Manheim/Lititz - Lititz, PA

Lititz's roots date back to the settlement by members of the Moravian Church in 1756, while the foundation for Manheim was laid in 1762 by William Stiegel. Industry claimed much of the area in its early life, dominated primarily by Manheim Glassworks. Over the years, the cultural focus of the town shifted away from industrial business, and it now claims a spot as one of the favorite destinations for tourists, day-trippers and vacationers from all over.

Walk down the corridors of history at the Lititz Historical Foundation & Museum, located on Main Street. Here you can find costumed tour guides who happily explain what life was like for a family in the 18th century. Performing arts of all kinds are located at the American Music Theatre, while the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire arrives each year in downtown Manheim.

Dining in Manheim and Lititz brings a wide variety of choices ranging from four-star fine dining to locally owned mom-and-pop eateries. Both downtown Lititz and Manheim feature a large number of quality eating establishments in the two central locations.

The friendly and helpful staff at Bruno's Old Style Hoagies on Kleine Lane in downtown Lititz definitely know how to make a tasty hoagie. Choose from ham, turkey or roast beef to name just a few, pile it on to a fresh seeded roll and top it off with some tomatoes and onions marinated in high-quality olive oil.

Located on Broad Street in Lititz, the Tomato Pie Cafe provides some of the best traditional American cuisine in the region. One of its signature dishes, the smoked salmon Benedict, comes with egg, smoked salmon and arugula on a Parmesan cake topped with Mornay sauce.

If you find yourself in the mood for some quality Chinese food, Manheim China Wok on Main Street in downtown Manheim provides all of the usual staples alongside excellent signature dishes. Gnosh on a plate of the Happy Family, a dish piled high with a seafood mix and then topped with garlic and a creamy white sauce.

While not on par with the big city, the nightlife scene in Lititz and Manheim still holds many different types of venues to choose from. On Charlotte Street in Manheim, enjoy the classic-American bar scene at The Cat's Meow, a spot well-stocked with great food and quality drinks. Alternatively, enjoy from the tasty selection of beers brewed at local breweries in a British-pub setting at the Bull's Head Public House located on Main Street in Lititz. Head to nearby Lancaster and in Philadelphia when seeking live music venues.

With a rural makeup and spread-out landscape, residents of and visitors to Lititz and Manheim commonly use cars as transportation. Red Rose Transit Authority, which services all of Lancaster County, runs a bus route for each of the two towns, with connecting routes to most of the rest of Lancaster County. If you need a cab be sure to call ahead to Lancaster County Taxi Service, located on Noble Street in Lititz. Metered public streets and business parking lots remain the primary sources of public parking.

Both Manheim and Lititz are situated close to major travel arteries. Pennsylvania Routes 772 and 501 run right through the town of Lititz. In Manheim, Pennsylvania Routes 772, 283 and 72 serve as connections to many outlying regions.

The small-town, residential makeup of Manheim and Lititz make them both prime spots for walking and biking enthusiasts. Quiet streets wind around the area, virtually all of which designate clear bike paths and safe sidewalks.

The rural setting found at both Lititz and Manheim is perfect for a widely-developed parks system. Lititz Springs Park, located on North Broad Street in Lititz, provides access to over 40 acres of fun in the sun. Feed the ducks, play in the small, meandering stream or enjoy the playground with your little ones. Lititz Springs Park also claims the annual Christmas in the Park festival as its own, an event filled with tree lighting and carol singing.

Check out one of the most interesting outdoor venues in the state, the Wolf Sanctuary of Pennsylvania, which houses over 40 wolves in a 20-acre, natural woodland. Tour guides stand ready to lead you through either a private or public tour among the wolves. Visit the education center to learn much more about these four-legged predators.

Fitness enthusiasts may make their way to Stauffer Park, situated conveniently on Lititz Pike. Basketball courts, a softball field and multiple tennis courts all stand ready to give you a workout while your children run wild on the playground.

Thankfully, the beautiful scenery and small-town charm do not come at an exorbitant price, with the cost of living almost right at the average for the rest of the state. Housing, however, claims a bigger piece of your paycheck, with the median rental price for a one-bedroom apartment at $883 per month, around 11 percent higher than the rest of the state.

Zones make up the backbone of the cost structure of Lititz and Manheim's public transit system. Base cash fare starts at $1.70, with the price going up to $2.90, depending on which zone you end up in. Public transportation options to Center City, Philadelphia, remain unavailable. Gas prices hover at the same level as the rest of the country, while a pint of beer at a local pub runs around $3.

Both Manheim and Lititz residents do much of their shopping in the downtown sections of the cities. Locally owned stores and boutiques represent the lion’s share of these places to shop, clearly outnumbering their chain-store counterparts. A large number of high-end stores make their home in nearby Lancaster.

The Always New to You Consignment Boutique stands as a perfect representative of the specialty boutique businesses that are prevalent throughout the area. Located on Broad Street in Lititz, this shop is rife with consigned offerings such as clothing, jewelry and purses.

Country Threads by Gail, located on Doe Run Road in Manheim, caters to brides and bridesmaids of all shapes and sizes. Gail, the store's namesake, stands ready to help with any alterations necessary and provides custom work for bottom-dollar prices.

A balance of chain grocery stores and independently-owned markets make up the grocery shopping choices in Lititz and Manheim. Green Hills Farm Discount Grocer, found on Newport Road in Lititz, has a all of your grocery needs covered including a great deli packed with fresh meats and cheeses. The Lititz Farmer's Market, located on North Water Street, also provides fresh produce direct from some of the area's local farms.