Lancaster County has four distinct seasons, each lending a distinctive personality to the countryside. Temperature throughout the year ranges from highs in the '80's in July and August to lows in the '30's in late December through February.

Fitting in with the feel-at-home hospitality of the area, casual dress is the code for touring Lancaster County. Comfortable clothes and walking shoes are assets for any traveler. At night some restaurants in resorts, hotels and downtown Lancaster prefer jackets for men. Women can choose from slacks to dresses.

Spring

Spring visits to the Pennsylvania Dutch Country find less crowds and lower lodging rates, along with the the rebirth of greenery in the countryside. From their vehicles, visitors can see Amish farmers tilling and planting their fields with mule teams.

Spring in Lancaster County is a changing season. Temperatures range from the '50's to '70's in March through mid-June. Visitors should keep a jacket or light raincoat on hand.

As this season arrives, activities in the Pennsylvania Dutch Country move outdoors. Spring festivals, craft demonstrations and art shows are popular. Several Amish farms are open to the public and showcase traditional spring farming practices.

Summer

In summer, the farmland takes on the look of a patchwork quilt as fields of corn, tobacco, wheat and other crops reach their peak.

Visitors during this season are treated to the heart of summer action. Many attractions feature specially themed weekends with music, dancing, magic, theatrical performances, reliving past eras, or just general festivity outdoors.

Summers in Lancaster County tend to be humid, so lightweight, light-colored clothing should be worn if outdoor stops are on the itinerary. Cottons, linens and airy knits are a best bet to keep cool during mid-June through early September.

Fall

Brilliant blue skies and billowing, cotton-like clouds signal fall in Lancaster County. Foliage changes to soft amber and crimson usually in early to mid-October, depending on the weather.

In fall, the weather becomes drier, with comfortable days stirred by cool breezes; nights become chilly. Heavier cottons and lightweight wools are suggested, with a sweater or jacket for evenings.

Specially themed weekends at attractions continue throughout the fall. Harvest festivals and winery activities are also highlighted.

Winter

During the Christmas season, Lancaster County's special gift of numerous holiday celebrations treats individuals and motorcoach groups to a most memorable Christmas. Candlelight tours of historic, elegantly appointed mansions offer groups the chance to experience Lancaster's heritage in a different light. Visitors rejoice in old-fashioned Christmas customs, holiday craft markets, and madrigal feasts and recapture childhood memories of holidays past.

Lancaster County's farmland receives occasional blankets of snow in mid-December through February. Major routes, however, are well maintained and are usually free of ice and snow.

Winter requires more layers, heavier wools and appropriate footwear. An all-weather coat with a zip-out lining is especially good for early winter traveling.

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