Each summer, couples and families from the far reaches of Pennsylvania and beyond stream to Lancaster County to enjoy all that this region has to offer. Sure, we have the county lifestyle that many have come to know, filled with Amish spectacles seen few other places. And the area is certainly rife with shopping opportunities, too. But recently, tourists are discovering the Lancaster that locals love: the hustling, bustling city with a vibrant day and night life. Tourism has been booming in this area, as Kathleen Frankford well knows. Each year, Lancaster received 8 million visitors, which provides $2.5 billion of annual economic impact.Read along as we ask the Discover Lancaster president a bit about herself and what she finds so captivating about this historic region.
Name: Kathleen Frankford
Current position: president, Discover Lancaster
My alma mater is: Millersville University for bachelor’s degree, Temple University for master’s degree
One word that describes me is: driven
My favorite hobbies include: Besides serving as chauffeur for my three kids? I enjoy running, skiing, reading, visiting art museums, and spending quality time with my family. When I travel, I love to explore.
My favorite movie is: Gone with the Wind.
I love Lancaster County because: it is so diverse. Where else can you be in the middle of a vibrant city with fine dining, wonderful art galleries, and beautiful theaters, and then drive five minutes and you’re in the middle of breathtaking countryside? It’s a truly special destination.
I believe our rebranding from PA Dutch Convention and Visitors Bureau to Discover Lancaster has been important because: our destination is very misunderstood by both visitors and non-visitors. People perceive us as Amish only, and the majority of our visitors only participate in a very limited number of attractions. The Amish are the cornerstone of our brand, but I also want people to realize that we have beautiful towns and villages, wonderful outdoor opportunities, fine dining, eclectic shopping, a wonderful arts and theater scene, and much more. As we make more people aware of the additional things that we have, more people will visit.
My favorite “did-you-know” fact about Lancaster County is: that the nation’s oldest continuously-operating theater and farmers’ market—Fulton Theatre and Lancaster Central Market—are located just a block apart from one another in downtown Lancaster.
My favorite tidbit of Lancaster history is: that the charming town of Lititz is home to a delicious piece of Lancaster County and U.S. history: Julius Sturgis Pretzel Bakery, the first commercial pretzel bakery in America and a wonderful family attraction.
My favorite place in Lancaster to get an ice cream cone is: the Strasburg Country Store and Creamery.
When I want to grab a drink with friends, I head to: It’s a tie: The Greenfield Restaurant (the new bar is beautiful) and Iron Hill Brewery.
My personal favorite restaurant for a night on the town is: Checkers Bistro. I love it! They have the best Rachel sandwich, and I love their cheesecake too (even though I’m not usually a cheesecake lover).
When I need to look my best for an upcoming Discover Lancaster event, I go to: Papagallo, in downtown Lancaster.
When I’m looking for a special item to add to my home, I head to: my new favorite store, The Treasure Place in Intercourse.
My recommendation for a little-known Lancaster gem is: downtown Ephrata, which I recently discovered. It is really growing in recent years and has some great places to eat and shop. People are extremely friendly and proud of their community. It’s truly developing into a beautiful downtown.
The new Discover Lancaster tagline is “everything you expect and everything you didn’t.” Here’s something I didn’t expect from Lancaster County: I had no idea there were so many outdoor opportunities and activities in the Columbia area: beautiful hiking, paddle boarding, kayaking. I really look forward to continuing to promote this area, as I know people will be interested in all the things that are offered in this beautiful part of Lancaster County.
What’s in the future for Lancaster County tourism? The future is extremely bright. We conducted a tremendous amount of research and discovered that we have what people want, they like what they’re seeing in terms of our messaging, and the advertising we’re doing is working. Our challenge now is to find additional funding so that we can spread the word more effectively and bring more people to this beautiful place.