On this tour we will drive to Pennsylvania where we will visit two very exciting sites. First stop will be the Historic Ephrata Cloister which was founded in 1732 by Conrad Beissel. Conrad was a German immigrant that came to seek a life as a hermit and to follow his own religious ideas including achieve a spiritual union with God at the Second Coming, which he felt would occur soon.

In the early 1750s, about 80 celibate Brothers and Sisters were housed in large impressive Germanic log, stone, and half-timbered buildings. At that time nearly 200 family members known as Householders, occupied nearby homes and farms. 

After the founder died in 1768, there was a sharp decline in membership and the last celibate member died in 1813. During the American Revolution, Ephrata served as a hospital for nearly 260 American soldiers.

In 1941 the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission took over the administration of the historic site and began a program of research, restoration, and interpretation.

You will receive a guided tour of some of the buildings, and some of the buildings you can explore self-guided. You will discover the history and culture of an intriguing story in the past of our country.  

We will enjoy a lunch including non-alcoholic beverage at a local restaurant.

Lost River Caverns

Next we will visit Lost River Caverns. The cave is a natural limestone cavern located in Hellertown, Pennsylvania. It was discovered in 1883 when a limestone quarry cut into it. (All the photos on this page from the cave is in courtesy of Lost River Caverns)

In the past the caverns have been called Rentzheimer's Cave and Lost Cave. The "Lost River Caverns" name was contributed to that the source and mouth of the river that flows through the cave, have not yet been discovered. In 1929 the cavern was purchased with the intention of creating a commercial show cave and in 1930 handrails, lighting and walkways were installed and the cave was opened to the public.

You will receive a guided tour through this underground wonderland. The temperature in the cave is consistently 52 °F (11°C), so please make sure to bring a jacket or a long sleeve shirt. The cave also has a small museum and a gift shop.

WHAT TO BRING AND WEAR ON THE TOUR

TOUR CONFIRMATION: Either on your phone or printed out.

ID: Please bring a valid government issued identification. (Adults only)

CLOTHES: according to the weather, the temperature in the caverns is a constant 52 degrees, so please bring a light jacket or a sweater, regardless of the outside temperature.

FOOTWEAR: Good walking shoes.

RAIN GEAR: Even with no rain in the forecast, we recommend you bring some rain gear.

WATER: In a plastic bottle, especially on hot days. Drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration.

CAMERA/PHONE: With extra battery/memory is highly recommended. You will experience breath taking scenery.

CASH: Although our tour is classified as an "all inclusive". It is advisable to bring some cash for snacks and gratuities for the guide which is left to your discretion.

INSURANCE: Even if this is just a day tour, if you are concern about losing money due to illness (including Covid-19) or other unpredictable matters, we highly recommend you buy a travel insurance. We can recommend www.insuremytrip.com or www.squaremouth.com (Hines Tours is not affiliated with either of these sites in any form). We do not give tour refunds or tour credits if you are not able to make the tour for any reasons.