Blog

I had a discussion recently with a very nice gentleman at the Black Forest Brewery. After pleasantries, we delved into a deeper conversation about travel; it turns out he had spent some time in India, a place I’m determined to visiting at some point in my life. We talked all about why he made his initial trip, how he financed it, what he enjoyed, and why he ultimately returned home after a prolonged stay. It was a very pleasant conversation, but somewhere in the middle, he got to asking me about where I would like to travel. It is no secret to anyone who meets me that I’m obviously drawn to food and drink. So I began rattling off a list of potential places that sparked my culinary interest, and he noticed this right away. His response was “so it seems you travel for pleasure and culture”; it was a simple observation, one any person could have made, but it truly made me think about… Read More

Fall is notorious for a few things. Cool breezes, the start of football, and PUMPKIN. It seems to me the last couple of years, the pumpkin craze has exploded, exponentially. It’s pumpkin spice this, and pumpkin spice that, you see pumpkin EVERYWHERE! And this is where I take issue. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good pumpkin cappuccino or refreshing pumpkin beer every now and then, but this craze has molded an object  that once represented the fall season into so little and basic, I feel it my solemn duty to write this blog and remind people what the pumpkin  is all about. So let’s talk pumpkin. First, a few fun facts about this rotund squash : Did you know that: Over 1 billion pounds (450 million kgs) of pumpkin are produced in the US every year The name pumpkin comes from the Greek word ‘pepon’, meaning ‘large melon’ Pumpkins are popular decorations during Halloween.… Read More

Let’s play a game, what is the first word that comes to mind when you hear the phrase Bed & Breakfast? Is it...comfort, homey, luxury? How about when you hear  the word, Amish? Is it...old world, horse and buggy, religious? Well today, after a particularly long weekend, I found myself thinking about another phrase, BEER. Yes, beer...when I think of beer I think of hot summer days, friends, cookouts, fun and many laughs.. All of these combined continue to give me an excuse to explore more craft breweries to find the perfect beer to suit my current mood. So this week, we’re going to talk all about one of America’s favorite pastimes, drinking craft brews. This is a pretty easy blog for me to write, since we have a brewery situated on our premises, but I don’t want to spoil the surprise for those wanting to visit Black Forest Brewery, so instead I’m going to talk a little about… Read More

So we’ve done a lot of talking about Ephrata the past few months, where to go and eat and drink, but I think it’s time to focus a bit more on the outskirts of the Lancaster County, especially with September being prime travel season for those near and far. This brings me to antiques. Last year we discussed the best antique shopping spots all around Lancaster including some fan favorites in Adamstown, Downtown Lancaster, and the ever popular Lancaster roadside stands. This week, we’re delving deep into the psyche of those antique fanatics that thrive on shows like Pawn Stars, American Diggers, Storage Wars, and Antique Roadshow. We hit the big spots, the ultimate finds, and why Lancaster, PA is the place to be if you’re searching for that forgotten heirloom. Nicknamed, Antique Capital USA, the Lancaster area has been home to treasured relics for centuries. While most visit the… Read More

So awhile back, I joined this creative forum on Facebook called “The Rising Tide Society”. I joined for two reasons; number one I needed impartial and unbiased advice on everything to do with my business from our logo design to how our website operated. This was the practical reason to join the group, but the other reason that truly resonated with me is that the group practices and preaches one very unique mantra- Community over Competition. I loved this idea, while healthy competition makes the world go around, anyone in the creative event field knows that a helping hand or friendly face always makes a stressful situation better. So with the spirit of the Rising Tide Society, I dedicate this week’s blog to community over competition and letting you know about some great other bed and breakfasts to visit during your travels. If you’re traveling to : Virginia : The Mark Addy Inn. A… Read More

The end of summer can be hard, especially for those of us that have spent the past 3 months lounging by the beach, traveling the country, or simply just relaxing at home with family and friends. But, fear not. The end of summer just means the beginning of cooler weather, Fair month, and a lineup of great activities here at the 1777 Americana Inn Bed and Breakfast and the Black Forest Brewery! This weeks blog is all about getting you out of the “end of summer” funk and get you looking forward to the Fall time bliss that awaits you in Lancaster County. Let’s first start off with, Fairs. If you’ve been following our blog, you’ll have read all about the Berks and Lancaster fairs that revitalize the communities around the B&B in the fall. There are countless street fairs, country festivals, and local organizations that showcase the best Lancaster eats, drinks, and rides that are… Read More

About 6 years ago, my husband and I took a trip to Cape May, New Jersey. While strolling the downtown area we came across a tiny shop in the bottom of a beautiful old Victorian mansion.  I walked into this shop and I felt like I was walking into my mecca, it was filled with olive oils, vinegars, salts, sugars, dips, and gourmet foods...it was my paradise. This shop known as the Cape May Tasting Room was the first olive oil store I had ever been to and my taste buds were delighted. Since our trip to Cape May, I have drug my husband in and out of every olive oil shop I could find, including a very pleasant trip to Seasons Olive Oil and Vinegar Taproom in downtown Lancaster. While at the Summer 2016 Fig Launch, I met Micaela Ferrari, a staff member at Seasons and she kindly invited me to the shop for an extended tasting and as we all know, I never turn down a foodie experience! Inside… Read More

This summer has been HOT. So hot that I feel it is my solemn duty to report how we can beat the heat. So besides jumping into a large body of cold water, what better way is there to cool off than with ICE CREAM!  Ice cream - the quintessential frozen treat of the summer, the master of sugary ceremonies, the rewarding dessert at the end (beginning or middle) of a long hot summer day, ice cream is definitely the answer and this week I made it my plan to find the best frozen treats around Ephrata. Let’s start closer to Berks County, a short ride from the 1777 Americana down 272 to Adamstown, you’ll find a place that Guy Fieri would only describe as a trip to “Flavortown”- Boehringer’s Drive-In. Boehringer’s has been a Berks and Lancaster seasonal fan favorite for over 70 years and it’s staple counter service and outdoor seating make it a true summertime memory for many people.… Read More

So last week I got to tell you all about my zip lining adventures at Refreshing Mountain, but I didn't want to overload the blog with awesomeness so I saved the second portion of my day for this week. If you follow my weekly escapades around the Ephrata area, you'll know that Refreshing Mountain is a Christian adventure retreat camp only 10 minutes from the 1777 Americana Inn B&B, if you don't follow our blogs, well now you know. I was graciously allowed to come and experience one of their two zip-lining and adventure courses designed to promote team building and wholesome family fun. What I didn't expect was to be guided by such a self-aware, genuine, and enthusiastic naturist who shared my interest for animals and education. In a previous life, before my blogging and event coordinating passions came about, I was a marine biologist. I wasn't just any marine biologist, I was a marine… Read More

Three years ago I was blessed to marry my best friend and go on amazing honeymoon with him to the Caribbean islands. While there we snorkeled, walked the pristine beaches, and decided to zip-line through the jungle of the Dominican Republic. We thought, why not… we’re here and when are we going to get to zip-line through a jungle again. Well my husband had other thoughts as we stood 800 feet above the ground about to jump off a tiny platform and hurl through the jungle at an incredible speed, his thoughts were more like “there is no way on earth I am stepping off this tiny little platform to my untimely death”, but he did and we made it and it was incredible. The scenery, the speed, the thrill, the waterfalls, needless to say we made a lifelong memory that day. So, naturally when I found out (most recently) that there was this incredible thrill seeking adventure right in our Lancaster… Read More