Enjoy a Scenic Drive from Twin Pine Manor B&B

Lancaster and Lebanon counties are known for their idyllic countrysides, and there’s no time better to go for a scenic drive then in the fall when the corn is standing tall or the leaves are starting to turn.

Here are two of our favorites from Twin Pine Manor B&B.

Longer Drive: South Lebanon

Estimated Drive Time: 1 hour (38 miles)

Turning left onto US 322 with take you north to enjoy forests, farmland, and a nature reserve.

While the first stretch of road might not yet highlight the beauty of our nature, there is a large greenhouse and an optional stop before you reach PA 501 if you want to shop and get a bite to eat before settling into your journey.

Optional Stop: Brickerville

About 10 minutes into your drive, you’ll find Brickerville House, which is a great place to stop for lunch or dinner. Beside it, Bricker Village, has shops featuring antiques, home décor, and local artisans. You can even sample the wine from a local vineyard.

After you’ve crossed over PA 501, the highway starts to climb, and you enter a beautiful stretch with state game land on either side. Whether the leaves are changing or still green, the stately trees tower over as you climb Furnace Hills Ridge between them. If you want to stretch your legs, there are several hiking trails not far from this stretch of road.

Optional Detour:

If you’re not ready to leave the forest behind, turn left onto PA 117 towards Mount Gretna. While a summer vacation spot nestled amidst the trees to stay cool, it’s still beautiful in the fall. If the leaves have started to turn in the canopy above you, take a walk around the streets surrounding the Mount Gretna Theater. If you’re there before October, stop for an old-fashioned ice cream float or sundae at the Jigger Shop. Turn right onto PA 117 to rejoin the tour.

Otherwise, turn right onto PA 177 (Ironmaster Rd) to take you into the town of Cornwall. Turn right onto Schaeffer Road (PA 419) and follow it out of town.

Optional Stop: Cornwall Iron Furnace

If you’d like a bit of history with your nature fix, stop by the Cornwall Iron Furnace, which is the most intact charcoal-fueled ironmaking complex in America.

PA 419 east passes working farms, historic barns, and the north side of Furnace Hills Ridge in the distance. Turn right on PA 897 and drive through Schaefferstown with its wide porches and stone and brick buildings.

Turn right onto Hopeland Road as you enter Kleinfeltersville, which will bring you to Middle Creek Wildlife Reserve. A few weeks in the spring, you can find thousands of migrating geese covering the water. The rest of the year, it’s still 6,000 acres perfect for hiking, kayaking, and enjoying local wildlife. If you don’t take the optional extra below, stop by the Willow Point scenic view, which is a short walk down to the reservoir itself. After your short break, turn left onto Kleinfeltersville Road to start back towards the B&B.

Optional Extra: If the gate is open, turn left onto Wildlife Drive, which takes you around the reservoir via Pin Tail Drive, Furnace Hills Road, and Girl Scout Road. Turn right onto Millstone Road, which will take you past picnic areas, trailheads, and the dam to the main road. Turn left onto Kleinfeltersville Road to rejoin the tour.

At the T intersection, turn right onto Hopeland Road and then take the first left on North Clay Road.

Optional Stop: Fox Meadows Creamery

Where N Clay Road and US 322 meet, you find some of the best ice cream in Lancaster County year-round. In the fall, they add a farm stand featuring all sorts of gourds, pumpkins, and other favorites. They also do excellent made-from-scratch lunches.

Turn left onto US 322, and then drive five more minutes to Twin Pine Manor B&B.

Google Maps Driving Directions: https://maps.app.goo.gl/9hAncmbhKHBtPDXh9

Shorter Drive: Lititz

Estimated Drive Time: 38 minutes (19 miles)

Turn left out of our drive onto US 322 for the road less travelled. Otherwise, use your map app for directions to Hoovers Farm Market & Greenhouse. Take the first left onto Wissler Road, turn right onto W Burkholder Drive, and then another left onto Wissler Road again. This is Lancaster County—just go with it. Then turn left again onto Middle Creek Road.

This route will give you glimpses of Middle Creek itself. Cross over Lincoln Road to continue on Middle Creek Road (there’s a slight jag). Just beyond Erb’s Bridge Road, where you’ll turn right, you’ll see a conservative Mennonite church on the left (you can tell by the horse stalls in the parking area) and a one-room schoolhouse on the right.

Hoovers Edited | Twin Pine Manor Bed &Amp; Breakfast

Optional Stop: Hoover’s Farm Market & Greenhouse

Depending on the time of year, you can find anything from plants for your garden to homemade PA Dutch treats. In the fall, they often have a beautiful display of dried ears of corn, pumpkins, and other gourds in various shapes and colors.

Continue past Hoover’s on your left (if you don’t stop) and through Erb’s Mill Covered Bridge, which spans Hammer Creek and is one of Lancaster County’s historic covered bridges. Now we’re heading into the town of Lititz itself. Turn right onto Millway Road, another right onto East Newport Road, and then left onto Clay Road.

Optional Stop: Warwick to Ephrata Rail-Trail

Warwick Township Municipal Park is a great place to park to access the rail trail, which spans 7.5 miles of Lancaster County countryside between Lititz and downtown Ephrata. You can take a walk from the access point or ride the whole distance by bicycle. Bicycles are available for rent in the parking area.

Turning right onto Rothsville Road will bring you into downtown Lititz. Main Street Lititz and its surrounds have quite a few unique shops to peruse or cafes to stop for a coffee or lunch. If you want a bit of history with your scenic drive, you’ll find the first commercial pretzel bakery in America as well as buildings dating back to the mid-1700s alongside Main Street.

For leaf peeping or free parking, turn right onto North Broad Street and left on Park Lane to access Lititz Springs Park, which Discover Lancaster lists as a popular spot for foliage. When you’re ready to go to another spot on their list, turn left onto North Broad Street (PA 501) and head north out of town.

Turn left onto West Newport Road for about two miles and then right onto Evans Road. Veer left onto Mumma Road in less than a mile. Turn right onto West Brubaker Valley Road and then the first left onto Lakeview Drive. The East Access lot of Speedwell Forge Lake will be on your right in 300 feet and will give you a good view of the wooded shore opposite.

Optional Stop: Kayak the Lake

If you book ahead, you can rent kayaks from Middle Creek Kayak Rentals to be delivered to Speedwell Forge Lake.

Optional Detour: Speedwell Forge County Park

Keep going further up Lakeview Drive and turn right onto Speedwell Forge Road. Just off it on the left will be a small parking area for the 415-acre park and its Hammer Creek Trail.

Make your way back to Twin Pine Manor B&B past some beautiful farmland. Take Lakeview Drive back to Brubaker Valley Road. Turn left onto it and enjoy the view as you cross over the lake and continue for about three miles. Turn right onto US 322 and continue until you reach the B&B.

Optional Stop: Fox Meadows Creamery

You can reach Fox Meadows (described above) by turning left onto N Clay Road and right into its lot. Once your sweet tooth is satisfied, turn left back onto US 322 and continue to the B&B.

Google Maps Driving Directions: https://maps.app.goo.gl/baTGMEX3zX6F21Jx5

Your Starting Point

Stay with us and explore the Twin Pine Manor B&B property as well as the natural beauty of Lancaster and Lebanon counties. Our 3.5 acres include a pond, a manicured garden, a gazebo, and lots of room to wander. Enjoy a glass of wine or a meal on the back patio to soak in the farmland views and the slower pace of Lancaster County life. Walk around the property to enjoy a bit of leaf peeping without leaving the B&B.

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