Explore local history, cuisine and culture with our new app, Uniquely Ephrata! Available for Apple and Android users.
Get out and explore Ephrata with our Uniquely Ephrata App! This app contains three walking tours to help you discover what is new in our borough! Learn the history and significance of some of Ephrata’s architectural gems with the Historic Walking Tour. During the holiday season, users can enjoy a self-guided Jingle Bell Tour of some of the most decorated homes in the borough. This month we are also debuting a new tour, Ephrata Eats, where users can discover delicious snacks at our local eateries!
If you are unfamiliar with the Uniquely Ephrata App, we will explain how to download it and utilize its features to learn more about our local history and culture.
The Uniquely Ephrata app is an entirely free app that you can download to your device whether you are an Apple or Android user. The app is available on the IOS Store for Apple users and the Google Play Store for Android users. Once you have downloaded the app, the exploring can begin!
Once you have opened the app, there will be a list of self-guided tours you can access. Once you have chosen an option, download the tour to your phone. Once the tour is downloaded, tap on the “start tour” button, and the app will display the first location. There is an address for each building to help you navigate, and you can toggle to the map view in the upper right-hand corner of the screen to see where you are.
The Historic Walking Tour will take you to 12 easily walkable spots in downtown Ephrata. Each location features a 1–5 minute audio clip that gives you a history lesson, so be sure to bring your headphones! If you plan to take the tour as a group, we recommend everyone download the app and listen, so you don’t have to worry about bringing a speaker.
To help provide some historical perspective of the changes our borough has experienced, Each location on the app shows photographs of each site displaying how it looked in the past compared to how it looks today. In addition, since every spot on the tour is walkable, you can easily make a day of it and stop for lunch or a local beer as you explore.
Jingle Bell Trolley Tour
Follow Santa’s Reindeer on a festive tour of Ephrata’s most decorated homes with the Jingle Bell Trolley Tour during the holiday season! Each stop on the app includes a narrated message from the homeowners who tell their heart-warming stories and family traditions to get you into the holiday spirit.
This tour is best experienced in a car, and in addition to seeing all of the locations in the map view, directions are also included at each tour stop to make navigation a breeze.
This month we are debuting the Ephrata Eats Tour through a partnership with Mainspring and the Ephrata Area School District! The Ephrata Eats Tour takes you to six local businesses, offering samples of delicious treats created by Ephrata 5th grade students, including beverages, entrees, salads, desserts, and more!
Each stop on the app also includes a video of the student who created the snack offered at the location. This tour has allowed Ephrata students to showcase their imagination, culinary expertise, and creative videography. The Ephrata Eats tour is limited, so we recommend sampling these snacks before they run out!
Now that the weather is warmer, it is the perfect time to get out and learn something new about our borough. You may be surprised at all of the hidden histories, cultures, and cuisines of Ephrata!
All tours are self-guided and easy-going, allowing you to explore at your own pace. Once you have taken a tour, spread the word! Learning our local history and current culture is vital to understanding Ephrata and how it can grow.