Mechanicsburg offers a charming downtown feel with galleries, casual dining, and specialty gift shops. Spend a day shopping and discovering this historic town.
Shop
Market Street: On Market Street, stop in The Rosemary House. They offer a great selection of tea, herbs, and a lovely garden. Right down the street, take a peek at Civil War and More, a small gem packed with an eclectic selection of Civil War merchandise and staff knowledgeable on local Civil War history. On North Market Street, music aficionados will love to shop for vinyl records and CDs at RecordSmith. Their wide-ranging collection features rock, hip-hop, electronica, jazz, and other genres.
Main Street: Begin exploring Main Street with a stop at The Bewitching Moon, featuring an eclectic collection of local handmade items and metaphysical goods. If you like shopping for antiques, don't miss Vintage Etc. on the opposite end of Main Street. Formally an 1850's residence, you'll find fun vintage finds throughout this two-story building.
Experience
Stop at the Mechanicsburg Museum and visit a cluster of historic buildings from the 1800s to learn about Cumberland Valley's history. The museum is headquartered at the Passenger Station. Start there and experience this preserved 1867 Cumberland Valley Railroad station. From here, the docents can give you tours of the other buildings. The Stationmaster's House was built in 1866 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The preserved home was originally built for stationmaster George Zacharias. The two-story Freight Station Museum & Museum Store was once used for freight shipments and deliveries. It now houses a modern museum space and store that sells area gifts and crafts. Finally, ask for a tour of the preserved Frankenberger Tavern. This log tavern was built in 1801 and was near the Great Road from Harrisburg to Carlisle.
For a fun activity, book a class at Board & Brush Creative Studio, a do-it-yourself wood sign workshop where you can create a unique home decor item. The Gleeful Candle Co. offers one-hour candle-making workshops at central PA's first DIY candle-making location.
Eat
Order a special at Diener's for breakfast, like a baked potato omelet loaded with potato, bacon, and sour cream. They also have a huge selection of grilled cheese sandwiches. Enjoy a European-style breakfast or lunch to-go at Dalicia Ristorante and Bakery or a slice of pizza at Jo Jo's, Mechanicsburg's first pizza shop. For dinner and a fun bar atmosphere, head to Snapper's Restaurant. On the weekends, they often have live entertainment. Enjoy hand-dipped favorites like apple pie ice cream at Rakestraw's (open seasonally) for dessert. Feeling a little bit fancy? Treat yourself to afternoon tea at Sweet Remembrances, right next door to The Rosemary House.
Annual Events
- April: Mechanicsburg Earth Day Festival
- May: Art Walk and Wine Tasting
- June (3rd Thursday of June): Jubilee Day is the largest one-day street fair on the East Coast.
