Date of Latest Visit: November 11, 2023

In 2013, the borough of Lititz in Lancaster County was named “Coolest Small Town in America.” With one of the busiest main streets in all of Pennsylvania, it’s hard to argue.

Lititz was founded in 1756, and to this day retains a historic charm throughout the town.

Many visitors to the town – especially on busier weekends – find parking is easiest at Lititz Springs Park. The spring for which the park takes its name is covered, but the water still flows along a small stream, attracting a large population of ducks which are a big hit with kids.

The park is also home to what was once the town’s train station. It now serves as a community visitors center.

Adjacent to the park is one of the town’s defining features, the former Wilbur Chocolates factory. The factory, which closed several years ago, has been converted in a hotel and luxury apartments collectively known as The Wilbur.

While Wilbur chocolates are no longer manufactured in Lititz, the candy company still has a presence in the town with a store located across the street from the former factory. Inside, visitors can find everything Wilbur and watch through the glass as a workers dip pretzels and create other sweet treats.

Count me among those who prefer Wilbur buds to the more famous Hershey kisses.

Lititz has a large downtown thanks to the intersection of two main thoroughfares. Broad Street (Route 501) passes north-to-south and crosses Main Street (Route 772). The two roads meet at Lititz Square, home to the Lititz Springs Inn and Spa (formerly the General Sutter Inn) and Bulls Head Public House, one of the most popular dining spots in town.

There are many great restaurants throughout town. One of our favorites is the Tomato Pie Café. The namesake dish shouldn’t be confused with Philadelphia’s tomato pie. The breakfast and brunch favorite served at the café is a rich dish of tomatoes and herbs baked in a pie crust.

For many, the real draw of Lititz is the shopping. Independent stores and boutiques line both Broad and Main Street for several blocks.

Olio Olive Oil Company is a favorite of ours. It was the first olive oil tasting room that we had ever experienced, and it is still our go-to for infused cooking oils we use on a daily basis.

Next to Olio is an excellent bakery – Dosie Dough. They serve Auchenbach’s doughnuts (another Lancaster County favorite) along with their own made breads, sweets and breakfast sandwiches.

Two other food vendors are frequent stops for us. Zest! is a cooking store that offers everything you need to take your kitchen to the next level. The store also offers cooking classes at a satellite location to  help you make the most of your cooking space.

For the kids, Candyology is a popular stop – a place you can find nearly every sweet imaginable. For the more adventurous palatte, check out the Savory Gourmet where you’ll find exotic meats like kangaroo filets, ostrich patties and python spring rolls.

The town also boasts a music store, independent book store, fine furniture stores, a toy store specializing in farm toys, antique stores, specialty delis, and clothing stores for men and women.

One of the must-see attractions while you’re in town in the Julius Sturgis Pretzel Bakery. In 1861, Julius Sturgis opened the first commercial pretzel bakery in America. Today the site hosts pretzel baking tours and sells both hard and soft pretzels.

Just outside town is the Rock Lititz complex, an expanding commercial center with plenty to offer visitors. The complex is built around Rock Lititz where the stage shows for international touring artists are perfected before they head out on the road. While there is no visitor access to Rock Lititz, itself, anyone is welcome to spend the night next door at Hotel Rock Lititz.

The music-themed hotel shows off the work of the lighting, sound, and performance support companies that make up Rock Lititz. Many of them have offices across the street at an area called Pod 2.

Pod 2 is open to the public and features a commissary-style restaurant, yoga studio, brewery, climbing gym and a bike store, Lititz Bikeworks. The Bikeworks offers guided bike tours of the area and bike rentals. The seven-mile Warwick-to-Ephrata Rail Trail connects the boroughs of Lititz and Ephrata, passing through Rothsville and Akron along the way.

With so much to do in a small town, we have to agree that Lititz is one of the coolest small towns in America.

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