25 Things To Do in Amish Country, Ohio
Amish Country has a lot to offer people of any lifestyle. Check out these 25 things you have to do while visiting Amish Country!
Ohio’s Amish Country is known for it’s beauty in its vast landscapes but there’s so much more than that. Amish Country plans events for family outings, a romantic getaway, girls trips or even individual adventures. Be sure to check out real estate in Ohio.
1. Amish Heartland Tours
The Amish Heartland Tours offer bus tours and guided backroad tours through scenic routes. On these tours you will take several stops at Amish businesses such as the buggy maker, candle maker and basket maker. All products are for sale and may be purchased with cash only. The bus tour may even be customized to choose the stops you and your group wish to see. Check out more information here.
2. Schrock’s Heritage Village
Schrock’s Village is a family run business located in the heart of the Amish community. The village immerses you in the Amish culture through buggy rides, the ability to tour Amish homes, and a craft mall filled with antiques. Experience a world removed from the hubbub of city life.
3. Sugarcreek
Deemed “The Little Switzerland of Ohio,” this charming village is a must see. The three and a half square mile village is a popular tourist destination to experience the Swiss and German heritage. Aside from shopping, dining, and lodging, you can attend some of the many events.
4. The Inn at Honey Run
After a long day of exploring Amish Country, The Inn at Honey Run is an enchanting getaway with deluxe dining options and endless relaxation, perfect for couples.
5. The Barn Inn
If the Inn at Honey Run is all booked up, the Barn Inn is another charming bed and breakfast for you and your loved ones to enjoy. The friendly inn-keepers will also give you insight on the Amish culture if you ask them!
6. Walnut Creek Cheese
Walnut Creek Cheese is an enormous market you can’t miss on your way into Amish Country. If you’re a meat and cheese lover, you must stop to check out their fresh produce.
7. End of the Commons General Store
This is the oldest general store in Ohio and a staple to Amish Country. The historical store has been up and running since the 1840’s with shelves of old fashioned products that locals love. You have to try their #1 selling beef jerky and old fashioned candy!
8. The Farm at Walnut Creek
This farm features more than 500 animals that you can interact with, including deer and beautiful giraffes. The Farm would be a perfect day trip for animal loving kiddos!
9. The Amish Country Theater
This theater provides comedic and family-friendly shows that guarantees to keep you laughing all evening. The award winning live theater holds 325 audience members and features modern sound and video equipment.
10. Warther Museum & Gardens
Visit the home of the World’s Master Carver, Ernest Warther‘s carving collection and take a walk through the beautiful Swiss Gardens. The museum showcases 64 of Warther’s masterpieces and his wife, Frieda’s 73,000 piece button collection and 5,500 piece Native American arrowhead collection.
11. Sol’s in Berlin
Sol’s is an arts and crafts extravaganza that is right in the heart of Amish country. They have three different stores that you can visit. There is Sol’s Palace, Sol’s Exchange, and Sol’s Kit and Kaboodle. They all sell different assortments of arts and crafts. They have candles, homemade dolls, ceramics, wood crafts, and so much more. There is something there for everyone!
12. Coblentz Chocolate Company
Coblentz Chocolate Company was founded in 1987. They offer many signature, Swiss style chocolate truffles. They create hand-dipped chocolates of over 114 varieties. They even have a viewing gallery where visitors can watch them craft the truffles they sell. Any type of chocolate you like most, you can probably find there!
13. Yoder’s Amish Home
Yoder’s Amish Home lets people see the daily lives of Amish people firsthand. You get to tour two different Amish homes and an Amish barn. There will be a tour guide right there to answer any questions that you may have about anything you see. They also offer field trips, buggy rides, and an on site bakery full of Amish goods. This experience will immerse you into a whole different life for the whole duration.
14. Victorian House Museum
The Victorian House Museum is right inside of Ohio’s largest Amish settlement. It is a 28 room Queen Anne style mansion that holds a collection of Holmes County history. The home was built back in 1901 and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. It is a grand home that many people enjoy walking through. It is a great place to take your friends or family.
15. Millersburg Glass Museum
The Millersburg Glass Museum is the largest display of crystal glass that was produced between 1909 and 1912. There are over 200 unique pieces that sit under state of the art LED lighting. You can make an appointment to join a guided tour or schedule a group tour. You will learn a lot about the history of glasswork from your tour guide. You can ask them any question that comes to mind, and they will be happy to answer it for you.
16. World’s Largest Cuckoo Clock
The World’s Largest Cuckoo Clock was featured in the Guinness Book of World Records in 1977. It sits right in the center of Swiss Village inside of Sugar Creek. It stands over 23 feet tall and is over 24 feet wide. A cuckoo bird pops out every half hour and plays Swiss polka music. A band and a dancing couple also emerge from the clock once the cuckoo bird does.
17. Alpine Hills Museum
Alpine Hills Historical Museum is located in Downtown Sugar Creek. Inside the museum, the first thing you will see is a short video that explains Amish culture and the impact that Swiss immigrants had on this town in the past. You’ll get to experience multiple audio visual displays that take you through an 1890 Swiss cheese house, an 1895 fire house, and a 1900s Amish kitchen. This museum also shows off an early wood shop and an early newspaper print shop along with many other displays.
18. Tis The Season Christmas Shoppe
Tis The Season Christmas Shoppe is Ohio’s largest year round Christmas shop. It is three stories and 20,000 square feet of Christmas joy. The store is designed to make you feel as if you are walking through a Christmas Village. The building’s round shape makes it even more visually interesting. You can do your Christmas shopping at any time of the year at this store. They have thousands of different ornaments and tree toppers. They also have more than 100 varieties of lights.
19. Amish Country Riding Stables
Amish Country Riding Stables take you on a guided ride through Ohio’s Amish Countryside. They accept both experienced and inexperienced riders. Their horses are well-trained and taught to handle any kind of rider. They prefer to book small tours of about two to five people for a personalized touch. Experiencing the beauty of the countryside on horseback is an experience you won’t likely forget!
20. Guggisberg Cheese Factory
This cheese factory has a variety of cheeses derived from all natural ingredients. The surroundings will make you feel as if you have gone back in time. You will be surrounded by lush green pastures and old styled designs. These pastures are where they produce the sweet milk that gives their Swiss cheese its creamy flavor. They are most known for their brand of “baby Swiss cheese.” Visitors get to observe how these cheeses are made and also get to sample over 60 different cheeses!
21. Troyer Country Market
This store is over 52,000 square feet, and provides the area with lots of fresh and local foods. They sell all natural foods like cheese, meat, and baked goods among others. You can buy Amish items in bulk. They have homemade ice cream and handmade soaps. This store also features a deli, a café, and a sample station. You get to sample several of their fresh goodies. You will love going through their many shelves stocked with amazing foods.
22. Amish Door Restaurant
The Amish Door Restaurant has been running for over 40 years. It has grown from a single restaurant to a whole village with different shops and an Inn. They serve many fresh foods that locals love. They serve broasted chicken, one of the most popular menu items, along with roast beef platter and stuffed french toast. Everything is made fresh with high quality ingredients. You will love trying out this freshly made and delicious Amish made food!
23. Amish & Mennonite Heritage Center
The Amish and Mennonite heritage center houses a 10 foot by 265 foot mural called “Behalt.” Behalt means to “keep, hold, and remember.” It is a mural that depicts the struggles and transitions of the Amish and the Mennonites since the 1500s. It showcases their history from Europe to North America as they sought to freely practice their own religions. You will gain a deeper understanding of their culture and way of life. You will also find video displays, a one room schoolhouse, and a gift shop.
24. Amish Country Byway
The Amish Country Byway is 160 miles of road that takes you on the most scenic route through Ohio’s Amish Country. On the route, you will drive past different homes and small resorts. You can stop in one of the Amish restaurants along the road or even pick up fresh produce like meats and cheeses from one of the roadside stands. You’ll get to experience a quiet country lifestyle among people who live the simple life.
25. German Culture Museum
The German Culture Museum has a collection of Amish, Swiss, and German memorabilia that they put on display. It shows how life was in the 19th and 20th centuries. If you visit, you’ll get to see kitchen and bedroom displays, school rooms, churches, barns, and vehicles. They even house old tools, glassware, and newspapers.
Amish Country is a place filled with activities that visitors can do. A lot of it will open your eyes to how people used to live in past times, and how some still do today. Amish Country will introduce you to new foods, gadgets, and lifestyles. Make sure to experience these unique parts of Ohio whenever you get the chance!