastern Pennsylvania
Regional day-trip destinations near Berks County's Amish country.
There's lots more to see if you drive only an hour or so from Reading-Berks.-
Musikfest in Bethlehem, PA
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Musikfest in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania is an annual 10-day musical extravaganza that attracts more than one million people from throughout the US and abroad. Musikfest celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2008. Musikfest Bethlehem is one of the largest f...
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York- The White Rose City of PA
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York is a town of about 41,000 people in south-central Pennsylvania's Susquehanna Valley. Founded in 1741, York was the first city west of the Susquehanna River. It is the location where the Articles of Confederation were ratified, and often conside...
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Christkindlmarkt in Bethlehem, PA
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Christkindlmarkt Bethlehem is a world-renowned holiday marketplace recognized by Travel and Leisure Magazine as one of the top holiday markets in the world. This annual event features fine arts, Christmas decorations, crafts, food and seasonal entert...
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Halloween Parade in Temple, Pennsylvania
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Harvest time means Halloween is coming, and the annual Temple Halloween Parade kicks off the season for young and old alike in the Reading-Berks region of southern Pennsylvania. Temple holds the region's first annual Halloween parade every year - it...
Pennsylvania Farmers Markets
Vote for the BEST local market
Berks and Lancaster county farmers' markets are fabulous - you can find local goods and bargains almost every day of the week. Which is the BEST market,and WHY?
Leesport Farmers Market
Wednesdays for produce, meats, flowers, dollar goo more...1 point
Fairgrounds Farmers Market
Thursday - Saturday, indoor stands, wine shop, fas more...1 point
West Reading Farmers Market
Seasonal Sunday Mornings only, June - November. Lo more...1 point
Renningers Market - Kutztown
Indoor and outdoor stands with lcoal produce, plan more...0 points
Shillington Farmers Market
Thursday - Saturday, new bulding with fresh food o more...0 points
Regional Weather Info
Research weather forecast, trends for the region
Reading Berks Regional Events
There's lots to do and see after you've seen the Amish
- Musikfest in Bethlehem, PA
- Musikfest in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania is an annual 10-day musical extravaganza that attracts more than one million people from throughout the US and abroad. Musikfest celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2008. August.
- Reading Fair
- Traditional agricultural fair with agriculturual exhibits, livestock, Grange and 4-H, food, midway, entertainment, stock car races and more.
- The Kutztown Festival, Pennsylvania Dutch folklife festival
- Kutztown Festival. Nation's premier Pennsylvania Dutch folklife festival. Crafts, folkart, quilts, music and children's activities.
- The Kutztown Fair
- Agricultural country fair - "Biggest little fair in the state" features traditional historic farm crafts typical of Pennsylvania German farm heritage and Amish life
Pennsylvania Visitors Notes
If you've visited PA Dutch country, leave a note!
Share your favorite Amish cultural place(s) and events in Southern PA right here.
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Reply
- ChapelHillFiddler ChapelHillFiddler Aug 17, 2009 @ 6:40 am
- My dad was Pennsylvania Dutch, from York County. His mom never spoke English until she was taken out of school in fourth grade to roll cigars in the factory. Lots of people think Amish and Mennonite and Pennsylvania Dutch are all the same thing, but that's not true at all! Thanks for this lens!
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Reply
- Treasures-By-Brenda Treasures-By-Brenda Jul 22, 2009 @ 6:40 pm
- Nicely done & blessed!
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Reply
- capriliz capriliz Jul 19, 2009 @ 10:46 am
- Great lens! I live near Amish and Mennonite communities. Interesting people.
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- shajo shajo Jul 15, 2009 @ 2:27 pm
- Great information. We go to PA about once a year to visit family, it's interesting to see the amish buggies going down the road. Nice lens!
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Reply
- bdkz bdkz Jul 14, 2009 @ 7:25 pm
- Very interesting!
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Travel Assistant
Reading-Berks PA Media Connections
Get a taste of the Pennsylvania Dutch country region
Reviews from Yelp
Here's what Yelpers have to say about Hotels & Travel in 19601
- Pagoda-Skyline Inc (Reading)
- "The Pagoda is one of reading's most famous landmarks, originally erected in 1908 as a hotel that overlooks the whole city. It is situated at the top of..." more
- Hampton Inn (Reading)
- "Stayed here for work last weekend. Nothing too exciting to report. Rooms clean and spacious, free wi-fi. Free continental breakfast in the morning...." more
- Alpenhof Restaurant & Guest House (Reading)
- "I have a good friend who's German but lives in the States. He called and suggested dinner at Alpenhof. I've traveled through Germany many, many times, and I..." more
- Comfort Inn (Reading)
- "Stayed here overnight while meeting friends at the convention center. The hotel had a faint odor of Indian food and industrial cleanser. The tap water..." more
- Antique Airplane Restaurant (Reading)
- "Gone the way of the Condor. Out-of-business" more
Blogging Notes - Reading Berks
- Sovereign Center, Reading, PA - Carrie Underwood Fans
- Who's Going? I got FL3 Row BB Seats 3 & 4 for my friend and I and FL1 Row DD seat 14 for another friend.
- The Interior Painters In Reading PA Were Running A Special
- The interior painters in Reading PA called to offer me a special that they are having this month. They realize that many people have family that comes to visit over the holidays and that repainting can spruce up a guest room. ...
- Business Website Design In Reading, PA
- Recently I've spent a great deal of time looking over local business websites to gain a better understanding of the online presence that businesses have in Reading PA. What I've ...
- Now Offering Website Design in Reading PA
- Website Design Reading PA PageOne website design located in Pottsville PA would like to announce that we are now expanding our target market and will be offering our website design services in the Berks County / Reading PA market. ...
Reading Area Job Finder
Professional Career Opportunities
If you're relocating to the Reading area, check out these job opportunities in the region.
- Sales Professional Account Manager - Reading, PA
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454 Life Sciences - Reading, PA
experience. As a Professional Account Manager you... processes. Are someone who is looking for a professional career and to expand your horizons within the... ... - Hitch Professional
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U-Haul - Reading, PA
Description: Be familiar with and able to recommend, sell, and install complete towing packages according to manufacturers' specifications while using good... ... - Customer Service Coordinator
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Aerotek Professional Services - Reading, PA
Our client is currently seeking a Technical Customer Service Representative for their Wyomissing PA location. The essential job duties include but are not... ... - Office Assistant
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Aerotek Professional Services - Reading, PA
Aerotek is currently accepting applications for a Part Time office Clerk position for a Berks County Client. This is a position that will yield approximatly 20... ... - Branch Manager - Tucks Professional Park, Lebanon, PA - (Job Num
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PNC - Lebanon, PA
retention, revenue, and market share. This position is based in our Tucks Professional Park, located at 830 Norman Drive, Lebanon, PA 17042. Weekly work hours... ...
by Pastiche
Pastiche (aka Lee Hansen) is a transplanted New England native living in southeastern Pennsylvania - the heart of Pennsylvania "Dutch" country. She p...
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York- The White Rose City of PA
- York is a town of about 41,000 people in south-central Pennsylvania's Susquehann...
