Hanover, PA Road Trips

Hanover has been home to Utz Quality Foods since 1921 which still produces its products there, and to Snyder's of Hanover since 1905. There is an Utz outlet store. In nearby areas there are other snack food makers including Hanover Foods, Wolfgang Candy, Martin's Potato Chips, Hershey Foods, Herr's Snacks and Gibbles Potato Chips. In 1727, John Digges, an Irish nobleman of Prince George's County, Maryland, obtained a grant of 10,000 acres (40 km2) of land where Hanover is now located from Charles Calvert, the fourth Lord Baltimore. The area was called Digges Choice, and in 1730, a group of Catholics started the settlement that became known as the Conewego Settlement. Settlers from Maryland and Pennsylvania began moving into the area in the 1730s. In 1745, a Scot-Irishman named Richard McAllister purchased the tract of land upon which the town of Hanover was built. Hanover at that time was covered with a dense forest of hickory, walnut, and oak trees. McAllister erected a log house at what is now the corner of Baltimore and Middle streets, and opened a store and tavern. In 1763, McAllister divided his farm into lots and founded the town of Hanover. The name Hanover was suggested by Michael Tanner, who was one of the commissioners who laid out York County in 1749 and owned large tracts of land southeast of the town. Tanner was a native of Hannover, Germany. Thomas Jefferson spent the night of April 12, 1776 at the Sign of the Horse, an inn, owned by Caspar Reinecker on Frederick Street.

Hanover is best known as the snackfood capital of the USA. There are great factory tours available at Utz Quality Foods. The Hanover Square is an interesting area of town and offers some insight to years past. The Basilica of The Sacred Heart is an old stone basilica on the edge of town, built in 1787. The Hanover Fire Museum is a collection of fire memorabilia and apparatus at 134 E Hanover St. George Nace House - Local history museum of the Hanover Area Historical Society at 103 W Chestnut St. Hanover Shoe Company – A large shoe factory from 1910, now converted into apartments. Eichelberger Performing Arts Center - A school built in 1896, now in the former auditorium. It hosts many shows and events throughout the year. The Hanover Historic District, Eichelberger High School, George Nace (Neas) House, and US Post Office-Hanover are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Codorus State Park has a large artificial lake, pontoon boat rentals, motor boat rentals, canoe rentals, row boat rentals, paddle boats, disc golf courses, and one of the largest pools in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. There is a lake 3 miles outside town. The local library at 2 Library Pl is open M-Th 10AM-9PM and F-Sa 10AM-5PM.

On Eisenhower Road you can find Texas Roadhouse, Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts, Red Lobster, and Bay City Restaurant, as well as the usual chain fast-food places found everywhere in America. A lot of the locals like to frequent the Famous Hot Weiner. They have two locations. One on Dart Drive and one in downtown Hanover off on York Street. Secret chili recipe, good dogs, diner atmosphere.

They are a few great local taverns in town. Lots of locals prefer some of the smaller, quaint taverns and bars. The Rendezvous Lounge on Elm Street is very clean, and the prices are probably the best around. If dancing is more of your flavor, Fridays are always busy at Bay City Lounge, on Eisenhower Drive.

Super 8 Motel, 40 Wetzel Dr. Hampton Inn, 309 Wilson Ave. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM.

The Hanover area is served by Pennsylvania Routes 94, 194, 116, and 216. Route 94 (Carlisle Street/Pike and Baltimore Street/Pike) intersects with Route 194 at the square and extends north to Carlisle and south to Baltimore. Route 194 (Broadway/Abbottstown Pike and Frederick Street/Hanover Pike) intersects with Route 94 and Route 116 at the square and extends north to Dillsburg, PA and south to Frederick. Route 116 (York Street/Road and High Street/Hanover Road) overlaps Route 194 and runs through the square for three blocks. It extends west to Gettysburg and east to Spring Grove. Route 216 (Blooming Grove Road) branches southwest off of Route 116 and runs through Codorus State Park. Hanover is served by 4 routes of the Rabbit Transit bus system. Route #16 connects Downtown Hanover to Downtown York. An unnumbered route transports employees from York to Hanover. Route #21 connects Downtown Hanover with North Hanover and the Homewood Retirement Village. Route #22 connects Downtown Hanover with North Hanover and South Hanover.

A car is extremely useful to get around. Taxi service is provided by American Taxi, a company based in York, ☏ +1 717 846-8294. Local bus service is provided by Rabbit Transit, with two local lines (Routes 21 and 22) and one line (Route 16) that connects to York. The local lines run from 6AM-6PM Monday through Saturday. The line to/from York runs from 7:45AM-6:30PM Monday through Friday. Be careful of the only car rental in town, Enterprise on Carlisle Street. They have dubious practices. For example, they give you a car with empty gas, and upon return they charge you full gas. Also, their cars are pre-scratched under the front headlights, so if you decline insurance, they are ready to charge you for alleged "damage" to their cars.