ESCAPE KEYS

New Holland, Pa.

GETTING THERE: New Holland, Pa., is about two hours 40 minutes by car from downtown Washington. Amtrak offers several trains a day (round-trip rates start at $114) from Washington to Lancaster, Pa., via Philadelphia. Harvest Moon is 25 minutes by taxi from the train depot in Lancaster.

WHERE TO STAY: For all that you get, the rates at Harvest Moon (311 E. Main St., New Holland, http://www.harvestmoonbandb.com/, 717-354-0213) are a real deal. Doubles with a private bath start at $79 a night Sunday through Thursday and $99 a night on weekends. That includes a full breakfast that is more like a brunch. Cooking demo weekends are planned for April, May and June. Prices range from $30 for a short class to $275 packages, which include cooking and more.

OTHER EDIBLE EXCURSIONS: In this agriculturally rich part of Pennsylvania, food-related distractions are everywhere. We learned all the details about the making (and eating) of chocolate at the Candy Americana Museum, part of the Wilbur Chocolate Co. (48 N. Broad St., Lititz, 717-626-3249), about a 25-minute drive from New Holland. We picked up all the twists of pretzelmaking in a free tour at the Intercourse Pretzel Factory ( http://www.intercoursepretzelfactory.com/, 3614 Old Philadelphia Pike, Intercourse, 717-768-3432), a 15-minute drive from New Holland. Stock up on picnic fixings or locally made goodies to take home at the Lancaster Central Market (Penn Square, Lancaster, 717-291-4723). For a gourmet dinner, try Carr's Restaurant (50 W. Grant St., Lancaster, 717-299-7090, http://www.carrsrestaurant.com/), where chef-owner Tim Carr turns cheeses, organic chicken and other products from local farms into marvelous meals. Dinner entrees range from $24 to $30.

MORE INFO: Lancaster County Visitors Bureau, http://www.padutchcountry.com/, 800-723-8824)