Lemon Street Market — and a reminder that Lancaster has a healthier side, too.

DipsLocal Best of Near Campus (Part Four)

We’ve spent plenty of time at Dips Local talking about great restaurants, cocktails, pizza and all the other very important parts of a weekend in Lancaster.

It was probably time for someone to remind us that there are vegetables and plenty of healthier options here, too.

That reminder came from senior mom Leila Hardy, who has spent a lot of time in Lancaster and reminded us that Lemon Street Market is a hidden gem that is close to F&M.

And for anyone who already knows Leila, this recommendation probably won’t be a surprise. She is always been focused on health and wellness for our team, and it got us thinking that Dips Local should be, too.

It also reminded us of one of the best parts of this little project: some of the very best local recommendations come from other F&M families who have already spent time exploring Lancaster. One family finds a great little spot, shares it with another, and suddenly the rest of us know about a place we might otherwise have driven right past.

A Healthy Hidden Gem Close to Campus

Lemon Street Market is exactly that kind of place.

Located at 241 West Lemon Street, it’s an independent and woman-owned neighborhood market filled with local and organic produce, groceries, healthier snacks, specialty-diet options and plenty of things that work well for a dorm room or apartment. They are open 7AM -7PM every day.

There’s also coffee, smoothies, fresh juices and prepared foods, making it an easy stop when you want something quick without committing to another big restaurant meal.

For the Students

Think smoothies, fruit, grab-and-go lunches, breakfast items and healthier snacks to keep around when the dining hall isn't cutting it.

For students living off campus, or anyone attempting to keep something besides leftover pizza in the refrigerator, it’s a particularly good find.

For the Parents

It's also an easy parent stop.

Grab a coffee or smoothie between activities. Pick up lunch. Stock your son's refrigerator before you leave town. Or simply wander around while you have an hour to fill before you need to be somewhere else.

And after a Lancaster weekend involving a few great meals and some carefully researched Dips Local Sip Picks, a little reset may not be the worst idea.

And While We’re Talking About Fresh…

You really can’t talk about healthier food in Lancaster County without mentioning the roadside farm stands.

If your route takes you through our beautiful farmland, take a few minutes and stop at one.

They’re scattered throughout the countryside, and some of the best produce you’ll find around here travels almost directly from the field to the stand.

This morning, Scott stopped for tomatos, greens, and a few ears of corn just as the farmer was pulling up with a wagon straight from the field.

It doesn’t get much fresher than that. And yes, it was absolutely delicious.

Reset & Recharge

Leila’s recommendation also gave us an idea for where Dips Local should go next.

Our players already spend an extraordinary amount of time thinking about strength, conditioning, recovery and taking care of their bodies. And managing athletics and college life makes taking care of the mind just as important.

Anything that can help keep these young men healthy, strong and feeling their best is worth knowing about.

So while we’re absolutely not giving up the restaurants — or the cocktails — we’re going to start mixing in some Dips Local: Reset & Recharge finds, too.

We’re thinking:

• parks, trails and places to get outside

• yoga, fitness and recovery options

• physical therapy resources

• orthopedic urgent care for those times when someone needs to be seen quickly

• places to relax and recharge

• and maybe a few things specifically for the parents who could use a reset of their own

Some will be useful for students. Some for parents. And some will work for both.

Send Us Your Favorites

We’d especially love help from other F&M lacrosse families.

If you’ve found a favorite coffee shop, restaurant, farm stand, walking trail, workout spot, physical therapist, recovery resource or completely unexpected Lancaster gem, send it our way in the comments.

That’s really what Dips Local is about — sharing the places one family has already discovered so the rest of us know where to go next.

We’ve certainly devoted plenty of attention to cocktails, espresso martinis and our Dips Local Sip Picks. It seems only fair that we also spend a little time figuring out where to reset and recharge the next morning.

And a special thanks to Leila Hardy for helping point us toward the health and wellness side of Lancaster. She already has more suggestions for us, so stay tuned for more recommendations from Leila.

We’re grateful to have her perspective as we explore more ways to help F&M families stay healthy, strong and recharged.