The towns of Sugarcreek, Berlin, Charm, New Philadelphia and Dover give you the opportunity to step back in time and experience the culture of the Amish and Mennonite peoples.  Their faith and lifestyle has changed little since the order’s members settled the area nearly 200 years ago.  Today, the Ohio Amish community is considered the largest in the world and plays host to millions of visitors every year.

When I am planning a trip to the Amish Country, the first thing that always comes to mind is food.  In addition to the many wonderful restaurants to choose from in Amish Country, there are many cheese houses and dry goods stores ready to fill your bags so that you may fill your pantry when you return home.  Fresh, home-cooked meals prepared in the Dutch style are waiting for you at any of the Amish restaurants that dot the landscape in towns like Berlin and Sugarcreek.  If you tour the area with a group, you may get the experience of dining in an actual Amish home, where the lady of the house baked the bread and plucked the chicken in the morning for the meal you eat at supper-time.  Make sure you take your cooler, as well; cheese houses with every imaginable variety of cheese along with fresh-churned butter, fudge, preserved meats, jellies, jams and baked goods await you.

The second priority on my list when visiting Amish Country is antiques.  I have found everything from toys to farm equipment, furniture to books, garden decoration and artwork at the many antique malls and flea markets in Amish Country.  While I may not always buy, what better way is there to spend a Saturday afternoon than wandering through aisles of antiques and collectibles?

Right alongside the many antique dealerships and flea markets you will find stores that offer Amish-made crafts including quilts, furniture, and home décor as well as shops selling Christmas decorations and confections.  Not every shop is Amish-owned or Amish-ran, but the shopping opportunities seem endless.  Charity auctions occur frequently, and usually feature Amish arts and crafts.

A trip to the Amish Country can be fun for the whole family.  Adult activities such as antiquing are only the beginning; children will enjoy activities such as buggy rides and petting zoos.  There are many historical Amish homes open to the general public for tours, some of which include demonstrations of farm life and Amish tradition in action.  One important thing to remember, however; the Old Order Amish does not permit photography, and view photographs as “graven images”.  Taking photographs of scenery, buildings and livestock is permitted, but ask permission before photographing any Amish person. 

Accommodations in the Amish Country range from well-known chain hotels and motels to small country inns and bed and breakfasts.  In the past I have stayed at two of the smaller area inns, and found that the prices were reasonable, the rooms were clean and comfortable, the service impeccable and the staff both polite and helpful.  Most hotels and motels in the area offer tranquil, pastoral views of the surrounding countryside, and many have amenities such as microwave ovens, swimming pools, offer continental breakfast, and are convenient to shops and restaurants.  No matter where you choose to say in Amish Country, you can be assured of one thing; you will be treated like family.

The next time you just want to “get away from it all”, consider a visit to the Amish Country of Ohio.  Step back in time and enjoy all that the Amish Country have to offer by exploring their tradition and culture through their food, crafts, and the many exhibits that explain their faith and lifestyle.