Spotlight: Amish Country
America’s largest community of ‘plain people’ opens its doors to visitors
Take a journey back in time and enjoy life at a slower pace in Amish Country, Ohio. This collection of thriving communities offers entertainment, outdoor adventure, shopping and unique historical sites for visitors.
Here, the Amish life can be experienced in the crafts and delicacies of the simple-living locals. You can also learn about their history, which saw the first families of Swiss Anabaptists come to America in the 1700s. Staying true to their beliefs of modest, uncomplicated living, the Amish have continued to eschew electricity, automobiles and other modern developments, clinging to virtues grounded in the Bible. Ohio’s Amish country is home to the largest population of “plain people” in the United States.
Amish life is serene yet somewhat hidden from the outside world, but some residents open their doors to visitors. Yoder’s Amish Home invites guests to observe the daily life and work of Amish families who call Ohio home. Tour the barn and see baby animals, then hop in an iconic buggy for a jaunt through Ohio’s scenic countryside. In the fall, family members make treats like apple butter and pumpkin butter, and farm visitors can chip in.
Tourism Ohio
In nearby Berlin, the Amish & Mennonite Heritage Center displays the history of the Amish faith in the Behalt Cyclorama. You’ll also find a pioneer barn and a restored Conestoga wagon. Amish education and devotional coverings—headwear for Amish and Mennonite women and men—are also part of the heritage center experience. Stay immersed in Amish life at Schrock’s Amish Farm and Village, with shopping and education opportunities, as well as buggy rides and tours of an Amish home and farm.
Charming Trips
Explore the natural beauty of Amish Country on a trail ride through communities such as Charm, where stables open to guests who seek a relaxing equestrian experience. At the end of the day, sip wine and enjoy finely crafted cheese from a local winery and cheesehouse.
The Millersburg Victorian House Museum showcases 28 rooms outfitted in the Queen Anne style. On display are a host of Victorian artifacts and pieces along with examples of the history of Holmes County. Visit the Millersburg Glass Museum at the Holmes County Cultural Center, where guests learn about the history of the local glass plant and see the evolution of the plant’s craftsmanship and works of art.
Tourism Ohio
Animal Attractions
Go “wild” at the Farm at Walnut Creek, where more than 500 animals from six different continents are on exhibit. Visitors can get up close and personal with giraffes, camels, zebras and kangaroos alongside horses, llamas and deer at this educational farm in the community of Sugarcreek.
Get in touch with nature at The Wilderness Center, a nonprofit nature preserve with 10 miles of hiking trails that wind through old-growth forests and prairies. Enjoy the Wildlife Observation Room or the Planetarium.
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