Lancaster area campground recommendation

[Sport]

Hello Pennsylvania pop-up campers.  I plan to be in the Lancaster area at the end of the month camping and was hoping you can offer any suggestions on what you think would be a good campground to spend a couple days.  I have a whole list of campgrounds in that area but was thinking that maybe you could help cut down on my research time.  We plan to just chill and take it easy, and hang out so something private and quiet would be nice.  Evidently, there is one near a amusement type park that is good, but I also heard the campsites are real close and it is also near the highway.  Maybe its not so quiet and not so private. Anyway, hoping you can help.      Thanks for your assistance, Sport

[Beer Belly]

We are looking at Country Acres for next month.....Mill Bridge (I think), was our 2nd choice. We've never gone also, but have wanted to for years, I hope it's worth the 4 hour drive.

[The Mandolin Picker]

The Mill Bridge Village campground is nice (http://www.millbridge.com/). We have stayed there several times and like it. You are behind a working Amish farm, so if you don't like the sounds (or smells) of cows and the other things that go with farm life, it may not be your cup of tea. You are centrally located, for things like Dutch Wonderland, Strausburg Railroad, etc.

The  Old Mill Stream campground is next to the Dutch Wonderland amusement park (http://www.oldmillstreamcampground.com/ and http://www.dutchwonderland.com/). We have been to Dutch Wonderland with the grandkids, but never stayed at the campground there. It looks clean, but it is too close to the amusement park for my liking.

Another one we did stay at was White Oak Campground (http://www.whiteoakcampground.com/). It wasn't a bad campground, but DW liked Mill Bridge Village better. IIRC, this campground is not too far from the one-room school house involved in the mass shooting a few years back. The school house is gone now, as the Amish built a new building.

Almost all of the campgrounds in Lancaster that we have seen are nice. Many have the Amish come through in the afternoon selling things like fresh pies and veggies. We really enjoy the Lancaster area - it is very relaxing, although the area is growing. It is no longer the 'small town' of years ago.

Hope that helps 

[Beer Belly]

How do they feel about adult beverages in the area.....I like to have a couple during the day, and a couple around the fire at night....I'm not talkin' about getting stinkin' drunk, but just a few.

[The Mandolin Picker]

I don't drink, so I honestly don't know. However, here is a rundown from Wikipedia - YMMV

Pennsylvania is an alcoholic beverage control state. Wine and spirits are to be sold only in the state owned Wine And Spirits shops. The standard business hours for these stores are 9am to 9pm Monday through Saturday with only a hand full of stores open to 10pm such as Franklin Mills or Columbus Blvd. Previously, all state-controlled stores were closed on Sundays, but now certain locations are open. Searches for store locations, hours and phone numbers are available on the PLCB web site. Wineries are common throughout the commonwealth, and often sell their wines at storefronts in shopping malls, and persons under the age of 21 are permitted to enter these establishments. Wine was available for a short time in supermarket kiosks, but this practice has ended.

Beer may only be purchased from a restaurant, bar, licensed beer store, or distributor. Beer distributors mainly sell cases and kegs of beer, not smaller volumes of beer such as six packs. Six and twelve packs, along with individual bottles such as 40 ounce or 24 ounce beers, are sold at bars, restaurants, and licensed retailers. A consumer is limited to 192 ounces of beer per purchase. For larger quantities one must go to a beverage distributor which sells beer only by the case or keg. Beverage distributors (which also sell soft drinks) may sell beer and malt liquor, but not wine or hard liquor. Unlike the Wine and Spirits shops, people under 21 may enter most beverage distributors without an adult, since most distributors also sell water, soda, ice, and some snack foods. They are subject to the rules of the individual establishment.

Some supermarkets, including Wegmans, Giant Eagle, Giant (of Hanover), and Weis, have begun to sell alcohol within restaurants attached to the main supermarket building, but only under very specific conditions (the restaurant must have a defined separation from the rest of the supermarket, a separate cashier, and seating for at least 30 patrons). Supermarket chain ShopRite has begun to attach Wine and Spirits stores to its stores. For a time, Sheetz obtained a liquor license for a restaurant attached to one of its convenience stores in Altoona. After several debates, the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania ruled that the store must sell beer to in-house customers as well as take-out.