You’ll Never Believe What’s Hiding in This Pennsylvania Hotel

I just wrapped up a two-day vacation in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, one of my favorite spots for a quick getaway. I was in town for grocery shopping at some of the best Amish markets in the country, hearty buffet dinners and breakfasts, and a country music show at the town's acclaimed American Music Theater. But maybe the most memorable part of my stay was my accommodations on the second night.

The Fulton Steamboat Inn might just be the most unique hotel in Pennsylvania. It is designed to look like a historic steamboat and combines modern charm and comfort with a historic feel that makes you feel like you're stepping back in time into the golden age of ocean liners. I knew to expect something special here, with its charming rooms and popular on-site restaurant, but there was one amenity I'd never seen before in a hotel, and it added a little touch of modern fun to a great vacation.

Located in the heart of Lancaster's busiest tourist area, the Fulton Steamboat Inn is impossible to miss from the moment you approach. The surrounding duck pond and fountain are gorgeous, and the hotel really does look like a steamboat!

I've stayed at the Fulton twice, and it's a great night's sleep with charming old-school rooms with a nautical theme, but the real appeal here is in the hotel's many amenities. There's a full-service restaurant, Huckleberry's, on site, along with a tavern. I visited Huckleberry's for breakfast on my last visit, and it can definitely compete with the local breakfast joints in quality and blows them out of the water in atmosphere.

The main lobby also features a great little gift shop, which contains a wide variety of books, Lancaster memorabilia, and specialty foodstuffs. If you head down the hall, you'll find a media center with an interactive display of all the attractions in the area,

However, when you go to the second floor and head down the corridor next to the elevator, you'll find the most unexpected amenity in a historic-themed hotel: an arcade and game room!

This small annex is guaranteed to be a hit with kids; when I was there, you could find a few crane and collection games, plus a racing game, a pinball machine, and a vintage Ms. Pac-Man console. It's a great little touch of modernity to visit before you return to the world of the high seas!

Have you gotten to stay at the Fulton Steamboat Inn before? If not, this destination hotel is taking on passengers every day, so tell a travel buddy about this article - and see who gets the high score in the game room! You can book your own stay on the Fulton Steamboat Inn website, and if you want a change of pace from all the delicious Amish food in town, the hotel is just two miles down the road from the Manor Buffet, the town's largest pan-Asian buffet.