best place to visit amish country

These 6 Places In Pennsylvania Amish Country Are Unique And Worth Visiting

Beth Price-Williams

A professional writer for more than two decades, Beth has lived in nearly a dozen states – from Missouri and Virginia to Connecticut and Vermont – and Toronto, Canada. In addition to traveling extensively in the U.S. and the U.K., she has a BA in Journalism from Point Park University (PA), a MA in Holocaust & Genocide Studies from Stockton University (NJ), and a Master of Professional Writing from Chatham University (PA). A writer and editor for Only In Your State since 2016, Beth grew up in and currently lives outside of Pittsburgh and when she’s not writing or hanging out with her bunnies, budgies, and chinchilla, she and her daughter are out chasing waterfalls.

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Pennsylvania’s quite often associated with Amish country, and for good reason. Second only to Ohio in the number of Amish residents, Pennsylvania is home to an estimated 55 settlements of Amish communities with a total of more than 80,000 people. The Amish play an important role in Pennsylvania’s heritage, economy, and everyday life. If you’re looking for the best Amish towns in Pennsylvania , here are six of them. Each will provide a unique glimpse into Amish life.

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What do you think are the best Amish towns in Pennsylvania? How about the best Amish places to visit? Let us know in the comments!

For an authentic Amish meal, visit one of these Amish country restaurants .

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

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Best amish town to visit in pennsylvania.

What are some of the best Amish places to visit in Pennsylvania?

Of course, there are a ton of Amish places to visit in Pennsylvania . If you really want a taste of Amish life, go to one of the many Amish restaurants in Pennsylvania that dish up delightfully delicious Amish food. Your taste buds will love you for it.

• Katie’s Kitchen in Strasburg, for example, serves everything from meatloaf to home-style chicken. Save room for homemade dessert or apple dumplings.
• Dig into an authentic Amish wedding meal at Hometown Kitchen in Quarryville on Fridays. The scrumptious meal of homemade bread filling, chicken, pepper slaw, and mashed potatoes is sure to fill you up.
• Dienner’s Country Kitchen in Ronks is best known for serving some of the area’s best authentic Pennsylvania Dutch food. Make sure you go hungry, and definitely try the buttered noodles.
• If you’ve got a sweet tooth, treat yourself to some homemade donuts from Esther’s Amish Bakery & Coffee Shop in Big Run. Save room for a meal, too, because the portions are gigantic, and the food is to die for.

What are the best Amish towns in Pennsylvania?

Best is such a subjective term because we all have our own idea of what defines the best of anything, including the best Amish towns in Pennsylvania.

If you want a real taste of Amish life in Pennsylvania, make sure you visit Plain & Fancy Farm in Bird-in-Hand. Perhaps the most unique Amish tour in Pennsylvania, the Amish Experience at Plain & Fancy Farm offers a guided tour that will take you to such one-of-a-kind spots as an Amish farm and an Amish house and school. Watch “The Story of Jacob’s Choice” at the F/X Theater, too. Once you’ve experienced the Amish Experience, you’ll have a much better understanding of and appreciation for the Amish. Several tours are available.

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17 Things to Do in Amish Country/Lancaster PA

Getaway for a long weekend or a few days and visit Pennsylvania’s Dutch Country. These 17 things to do in Amish Country in Lancaster PA will give you the total Amish experience and also other things in this area too.

If you never explored Amish Country before you are in for a treat. Let’s first talk about what is Amish.

Amish is a religion and these people live their lives in a very simple way without modern amenities.  

They believe in the old ways like working the land and being self-sufficient. They live their lives as people did 300 years ago.

You get to experience examples of this when visiting Amish Country. Here is a list of facts about the Amish people along with some of their traditions:

• Horse and buggy is their transportation
• They plow the fields with mules and donkeys
• They don’t use electricity in their houses
• Everything from tools to lamps is run by gas (propane)
• They bake everything from scratch
• Children only go to school until 8th grade.
• Schools are one-room schoolhouse with one teacher who teaches all ages
• There are no telephones in their houses rather several households share one phone in a phone booth on the road mostly for business use
• The Amish are very hard-working people
• Before teens turn 18 they can experience the outside world but most choose to stay with the Amish lifestyle
• Sunday is a religious day with church services in the morning and visiting in the afternoon, they do not work on Sundays
• They have no church building as they take turns having church at their house and food for all the attendees
• The Amish community works together and always help each other
• They make their clothes
• Quilting is big business in the Amish community (and they are beautiful)
• Most are farmers
• They only marry in November and December when all farming is done for the year

Table of Contents

Things to do in Amish Country

Here is a list of things to do and see in Amish Country as well as non-Amish things in the area to experience. From eating to shopping to many tours, there is something for everyone.

1. Visit Shady Maple

Shady Maple  is well known in the Amish Country as one of the best places to eat and shop for over 40 years.

Located in East Earl, PA, it features a smorgasbord, banquet center, farmers market, and gift shop.

Shady Maple is famous for its smorgasbord in its 800 seat restaurant serving more than 1.5 million people each year with 200 feet of home-cooked Amish food. They serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner 6 days a week (closed on Sunday).

On any given Saturday they serve more than 800 lbs. of bacon. From Amish favorites of fried chicken, dried corn to apple dumplings and shoo-fly pie there is something for everyone to enjoy.

Shady Maple Farmer Market is also open 6 days a week and features many of the foods that are served in their smorgasbord. Here you can get many Amish specialties such as sweet bologna, bread filling, ham balls, slab bacon, and stuffed chicken to name a few.

The store has a big bulk food section including every kind of spice you can think of, dips, soups, cereals, baking products, candy, nuts and so much more. They also have over 100 kinds of smoked meats, fresh seafood, large deli, and prepared salads and desserts.

The in-store bakery employees over 100 and sells over 300 different bake items. With over 75 different kinds of donuts, Shady Maple sells over 3.5 million each year including smores, maple bacon, jelly, and cream-filled donuts. They also are known for their whoopie pies (in several favors including seasonal ones) and make several kinds of cookies, cakes, and pies.

There is the Dutchette Restaurant adjacent to the Farmers Market which serves cafeteria-style for a quick bite to eat.

The lower level of the main smorgasbord has a huge (44,000 sq. ft.) gift shop with all different kinds of items. When visiting Amish country make sure to stop by for a visit.

Be sure to read  Restaurants in Lancaster PA, Amish Food at its Best  for other places to eat while in Amish Country.

2. Kitchen Kettle Village

Kitchen Kettle Village is a quaint shopping area with 42 shops, 2 restaurants, and a hotel. They are known for their jam, jelly, and bakeshop. You can sample many of there jellies and other products such as pickles, beets, salsa, and sauces. You can watch them make the product they are “canning” for the day.

Other stores include the fudge shop where they make fudge daily and yes you can sample it. It’s so good! A coffee shop, a pretzel shop, an olive oil store, a pottery store, and a Christmas shop. They also offer AAA Buggy Rides at the Village.Kitchen Kettle Village

One of my favorite restaurants in the area is The Kling House, which is opened for events, private parties and occasional meals.

Although not Amish food, they serve fresh homemade meals. Their menu changes seasonally but is known for their Crème Brulee French Toast and Coconut Crème Pie and Crème Brulee for dessert.

3. Turkey Hill Experience

The best part of visiting the Turkey Hill Experience is trying all the different ice cream and ice tea samples. Yes, that’s right, you get to taste some classic Turkey Hill flavors as well as some new flavors not yet in stores. But that’s not all you can do here.

Although this is not an actual tour of the factory, it offers exhibits on how they make their ice cream and ice tea. It’s a kid-friendly experience with many interactive opportunities for your children such as “milking a cow”, creating your own ice cream flavor and making a commercial. In addition, there are several kid play areas.

Tickets can be purchased online (and is recommended during peak season) for $10.50 for adults and $10.00 for children ages 4 to 12. Children 3 and under and military personnel are free.

Turkey Hill also offers a Taste Lab (for an additional fee) where you can actually make your own masterpiece. You start with a base flavor (ex. vanilla) and add different flavors and colors to create your own ice cream. Please allow an additional hour for your visit.

Website: Turkey Hill Experience

Check out other fun food factory tours in Pennsylvania . Some are nearby.

4. Take an Amish  Buggy Ride

Experiencing a buggy ride is a must-do when visiting the Amish Country. Can you even imagine only having this as your transportation? I can’t, but this is how the Amish still live today!Buggy ride around Amish Country

AAA Buggy Ride

AAA Buggy Rides, located at Kitchen Kettle Village, offers 3 different rides on a horse-drawn carriage around the Amish Country.

There is a 4-mile ride for $16 for adults and $8 for kids under 12 (under 2 free) that’s around 35 minutes long. A 5 miles ride for $20 for adults and $10 for children which is 55 minutes long, going under a covered bridge. They also offer a 60-minute ride with a tour of an Amish dairy farm for $26 for adults and $12 for children.

Ed’s Buggy Ride

Ed’s Buggy Rides is located on Route 896 across the road from Sight & Sound Theater. They offer a 3.5 mile, 40-minute tour in an authentic Amish Buggy on the back farm roads and a one hour ride that also tours an Amish farm.

Drivers will teach you about the Amish culture and how they lived for many centuries. You can also enjoy a petting zoo for your kids while waiting for your adventure.

Abe’s Buggy Rides

Abe’s Buggy Ride offers the most tours of all ( five in total) depending on how long, how much, and what you want to see in a real Amish-style buggy. Tours start at $10 and go up to $60 for adults and $5 to $15 for children, respectfully. They are located on Route 340 in Bird-in-Hand, PA.

These are the rides they offer:

• 20-minute ride (2.3 miles) around the surrounding farmland
• 30 minutes (3.5 miles) around the peaceful farmland of the Amish country.
• 45 minutes, 4.5-mile ride passes a one-room Amish schoolhouse where many times you may see children playing on the grounds.
• 1-hour ride that also passes the schoolhouse but gives you an option to stop at an Amish farm to walk around or a craft and bake shop where you can purchase Amish items.
• 1 hour and fifteen minutes non-stop tour (6.5 miles) along the Amish countryside.

All of the above rides are just with your party.

Aaron & Jessica’s Buggy Ride

Aaron & Jessica’s Amish Buggy Rides is located on Route 340 next to Plain & Fancy Farm and offers 3 “buggy ride” experiences.

• The Cookie Tour is the shortest at 25 minutes around the farm area with a stop at a farm stand when you can purchase cookies. This tour is $10 for adults and $6 for children.
• A 35-minute tour takes you around the farmland area and is $15 for adults and $8 for children.
• An Amish Farm tour is 60 minutes and you go to a real Amish Farm and see horses and cows. This experience is $22 for adults and $12 for children.

Aaron and Jessica is the only buggy ride available on Sunday and offers 35 minutes around Amish farms but doesn’t make any stops. The Sunday Tour is $16 for adults and $8 for children.

Note: All of the above buggy rides offer discount coupons you can get in the local Amish guide book.

5. Dutch Wonderland

Enjoy a family fun day at Pennsylvania kid based amusement park, Dutch Wonderland. Located right in Lancaster on Route 30, Dutch Wonderland offers 35 rides and shows including 7 just for kids (under 54″) rides.

Many rides are geared for the whole family. Take your kids to Exploration Island, where they can experience 20 life-like dinosaurs on Prehistoric Path and take a gondola cruise around the island. You can also dig for fossils at Dino Dig.

There are roller coasters to bumper cars to a sky ride, there is something for everyone to enjoy. There is also a water section with fun including Duke’s Lagoon, Pipeline Plunge from Memorial Day to Labor Day weekends.

During November and December, Dutch Wonderland transforms into a Winter Wonderland. This features 20 rides and family attractions with thousands of lights are all over the park and festive holiday music. You can even met Santa and take pictures and give him your kid’s wishlist!

Website: Dutch Wonderland

6. Strasburg Rail Road

The Strasburg Railroad is a scenic 45-minute train ride through beautiful Amish farm country.

You get to choose from one of five steam trains and ride in one of 20 passenger cars. This equipment is all original and has been restored before the railroad became a tourist attraction.

The train travels to Paradise, PA. You can get off at one of two picnic recreation areas. Groff’s Grove and Leaman Place Grove offer picnic tables, charcoal grills, and porta-potty and at Groff’s a playground area.

You can experience several different cars, from parlor to dining, presidential, and open-air, each car offers a different experience.

The railroad also offers events during the year including Thomas the Train, Easter Bunny, and Santa’s Paradise Express, the Great Train Robbery and so much more.

The Strasburg Railroad is open all year, visit their  website  for more information.

The Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania is also located in Strasburg. This museum is dedicated to preserving and showcasing the rich history of railroading in Pennsylvania and across the United States. The museum features a large collection of historic locomotives and rail cars, along with interactive exhibits, educational programs, and special events.

Visitors to the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania can explore more than 100 historic locomotives and rail cars, ranging from the mid-19th century to the mid-20th century. The museum also has a vast array of railroad artifacts, model train displays, and interactive exhibits that provide a hands-on experience for visitors of all ages. It’s a must-see destination for railroad enthusiasts and anyone interested in learning more about the history of rail transportation in America.

7. Visit an Amish Farmers Market

There are four farmers’ markets around Lancaster, all selling Amish goods. All of these markets carry homegrown and homemade products from many different vendors.

You can find homemade baked goods, spices, jellies, and canning products in addition to wood products, quilts, and paintings. Vendors bring meats, fruits, and vegetables as well as soft pretzels and funnel cakes.

Some are indoor and outdoor markets and some are just indoor.

The Bird In Hand Market is open Friday and Saturday all year, Wednesdays from April to November, and Thursdays, from July to October. It is located on Route 340 in Bird-in-Hand.

If you only have a short time in the Amish Country this is the market to see. It’s the smallest one but has many vendors. This is my favorite market and is well worth the trip. You will get the all-around experience of an Amish market here.

The other three markets are much bigger and could take 4 to 5 hours to see all the many buildings. Also if staying on the main strips of Route 30 or Route 340, these markets are a bit of a ride.

• Green Dragon (opened on Fridays)
• Roots Market (open Tuesdays)
• Lancaster Central Market (open Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays)

8. Go See a Show

They are many theaters around the Lancaster area offering different types of entertainment.

Sight & Sound Theater

The Sight & Sound Theater is “where biblical stories come to life”.

The theatre is known for magnificent sets and costumes, live animals, spectacular music, and special effects.

For the 2024 season, Daniel will be playing beginning March through December.

For information visit here .

American Music Theater

American Music Theater located on Route 30 in Lancaster offers Broadway-style musicals and celebrity concerts. With over 300 shows each year including a Christmas musical show there is something for everyone.

Bird-in-Hand Stage

The Bird-In-Hand Stage offers musicals and magic shows. They are having six shows for 2024 including:

• The Confession (4/4 to 8/3)
• Ryan & Friends (4/6 to 10/19)
• Half-Stitched (8/13 to 10/24)
• Ryan & Friends Christmas (11/14 to 11/22 and 12/13 to 12/28)
• The Christmas Candy Caper (11/1 to 12/28)

9. Try Some Amish Food

Shoo-fly pie, apple dumplings, apple butter, funnel cake, soft pretzels, scrapple, buttered noodles, sweet bologna, country sausage, ham, and dried corn are some of the many Amish foods.

When visiting the Amish Country in Lancaster be sure to experience some of their many favors. Amish cooking is hearty and made from ingredients from their farms. Many types of meat are cured and they offer many smoked kinds of cheese and the Amish love their sweets!

There are many Amish restaurants in Lancaster that serve traditional Amish food. Many of these restaurants are smorgasbords or family-style.

Some to consider are Shady Maple, Miller’s Smorgasbord, Dienner’s Country Restaurant, Hershey Farms, Bird-in-Hand Family Restaurant, and Yoder’s Restaurant & Buffet.

Read Amish Foood at its Best for more information in dining the Lancaster PA.

10. Shop at the Outlets

Lancaster is also known for outlet shopping. They have two major outlet centers, Tanger Center Outlets and Rockvale Outlets located on Route 30.

Rockvale Outlets offers 3 sections with over 75 stores from restaurants, clothes stores, shoes, housewares, and specialty. To name a few. Vanity Fair, Reading Glass, Lenox, Disney, Kirkland, and Cracker Barrel and among the many outlets available for your shopping pleasure. A new playground was opened in 2019 for your kids to enjoy.

Tanger Outlets has over 70 stores featuring apparel, jewelry, home furnishings, shoes, and accessories. Some stores are Old Navy, The Gap, Bath & Body Works, Coach, and Justice.

Both outlets are open 7 days a week with hours varying depending on the season.

11. Go to an Amish Store

I’ve been going to the Amish Country for over 40 years so I’ve come to know and love this area. There are many Amish stores that it’s just too many to list so I’m going to mention some of my favorites that I always go to when I visit.

Kaufman Fruit Farm & Market

Kaufman Fruit Farm & Market is located on Route 340 in Bird-in-Hand. It’s a family-run business, known for its homemade apple cider.

I go there for apples in the fall, apple cider (the freshest you’ll ever have), and bulk baking items (every kind of sprinkles you can think of, vanilla, and fruits in a pouch).

Don’t forget their famous apple cider donuts if you’re there between June and October.

The Old Candle Barn

The Old Candle Barn is located on Route 340 in Intercourse, PA. For over 40 years they’ve been making candles the old-fashion way, hand-dipped and poured into moles.

This large store carries all kinds and sizes of candles with decorative items that you will love in your home.

The factory is in the lower level of the store and you can take a free tour Monday to Friday from 8 to 4 to see how the candles are made.

Peaceful Valley Amish Furniture

With three locations, Peaceful Valley Amish Furniture is handmade furniture made by the Amish.

This store is known for its handcrafted wood furniture and outdoor furniture. They also carry beautiful home decor items that enhance the beauty of your home.

Stoltzfus Meats

Stoltzfus Meats, located in Intercourse, PA., a family-run market since 1954, known for its homemade sausages and meat products.

At this location, there is a small retail market, butcher and cheese shop in addition to a very good restaurant serving breakfast and lunch called Amos’ Place.

I go there for maple breakfast sausage and their famous grillers that come in many favors. They also have delicious cheese spreads.

12. Lancaster County Food Tour

There are many food factory tours within a short ride of the Amish Country (Lancaster). Here are a few but you can get more details of all the Fun Food Factory Tours in Pennsylvania.

Herr’s Snack Factory Tour

Come see how Herr’s chips and pretzels are made in this real working factory tour. You will see the actual products and learn what kinds of seasonings and ingredients they use in their products.

Tours are Monday to Thursday from 9 to 3 and Friday from 9 to 11. Productions cannot be guaranteed on Thursday and Friday.

Julius Sturgis Pretzel Bakery Tour

Located in Lititz, Pa, this is Sturgis’s original bakery and houses the original equipment used by the company.

You learn about the history of making pretzels and are able to hand-twist you’re very own.

At the end of the tour, you can purchase soft pretzels and drinks and also their horse and buggy hard pretzels, which are made for the Amish, and sold in stores in Lancaster.

13. Tour an Amish Farm

Old windmill farm, amish farm tour.

Located in Ronks, PA the Old Windmill Farm offers farm and garden tours. You will be able to milk a cow, feed a calf, and pick up eggs.

In addition, you will also learn about the crops grown on the farm and the way the Amish farm uses mules.

The Amish Village 

The Amish Village is a popular tourist attraction located in Ronks, Pennsylvania, in the heart of Lancaster County’s Amish Country. This unique destination provides visitors with a glimpse into the life and culture of the Amish community. The village offers a variety of experiences, including guided tours of an authentic Amish farmhouse, demonstrations of traditional Amish crafts, and a tour of a one-room Amish schoolhouse.

The Amish Village also features a barn with farm animals, a blacksmith shop, and a variety of shops selling Amish-made goods, such as quilts, crafts, and foods. Visitors can explore the picturesque grounds and learn about the Amish way of life through interactive exhibits and knowledgeable guides. It’s a great place to experience the simplicity and charm of Amish culture in a scenic rural setting.

14. Wolf Sanctuary of PA

The Wolf Sanctuary of PA is a non-profit organization caring for over 40 wolves that were rescued from environments that were not suited for them.

These wolves and wolf dogs are being taken care of, on over 80 acres, by donations and money raised from wolf tours.

You can see these beautiful animals during tours offered by volunteers on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday. These tours range from one to two hours and are between $12 to $15.

They also offer full moon tours for $20 and photography sessions for $35.

15. Northwest Lancaster County River Trail

The Northwest Lancaster County River Trail is a 14-mile multi-use rail trail. It runs along the Susquehanna River beginning in Columbia, PA, and goes through Marietta and currently ends in Bainbridge.

This paved trail offers beautiful views of the river, Chickie Rock, and some remaining river “locks”. You also pass the abandoned brick kilns at Clay Iron Furnace ruins.

There are benches for rest along the way and a fresh spring for water. At Columbia station, you can get something to eat and restrooms are available.

16. Landis Valley Villages & Farm Museum

Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum is a living history museum located in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. The museum is dedicated to preserving and showcasing the cultural heritage of Pennsylvania’s rural communities, with a focus on the Pennsylvania German experience from 1740 to 1940. The museum features historic buildings, costumed interpreters, and exhibits that illustrate the everyday lives of early Pennsylvania settlers.

Visitors to Landis Valley Village can explore a variety of historic structures, including homes, barns, and workshops, all set in a picturesque rural landscape. The museum also hosts special events, workshops, and educational programs throughout the year, making it a great destination for families, history enthusiasts, and anyone interested in learning more about Pennsylvania’s rich cultural heritage.

17. Lancaster Balloon Rides

Lancaster Balloon Rides offers hot air balloon adventures over the scenic countryside of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. This unique experience provides breathtaking views of the area’s picturesque landscapes, including rolling farmlands, Amish homesteads, and charming small towns.

The balloon rides are typically scheduled around sunrise or sunset, which are the best times for calm winds and stunning vistas. Lancaster Balloon Rides operates from Bird-in-Hand, a quaint village located in the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch Country. The company offers a variety of flight packages, including shared and private rides, and provides passengers with a memorable and serene way to experience the beauty of Lancaster County from above.

Final Thoughts

As you can tell, there are many things to do in the Amish Country. It’s great to experience this simple way of life, even for just a couple of days.

Be sure to take the buggy ride and shop in an Amish store and eat Amish food cause, after all, that’s what it’s all about, to experience Amish Country.

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35 thoughts on “17 Things to Do in Amish Country/Lancaster PA”

I’ve always wanted to go here! You’ve posted some great things to do. I’ll keep these in mind for whenever I get to go. 🙂

I’ve been going to the Amish country since I was a kid and many places haven’t changed in all these years. I think for me that’s what makes it so special.

Shady Maple!!! I love the store as much as the Restaurant. I also can’t stop there without going into the Good’s Store adjacent to Shady Maple – you never know what you’re going to find in there. And Stoltzfus Meats – the most awesome Amish sausage! Thanks for the great ideas for things to do in Amish Country.

Yes Shady Maple one of my favorites too.

I wish I lived closer! I would love to visit Amish country and do the things you suggested. This is an great and detailed guide.

Thank you. I know what you mean there is so much to see and do in this country.

This looks like a road trip in the making! I had no idea, thank you for sharing. I look forward to your next article.

Thank you, It’s somewhere I go often and love it each time!

My family went earlier this year, and I wish I knew about all this cool stuff!! I will definitely be saving this list for our next visit!! <3 Thanks!

I go at least once a year since I’m only 4 hours away, its a quick getaway for us. I’m going back this November with my friends, can’t wait!

Great advice. Thanks for the great article.

I have been on East coast and visited few places in Pennsylvania. When I visit next time I am sure to do the tour to old wind mill farm as I love the country sides. Thank you for refreshing my memories of my visit there.

Your welcome!

Excellent post and full of great advice. Thank you for sharing your tips with us. I have visited Amish communities in WI. They make the most delicious pies and treats!

Yes they do, I just got back from Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and there is a community there, such good homestyle cooking!

Sunday is the only day I have to visit. Is there going to be enough places open?

No most things are closed are Sundays that are Amish. Miller Smorgaboard is the only Amish food restaurant opened on Sunday. Turkey Hill Experience, Strasburg Railroad Aaron & Jessica’s Buggy Rides and Dutch wonderland are all opened on Sunday. Places like Shady Maple, Kitchen Kettle and the Farm Markets and Amish stores will all be closed. The outlet’s stores are open too.

I’m not sure, but I think Plain & Fancy may be open on Sundays are the are owned by the same people who own Millers, and Aaron & Jessica’s Buggy Rides are on their property.

We visit Intercourse near Lancaster at least 3-4 times a year. Have visited most that you listed and will be expanding our destinations later this year. We love the beauty of Lancaster!

Totally agree with you. I will be going there in November for 4 days, its a great place to visit!

We stopped by Lancaster on our way back from Washington last week. We had such a great time over there, we want to organize a full week vacations around Lancaster and the amish villages.

That’s great! There is so much to do in that area, I’m going back in November and can’t wait.

There’s a Snack Tour in York County, on the other side of the Susquehanna from Turkey Hill Experience – Herr’s, Utz, Hanover – all potato chip and pretzel makers, with tours and tastings. You are half an hour from Hershey. The Wolf Sanctuary is north of Lititz. The Roots Market is on Tuesday in Manheim. Gettysburg is about an hour away. There’s so much to do in the area. Lancaster is a great base to explore what’s around if you are staying there.

Thanks for sharing other ideas, yes there is so much to do in this area

They highlight a few of the tourist traps but Dutch Wonderland and Central Market/any market/road side stands and Stras. RR and Dieners diner are legit. Also a soft pretzel or many varied hard pretzels (Fellers wh wheat is my fave, and it’s for sale for $350k) ….lived here most of my life I’ve been to every state and seen the world I would say just go to Intercourse on any day but Sunday, when it’s sunny in the spring and drive around slowly and hold up the 1or 2 cars that are traffic, you will blow your mind, just go north off route 340 before you go less than the posted speed limit and plan for the Sunday shut down. Sunday you can go out early and watch all the buggies and bicycles and plain Mennonites and Amish all going to church and then go to a museum that’s open on Sunday cuz they’re not working. Benners b n b is legit, in Mount Joy. Spooky Nook sports…USA largest rec center.

There are so many places to see in the Amish Country and yes I agree go out on Sunday and see all the Amish going to church

It looks an interesting place to see. Something a little different than the usual!

Yes its a very relaxing place to go and get away for a while

This article is everything! I’ll definitely add this to my list when it’s time for a roadtrip, so much to do and see. Thanks for taking the time to write up such a comprehensive list.

Thanks It’s a great place to visit

Hey Kathy, is Amish open during Covid? Would love to visit it someday.

Yes most places are open but you wold have to check with each place you wanted to go to because some are still closed due to staffing problems

We’re so excited to go to Lancaster next month! Any ideas for pet friendly places to stay?

I don’t travel with pets, sorry but you would need to all the places where you would want to stay

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Insider’s Guide

7 places you must visit in lancaster pa amish country.

We know that you’re probably not only visiting with us during your time in Lancaster. With that in mind, we created this guide to help you make the most of your stay.

The abundance of great places to visit in Lancaster made it difficult to choose only a few, so we pared it down to seven recommendations in the following categories:

(Click on a category to jump to it)

Amish Crafts & Gifts

Farmers’ market, pa dutch dining, learning activity, family- and kid-friendly activity.

This guide was developed with input from our staff, local business owners, and Lancaster residents. So AFTER you tour our Amish Farmhouse, take a countryside bus tour , and visit the one-room Amish schoolhouse , be sure to check out at least a few other spots on this list.

You won’t be disappointed!

Something about Kitchen Kettle Village just makes you feel good. Maybe it’s the quaint shops, or the kind shop owners. Whatever it is, you’ll be glad you visited.

You’ll find a selection of traditional Amish-style food, a local wine and cheese shop, and a fantastic bakery. Like many venues in Lancaster, Kitchen Kettle is closed on Sundays.

“Love it great for kids, has animals you can visit, quaint little shops everyone was super friendly, scenery amazing. A must see when visiting Lancaster County, you will not be disappointed! Christmas time is even cooler.” – Christian Laboy (Google review)

Insider’s Tip: Stop in the Jam & Relish Kitchen to try free samples of their delicious jams, salsas, pickles and more.

How To Get There Location in relation to Amish Farm and House: 15 minutes east, along route 340 (Old Philadelphia Pike).

3529 Old Philadelphia Pike Gordonville, PA 17529 Phone: 717-768-8261 Website

If you want to shop where the locals shop, you must go to Central Market (just call it “market” and people will know what you mean). You’ll find lots of fresh, local produce, coffee, meats, bakery items, and more. Market is a great spot to grab lunch or a quick bite before heading out for your next adventure.

Most vendors accept credit and debit cards. An ATM machine is available on site.

“The best experience in wonderful Lancaster city. Do it!” – Lynn Brooks (Google review)

Insider’s Tip: Stop at Central Market (open Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays) and pick up fresh-baked treats at the Wendy Jo’s Homemade stand – her chocolate-covered peanut butter cookies will change your life.

How To Get There Location in relation to Amish Farm and House: 20 minutes west via route 30 and route 23 (Walnut Street), in Lancaster’s downtown district.

23 N. Market St. Lancaster, PA 17603

Phone: 717-735-6890 Website

Shopping Destination

Great prices. Clean bathrooms. Ample parking. What more could you ask for?

They even have a play area (near Aeropostale) if the kids need to let out some energy. One drawback is the limited food choices; however, there are plenty of restaurants and fast-food options along route 30 to choose from.

Tanger Outlets expanded in late 2017 adding 23 new stores, including a Levi’s Outlet and Haggar, and added 1,100 parking spaces. Use the entrance across from Dutch Wonderland to access this newly expanded area.

“Probably one of the best outlet malls I’ve visited. They have a wide selection of stores with great deals, and it’s easy to find your way around from store to store without having to take a car around. I found exactly what I was hoping to find there with ease – and better yet, for a good deal!” – Joey Ziolkowski (Google review)

Insider’s Tip: Go on a weekday or weekend morning if you can; it gets crowded on Saturday and Sunday afternoons.

How To Get There Location in relation to Amish Farm and House: Make a right from our parking lot and go 1 mile on Route 30 (Lincoln Highway).

311 Stanley K. Tanger Blvd. Lancaster, PA 17602 Phone: 717-392-7260 Website

Dienner’s Country Restaurant

Dienner’s has been a popular spot for authentic PA Dutch dining in Lancaster County since 1993. Their homemade rotisserie chicken, buttered noodles, beef ‘n gravy, mashed potatoes, and freshly steamed vegetables are all popular menu items. They serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner, as well as buffet dining.

Insider’s Tip: They are closed on Sundays and Saturdays tend to be busier. If you can get there during the week, go for it!

2855 E. Lincoln Hwy Ronks, PA 17572

Phone: 717-687-9571 Website

If you enjoy being outdoors and learning about what life was like in the 18th century, then you’ll love Rock Ford Plantation. The centerpiece of the plantation is the accurately preserved colonial-style home. During the American Revolution George Washington’s Adjutant General, Edward Hand, lived at Rock Ford.

The plantation is located in the southern part of Lancaster City, within Lancaster County Central Park.

“Hannah did such a great job with our large group of nine taking the tour. She answered all of our questions and really made it an interesting experience. We highly recommend this to anyone visiting Lancaster! – Jeff N. (TripAdvisor review)

Insider’s Tip: The house tour takes about an hour, but you are free to walk to grounds as long as you like.

How To Get There Location in relation to Amish Farm and House: About 2 miles south of central Lancaster city and a 15-minute drive from the Amish Farm and House.

Phone: 717-392-7223 Website

This newly built hotel is highly-rated by guests for its spacious bathrooms, comfy beds, and breakfast. The hotel is on route 30 and close to Dutch Wonderland, shopping outlets, and other attractions.

“The hotel is only a few minutes away from to Dutch wonderland. Restaurants and shops are also close to hotel. Texas Roadhouse is just across the street. The hotel has all the facility that my family needed to enjoy the road trip. Swimming pool and the foosball table in the lobby is great. Wifi and breakfast are included. The price is great for that area.” – (TripAdvisor review)

Insider’s Tip: Book a room on a higher floor. It’s quieter up there.

How To Get There Location in relation to Amish Farm and House: About 1/2 mile west on Route 30.

2320 Lincoln Highway East Lancaster, PA 17602 Phone: 717-399-3100 Website

A unique and fun experience the entire family will love. You’ll ride real steam locomotives and sit in authentically restored, 19th century wooden rail cars.

All regular train rides are 45-minutes round trip.

“Amazing destination to bring the family! Experience history coming alive while riding the steam locomotives & enjoying the gorgeous views of Historic Strasburg! Truly an unforgettable experience to savor. And be sure to arrive early, or stay for a bit longer after your train unloads to observe another train leaving the station. Incredible to see the power of the steam engines taking off.” – Janae Dagan (Google review)

Insider’s Tip: Go for the Open Air car ticket. You’ll have an unobstructed view of the farmland scenery and get better photos.

How To Get There Location in relation to Amish Farm and House: About 5 miles south. Head 1/2 mile east on Route 30, then take 896 south (at Rockvale Outlets) into Strasburg.

301 Gap Rd. Ronks, PA 17572 Phone: 866-725-9666 Website

Official Lancaster County Tourism Guide

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13 Fun Amish Things to do in Amish Country PA 

By: Author MC Miller

Posted on Last updated: November 22, 2023

Categories Travel Blog Post

There are so many fun Amish Things to do in Amish Country PA!

We came to Amish Country with the primary goal of visiting the Amish. I really like learning about different cultures and different ways of life, it fascinates me, so when I was last in Washington DC , making the 2.5 hour drive to visit Amish Country PA was an absolute no brainer!

My visit did not disappoint. Lancaster PA has now taken over Ohio with the largest worldwide Amish population with around 30,000 Amish living in the area.

It was amazing to see horse and buggys drive around Amish Country. It gave me a real insight into what living in the 1700s would have been like!

The Amish came to America in the 1700s from Germany to escape religious persecution.

Nowadays, there are over 350,000 Amish living in the United States, Canada and a few other places around the world. They have recently set up an Amish community in Argentina as purchasing farmlands have grown quite expensive for young married Amish couples to afford in the US with the increasing cost of land and housing.

Amish are very clever and have lots of different businesses throughout Amish Country PA which you can visit and learn more about their community.

Visiting the Amish businesses in Amish Country PA was really fun as they have the BEST food which they make themselves on their farm, so it is a true farm to table experience.

This list of activities will focus primarily on Amish activities and Amish things to do but there will be a few non Amish ideas thrown in there!

What to book before you go: 🏨 Best Hotels near Amish Country ‍🌾🚜🐄 Amish tour Lancaster PA

Where is Amish Country in PA & How to get there?

Where is Amish country in Pennsylvania?

The Lancaster PA Amish live in the countryside areas around 10-15 minutes drive from the city of Lancaster PA . We would recommend you base yourself in Lancaster PA and drive or get a tour into the Amish communities. You could also base yourself in the town of York but it is a 30-40 minute drive from there.

There is plenty of accommodation options in the nearby town of Lancaster where you will stay in civilization and won’t be required to go without electricity like the Amish!

Lancaster PA is located an easy 2.5 hour drive from both Washington DC and New York City. Some people even take a day trip to Amish country pa but its a big slog!

The best way to visit the communities on your first day is with an Amish tour as they will show you all the areas where you can see Amish and visit their businesses.

We really liked going on an Amish tour as we got a tonne of really interesting information about the Amish and their way of life.

13 Fun Amish Things to do in Amish Country PA 

We have focused our list to Amish things to do in Pennsylvania Amish country.

Aside from experiencing Amish communities, there are plenty of non Amish things to do in Lancaster PA if you get tired of Amish life and we have included a few in our list.

1. Eat Farm to Table Ice Cream at Down on the Farm Creamery  (Amish run)

This was seriously some of the very best ice cream I have ever tasted in my life. It was just soooo creamy. Many Amish tours stop in here but you can also just visit on your own.

It is really cool to visit not only for the ice cream but to see a working Amish farm. They have animals to the right of the ice creamery which you can check out. While we were there, there was the cutest baby cow which was so friendly (made me want to become a vegetarian).

If you are stumped for choices with the ice cream flavors, I would highly recommend the Salted Caramel Pretzel Flavour. The Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough was also a winner.

One of the best things to do in Amish Country PA for sure!

Address: 509 May Post Office Rd, Strasburg, PA 17579

2. Grab a Pretzel or Bakery item at Bird in Hand Bake Shop (Amish run)

This is a super cute country store run by Amish with lots of delicious baked items, homemade ice cream, interesting woodwork and other country themed knick-knacks to buy. There are also some practical items for the locals to buy like brooms.

We would highly recommend the Apple Dumpling which was sort of like an apple strudel and very delicious. You can eat anything you buy outside on the adorable porch.

There is also a pretzel van outside of the bake shop which serves some of the best pretzels in the area.

Address: 542 Gibbons Rd, Bird in Hand, PA 17505

3. Eat delicious Amish food at Hometown Kitchen (Amish cooks)

We really loved visiting this amazing Amish restaurant. I honestly think it is the best place to visit in Amish Country pa.

This restaurant I believe has non Amish owners so you will find electricity but all the staff are either Amish or Mennonites. It is also frequently visited by Amish people in the area. There is a place around the back of the restaurant where they can tie up their horse and buggy while they eat.

We visited Hometown Kitchen twice – once on Friday for the “Amish wedding meal” and again on Saturday for the whole rack of ribs. Both meals were very delicious and absolutely huge portion sizes.

If you happen to be in the area on a Friday definitely visit for the Amish wedding meal as it is something very unique and Amish (Homemade Bread Filling with Chicken, Mashed Potatoes, Creamed Celery, & Pepper Slaw).

If you have ever watched the show “Breaking Amish” you will see the cast complain about the ridiculous high price of food in NYC compared to Amish areas. This is very true. The meals here were very cheap. A whole rack of ribs will only set us back $18 USD which I thought was very reasonable.

Serving sizes are also very generous and the staff are more than happy to provide you with take away containers so you can take home anything you can’t finish.

Tip: Make sure you try the homemade bread rolls with the delicious Amish jam on the table. It’s a winner!

Address: 18 Furnace Road, Quarryville, PA 17566

My mom said this Amish wedding meal looks like slop but the slop sure did taste pretty good haha

4. Take a Tour of the Amish Farm & House (Non Amish run)

If you want to learn more about Amish culture, visit the Amish Farm & House. The Farm and House is no longer Amish. The English (as the Amish call us) run a former Amish Farm & House set up how Amish live.

I asked the staff if the Amish sold it to them after a Target moved in next door and apparently, no they didn’t as the last Amish family who were living in the house were only leasing it.

The Amish Farm & House is a great first activity when you arrive in Amish country as it is a great introduction to the Amish and an awesome way to get information on what it is like to live in an Amish community.

You can do an Amish house tour only or a tour which includes a bus ride through the Amish countryside and stops at many Amish businesses. We would recommend the later.

While it is not a true Amish experience with Amish people running the tours (so you can get first hand information) I still thought a visit was worthwhile for the education it provides on Amish life.

You can book your tour here .

Address: 2395 Covered Bridge Dr, Lancaster, PA 17602

What inside a typical Amish house would look like

5. Go on a Horse and Buggy Ride (Both Amish and English run)

Still wondering  what to do in Amish Country PA? Take a buggy ride of course!

There are two highly rated Horse and Buggy Ride companies in Lancaster PA: AAA Buggy Rides and Aaron and Jessica’s Amish Buggy Rides .

I believe that AAA Buggy Rides is non Amish owned but sometimes has Amish drivers and Aaron and Jessica’s Amish Buggy Rides is owned by an Amish father and daughter but also has non Amish buggy drivers.

If it is important for you to have an Amish driver for a more authentic experience, I would suggest you enquire in advance. Both companies are not open on Sundays which is the Amish day of rest.

Buggy rides are very affordable at only around $20 depending on which tour you select. If you want a private tour it is a bit more.

Aaron and Jessica’s Amish Buggy Rides address – 3121A Old Philadelphia Pike Bird in Hand, PA 17505

AAA Buggy Rides address – 3461 Old Philadelphia Pike Ronks, PA 17572

6. Riehl’s Quilts and Crafts (Amish run)

Riehl’s Quilts and Crafts is one of the most popular Amish businesses and farm to visit in Amish country. The large Quilts and Crafts store is full of beautiful quilts and craft (as the name suggests). If you were looking for a unique gift or Christmas present you are sure to find it here.

The store had Amish dolls to buy for the littles but unfortunately no traditional faceless Amish dolls. If you want to try your hand at being an Amish, there were Amish dresses that you could buy in the store for only $20! My husband said he thought the dresses were actually quite beautiful.

Riehl’s Quilts and Crafts has expanded to include a really epic woodworking store with very impressive charcuterie boards. You can also check out a buggy that Amish use up close and personal and have a good look inside which is fun.

A buggy you can look at Riehl’s Quilts and Crafts

7. Try Amish Pretzels in Intercourse at Immergut Pretzels (Amish run)

8. Eat more Amish ice cream at Lapp Valley Farm Homemade Ice Cream (Amish run)

Being that the ice cream at Down on the Farm Creamery was soooo good, we simply had to try the other homemade Amish ice cream farm in the area: Lapp Valley Farm Homemade Ice Cream.

We tried the Cookies and Cream flavor and the Buterscotch flavor.

The ice cream was delicious and very creamy but I would say if you just want to try one ice creamery, the ice cream at Down on the Farm Creamery had the slight edge.It may have just been because they had a Salted Caramel Flavour which I am really partial to. The waffle cone at Lapp Valley Farm Homemade Ice Cream was better.

Lapp Valley Farm Homemade Ice Cream & Cafe is a big indoors store which is better for a cold day as they have lots of indoor seating which Down on the Farm Creamery doesn’t have. There is also a burger store inside and various dairy made on the farm to buy like fresh milk and yogurt. 

Note: Lapp Valley Farm Homemade Ice Cream are at a few locations.They have a smaller pop up store at Kitchen Kettle Village.

Address: 4040 Old Philadelphia Pike, Gordonville PA

9. Pick up some Relish or Jam at Jam & Relish Kitchen (Both Amish & English workers)

This is a really cool place to visit especially if you love delicious jam and chutneys. Inside you can see Amish workers hard at work making jams and chutneys.

Aside from chutneys, there was lots of interesting and fun things to buy inside the store including Dutch Liquorice and Amish Whoopie Pies which are very popular in the area.

This was one of the few places where I witnessed Amish and non Amish people working side by side.

Address: 3529 Old Philadelphia Pike, Intercourse, PA 17534

10. Visit and Shop at Kitchen Kettle Village (Mix of Amish & non Amish business but mostly non Amish)

Kitchen Kettle Village is a really fun place to visit in Amish Country year round with over 30 small shops to explore.

It is especially fun if you find yourself in Amish Country in the holiday season as it really gets into the Christmas festivities.  There is even a full shop dedicated to Christmas at the village!

Other shops to check out include Waltz Vineyards Wine shop (where you can do some wine tasting), Jackpot Ceramics for lovely gifts, Pepper Lane Fudge for some of the tastiest fudge in town and Country Life for the cutest country inspired homewares and organic soaps and lotions.

11. Eat delicious popcorn at Emma’s Gourmet Popcorn ( Amish)

Right next door to Lapp Valley Farm Homemade Ice Cream you will find one of the most popular shops in Amish Country: Emma’s Gourmet Popcorn.

Like most Amish businesses run by women, Emma’s Gourmet Popcorn is run out of the families home as women are only allowed to work from home after they are married.

They have a huge range of flavors of popcorn to try with some of the most popular being the Dark Chocolate Salted Caramel Popcorn and the Sweet Cheddar Popcorn.

Address: 4038 Old Philadelphia Pike, Gordonville, PA 17557

12. Visit an Root Country Market & Auction on a Tuesday (Mostly Amish & Mennonite run)

Root Country Market & Auction is on all day Tuesday. We would highly recommend a visit if you are in the area on a Tuesday as it is very interesting.

The Amish auction off lots of different things from livestock to fruit, vegetables and canned goods, all at bargain basement prices I might add. We were surprised that they were auctioning off goods for only a few dollars!

There is also a really cool market next door to the auction house where you can buy lots of fresh produce, fresh bakery items and knick-knacks without participating in an auction.

We bought the most delicious raspberries from the market next to the auction house. A man bidding at the auction told us that he won a bid for a few bags of fairy floss flavored grapes for a few dollars.

Note: This market and auction is only on Tuesdays.

Address: 705 Graystone Rd, Manheim, PA 17545

13. Stay or dine on a Steamboat at Fulton Steamboat Inn (Non Amish)

Fulton Steamboat Inn is a full place to stay or even dine at their award winning restaurant Huckleberry’s Restaurant and Tavern .

The reason why you will see a steamboat in Lancaster is that it is the birthplace of Robert Fulton, who is credited as the inventor of the steamboat.

We noticed what we thought was an alligator in the pond near the steamboat. Turns out it was indeed an alligator but I believe a fake. We couldn’t believe an alligator would be in Lancaster and had to take a closer look.

You can book your stay here or simply visit for dinner! They are open for dining on holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas with special menus available however, if you wish to dine on those dates make sure you book well in advance as they do book out!

Address: 1 Hartman Bridge Rd, Lancaster, PA 17602

Where to stay to visit Amish Country PA?

The best place to stay in Amish Country PA is Lancaster which is a town 10-15 minutes from the countryside where the Amish live. Lancaster is a city with all the modern amenities like Walmart, Starbucks etc and of course electricity 😉

You can book your hotel during your dates in Lancaster here .

We stayed in two really clean and comfortable hotels during our time in the area: Tru by Hilton and Holiday Inn Mt Joy .

The Holiday Inn I would say had the slight edge, just because it was newer however, the staff at Tru by Hilton were much nicer (even giving us free popcorn, water and a good room at check in) plus it was much closer to Amish Country, being a 10 minute drive to the countryside rather than a 20 minute drive.

Note: If you like to heat up something in a microwave in your room, I will note that the Holiday Inn has in room microwaves whereas the Tru by Hilton doesn’t. Tru by Hilton Lancaster PA does have in room fridges for your Amish goodies however.

Other hotel options?

If you have kids, a cool and affordable place to stay is the Cartoon Network Hotel which is located right next door to the Dutch Wonderland Theme Park .

If you are visiting on a romantic getaway to Lancaster, a cool place for adults is Fulton Steamboat Inn .

Tru by Hilton Lancaster PA

Best time to Visit Amish Country PA?

Like most places, the best time to visit Amish Country, PA is in Spring or Fall , when the weather is more mild and there are less crowds. We have written a full guide to when to visit Amish Country if you want some more detailed information.

Amish Country PA is a popular weekend destination from both Washington DC and New York and tends to be busy year round. If you do intend to visit, it is always best to book in advance, especially if you wish to visit on a weekend.

Note: Amish have a day of rest on a Sunday so it is always best to visit during the week or Friday/Saturday if you want to make a weekend trip. No Amish businesses are open on a Sunday as they consider Sunday a holy day where they attend church and rest.

The best place to stay to explore Amish Country PA is Lancaster PA, which (depending on where you stay in Lancaster) is only a 10-20 minute drive to Amish Country, where you can visit Amish and their businesses.

See here for the best rates during your dates.

A visit to Amish Country always brings the question: Could you live as an Amish?

While the grass is always greener on the other side, in this case I don’t think I could go without my technology!

The grass isn’t always greener on the other side!

MC Miller is a travel blogger and writer who has travelled America extensively and abroad to over 80 countries. He founded Couple Travel The World in 2017. Since then, he has spent over 6 years on the road as a full time travel couple. When he not traveling he likes to spend quality time with his partner Bett, planning our their next date or romantic getaway!

Things to do in Lancaster, PA for First Time Visitors

Be sure to try these unique activities.

If this is your first visit to Lancaster, PA – we welcome you with open arms and warm Pennsylvania Dutch hospitality. If you are eager to learn what all the fuss is about, we have compiled a list of six great things to do while you are in town.

These activities are “classic” Lancaster at their core. They help to make up what Lancaster is all about and have led to the development of so many of the wonderful experiences and traditions around the county.

Events Happening in Lancaster, PA

1. Visit Amish Country

When we say “Lancaster!” you say “Amish!” These two often go hand in hand, being that Lancaster, PA is home to one of the largest and oldest Amish populations in the United States. Our county is known for its rolling hills, beautiful farmland, and relaxing way of life.

• Take a buggy ride with Aaron and Jessica’s Buggy Rides to have a truly authentic experience on the back roads.
• Move at a faster pace? opt for a scooter ride through the countryside with Strasburg Scooters Tours .
• Attractions like the Amish Farm & House , the Amish Village , and The Amish Experience are also great places to learn about the plain lifestyle. You can see first-hand what an Amish home or one-room schoolhouse looks like plus learn the traditions and customs of this unique culture.

Start Planning Today!

2. Stop by Lancaster’s Central Market

Lancaster Central Market is the country’s oldest continually operating farmers’ market and located in Lancaster's bustling and vibrant city, where you can find tons of delicious restaurants , independent retailers and shops , coffee shops , and more!

Explore Downtown Lancaster

Open on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, this market is the perfect place to see the combination of diverse cultures and cuisines that make up Lancaster County.

Be sure to pick up some locally-grown produce, freshly baked goods, meats, or cheeses to take home with you. If your visit doesn’t coincide with market days, don’t worry, there are plenty of other farmers’ markets around the county that you can visit.

Find Roadside Stands

3. Try some traditional Pennsylvania Dutch food

Traditional Pennsylvania Dutch food is truly a treat. Explore the authentic flavors of Pennsylvania Dutch cuisine in Lancaster County. From hearty pot pies to scrumptious shoofly pies and whoopie pies , our restaurants proudly serve up generations-old recipes , to savor the rich heritage and homestyle goodness that defines Lancaster County.

Our many Pennsylvania Dutch restaurants like Miller’s Smorgasbord Restaurant & Bakery or Shady Maple , offer all the traditional dishes for you to sample and enjoy. Not sure what you will like? Check out some local must-eats .

Make PA Dutch treats at home!

4. Shop for antiques and hand-crafted goods

Here in Lancaster, we like to make things by hand, the old-fashioned way. We value quality, crafted goods that are passed on to generations and hidden gems scoured from our many antique stores. Each item has a story, and more than likely someone around to tell you about it.

If you are looking for the perfect piece to add to your home be sure to head out to Adamstown to check out the many antique malls, markets, and auctions .

Downtown Lancaster also offers a number of artisans and galleries for you to explore on Gallery Row.

Find The Perfect Gift To Take Home

5. Check out our awesome attractions

Take a ride on the U.S.A.'s oldest operating railroad at the Strasburg Rail Road , featuring super fun events all year long, or have an exciting day at Dutch Wonderland family amusement park! With attractions for all ages ranging from scooter tours to Amish adventures, there's plenty to do throughout the county.

Route 30 Outlet Shopping and Attractions

6. See a show

Lancaster is home to a number of theatres with performances ranging from musical, to dramatic, to comedy, or even spiritual. While in town you can visit the largest faith-based theatre in the United States, Sight & Sound Theatres® or catch a Broadway caliber musical at the oldest working theatre in the United States, The Fulton Theatre .

Upcoming shows

If this isn’t enough to keep you busy while you are in town, there is plenty more to do! Stop by our Visitors Center for more ideas and recommendations. We are positive that you will want to come back again to do some more exploring, when you do we will be ready with more suggestions.

If you want to learn more of what all there is to do in Lancaster, check out our Getaway Guide ( order here ) or sign up for our e-newsletter to stay in the know.

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Best Amish Towns in Pennsylvania – Amish Country

October 13, 2021

When you stay at the Historic Smithton Inn , you will be entering the true heart of Pennsylvania Amish country. Lancaster County features a variety of prominent Amish Towns in PA that are strongly influenced by Amish culture and lifestyle. You'll encounter peaceful countryside, rolling farmlands, and many small, neighborly villages. And, you might even run across a few horse and buggies! You will also experience some delicious homemade Amish cooking and plenty of local, mom-and-pop shops for finding those one-of-a-kind souvenirs and gifts. Here are a few Amish Country towns in PA that are worth visiting during your stay at the Historic Smithton Inn!

This post is all about Best Amish Towns in Pennsylvania - Amish Country

Come visit Lancaster County, Amish Country, and discover all the wonderful things to do here in our free Vacation Guide! At The Historic Smithton Inn , we want you to have the best visit possible. That's why we offer our guide completely free to you! Check it out today!

Amish Country Towns in PA You've Got to Visit

Why not explore the very town that you will be staying in during your Amish Country vacation at the Historic Smithton Inn? Ephrata, PA, offers some beautiful Amish countryside as well as historic attractions. Make a visit to the Ephrata Cloister to read about its rich history and educational programs. Or, go see a play at the Ephrata Performing Arts Center, which has been producing quality plays for well over 25 years. Do a bit of shopping at Reiff's Farm Market.  At this Amish-owned market, you can buy some tasty fruit, vegetables, or baked goods while you’re in town. You will also see some Amish and historic landmarks, such as the Bitzers Mill Covered Bridge .

RELATED POSTS:

15 things to do in ephrata, best ephrata restaurants.

Lititz, PA, is known as “America’s coolest small town” among Amish towns in PA. Attractions, shopping, and dining are all available in Lititz, including the Julius Sturgis Pretzel Bakery on Main Street. Tour the original pretzel bakery and get a soft pretzel twisting lesson before enjoying some salty treats. For some sweet to balance the salty, visit the Wilbur Chocolate Shop, Sugar Whipped Cupcake Shop and Sweet Legacy. The Lititz Springs Park is another favorite location, with beautiful water features, outdoor concerts, art shows, and some friendly ducks.

Things to Do in Lititz

Lititz restaurants.

For some tastes of the Amish experience, a trip to Lancaster is in order. Lancaster is one of the most well-known Amish towns in PA. Many Amish communities live outside of the main downtown and continue to make a living by farming the Amish Country lands that their ancestors inherited. Learn about Amish life and take a tour of actual homes and farmlands with The Amish Experience . You will board a shuttle that will take you down country lanes to operating Amish communities. Then, you will soak up some history while engaging with Amish culture and people. To wrap up the tour, dine on Pennsylvania Dutch / Amish Country homestyle cooking from farm to table at Miller's Smorgasbord .

RELATED:  Things to do in Downtown Lancaster

Another of the Amish towns in PA worth visiting is Strasburg. Here, you can step back in time and experience the life and history of the Amish community at The Amish Village. You can also visit the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania or Strasburg Rail Road to learn about another type of history in the area. Ed’s Buggy Rides is another authentic area attraction. Take a three-mile tour through historic Amish farmlands in an open or closed carriage.

RELATED:  Things to do in Strasburg

Intercourse.

The list of Amish towns in PA wouldn’t be complete without Intercourse, PA. This is one of the top tourism destinations for visitors to Amish Country. This hub of Amish activity includes the Kitchen Kettle Village . This area showcases what the heart of Lancaster County has to offer. This includes homemade baked goods, jams and relishes, and delicious Amish food! Explore pottery, quilts, jewelry, and local art among other goodies!

RELATED:  Things to do in Intercourse

Bird in hand.

In some ways, Bird in Hand is the Bulls Eye of Amish Country in Lancaster PA.  Straddling the Philadelphia Pike (PA 340), Shops, bakeries and restaurants are along the main road and one block behind are 'wall to wall' Amish Farms.  There's a good reason that Lancaster Hot Air Balloons chose Bird in Hand as the launching spot for their scenic hot air balloon tours!!  You'll need to be a patient driver in this Amish town, because odds are you'll find yourself behind lots of buggies along the way!

RELATED:  Things to do in Bird in Hand

Manheim is another historic Amish country town with rich history, a charming downtown district, great restaurants and quaint shops.  While it's surrounded by rolling hills and Amish farms, Manheim is probably best known for being home to the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire .  Every weekend in fall (August - October), the Mount Hope Estate transforms into an Elizabethan village with bawdy entertainment, food and drink!

RELATED:  Things to do in Manheim

7 amish things to do during your visit to lancaster county.

Throughout the Amish towns of Lancaster County Pa, there are a few particularly "Amish-Things" to see and do during your visit.  Here's a list of Amish experiences to consider:

1. Take an Amish Buggy Ride

Here's a link to our favorite Lancaster Buggy Rides

2. Enjoy a Backroads Tour Through Amish Farmland

Click here to learn more about Strasburg Scooters & book your tour

3. Tour an Amish Farm & School House

Here's a link to learn more about the Amish Village

4. Eat at an Amish Restaurant

For a list of the best Amish Restaurants in Lancaster PA, Click Here .

5. Shop at Amish Stores

Take a look at our favorite Amish Owned businesses around the county!

6. Visit an Amish Farm Stand

Reiff's Farm Market is one of our favorite Amish-owned farm stands in the county!

7. Bring Home Some Amish Baked Goods

The Bakery inside the Shady Maple Farm Market is a terrific place to go for a whole assortment of Amish Baked Goods including breads, soft pretzels & whoopie pies!  Click Here for more information.

Amish Country Frequently Asked Questions:

Where is amish country.

A:  Amish Country is basically all of Lancaster County, PA.  This area was dubbed Amish Country because it has one of the largest and oldest populations of Amish and Mennonite residents.

Is it worth visiting Amish Country?

A:  The Amish culture is intriguing to many, and if you're one of those people, then a visit to Amish Country is definitely worth it.  What better way to learn about the Amish way of life than by seeing it in person. Plus, the countryside here in Lancaster County, PA is stunningly beautiful!

Do the Amish drink alcohol?

A:  Yes and No.  The Amish aren't specifically prohibited from drinking alcohol, but it's not something they typically do often, in public or to excess.  There's no such thing as an "Amish Bar".  If an Amish person is eating dinner at Applebee's in Ephrata, you might spot him drinking a beer with dinner.  Mennonites are far more likely to be prohibited from drinking alcohol, but this differs from church to church.

What types of jobs do the Amish in Amish Country, Lancaster PA do?

A:   The traditional jobs that Amish men have are related to farming / agriculture and the building trades.  Dairy farming is the largest group, but there are goat farms, dairy farms, tobacco farms and even a camel farm (selling camel milk) in Lancaster County.  Amish Country is also know for Amish furniture makers, home builders, deck builders, roofers, stone masons, tree trimmers and more.  Women of course maintain the household, help out with chores around the property, make & sell things like flowers, vegetables, soaps, candles, quilts etc (either in their own shop or on a cart  in the yard).  You'll also find unmarried women working in restaurants, cleaning houses, making pretzels and other foods, etc.

How do the Amish get around town?

A:  The typical way Amish families get around is in a horse & buggy.  They can also be passengers in cars (neighbors with a mini-van can act as an "Amish Taxi" to take women to Costco for instance), ride busses, trains or airplanes.  One fun-fact is that you don't actually become Amish until adulthood when you CHOOSE to join the community.  This makes it possible for a teenager to buy and drive a car if they want to... they just have to give it up when they officially become Amish (these teens are also probably hiding the car in the middle of their corn field or parking it at a neighbor's house.  Even though they CAN, it's still frowned upon.

What do the Amish do for fun in Amish Country?

A:  The Amish have lots of ways to entertain themselves.  The sing, play sports like softball, volleyball or kickball, and go for a run.  Drive around the backroads of Amish Country on a Sunday and you're sure to see the Amish out playing something! What you won't see them doing is playing x-box!  The Amish also like to read and many are artistic in their spare time.

Can the Amish watch TV?

A:  Yes & no.  The Amish never have TVs in their own house, but they may have neighbors or co-workers with TVs and it wouldn't be unusual to plan a trip to one of those homes just in time to catch the Philly's play!

Do the Amish vote?

A:   Yes!  While the Amish typically don't get actively involved in politics themselves, they do vote.  As you might expect, they have conservative values and vote accordingly.

Do the Amish celebrate the same holidays as non-Amish?

A:  Mostly.  At its heart, Amish is a Christian faith and so any Christian holidays are celebrated.  In fact, there are a few Christian holidays that are MORE celebrated in the Amish faith such as Ascension Day (40 days after Easter is celebrated - the day Jesus rose up into heaven) and Assumption Day (August 15th, celebrating Mary rising up to heaven).  Secular holidays like the 4th of July, Veterans Day, and Labor Day are less likely to be observed.

Stay at the Historic Smithton Inn

Any of these Amish towns in PA make great destinations during your Amish Country stay in Lancaster County. You will enjoy some time touring the Amish countryside and exploring these small towns and what they have to offer. Then, come settle back at the Historic Smithton Inn in Ephrata, PA, at the end of the day! 

The Historic Smithton Inn was built in 1763!  You'll be staying in a B&B that was built before the United States was a COUNTRY!  We joke that George Washington did NOT stay here, but he COULD have!  The building has been lovingly restore so rest assured you won't feel like you're staying in a stodgy museum.  Every guest room has the charm of a historic building, but guest comfort is paramount.  We combine hand-crafted furniture, working fireplaces and 18 inch thick walls with modern amenities like private bathrooms, flat screen TVs, reliable WiFi and luxurious linens to make every guest's visit with us a special one.

Another treat at the Historic Smithton Inn is the on-site wine bar!  The cozy bar is open to the public on weekends (Friday - Sunday), serving wine, beer, mixed drinks and a Mediterranean Bistro Menu.  Friday and Saturday evenings from 5 - 8 pm there's live acoustic music.  Wine tastings or purchases can be scheduled by guests when the bar is closed mid-week.

We hope you choose to stay at the Historic Smithton Inn as you explore the Amish Towns of Lancaster County!!

Book Your Stay Today!

If you enjoy this post about the best amish towns in pa, amish country, you might also enjoy these related blogs:.

• Where is the Best Place to Stay in Lancaster PA?
• Visiting Amish Country
• Lancaster PA Weekend Getaway
• Romantic Getaway Ideas in Lancaster PA
• Best Amish Restaurants in Lancaster PA

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How to Plan Your Amish Country Day Trip

Looking for ways to plan your amish country day trip.

Welcome to Amish Country PA , home to Pennsylvania’s and America’s oldest Amish settlement . Step back in time to when a “plain” lifestyle was the norm. We’re talking a slow, peaceful pace, perhaps even riding a traditional Amish horse and buggy through Lancaster County’s rolling green hills and windblown fields of crops.

We’ve got all the details you need to plan your Amish Country day trip to Lancaster County.

Amish Country Mornings

Visit the Amish Village

Guder mariye from Amish Country Pennsylvania. That’s Pennsylvania Dutch for good morning. Did you know the Amish speak a German dialect called Pennsylvania Dutch? Spend your morning in Lancaster County on tour at Amish Village , learning fascinating facts about the Amish community that you won’t find anywhere online. Here you’ll take a guided tour of an authentic Amish farmhouse and barnyard , exploring the 12-acre property on foot or taking a 90-minute guided bus tour of the Amish Country backroads. Who knows Lancaster better than a guide who was born and raised here?

Suppose you’re an early riser and visiting Amish Country on a Saturday in late February to April . In that case, you won’t want to miss a Lancaster County mud sale . These fundraiser events for local fire companies draw quite the crowd. You can find hand-stitched Amish quilts at mud sales, locally-crafted Amish furniture , antiques, baked goods, and more up for bid. Another excellent morning stop is at a local farmers’ market like Bird-in-Hand Market or Green Dragon Farmers Market & Auction for fresh produce. Or why not take a drive in the countryside? You’ll stumble on some of the best fruits and vegetables at an Amish roadside market or stand . Don’t forget your cash.

Afternoons in Dutch Country

A is for Amish Buggy Rides

When it’s time to refuel again, why not head to a spot that specializes in Pennsylvania Dutch classics? Head to Good ‘N Plenty Restaurant for authentic family-style Pennsylvania Dutch cooking delivered to your table and leave with goodies from the bakery and gift shop. Another favorite lunch stop for farm-fresh goodness is Bird-in-Hand Family Restaurant and Smorgasbord . Here, you’ll find beloved family recipes with ingredients sourced from nearby farms. Top off your lunch with a shoofly pie or whoopie pie treat for the road at Bird-in-Hand Bakery & Cafe .

After lunch, it’s a great time to enjoy a quintessential Amish horse and buggy ride . It may feel a bit cliche, but you can’t leave Amish Country without this experience. Ride like the Amish do with Aaron & Jessica’s Buggy Rides , touring working Amish farms and traveling through covered bridges. Or perhaps grill your drivers at A is for Amish Buggy Rides with all your burning Amish questions.

Pennsylvania Dutch Country Evenings

Hayloft Ice Cream / Soft Pretzels

The fun shouldn’t end when the sun goes down. Fill up with a hearty Pennsylvania Dutch meal at the iconic Shady Maple Smorgasbord , the most extensive buffet in the United States with favorite family recipes prepared fresh. You can find hand-dipped ice cream at Hayloft Ice Cream or 30 flavors of ice cream and more at the Milkhouse Ice Cream Shoppe at Oregon Dairy for an after-dinner treat.

If you’re looking to get in a last-minute tour before the day ends , we recommend Amish Farm and House . The last bus tour leaves at 4 p.m. and travels around the beautiful Amish countryside, stopping at various Amish shops. Amish Farm and House is hosting a one-of-a-kind sunset picnic , an evening of food and fellowship on their inviting farm for a limited time. It sounds like a great way to end the day in Amish Country.

When you’ve had your fill of excitement for the day, don’t waste your stay in Amish Country at a chain hotel. At an Amish Country farm bed and breakfast like Verdant View Farm Bed & Breakfast or Neffdale Farm of Paradise , you can spend the night at someone’s farm. Immerse yourself in a unique Amish experience .

Start Planning Your Day Trip to Amish Country

If all this sounds appealing, it’s time to start planning your day trip to Amish Country today. Keep in mind, the Amish don’t work on Sundays, but you’ll still find plenty of things to do on Sundays in Amish Country. Whether you spend your time on an Amish tour, perusing a farmer’s market , or enjoying a delicious PA Dutch meal , expect a kind smile and an exciting adventure you’re sure to remember. Most of all, you won’t regret your day trip to Lancaster’s Amish Country .

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By Darlene Panzera

For years I heard my in-laws rave about their adventures in and around Lancaster, PA. They’d make me jealous as they’d talk about the mouth-watering homemade food served in the restaurants, the large production theater shows, and how the Amish community farmed their land, sewed quilts, and drove horse and buggies around town. Last fall, my husband and I had the chance to go over there ourselves, and we were not disappointed. I would highly recommend taking a weekend trip of at least three days, possibly four or more, if you have the time, to enjoy the peace and tranquility of the countryside, savor some of the delicious home-made pies, and visit all the unique markets, shows, shops, and restaurants, and activities in the area.

1.    Visit the Sight & Sound Theater. Every year this faith-based company brings the Bible to life on stage with unbelievably epic detailed sets, costuming, and musical productions featuring a large cast of talented actors and actresses. One of the largest theaters in the nation, the interior is designed so that the performers and yes—live animals—can come up through the aisles, props can float over heads, curtains can unfurl to reveal stages on three sides, all making guests feel they are an interactive part of the show. One of the biggest thrills, especially for young children is to see how they bring the animals up on stage. We’re talking horses, zebra, camels, donkeys, goats, sheep, chickens—what a sight to see! www.Sight-Sound.com

2.  Another interactive show with spectacular special effects is, “Jacob’s Choice,” at the F/X Theater located at the Plain & Fancy Farm where you can experience Amish life as viewed through film screen clips, live actors, spray mist, and surround-sound. While it only takes about 30 minutes to enjoy, there is also a gift shop located at the entrance to pick up some souvenirs, and buggy rides, farmland tours, Amish homestead and one-room school tours at this location that also make up the Amish Experience.

www.amishexperience.com

3.  Amish-run restaurants! There are so many choices it is hard to visit them all. Two of our absolute favorites were Katie’s Kitchen (we ate there twice!) which has the best breakfast with homemade bread and strawberry jam I have ever tasted. Now keep in mind, that I can my own strawberry jams, and nothing I’ve ever made compares to this! We brought some home. The waitresses are all dressed in their Amish attire and another thing that amazed me was how polite and genuinely sweet they all were. katieskitchen.com

We also had the chance to eat at Dienner Country Restaurant buffet and I would go back again in a heartbeat. Absolutely LOVED this place! All of the homemade food is simply delicious using natural ingredients with the most incredible flavor.

www.dienners.com

We also heard that Good ‘N Plenty Restaurant and Bakery, Bird-in-Hand Family Restaurant, Yoder’s Restaurant & Buffet, Plain & Fancy Farm Restaurant, Miller’s Smorgasbord, and Hershey Farm Restaurant & Inn were also fabulous. (We bought 2 pies from Hershey Farm Restaurant!) Hershey Farm is located right next to the Sight & Sound Theater and features a wonderful Inn, shops, restaurant, and bakery. www.hersheyfarm.com

4.  Dutch Haven. Located right next door to Dienner’s buffet, you can eat and then go in to collect a few Amish souvenirs in this wonderful shop. Upon entrance, the owner greets everyone with a free sample plate of their famous Shoo-Fly pie. Yes, I said free! They have full pies if you would like to take one home. Or perhaps you might like a whoopie pie, which is a chocolate cake treat with a white cream filling inside.

www.dutchhaven.com

5.  Visit Kitchen Kettle Village. With over 40 unique shops in one location, you can find pottery, candles, wine, vinegars, jams & jellies, cured meats, and hand-pulled mozzarella! Jewelry, leather, various art galleries, and heirloom quilts. Take a self-guided tour through the Jam & Relish Kitchen and sample dozens of treats for free. Step outside and take an Amish Buggy ride. They even have lodging for you to stay the night.

www.kitchenkettle.com

6.   Take an Amish buggy ride! We took an Amish Buggy ride from AAA Buggy Rides, which is conveniently located next to Kitchen Kettle Village. The Amish driver is friendly and answers all your questions as he takes you through sweeping farmland with cornfields, and Amish barns and houses. See the Amish farmers bringing in the harvest. Ride through a covered bridge! Our buggy was more of a small bus fitting about 8 people. This would be especially exciting for the kids as they can also see the horses and hear their feet go clop-clop on the pavement. aaabuggyrides.com

Other buggy ride operators include:

Aaron & Jessica’s Buggy Rides   www.amishbuggyrides.com

A is For Amish  www.aisforamishbuggyrides.com

7.   See a picturesque covered bridge. The first covered bridge was built right here in Pennsylvania and Lancaster County has around 28 of them, sometimes called, “kissing bridges.” Many of the horse and buggy tours will take you through one of them.

8.   Take a tour of The Amish Village in Strasburg. www.TheAmishVillage.net Enter through the gift shop and sign up for a guided tour of the Amish house, and then go outside to tour the stable and see the animals. I saw a baby calf only a few days old! Finish the rest of the village on your own. There’s a covered bridge, several buggies to sit on for plenty of photo ops, a blacksmith shop, one room school house, a village store featuring quilts and other gifts, and Amish-made rocking chairs & benches for relaxing.

9.  Shop the Bird in Hand Farmer’s Market with more homemade pies and other baked goods, jams & jellies, meats, cheeses, funnel cakes, PA dutch potato chips, snack counters, and quilts, leather silk flowers, and many local hand crafts from nearly 30 local vendors. birdinhandfarmersmarket.com

10.  Take an old-fashioned steam train ride on the historic Strasburg Rail Road! Operating since 1832, this fully-narrated, 45-minute trek through 1,000 acres of picturesque countryside is great fun for the whole family. Buy your ticket at the antique station booth and pick your seat on one of the restored train cars for the 9-mile roundtrip journey to Paradise, Pennsylvania. My favorite part was hearing the whistle blow and seeing the steam pour out of the top of the smokestack. First class and dining options are available. For complete information and schedules visit: strasburgrailroad.com

11.  Visit an Amish grocery store! They have all their homemade baking ingredients in clear bags upon the shelves, as well as pie filling, apples, fresh samples of apple cider, and live bees for honey! This is Kauffman’s Fruit Farm & Market kauffmansfruitfarm.com

12.  Tour an Amish furniture store. This one is also next to Dienner’s Country Restaurant.

www.peacefulvalleyfurniture.com

If you have time, there are many other Amish galleries, shops, and furniture stores that would be well worth your while. Now I hope I’ve made you at least a little bit jealous, so that you will want to plan your own trip. Happy Travels!

This Blog Post  is written by Darlene Panzera

www.darlenepanzera.com

Darlene Panzera is a multi-published author of sweet, fun-loving romance. Her career launched with  THE BET,  included in bestselling author Debbie Macomber's  FAMILY AFFAIR.  An expanded version titled,  BET YOU'LL MARRY ME,  became a finalist for RWA's Greater Detroit Best Book Award and her series,  THE CUPCAKE DIARIES,  hit the top 100 on the Barnes & Noble Nook with a debut at #7 for overall sales. Her newest series,  MONTANA HEARTS , debuts October 2015 from Avon Impulse, a division of HarperCollins.

Born and raised in New Jersey, Darlene is now a resident of the Pacific Northwest where she lives with her husband, three children, and "Fluffy" cat. Besides spending time with her family she also loves hanging out at the barn with her horse J-R, rooting for the Seattle Seahawks, crafts, photography, camping, hiking, skiing, and swimming at the lake.

Darlene would love to hear from her readers. She says,  "I love writing stories that inspire people to laugh, value relationships, and pursue their dreams."

website:  www.darlenepanzera.com

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Northeast Ohio Family Fun

Make Memories, One Cool Family Outing at a Time!

15 Things to Do in Amish Country Ohio – Plan Your Perfect Escape!

Last Updated: 5/21/2024

Hidden in the beautiful farmland of Northeast Ohio you’ll find a thriving community that takes us back in time to an era of traditional and simple living, hard work, delicious food and handmade products. With a large variety of family friendly things to do in Amish Country Ohio, our guide can help you plan a one day trip or a short vacation in the Amish Heartland. 

From the best places to visit, to the best places to stay and eat, let our guide help you plan the perfect visit.

The Farm at Walnut Creek

The Farm at Walnut Creek is a great place for kids to visit and hand feed over 500 exotic animals including giraffes, cattle, horses, elk, deer, camels, buffaloes, porcupines and more. Visitors have the option of exploring the 2+ mile scenic farm park with your own vehicle (remaining inside only) or for a small extra fee, combine your visit with a horse drawn wagon ride that includes your own bucket of animal feed.

Admission also includes access to all of the farmhouses, barns, produce stand, gift barn, and playground shaped like Noah’s Ark. Visitors recommend wearing comfortable shoes, bringing extra sunscreen, and a packed lunch to eat at one of the picnic benches available on the farm.

The Farm at Walnut Creek 4147 County Road 114, Sugarcreek, OH 44681 Website

You may also be interested in: More fun petting zoos in Northeast Ohio

Amish Country Theater

With two “Rib-Ticklin’ Family Fun” variety shows, special events, and an Amish Homestyle Buffet on site, the Amish Country Theater feeds and entertains families with good food, clean comedy and wholesome entertainment.

The variety shows are on stage of the modern 600 seat auditorium 4 nights a week with additional special event shows including tribute bands, comedy acts, and holiday specials. Theater guests recommend both the Amish Country Buffet and the connected hotel for a package visit to the area.

Amish Country Theater 4365 State Route 39, Berlin, Ohio 44610 Website

Holmes County Flea Market

Holmes County Flea Market has more than 65 vendors offering a large variety of items in their 58,000 sq ft indoor building and an additional 5,000 sq ft outdoor section. Florals, crafts, decor, jewelry, Amish Antiques, and a whole lot more. Restaurant and other food items are also available.

Tour busses and RVs are welcome, but expect a small parking fee. The flea market is wheelchair accessible with a few wheelchairs available to guests at no charge. The market is pet friendly, but leashes are required. Open 9am to 5pm, Thursday-Saturday from March to December. Contact them for their additional Wednesday hours during September and October.

Holmes County Flea Market 4550 SR 39, Berlin, Ohio 44654 Website

You may also be interested in: Best flea markets in Ohio

Sols in Berlin

Sols in Berlin promises an “arts and crafts extravaganza” for visitors to their three stores located in the Village of Berlin. They offer a large variety of Amish, American, and Country Crafts and decor as well as handmade food items and gifts, with something for everyone. 

Open year round Monday through Saturday, you’ll also find a long list of local events happening at Sols from Train, Toy and Car Shows to Antique Fairs along with a variety of themed festivals. Don’t miss their homemade ice cream and fresh popped kettle corn!

Sols in Berlin 4914 West Main Street, Berlin, OH 44610 Website

Amish Home Tours & Horse and Buggy Rides

In addition to good food and shopping, you can also learn about Amish history and experience their culture through  Amish home tours and buggy rides . With these unique experiences, you and your family will not only learn about the Amish way of life, but you can also enjoy the beauty of Amish Country up close in a whole new way.

World’s Largest Cuckoo Clock

With the Cuckoo bird announcing the smiling four piece polka band, dancing couple and a water wheel, you won’t want to miss the adorable performance of the World’s Largest Cuckoo Clock. You can find it on the corner of Main and Broadstreet in Sugarcreek and dance along with the festive music at the top of each hour and on the half hour.

World’s Largest Cuckoo Clock 100 N. Broadway Street, Sugarcreek, OH 44681 Website

David Warther Carvings

Open April through October, stop into David Warther Carvings to visit the museum featuring the artistic work the 5th generation Swiss heritage carver. The large five room museum features nearly 90 carvings of the “History of the Ship” from the first Dynasty of Egypt to today created from antique ivory, ebony wood and abalone pearl.

David continues to work daily on site and offers frequent demonstrations of his work as he adds to the collection of intricate creations. See the website for hours, directions, and admissions information.

David Warther Carvings 1775 State Route 39, Sugarcreek, OH 44681 Website

Ohio Star Theatre at Dutch Valley

New in 2017 with state-of-the-art lighting and sound, the 500 seat Ohio Star Theatre offers a variety of family friendly entertainment including shows, concerts, musicals and special events. 

Some shows are very popular and guests recommend buying your tickets well in advance of your visit. Package pricing is available for theatre tickets, dinner at any of their local Dutchman Hospitality restaurants and/or overnight accommodations. The theatre is handicap accessible and has on site refreshments.

Ohio Star Theatre at Dutch Valley 4985 State Route 515, Millersburg, OH 44654 Website

Amish and Mennonite Heritage Center

If you’re interested in the history of the Amish and Mennonite people you won’t want to miss the opportunity to visit the museum, pre-Civil War one room schoolhouse and the amazing Behalt Cyclorama mural. The Cyclorama artwork is a 10 ft tall, 256 ft long mural timeline of Amish and Mennonite heritage beginning from 1525.

The museum and gift shop are free to visitors. Guided tours of the Behalt Cyclorama, one room Schoolhouse and Pioneer Barn are available both individually or with a combo ticket.

Amish and Mennonite Heritage Center 5798 County Road 77, Millersburg, OH 44654 Website

Tis the Season Christmas Shop

This the Season Christmas Shop is more than just a store, it’s year-round Christmas experience with something for everyone. The three level shop is designed and arranged as if you are walking through a Christmas Village with a log cabin, working fireplace and their Alleluia Chapel of stained glass windows. The lower level is reserved their forest of Christmas trees and nativity sets. 

Open Monday-Saturday, the shop’s website lists special events hosted by Tis the Season as well as dates opportunities to meet Santa during the months of November and December.

Tis the Season Christmas Shop 4363 State Route 39, Millersburg, OH 44654 Website

Amish Country Riding Stables

Enjoy the beauty of the Amish countryside by horseback on a guided horseback trail in Millersburg. The friendly horses are comfortable with both experienced and new riders, so no experience is required, but riders must be 8 years old or older with a weight limit of 225 lbs. 

Each ride lasts about 40-45 minutes with additional instruction time making the experience about one hour long. Reservations are required on Saturdays and recommended Tuesday-Friday. (The stables are closed on Sunday and Monday.) Rides are dependent on the weather and available April through October of each year. Cash is the only accepted payment, but guests staying at the Guiggisberg Swiss Inn receive a discount on rides. Visit their website for pictures and more information or call them to make reservations.

Amish Country Riding Stables 5025 State Route 557, Millersburg, OH 44654 Website

Age of Steam Roundhouse

As a full-size working roundhouse, the Age of Steam Roundhouse is a great place for locomotive enthusiasts to learn and experience the restoration of these great machines. The roundhouse itself is a fully-functional workshop complete with 18 stalls, 115-foot turntable and turntable pit for their 22 historic steam locomotives.

The museum and collection also include storage tracks, coal dock, a wood water tank, ash pit, and back shop, much of which can be seen during one of their three guided tours. Best suited for school age children and older, it is recommended that visitors reserve tickets online since there will be a limited number of tickets available on site. Strollers and wheelchairs are welcome on tours, children under 3 and active duty military visitors are free.

Age of Steam Roundhouse 213 Smokey Lane Road SW, Sugarcreek, OH 44681 Website

You may also be interested in: More fun train rides in Ohio

Lehman’s Hardware

Lehman’s Hardware has it all: housewares, kitchen gadgets, snacks, desserts, meats, grilling and wood products, USA and Amish made toys and games, plants and gardening supplies, food preservation items, lighting and more! 

They also have a long and diverse list of special events with activities from holiday entertainment to bread baking classes. (See the updated events list on their website before visiting.) So much to see and experience you won’t want to miss it when visiting Kidron.

Lehman’s Hardware 4779 Kidron Road, Kidron, OH 44618 Website

The Inn at Honey Run

Set within 56 gorgeous acres of views and landscapes, this boutique resort is an adult-only inn found in the heart of Amish Country. The inn feels like a tranquil treat and escape from everyday life where you and the one you love can escape to a convenient and private hideaway.

With several packages to enhance your stay, the inn also offers an onsite restaurant, six walking trails with special attractions, a gift shop, and honey harvesting on-site.

The Inn at Honey Run 6820 Co Rd 203, Millersburg, OH 44654 Website

You may also be interested in: Best romantic getaways in Ohio

The Ohio Swiss Festival

Transforming downtown Sugarcreek into an active Swiss village, the Ohio Swiss Festival, celebrates the heritage and culture of Switzerland every fall. With music, wine and cheese samplings, contests, parades, entertainment and races, the festival offers activities for the whole family.  

The downtown celebration also offers a variety of rides and concessions, beer tastings, Swiss-themed activities, and you can experience the world’s largest Cuckoo clock in person while you’re there.

The Ohio Swiss Festival Downtown Sugarcreek, OH 44681 Website

You may be interested in: More fun festivals in Ohio  

Amish Country Restaurants & Unique Food

Looking for the best places to eat when visiting Ohio’s Amish Country? Our list of Amish Food and Restaurants can point you in the right direction! Find the best places to enjoy delicious Amish style cooking, purchase food items to savor later and find special gifts for your friends back at home.

Family Friendly Hotels in Amish Country Ohio

Ohio’s Amish Country includes several communities and towns full of activities and things to do. The surrounding farmland and countryside is perfect for a picnic, buggy ride, or farm visit and is a beautiful place to enjoy an overnight stay in one of the many family friendly hotels in Amish Country Ohio .

More Fun Things to do in Ohio

• Things to do in Columbus  – amazing adventures for all ages
• Things to Do in Ohio with Kids  – The ultimate list of fun places to go and things to do
• Things to Do This Weekend  – Top picks for your weekend adventures

Get Ready For Fun!

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Things To Do in Amish Country PA : A Weekend in Lancaster

February 25, 2022

Have you ever wanted to see Amish country? Lancaster Pennsylvania and the surrounding area is a great place to experience the Amish culture, food, and way of life. After a weekend in Lancaster last year, we have put together a list of things to do in Amish Country PA for you.

Join us on one of our group trips to the area to experience it for yourself!

Disclaimer: We received some complimentary accommodation during our last visit to Lancaster, however, as usual, all opinions are our own .

Best time to Visit Amish Country PA

Spring and fall are the best times to visit Lancaster. The fall brings the harvest, local produce, farmer’s markets and a flurry of activity before the winter. Spring offers crisp days and a burst of life after the winter. Dutch Country PA offers a great variety of sightseeing, cultural experiences, and food options, no matter the weather.

Lancaster Amish Restaurants

Sadly, one of our favorite Lancaster restaurants, Good N’ Plenty, has shut down [December 2021]

Hershey Farm and Inn Restaurant

Get a taste of Pennsylvania Dutch cuisine and hospitality at Hershey Farm and Inn. This lush 23 acre property offers both a restaurant and lodging, and sits right next to the Sight & Sound Theater. This home from home is a perfect place to get a taste of the Amish culture.

You are able to order from a menu or feast on the grand smorgasbord; which our group preferred for breakfast and dinner. The variety is more than you can imagine.

Huckleberry’s Restaurant & Tavern at the Fulton Steamboat Inn

Celebrating the inventor of the steamboat, Robert Fulton, who was from Lancaster, the Fulton Steamboat Inn is such a fun place to dine and stay. This huge steamboat shaped restaurant and tavern offers nautical and Victorian themed rooms and dining. Take a ‘voyage’ in Victorian grandeur right here in Lancaster!

Julius Sturgis Pretzel Bakery

The Julius Sturgis Bakery was the first commercial bagel factory in the USA! You can take tours of this historic building and eat some of their delicious baked goods too, naturally. Opened in 1861, it is a delicious place to visit in Lititz, just near Lancaster.

Things to do in Amish Country : Our Favorite Amish Country Attractions

We keep coming back to Lancaster and the surrounding areas. From great food, entertainment, sightseeing, and covered bridges! Here are some of our favorite Amish country PA attractions:

Kitchen Kettle Village

Kitchen Kettle Village is a community of shops and lodging put together in a convenient walkable area. Vendors sell local produce, arts and crafts, and Pennsylvania Dutch cuisine; and you get a real taste of the amazing hospitality on offer in the area.

We especially enjoyed the live music during our visit. We perused many of the shops, made our own candles, and sampled a variety of foods including fresh baked pretzels, fudge and ice cream.

Sight and Sound Theater

With a 2,000 seat auditorium, a 300-ft stage that surrounds the audience on three sides, a cast of 50 actors, state of the art technology and live animals, Sight & Sound takes theater to a whole new level. Every show delivers a meaningful message in an astonishing way. Sight and Sound Theater is an amazing entertainment experience for the whole family where the Bible literally comes to life.

We were so impressed by the attention to detail, not only the finely stitched costumes but also the massive set. The original music is recorded by world-class orchestras and every lyric is sung live on stage. We watched the performance of Esther and will return this summer to see David. The show changes approximately every 6 months so you are able to return again and again for a new experience. We have enjoyed live performances on Broadway and in Las Vegas and Sight and Sound Theater is better than both in our opinion.

Amish Farm and House tours

Take a tour of an Amish Farmhouse , tour around the streets of a Pennsylvania Dutch community and see buggies and traditional properties firsthand.

As a homeschool family we really enjoyed the private tour of the Amish Farm and House. Everyone in our group learned so much and there was time at the end for questions. After the tour we were able to explore the property on our own. We visited the animals in the barn, toured the Amish schoolhouse and watched the local artisans at work on site. There are also narrated bus tours available.

NB: some activities are not available during the winter months.

Covered Bridges

You can’t visit the Lancaster area without paying a visit to one of the covered bridges in the area! There are many within striking distance of Lancaster, and an afternoon touring them is delightful. Some of our favorites are: Landis Mill Covered Bridge, Kurtz’s Mill Bridge over Mill Creek, Hunsecker’s Mill Covered Bridge over Conestoga River, Willows Covered Bridge, and the Lime Valley Covered Bridge (also known as Strasburg Bridge) that spans Pequea Creek.

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Buggy Rides

Take a traditional buggy ride through the farms of Amish, Brethren and Mennonite families; with a local guide who explains the traditions along the way. See how the farms are worked with horses and no machinery, no cars, just the way it used to be.

Lil Country Store and Miniature Horse Farm

Your family will love this cute little store and miniature horse farm. The petting zoo has horses, alpacas and goats, and is free to visit. They also offer saddle and card rides with the miniature horses – which is perfect for the kids.

Other things to do in and around Lancaster if you have time

• Strasburg Scooters
• Miniature golf
• Bird-In-Hand village
• Turkey Hill Experience
• The Amish Village
• Wolf Sanctuary
• Choo Choo Barn
• Antique Mall
• Hot air balloons
• Go N Bananas 
• Cherry Crest Adventure Farm
• Old Windmill Farms
• Ghost Tours
• Fox Meadows Creamery
• Dutch Apple dinner theater 
• North Museum
• American Music Theater
• Strasburg Railroad

The Best Places to Stay in Lancaster Amish Country

We enjoy staying at the Hershey Farm and Inn while visiting the area. There is a main lodge as well as a carriage house providing accommodations, both within walking distance of the restaurant, the barn and Sight and Sound Theater.

We enjoyed the walking trails each morning around the property to feed the animals. Payton’s favorite was the alpacas. The pond is the perfect place to unwind and watch the sunset in the afternoon before dinner. Speaking of dinner, the food at Hershey Farm and Inn is fabulous.

Another unique lodging experience in the area is the Red Caboose Motel and Restaurant located just outside of Strasburg. Instead of a room you actually sleep in your own train caboose. There are 38 cabooses, a baggage car and a mail car to choose from with configurations to fit your family’s needs. The Casey Jones’ Restaurant is on site providing dine in, carry out and room service.

Fulton Steamboat Inn is another unique and fun place to stay in the area.

Why you should visit Amish Country in Lancaster PA for a weekend (or more)

Lancaster and the surrounding areas are perfect for a family-friendly vacation. There is so much to see and do and the kids can experience a different way of life firsthand. The unique dining and lodging options provide a break from the traditional chain restaurants and hotels in the US. Not to mention that Hershey PA is only 30 minutes away. We plan to explore this area more on our next visit and discover all things chocolate!

Let us help you plan your trip to Amish Country, with our full service Travel Agency ! Or join our Group Trips in our Luxury Mercedes Sprinter !

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1 thought on “Things To Do in Amish Country PA : A Weekend in Lancaster”

It’d be nice to visit the place where Harrison Fords movie was made. Is it there or just props used in it?

Also events planned now to September eoy.

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What to Do on a Day Trip to Amish Country, Pennsylvania

The business of the big city can get overwhelming. Head out on a day trip to Amish Country, Pennsylvania, and see a simpler way of life.

Most people traveling to Pennsylvania go to the more well-known places like Gettysburg or the chocolate capital of Hershey, but Pennsylvania has so much more to offer including one of the nation’s largest and oldest Amish communities. A getaway to Pennsylvania Amish Country is a special experience that will transport you back in time to a simpler way of life, and there are a plethora of interesting and educational activities in the area. Deciding what to do on a day trip to Amish Country, Pennsylvania, can be tough—there are so many options!

Explore Lancaster with Let’s Roam.

Lancaster boasts a rich history of tours and adventures, making it a prime destination for both nature and city exploration since its inception. Embarking on our scavenger hunts allows you to discover a fresh perspective of Lancaster, whether with friends, your partner, or the kiddos. Our scavenger hunts are a unique combination of area-specific trivia and photo/video challenges that add a little action to your walking tour!

Pennsylvania Amish Country

Lancaster County, a picturesque destination, is just 90 minutes outside of Philadelphia (and less than three hours from New York City). Prepare to be enchanted by scenic rolling hills, charming farmhouses, and the timeless sight of horse-drawn buggies. Let’s not forget the mouthwatering food! The Amish are famous for their Shoofly Pies and all-you-can-eat dinner joints, assuring that you won’t leave Lancaster County hungry!

A day trip to Amish Country revolves around witnessing the extraordinary way of life embraced by a community that wholeheartedly upholds centuries-old historical and religious practices. While exploring Pennsylvania Dutch Country, you’ll encounter individuals dressed in traditional attire. The Amish, like the Mennonites, are a branch of the Anabaptist sect of Protestant Christianity and must adhere to a strict dress code in an effort to avoid vanity and preserve modesty. Clothing is characterized by solid colors and simple patterns, and women wear aprons and bonnets while men sport a beard and traditional vest. It’s important to note there are several orders within the community—some more modern than others.

The purpose of this list lies in capturing the essence of the Amish experience. The Amish are a kind and hospitable crew of hard workers, and they have created an amazing experience for visitors. Here are a few of the must-try activities when visiting Lancaster County. You certainly won’t be able to conquer all of these options in one day, so pick and choose the activities that interest your crew, and make notes while you’re there because you’ll want to return again and again!

1. Tour a working farm.

Set your sights on the Old Windmill Farm tour for the perfect way to experience the essence of Amish life. In this region, dairy farms reign supreme, offering you the opportunity to milk cows, gather organic eggs, take a hayride, and witness the sustainable methods employed by the Amish to power their farms (as many believe electricity strays too far from nature’s principles to be used as a power source).

During your visit, you might feel inclined to capture moments of the Amish in their daily activities. However, it’s important to refrain from doing so. The Amish community does not appreciate the act of photography. Some of the strictest in the community don’t like to be photographed as graven images have historically been seen as a temptation away from God. Just always ask before you photograph a person in Amish country.

2. Shop for Amish crafts and antiques in Intercourse, PA .

Experience authentic Amish culture and trade by visiting an Amish craft shop. Since the Amish community abstains from traditional forms of entertainment, crafting serves as a means of social connection and creative expression. One such craft that flourishes among the Amish is quilting. The tradition of “quilting bees” brings Amish women together to create exquisite quilts. This has given rise to some of the nation’s finest quilting shops where you can pick out your favorite to take home. A great place to shop for handmade quilts is at the Old Country Store .

If you’re interested in handmade furniture the Amish are renowned for custom heirloom-quality furniture, and shops are open to the public. A great place to furniture shop is at Peaceful Valley Furniture , a quaint shop where you can get that special furniture piece that will become a family heirloom.

3. Traverse the countryside on a horse and buggy ride.

To truly experience the Amish way of life, book a horse buggy tour with Aaron and Jessica BuggyRides located in Bird in Hand. They’ll take you past their homes along the serene backroads. In Amish culture, cars are prohibited as they are viewed as materialistic and disruptive to the sense of community. Therefore, if you opt for an authentic Amish-guided tour during your day trip, it will undoubtedly be conducted via a horse-drawn buggy.

When visiting Amish Country, particularly in the spring or summer, expect to encounter idyllic scenes of gentle flowing streams alongside the roads. The lush green fields stretching as far as the eye can see are a captivating sight to behold. Keep an eye out for Amish families engaging in outdoor games and activities in their yards as they abstain from modern gadgets such as televisions and video games for entertainment, embracing more traditional forms of communal enjoyment.

4. Visit an Amish market or a Smorgasbord.

When you start getting hungry, venture from the rural backroads and make your way towards the heart of the town closest to you to indulge in some of the finest small-town Americana cuisines. The Amish community has beautifully preserved traditional American dishes like fried chicken, biscuits, and apple pies. Don’t miss the opportunity to relish their renowned buffet dinners like Miller’s Smorgasbords , where you’ll find all the mouth-watering foods your stomach can handle. These all-you-can-eat feasts showcase an array of delectable Amish specialties. The local farmers’ markets are a treasure trove for an authentic Amish lunch experience. Visit Bird in Hand Farmers Market and discover a wide range of freshly prepared foods that embody the rich culinary heritage of the Amish community.

5. Take an organized tour with the Amish Experience.

Join the Amish Experience , an organized tour of captivating villages where a tour guide will give you in-depth information about the Amish people. Explore three distinctive Amish properties as you witness the milking process on a dairy farm, engage with skilled craftsmen in their workshops, and share heartfelt moments with an Amish family in the comfort of their home.

6. Experience Lancaster City.

Downtown Lancaster, Pennsylvania, (aka “the City of Lancaster”) is a city with a fascinating heritage that dates back to colonial times. Lancaster, once America’s largest inland city, became the Capital of the United States for only one day when the Continental Congress met here in September 1777 after fleeing the British. Penn Square, located at the heart of downtown Lancaster, serves as the bustling focal point of the city. Dominating the square is the Soldiers and Sailors Monument, a majestic tribute erected on July 4, 1874. This magnificent structure stands as a memorial, paying homage to the courageous men and women from Lancaster County who selflessly served in the armed forces.

Situated a mere block west of Penn Square stands the iconic Fulton Opera House , renowned as the oldest continuously operating theater in the United States. This historic venue was erected in 1852 and proudly bears the name of the esteemed inventor Robert Fulton. Over the years, it has played host to a plethora of legendary performers, including the Barrymores, George M. Cohan, Sarah Bernhardt, and Al Jolson.

Just a stone’s throw away from Penn Square, you’ll discover the Central Market , an esteemed institution tracing its roots back to the mid-1700s. Stepping into this vibrant marketplace on Tuesdays and Fridays, you’ll find a bustling array of local farmers, bakers, and butchers, each proudly displaying their delicious food. It’s here that the spirit of community and the timeless tradition of commerce converge, creating a captivating atmosphere that celebrates Lancaster’s rich history and agricultural heritage.

7. Visit the town of Paradise.

Paradise is an ideal destination for those seeking the charm of small-town life. It boasts quaint bakeries, delightful quilt shops, and the allure of historic-covered bridges. This picturesque town offers lots of delectable treats to satisfy your sweet tooth, too. Locally Made Food Shop is a good place to start where you can indulge in baked goods, homemade jams and jellies, oils, pickled veggies, sauces, honey, coffee, jerky, fudge, pretzels, and much more. Plus, they have some free samples!

Quilt enthusiasts will find themselves immersed in a haven of intricate patterns and craftsmanship at Quilt Shop At Millers . To add a touch of nostalgia and scenic beauty to your day, be sure to explore the historic-covered bridges that dot the landscape around Paradise, for some fabulous photos.

8. Explore the cute town Bird in Hand.

Bird in Hand is a beloved town that captures the hearts of visitors while in Amish Country due to its quaint charm and rich cultural experiences. The surrounding countryside exudes an idyllic ambiance, providing a scenic backdrop for exploration. One of the highlights of this town is the opportunity to witness authentic Amish theater at Bird in Hand Stage which offers wholesome and uplifting entertainment including Broadway-style musicals and a hilarious ventriloquist act! Also, take some time to visit the one-room schoolhouse, allowing you to glimpse into the educational traditions of the Amish community.

9. Travel to Strasburg.

For history enthusiasts, Strasburg is a haven. It’s an excellent choice to delve into the fascinating world of locomotives and trains. Strasburg Rail Road is an authentic steam train excursion that takes you on a journey through Lancaster County. Allow yourself to unwind and enjoy the scenic vistas as you traverse 2,500 acres of idyllic countryside.

The town boasts a rich railroad heritage, and at the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania , you’ll be informed about the pivotal role that railroads have played, both in the past and present, in the development and transformation of the nation, as well as their profound impact on shaping our everyday lives. For a bit of outdoor fun, the town features charming corn mazes that provide entertainment for all ages. To top it off, visit an old-fashioned creamery and indulge in delicious ice cream you can savor as you complete our “ Strasburg Steam Train Treasure Hunt .”

10. Take a scooter tour.

Enjoy the scenic back roads of Amish Country with a guided scooter tour . Hop onto a nimble 50cc scooter and let an experienced guide lead you to the hidden gems of Lancaster County. Tours offer an extraordinary opportunity to witness the picturesque countryside at a slow pace, with its sprawling Amish farms, charming schoolhouses, and the timeless allure of 19th-century covered bridges.

One of the highlights of the tour is a visit to one of Lancaster County’s oldest covered bridges, where you can get that Instagram-worthy pic. To cater to different preferences, they provide three types of scooters for your adventure. Choose between the single-seat option for a solo journey, the double-seat scooter for a shared experience, or opt for the “miles of smiles” scoot coupe, designed for side-by-side exploration.

Their diverse range of tours ensures something for everyone. Experience the beauty of covered bridges with the classic Covered Bridge Tour, or indulge in the Bridges and Brunch tour, combining scenic vistas with a delicious meal. For a romantic outing, the Date Night in Amish Country tour sets the perfect ambiance. Craving something sweet? The Ice Cream Experience and Scootin’ For Scoops tours offer delightful treats along the way. Explore the enchanting country roads with our Country Roads Excursion, catch the sunset on our Sunset Covered Bridge Tour, or take on the Spooky Scoot for a thrilling adventure. So many scooter tours, so little time!

11. Take a backroads bus tour.

Engross yourself in the captivating beauty of Amish farmland on a comfortable 90-minute sightseeing bus tour with the Amish Village . Relax in comfortable seats and take in the panoramic vistas through large windows, allowing you to fully appreciate the expansive views of the Amish country.

It’s not just about the scenery—the tour offers an educational and interactive experience. Engage with knowledgeable narrators who will share captivating stories about Amish life, history, customs, and beliefs. The tour also includes at least one stop at an Amish home or business (excluding Sundays), providing a unique opportunity to get a closer look at the Amish way of life.

12. Visit the Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum.

Step into the fascinating world of Pennsylvania German life from 1740 to 1940 at Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum , a captivating living history museum that forms part of the PA State Museum system. As you explore the museum’s grounds, spanning 100 scenic acres, you’ll encounter over 40 historic structures that transport you back in time.

Costumed guides provide insightful explanations throughout the tour. You’ll marvel at skilled artisans who demonstrate traditional crafts and showcase the art of open-hearth cooking, giving you a firsthand glimpse into culinary practices of the past. During special events and for groups, you can also enjoy horse-drawn wagon rides, adding a touch of nostalgia to your visit.

Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum goes beyond recreating historical structures. It features the Heirloom Seed Project, preserving and promoting authentic agricultural practices. You’ll encounter authentic farmsteads and have the opportunity to interact with historic breeds of animals, further immersing yourself in the agricultural aspects of Pennsylvania German life.

13. Tour the picture-perfect town of Lititz, PA.

Lititz embodies the quintessential charm of small-town America, exuding a picturesque and welcoming ambiance. Strolling along its tree-lined streets, you’ll be captivated by the town’s unique shops, inviting cafés, and a delightful blend of architectural styles. The architecture of Lititz tells a story, reflecting the town’s rich and varied population. Whether you admire the elegance of Victorian facades, the quaint charm of German-inspired structures, or the timeless appeal of English architecture, Lititz offers it all. Explore Lititz thoroughly on our app-guided scavenger hunt !

The Julius Sturgis Pretzel Bakery , a historical establishment and humble bakery on the main street in Lititz, is the very first pretzel bakery in America operating since 1861. For centuries, it has been delighting locals and visitors alike with its time-honored tradition of crafting delicious pretzels. They’re the perfect handheld snack for exploring this adorable town!

14. Reward your tastebuds with some delicious food.

Kitchen Kettle Village is a great place to score some yummy treats. With homemade pretzel shops, fudge stores, ice creameries, and cheese shops, all located in close proximity, you can check off all the Amish staples in a short amount of time! Make sure to visit Kitchen Kettle before all the shops close around 6:00 p.m. (5:00 p.m. in colder months) to explore its unique offerings.

Make sure to get your hands on:

Whoopie Pies

Whoopie Pies, a delightful treat, consisting of two circular slices of cake sandwiching a delectable cream filling. Try sampling both the classic chocolate cake and the oatmeal variety. Nearly every bakery offers these delightful treats, and what’s even more impressive is that they are often priced at just $1.00! It’s an affordable and mouthwatering snack that you won’t want to miss during your visit to Amish Country.

Shoofly Pie

Shoofly Pie is a molasses dessert best described as a crumb cake inside a pie crust. It features molasses filling generously topped with sugary crumbs. There are two popular versions of Shoofly Pie to enjoy: the dry-bottomed pie, baked to perfection for a cake-like consistency, and the wet-bottomed pie, which boasts a stickier and more gooey crust.

At Bird-in-Hand Bakery , a haven of scrumptious baked goods, you’ll find an array of delectable treats, including their exquisite Shoofly Pie and Whoopie Pies. This establishment provides a true taste of Amish Country’s culinary delights and is not to be missed during your visit.

15. Take a hot air balloon ride.

Soar above the gorgeous landscapes of Lancaster County in a majestic hot air balloon . Floating effortlessly amidst the breathtaking patchwork farmlands is an experience that will leave you in awe. For those seeking an even more magical encounter, sunrise and sunset flights are available, offering a mesmerizing backdrop for your journey. Upon landing, you’ll often have the chance to join the pilot and crew for a traditional champagne toast, accompanied by a light snack. Additionally, you may receive a flight certificate, a cherished memento suitable for framing, along with professional photos documenting your unforgettable adventure.

16. Indulge in an ice cream tour.

Experience the delightful world of “cow-to-cone” ice cream as you embark on the tantalizing Ice Cream Trail in Lancaster County. This unique adventure offers a mobile passport that allows you to check in at various participating ice cream shops, rewarding you with an array of enticing prizes. As you traverse the trail, you’ll have the chance to savor frozen treats crafted from the freshest dairy products, showcasing the true essence of farm-to-table goodness. Some of these charming ice cream shops are nestled right on working dairy farms, providing just about the freshest ice cream imaginable. The best part? The Ice Cream Trail passport is free and gets your discounts at the creameries, allowing you to embark on this sweet journey without breaking the bank.

17. Plan your visit during special events.

If your visit falls between February and April, don’t miss the renowned Amish Mud Sales , a must-attend event. These bustling auctions, aptly named after the winter thaw, may appear chaotic with multiple sales happening simultaneously. However, they attract an astonishing number of up to 20,000 people seeking to purchase an array of handmade quilts, furniture, antiques, and fresh produce. You might even find horses and buggies available for sale if you’re in need of one. The Amish Mud Sales are a vibrant and lively experience that showcases the thriving craftsmanship and agricultural traditions of the Amish community. All proceeds benefit the local fire companies.

Closing Thoughts

A day trip to Pennsylvania’s Amish country will transport you to a bygone era of simplicity and tranquility. As you journey through this picturesque region, you’ll be greeted by rolling farmlands, horse-drawn carriages, and the peaceful rhythm of a community deeply rooted in tradition. The Amish way of life, with its emphasis on family, community, and craftsmanship, offers a refreshing escape from the fast-paced modern world. Whether you’re captivated by the idyllic landscapes or inspired by the strong sense of community, a day trip to Amish country Pennsylvania is sure to leave you with a renewed appreciation for simplicity and a rejuvenated spirit!

For more ideas on how to enjoy this area, check out “ The Best Things To Do In Lancaster, Pennsylvania .”

Frequently Asked Questions

Visitors to Amish country in Pennsylvania can enjoy a scooter tour or a horse and buggy tour . Lancaster and Lititz are best explored by scavenger hunt!

The best Amish towns to visit are Lancaster City , Paradise , Bird in Hand , and Strasburg with their quaint bakeries, beautiful quilt shops, historic-historic covered bridges, and Amish Farms.

Some of the things that Pennsylvania is known for that are Amish are working Amish Farms , horse and buggy tours , and Amish crafts shops .

Amish food you should try is the Whoopie Pies , Shoofly Pies , and all-you-can-eat Smorgasbords .

The Best Amish PA Tours are horse and buggy tours , Amish farm tours , and Amish Village tours . For a self-guided tour, check out Let’s Roam’s eight great scavenger hunts and tours near Lancaster .

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Lancaster County

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Lancaster County is known as Amish or Pennsylvania Dutch Country. A drive along its scenic back-country roads will acquaint you with a way of life that hasn’t changed in hundreds of years. Learn about Amish culture and history, touring through charismatic towns brimming with old-fashioned charm. This adventure is just a short drive from Baltimore and Philadelphia and makes a perfect day trip or weekend getaway.

We begin our tour in the city of Lancaster, the heart of Amish Country and home to the largest and oldest Amish community in the United States. The Amish and Mennonites are religious communities that shun worldliness and most do not look kindly on having their photograph taken. Please respect their beliefs and refrain from taking photos.

History abounds in Lancaster, established in 1730 as a wilderness trading post. Construction of the railroad in the 1800s led to Lancaster becoming an industrial center with tobacco production at its core. It eventually was lauded as the second largest tobacco seed leaf market in the country. Tobacco farms can still be seen in the countryside.

Lancaster was Pennsylvania’s capital from 1799 to 1812 and almost became the nation’s capitol. Hundreds of historical landmarks remain and it boasts the largest National Historic Register District in the United States. Discover eleven different architectural styles spanning from 1710 to 1945 by strolling downtown on your own or on a guided tour with a costumed interpreter.

At the Downtown Lancaster Visitors Center (I1) , find local and regional information, maps, exhibits, and tour info. The Mennonite Information Center (I2) features exhibits, information, books, gifts, recordings, Amish and Mennonite cookbooks and more.

Lancaster is a vibrant city, featuring museums, theaters, cafes, shops and art galleries. Peruse the work of local artists on Prince Street better known as Gallery Row. On the first Friday evening of each month, over 90 galleries are open, and you can meet artists and enjoy special receptions. On North Queen Street, explore antique shops, glass studios and collectible shops. Be sure to note the lively, outdoor murals painted on many of the downtown buildings.

Don’t miss the hustle and bustle of Lancaster Central Market (A3) , the oldest continuously-operating farmers market in the country. Delight in the assortment of fresh produce, cheeses, meats, baked goods, tea and handmade crafts.

The Fulton Theatre (A1) has been a cultural focal point since 1852 and is the oldest continuously-operating theater in the country. Experience this historical landmark with a contemporary theatre performance or register for a backstage tour.

Our drive begins leaving Lancaster on PA-462 east to PA-340, the Old Philadelphia Pike. Passing miles of verdant farmland, you will notice Amish farms, barns and homes, recognizable for the lack of electric wires leading to them.

You then arrive in the gracious village of Bird In Hand which dates back to the 1700s and was a meeting place for farmers and a convenient rest stop for travelers. Today, you’ll discover homegrown hospitality — quaint shops with hand-crafted items, a farmers market, bakeries and restaurants offering Pennsylvania Dutch delicacies such as hand-rolled Pennsylvania Dutch pretzels. Bird In Hand is also part of the Country Murals Trail.

There are a number of Amish buggy ride businesses along the route. Consider getting off-the beaten-track touring the Amish countryside, homes, one-room schoolhouses and covered bridges to the clip-clop of horses’ hooves. At Plain and Fancy Farm and the Amish Experience Theater (A4) , observe life on an Amish farm with a guided tour and buggy ride. The theater uses multiple projection screens, a three dimensional set, and special effects to explore 400 years of Amish culture and tradition. Then indulge in a traditional all-you-can-eat Pennsylvania Dutch dining experience. There is a fee for the film and dining. Coupons are available on their website.

At the junction of PA-340 and PA-772 is the town of Intercourse. Founded in 1754, this has long been a destination for farmers to replenish supplies and socialize. There are unique shops to explore and sample Pennsylvania Dutch food. Celebrate every season with special events such as the Rhubarb Festival, the Seven Sweets and Sours Festival, and the Berry Jam Festival.

Take the 15-minute free tour of the Intercourse Pretzel Factory (A6) . Learn about the craft of pretzel-making and try your hand at twisting your own pretzel. Check the website tour hours.

Arrive hungry, as your taste buds will be tantalized at Kitchen Kettle Village (A8) , a conglomeration of over 40 shops focused around the Jam and Relish Kitchen. Fresh fudge, kettle corn, locally-smoked meats, cheeses, ice cream entice, while you shop for quilts, boots, Colonial accents, lighting, kitchen gadgets and more.

Continue on PA-340 to the tranquility of rolling farmlands as you travel through White Horse, Compass Gap and Wagontown. After Wagontown, turn left to continue on PA-82 north to Loag’s Corner and Elverson. On the way is Loag’s Corner Turkey Farm, where you can purchase a natural Thanksgiving bird.

Here, you may want take a side trip to Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site (A9) which showcases the beginning of industrialization in America. Learn how iron was melted and cast, cannons molded and about the lives of the workers and their families through costumed-interpreters, living history programs and exhibits. Hopewell Furnace consists of 14 restored structures including an original water wheel, the blacksmith shop, the “big house”, as well as 848 wooded acres perfect for a hike, wildlife watching and a picnic. The site is free, donations are appreciated. In autumn, enjoy picking historic apple varieties (a fee is charged).

If you took the side trip, the 7,730-acre French Creek State Park (H2) is nearby and offers a wide variety of recreation opportunities. The Park has been designated by the National Audubon Society an Important Bird Area and Important Mammal Area. Thirty-five miles of trails offer a variety of hiking for every level, exploring forest and wetland and lakes. Enjoy fishing for northern pike, chain pickerel, bass, walleye, or boating on Hopewell Lake and Scotts Run Lake. Park naturalists lead guided hikes, bike trips and paddling programs where you can get close to herons, turtles and beaver. Make it an overnight with year-round modern cabin and cottage rentals and tent camping. In winter, the park is a draw for cross-country skiing, sledding, ice fishing and skating.

Our drive continues from Elverson. Take PA-23 west, the New Holland Pike, passing the little town of Blue Ball to New Holland. Visit the New Holland Area Historical Society Museum (M2) which features 1000’s of photographs, artifacts, memorabilia and farm equipment. Admission is by donation.

From New Holland, take N Railroad Avenue to join US-322, Division Highway, to Ephrata.

Founded in 1732, Ephrata was an agricultural community and pleasure resort renowned for its spring waters. Tour the historic downtown and enjoy unique shops, art galleries and restaurants.

At the Ephrata Cloister (A7) , discover what life was like for this religious community who sought spiritual goals rather than earthly rewards. Guided tours examine the Cloister which was founded in 1732 by German settlers and is now a National Historic Landmark. The Cloister features a collection of over 20 sites, including Conrad Beissel’s House, Weaver’s House, Shady Nook Farm, Bake House, the Cocalico Creek and Spring. The members were accomplished in music and art, evident in the collection of printed books and manuscripts, artifacts and furniture. There is a fee to enter.

Open every Friday, the Green Dragon Farmers Market and Auction (A10) is one of the largest markets in the area. The carnival atmosphere is bustling with a dizzying mix of Amish items, quilts, collectibles, handmade goods, clothing, fresh food, restaurants, books, flowers, jewelry, toys, yard sale items and fine antiques. Or try to score a great deal at one of the auctions for household goods, small animals, or hay and straw.

From Ephrata, take PA-272, South Reading Road.

Nothing beats the romance and nostalgia of a covered bridge. Turn right on Meadow Valley Road to see Schenck’s Mill Covered Bridge (B2) . The single span burr arch bridge is 102-feet long and was built in 1885. There are great vantage points for photography.

Continue on Millway Road to PA-772 and the town of Lititz. Here, you can visit the Julius Sturgis Pretzel Bakery (A2) . Established in 1861, this was the first commercial pretzel bakery in the country. It is still operated by the Sturgis family and during the 20-minute tour, get a hands-on lesson in pretzel making, learn about the different varieties, such as traditional hard and thin pretzels, and soft pretzels. There is a small fee for the tour which includes a sample bag of pretzels.

If you love wolves, you won’t want to miss the Wolf Sanctuary of Pennsylvania (A11) . This non-profit organization provides a safe habitat for over 40 wolves. Learn about wolves and their behavior with a guided walking tour by day or register for a Full Moon Tour for and enjoy a bonfire as well. There is a fee to enter which supports the sanctuary.

The wonderful smell of chocolate permeates the air at the Wilbur Chocolate’s Candy Americana Museum (M1) . Like a kid in a candy store, indulge in hand-made chocolate treats, observe chocolate and fudge-making and explore the history of chocolate through early machinery, tools, memorabilia and video at the Candy Americana Museum. The museum is free.

Lititz Spring Park (H1) is a pleasant place to relax. Enjoy a picnic lunch by the fountain, kids playground, and take part in special events by the band shell. Relive the “Golden Era” of the Reading and Columbia Railroad at the replica of the 1884 Lititz Passenger Depot and Express Station that is also the town Welcome Center located on the northwest corner of the park.

Back on the road, depart Lititz on PA-772 and head towards Manheim. The “Main Street” Community features a town square, boutique wineries and is home of the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire held at Mount Hope Estate and Winery August-October.

Lancaster County boasts over 25 covered bridges. To see the Kaufman’s Distillery Covered Bridge (B1) along the way, turn left from PA-772 onto W Sun Hill Road. Spanning Big Chickies Creek, the covered burr arch-truss bridge was built in 1900. Nearby is Schenck’s Mill Covered Bridge (B2) . The single span, double burr arch truss bridge was built in 1855 and is still open to traffic.

Continue on PA-772 through Mount Joy to Marietta where you turn left on PA-441 traveling along the banks of the Susquehanna River. Our official drive heads back to Lancaster, though you may want to consider another side trip. Just 30 minutes from Mount Joy on PA-743 North is Hersheypark (A12) offering thrills and excitement with 11 roller coasters, over 65 rides and attractions including a water park, arcades, food and entertainment.

Our drive continues left onto PA-441 to PA-23 towards Lancaster, weaving through expansive views of country-side and farms.

Turn left on US-30 to arrive back in Lancaster. Just outside Lancaster is Neff’s Mill Covered Bridge (B3) built in 1875. Spanning Pequea Creek, the single span, wooden, double burr arch truss bridge is only 11-feet wide and the narrowest in the county.

If you’re up for one more adventure from Lancaster, take a short drive to Strasburg on PA-741, where you can step back in time at the Strasburg Railroad (A5) . Pulled by turn-of-the century steam locomotives, climb aboard the President’s car, first-class lounge car, freight cars, dining car, or one of the many wooden passenger cars and embark on a 45-minute adventure along a historic short-line route. Then visit the shop where engines are restored or try operating one of the vintage pump cars.

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Pennsylvania Amish

Over four dozen Amish communities can be found across Pennsylvania

With 53 total settlements, Pennsylvania leads the nation in number of Amish communities (see  Amish Studies site).

Amish communities in Pennsylvania

• Lancaster County -the Lancaster community is the oldest and best-known of all Amish settlements
• Big Valley -this central PA settlement is home to three distinct Amish groups
• New Wilmington -this large settlement in western Pennsylvania is a quite conservative Amish affiliation
• Indiana County/Smicksburg -3,000 Amish live in Indiana County in west-central PA
• Somerset County -the Somerset County group is small, but is the second-oldest Amish community in North America and unlike most others
• Other Pennsylvania settlements -Pennsylvania is scattered with Amish settlements, some comprising a half-dozen or more congregations, some just a handful of households

Lancaster County

Lancaster County is home to the oldest (founded circa 1760) and largest Amish community in the world, with 179 church districts as of 2010 (see Amish Studies website for more on Amish populations; Lancaster vs. Holmes County, OH size ranking also explained here ) .  The Lancaster community includes over a dozen congregations located in neighboring Chester County.

Lancaster County Amish drive grey-topped buggies.  Nearly all Lancaster church districts are considered to be of the same affiliation.  There is some variety of practice and technology among districts, with more conservative Amish generally living in the southern half of the settlement.  Lancaster Amish are considered to be among the more progressive when it comes to technology allowed.

Farming remains important to Lancaster Amish, though population pressures have limited agricultural opportunities.  Some Amish have begun small-scale produce operations, suited to labor-intensive agriculture on small plots of land.

Business has been another way Amish have made a living in the face of high land costs.  Small business is very important in the Lancaster Amish economy, with an estimated 2000 Amish-owned companies.  These include manufacturers, builders, quilt makers, furniture shops, market stands, and a variety of others (read more on PA Amish furniture ).

Lancaster Amish have also formed numerous daughter settlements in states such as Wisconsin, Indiana, New York, and Maryland.

Lancaster County is by far the most heavily-visited Plain community, and has developed a thriving tourist industry.  Some Amish participate in tourism, either operating businesses selling product to tourists, or in some cases catering directly to tour groups.  Tourism is controversial among Amish, with some seeing it as detrimental to the community, and others considering its positive side in the economic support it provides.

Lancaster County became known to the world after the tragic schoolhouse shootings of October 2006, in which five Amish girls died, and five were wounded, at the hands of a disturbed gunman.  The Amish response of forgiveness became a headline story around the world which inspired many.

Old Order Mennonites in Lancaster County

Lancaster County is also home to a large population of Old Order Mennonites, who populate the northern end of the county, near Ephrata and its environs.  Old Order Mennonites are distinguished from the Amish here by their black-topped buggies and bicycles (local Amish primarily use push-scooters instead).

Also know as “Team” Mennonites, this group has maintained a stronger connection to farming than the Amish, and rely more heavily on tractors as well to manage and work the land.  Old Order Mennonites and Amish cooperate on education and operate joint schools, attended by children of both groups.

Old Order Mennonites also distinguish themselves in the style of plain dress worn, and by the allowance of public electricity and telephones in the home.

Pennsylvania is home to the well-known settlement at Kishacoquillas Valley, also known as “Big Valley” (Mifflin County).  Big Valley is exactly that—a 30 mile-long by 5-mile wide valley, which is home to three distinct groups of Amish—the so-called Byler, Renno, and Nebraska groups.  These groups are most easily distinguished by the coloration of their carriages—yellow (Byler), black (Renno), and white (Nebraska).

The Nebraska Amish are among the most conservative in Pennsylvania and in Amish society as a whole.  There are various theories as to the reason for the unusual color patterns of the carriages here.  Big Valley is distinct in its diverse Amish population.

Big Valley is the third oldest of all Amish settlements (founded around 1791) and is home to around 30 districts spread across its three main affiliations.

Belleville in the center of the community is home to a well-known auction building, where Amish and their neighbors trade livestock, share meals, and chew the fat.  Big Valley remains largely off the tourist trail due to its fairly remote location.

New Wilmington

The small college town of New Wilmington, north of Pittsburgh, is at the center of a quite conservative settlement of Amish.  The New Wilmington group is the 4th largest in the state, with approximately 3,000 Amish in 18 congregations as of 2010 (see Amish Studies).

The New Wilmington Amish have origins in the Big Valley settlement, specifically with Big Valley’s Byler group.

The New Wilmington Amish directory describes members of the community often traveling between New Wilmington and Big Valley on foot—a distance of 250 miles lasting 5 or 6 days.  “Byler” is by far the most common last name in the New Wilmington community.

Travelers in the New Wilmington settlement will likely notice two distinct colors—the unusual burnt-orange hue of the buggies, and the preponderance of blue—nearly all Amish doors are painted a sky blue, and local Amish stick to wearing shades of blue and purple.

New Wilmington is the only surviving Pennsylvania community founded in the 19 th century (1847).

Indiana County/Smicksburg

The area of Smicksburg in Indiana County is home to another settlement of Amish of a similar size to New Wilmington (18 church districts), though it was founded over a century later, in 1962.  Amish here drive Midwestern-style black buggies.

Somerset County

Another distinct Pennsylvania Amish settlement can be found at Somerset County in the south-central part of the state on the Maryland border.

Somerset is unusual among Pennsylvania settlements and in fact among nearly all Amish communities in that it is home to one of the only groups of Amish who hold Sunday service at meetinghouses, rather than practicing home worship.

Founded around 1772, Somerset County is the 2nd-oldest Amish community in North America.  Despite its nearly 240-year history, this settlement remains tiny compared to Lancaster County, with a mere 5 church districts.

Other PA Amish settlements

Pennsylvania is also home to a large number of smaller, off-the-beaten path Amish settlements.

The Lebanon County (1941, 6 church districts) and Dauphin County (1978, 8 districts) communities are two Lancaster daughter settlements located in neighboring counties to Lancaster.

The sizeable Juniata County Amish settlement (1950, 7 districts) has roots in the Big Valley community, a spin-off Renno Amish community.  The Sinking Valley setllement also consists of settlers from the Big Valley settlement, making up a single church district in an isolated valley a dozen or so miles west of the home community.

Crawford County is remarkable for being the county containing the greatest number of individual Amish communities, with a total of 7 as of 2008 (see Amish Settlements Across America: 2008 ).  Significant settlements in this county include the community at Atlantic (1924, 6 districts), Spartansburg (1966, 9 districts), and Conneautville (1969, 3 districts).

In Clearfield County, a stone’s throw from the town of Punxsutawney (of Groundhog Day fame), one finds a good-sized Amish settlement of 8 congregations.  The only PA Swartzentruber Amish community is found in Cambria County.

Dozens more Amish communities, many just one or two congregations in size, can be found throughout Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania: An Amish heartland

Pennsylvania is home to a wide variety of Amish settlements, ranging from the very conservative to the more progressive.  Lancaster is clearly the state’s most prominent community and will continue to be so, despite having faced skyrocketing land prices and urban encroachment in the latter half of the 20 th century.

Though there has been significant out-migration in recent years, Amish continue to form new settlements in Pennsylvania, with a number being founded in the past decade.

Pennsylvania and Ohio have long been considered the foremost states when it comes to the Amish.  The two states have nearly the same amount of settlements and total Amish population.  Additionally, the Lancaster settlement is nearly identical in size to the large Holmes County, Ohio Amish settlement.

Ohio is home to a larger number of individual congregations, however.  Pennsylvania congregations tend to be larger on average.  Despite their similarities in size, in the popular imagination, Pennsylvania remains the state most readily associated with the Amish, and Lancaster the best-known and most heavily-visited community.

For further information, see:

The Riddle of Amish Culture , Donald B. Kraybill

“Amish Population by State (2010)” Young Center for Anabaptist and Pietist Studies, Elizabethtown College (http://www2.etown.edu/amishstudies/Population_by_State_2010.asp)

Amish Settlements Across America: 2008 , David Luthy

The New American Almanac 2010 , Raber’s Bookstore (Baltic, Ohio), Ben J. Raber

Photo credits: PA Amish boy-Alonso Javier Torres; Amish women old photo-Russ Glasson; Intercourse PA sign-Kim Davies; New Wilmington Amish buggies-WCN 24/7; Smicksburg buggy-KitAy

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70 Comments

I grew up in Atlantic, PA (Crawford County). It’s exciting to see my tiny village on this site. 🙂 As a matter of fact, my parent’s home has Amish across the street, kitty-corner, and the biggest of the 4 different schools is only 3 houses down from their place. It was a great place to grow up.

It’s easy to tell when friends and family come up from New Wilmington- the brown buggy tops are a dead giveaway!

Atlantic also has it’s own auction in the spring and several new “bent and dent” stores have sprung up in the past few years.

Nice to hear from you Amanda. I almost made it up to Crawford Co this summer but not quite 🙂 Lot of Amish communities in that county.

Where is Crawford County please? I believe Titusville is located in Crawford County and I will be there for only two days. I would like to visit the Amish Communities while there next week. Please email and let me know asap. I fly in next week. Thanks so much!

Crawford co

Crawford county is south of erie and also surrounds Erie . i lived out in Cambridge springs for 10 yrs or so and lived by the old sect Amish out there is a faily large settlement along with Mennonites i admire the hard work these people do everyday

Crawford County

For Margorie, who asked where Crawford County was… Crawford County is in northwestern Pennsylvania, south of Erie County (where Erie is located). The county seat is Meadville.

Yes, there are Amish around Titusville. In fact, besides downtown Meadville, and perhaps downtown Titusville, I can’t think of an area of Crawford County that does not have an Amish community. We have several flavors of Amish communities from three New Order Amish communities near Conneautville, Troy Center, and at the Mercer County line near Jamestown; with the remaining parts of the county as Old Order; with a small Nebraska community along the Ohio state line near Pierpont and Linesville.

Farming, small business, and the timber industry prevail throughout. There are Amish owned greenhouses, excavating companies, and flooring and countertop businesses, as well as several Amish run stores from Old Order to New Order. A large percentage of Amish farms in this part of the state have gas wells, which provide heat and extra revenue to the farms.

My Fathers family grew up in the Atlantic Pa. area. He still has relatives living there today.He was the son of William (Bill) Fisher. My grandfather passed away when my father was a teenager.Granddad fell from the roof of a barn and died in his sleep the next morning. My grandmother was a Wengerd and this is the part of the family that lives in the Atlantic region yet today. Grandmother remarried yrs. later to Bishop Andy Hershberger and lived in Troutville Pa. until Andy’s death. Then moved here to NE Ohio to live with my dads only sister.Grandma died there of complications from Alzheimer’s disease.She was buried in Atlantic Pa.I have many wonderful memories of both Atlantic and Troutville Pa.

Atlantic Amish

Betty I appreciate you sharing. I was very near the Atlantic community last summer but unfortunately did not have time for a visit. There is a book out there on the history of the Atlantic settlement I believe.

looking for the Fishers

My grandfather sold “bootonware” (plastic serving ware I believe) with a Mennonite man named Mr Fisher, my father would talk of this family and as a little girl I would visit them. I would love to find this family and reunite!! Any help would be appreciated!!!

Living among the Amish

This may sound odd, but do any Amish families ever have rental properties on thier farms? Have a friend who is seeking a really peaceful, quiet place to raise his child without all the modern day vices. He is not Amish, but grew up in Lancaster County, and has always envied that simpler life.

excited to see info on my new neighbors from smicksburg… they have started a new community here in upstate ny! and more are moving in all the time. they have revitalized this community. they have reclaimed the abandoned farmland. it has certainly been an interesting year learning their ways, etc. from them. i have gained many close relationships which i hope will last a lifetime.

Looking for an Amish Family to stay with

Hi, my name is Sofia and I have been studying the Amish culture for a long time now. This Feb I will be travelling to Penn so that I can finally go visit one of their communities, but I was hoping I could have a less touristy experience and stay with a family instead of staying at a local inn. I really want to get to know the Amish and their lifestyle, and maybe even find someone to correspond with me.

Any good tips on which communities’ bureaus I should call first to try and set something up? I have done some research already and it is as hard as I thought it would be to find any valuable information.

Try contacting Professor Donald Kraybill at Elizabethtown College in Elizabethtown PA. I am sure you wll be able to find his email address on the colleges website. He may be able to give you some advice and insight on the Amish communities here in Lancaster County.

Nickel Mines School

My Amish neighbor heard at church yesterday, that someone made an attempt to harm the children again at Nickel Mines School. The guy was supposedly arrested inside the school, and taken to jail She was wondering if this really happened or perhaps only a rumor? or if it did indeed happen??

Brenda a little late here but I have not heard anything about this, I think it must have just been a rumor.

Hello…just wanted to make a comment…my husband and I travel throughout 5 states going to Amish communities…we have had the opportunity to meet so many wonderful people..we have become friends with so many and have met several generations of families throughout the 5 states. It is so interesting to see how different each settlement is …

Visiting Amish Community/family

I’m Interested in visiting an Amish Community/family (with my wife and 3 year old daughter)that is not turisty. How would I go about this?

I also would like to visit & stay with the Amish. I continue to discover(genealogy)my Mennonite roots in Lancaster County, PA. Hopefully, when I do locate my relatives in the area I will have the opportunity to meet with them in the near future.

Also thank-you Kendal for the information.

Linda from Northern Illinois

So glad to see your comment! I too have discovered Mennonite roots in Lancaster through genealogy research. 🙂

I'am new on here

I LOVE Having friends to email

hi, how fortunate would i be to have a penpal in Amish PA? I know a lot about the Amish lifestyle and Faith 🙂 …. I am interested in connecting with a PenPal, Personally to really learn more about their way of life and possibly see a door open up where i could stay with them for a little while. I have a warm, friendly personality, and Love God, too! I love the fact that the Amish are sincere about being Modest! 🙂 And, too, it has been a desire of mine to learn to live on and work a farm! …. I look forward to an open door, God Bless!

Really like the Amish

I HAVE BEEN STUDYING THE AMISH FOR MANY YEARS AND NOW LIVE IN NEWPORT, PA.

I WOULD LOVE TO VISIT WITH AN AMISH FAMILY ON A FARM AND LEARN ABOUT THEIR WAYS.

IT WOULD BE OF GREAT INTEREST TO ME AND I HOPE THAT SOMETHING CAN BE ARRANGED SHORTLY.

WITH ALL DUE RESPECT AND BLESSINGS, JOAN E. SOUDERS

puppies for sale from amish farm

why do the amish mis treat their animals so bad. they over work their horses, neglect their cows and their puppy mills are notorious for abuse, neglect and filth. how is this type of abuse ok in the amish community?

I’m quite close to the Amish in Synder, Union and Perry counties in Central PA. The horses work hard at times but that is what they are supposed to do. 80% of the time they are out in pastures enjoying themselves. I grew up with using horse power on our farms and those animals were treated with utmost respect. I’ve looked for “puppy mills” and never found one. Amish do have puppies for sale at times but most of the ones I’ve seen are around $35.00 and a good home is always the prime objective. Amish beleive that animals are here to help them live the way they do and they respect animal life.

Amish Contractor not returning calls or messages after building he roofed blowing apart

HI I am trying to get Stoltzfus Contracting (Elimsport / Allenwood , Pennsylvania to come back and repair the roof his crew put on my barn with new siding last summer at over $27,000. I have left a paper message to call me on the door of his business Saturday. Yesterday I left two voice mail messages for him on the telephone and another today. Yesterday when I stopped out at his place I spoke with his son who recognized my name from the written message on the door and said didn’t he get a hold of you yet? How can I get him to make good on his business’s work and repair what has already blown apart not even a year later?

Furniture Repair

I live in Aldie, VA and am wondering if there is an Amish Community that does wooden furniture repair?

looking to buy new pallets

i owne a pallet co and i want to buy truck loads of pallets [email protected]

Amish Experience

My husband and I are planning a visit to the US this summer and We are hoping to come to Lancaster for a day or two. We really admire the Amish way of life and were hoping we could experience staying with them instead of the usual hotels. Naturally we would respect all customs and would be willing to ‘help out’ where we can.

Look forward to hearing from you

Kind Regards

Amish in western berks

I live in western berks county and wanted to know about the amish in my area. I have seen more and more home bought by amish in this area. Do you know any more info about the growth in this part of the state. Town that are seeing more growth are Bethel, Mt Aenta, Rehrersburg, Myerstown, PA

Berks/Lebanon counties

The Amish living is Berks and Lebanon counties are not new to the area. In fact, the “Northkill” settlement was one of the first areas settled by the Annabaptists/Amish/Mennonite faiths. The “Northkill” area is in north-western Berks county (Bernville area). You still find lots of Amish and Mennonite homes in that area, especially around Mohrsville and further west around Bethel,Stouchsburg (Marion township) heading into Lebanon county.

The Yoders in North America can all almost trace their tree back to 3 orignal Yoders that came to settle the Oley Valley area (Berks county)were from Steiffesburg, Switzerland – Hans, Yost (my direct Ancestor) and Christian Yoder. They all came here in the very early 1700s to practice their faiths, free from the Swiss government which persecuted anyone who wasn’t of the Catholic faith. Hans and Yost were of the Lutheran faith while while Christian was an Anabaptist. Christian left Pennsylvania and headed west, settling in Indiana eventually. (I may have some of my facts wrong, for more information about those Yoders, go to Yodernewsletter.org.

You’ll also find very many Amish and Mennonite if you head north up route 222 – from Blandon, Fleetwood to Kutztown. You are almost certain to drive by young Amish and Mennonite people and children riding their bikes along 222.

I am related to both Amish and Mennonite – Yoder, Moyer, Eberly, Ebersole, Zeimer, Breyfogel, Hoch, Peters, Dreibelbis. I still speak PA Dutch- my grandparents and Dad all spoke the language fluently. When I was in elementary school (Conrad Weiser in Berks county-area covers Wernersville, Robesonia, Womelsdorf areas- and it borders Lancaster and Lebanon counties, required all students to learn German with classes beginning in 2nd grade. (you might think I am and old geezer but not quite, haha, I just turned 50) That is not a requirement any longer which I think is sad. I love my Pennsylvania Dutch heritage but there are fewer and fewer people who speak the language.

If you are in Berks county, you must go to the Kutztown Folk Festival this summer for a real taste of what it is/was like to be Pennsylvania Dutch in this area.

Karen Moyer-Francis South Heidelberg Twp., PA

Western Berks County

Oh and another side note – I graduated from Tulpehocken School District that covers the areas you mentioned. There were many Mennonite and Dunkard Brethren in that school. There was a Moyer boy who was Mennonite that sat behind me in homeroom that always kidded with me about marrying him so I wouldn’t have to change my last name- haha.

My Favorite Place in the World..

I live in Baltimore. We travel to Lancaster on a regular basis.

Every year the first week of August the World BoardGaming Championships are held there (we stay at the Lancaster Host)

Part of my joy is that I’m in this beautiful place with so much history…. and it’s warm and it’s summer and there are so many things to see and do..

As a young wife and mother I worked with La Leche League and knew a woman named Penny who delivered many of the Amish babies…

I would like to travel to Lancaster next week. Are there SwartzenTrubber Amish in Lancaster. Where would I find the most conservative Amish there if there are no Swartzentrubber?

would like to visit the Amish Communities in PA

I am arriving in Pittsburgh, PA in a few days. I am driving from Pittsburgh to Titusville, PA. Can you help me find Amish Communities to visit while I am there between point A and point B. I only have a few days in PA.

Thanks very much! email me asap to [email protected]

Thanks so much!

lifemakeover

have been studying amish community for years. family is ready to fully integrate into amish community. pls advise any home(s) in amish community for sale or lease for large family. [email protected]

I would argue that Ohio’s Amish community is larger than Pennsylvania’s per every other site other than this one.The population is much larger and Holmes county is known as the largest Amish community in the world per the Guinness world record.

Which is larger, the Holmes County or Lancaster Amish settlement?

In most places you’ll probably read Holmes County is larger and going by number of church districts there are definitely more Amish churches there.

However I’d say in terms of population they are quite similarly-sized and may even be considered too close to call (without doing an up-to-the-minute population count). Holmes County has more church districts, Lancaster has fewer but larger districts. That was what the researchers at Elizabethtown College found in 2010. Here’s an excerpt from what I wrote on the new estimates coming out that year:

“The big shocker is Pennsylvania coming in ahead of the Ohio Amish, and Lancaster County a hair ahead of Holmes County (by 25 people, which means that if Holmes County delivers more babies this week, they could retake the lead!) With the numbers at around 29,000 each, they could basically be considered the same size.

However, Holmes County has traditionally been considered significantly larger than Lancaster in previous Amish population estimates.

Why the change? Taking into account differences in average church district sizes. The authors of the study used settlement-specific church district sizes to figure the averages this year. Previously, the average of 135 Amish per district had been applied to all settlements nationwide.”

https://amishamerica.com/pennsylvania-amish-edge-out-ohio-in-latest-amish-population-figures/

Holmes Co. was widely said to be larger before that probably because people just compared number of church districts, assuming a church district here is the same as a church district there. But after analyzing settlement-specific church directories they found that districts in Lancaster average around 165 people vs. 130 in Holmes which is pretty significant.

If you look at the current numbers Holmes is slightly ahead in population (while in 2010 when this PA Amish article was written Lancaster was). For current estimates see: http://www2.etown.edu/amishstudies/Largest_Settlements_2012.asp

These are estimates so the “real picture” could vary and be obscured by things like significant out-migration one year or more churches happening to divide in a given year resulting in more, but in reality smaller-than average churches, etc, so there is some imprecision baked in the cake. But looking at the numbers in a more careful way has given us a picture of two settlements much closer in size than originally thought. Going by church district numbers without this analysis can give the impression that Holmes could be even 30% larger than Lancaster, but this is not the case. Due to the closeness it’s probably safer to just say these are the 2 largest Amish communities (I have added a link to this explanation in the relevant bit of the post above).

Similarly, Joseph Donnermeyer & co. last summer released a nationwide Amish census that found the 2 communities to be very closely sized, with HC around 30,000 in pop. and Lancaster about 29,000. See: https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:QvsozPIeRjIJ:news.cincinnati.com/assets/AB192776731.DOCX+&hl=en&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESjSFq5fjWjhOe5Gqyiz9JCGh-X-qHvmXWOiOvDjghV8-GmCv-2OQcafNPHEkLTXmqvIidOnybq3R1_yoer7VWBxVQ00JTv-Zg7MgVgnj5FUwJsVfiAfKVzKMmFCSXjSG9WHjj4M&sig=AHIEtbThkStvrBAdtkSYJSlMeJpRsDo_cA

This church district size variation can make an even more drastic difference in other communities. In Indiana for example communities like Allen County and Daviess County average a very high number of families per district (in the 40s) while others in the state such as Adams Co and Nappanee much less (mid-20s). That can make a huge difference when estimating number of people, so going by church district number alone can be misleading.

BTW my family came from Somerset,PA and help found Somerset Ohio so I have some background in the Amish community though the family left sometime around the turn of the century.

Newspaper for classified ad

I want to advertise a wringer washing machine for sale in NJ in excellent condition, but I don’t know where to place an ad. Is there a newspaper catering to the Amish where I can place this classified?

The Budget is your best bet for placing your ad. It is a newspaper published in Ohio, but is read nationwide by Amish & Mennonite communities. Hope this helps!

Perhaps you or Erik could give more information on The Budget published in OHio. My purpose is locating relatives in the Amish & Mennonite communities; especially in Pennyslvania. I believe I have seen outdated The Budget in various Amish run stores. I have fanned thru them but would like more recent info. Does The Budget give addresses for correspondence? Sorry for all the questions but I’m searching for more info. Thank-you.

Linda here are a couple of posts on the Budget, and also their web address where you should be able to find the most current info:

https://amishamerica.com/amish-publications-addresses-order-subscription-info/

https://amishamerica.com/the_budget/

http://www.thebudgetnewspaper.com/

I receive The Budget weekly and I noticed there is a section where one can write in and ask for information on things. You might try writing to that column. The column is called “Information Please” the column states you can send questions to: Information Please, c/o The Budget, PO Box 249, Sugarcreek, Ohio 44681 I have seen folks write in looking for a long lost family member or friend, so this may be something for you to try. Include in your writing where readers can mail information to you. Hope this helps! 🙂

My mother and I are visiting Lancaster County in October for my birthday. Does anyone know of any Amish families that host Englischers overnight? Or any Amish-run B&B’s that I obviously can’t find online because they don’t have electricity?

Amish Community - Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania

Hi, I have heard that there is an Amish Community in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. Do you know the community that I mean, or are there many around Punxsutawney? If you know the one I mean, is it possible to write a letter to them? Would they receive it and reply to it and what is there address? Many thanks!

RV Airstream Restoration

Hi, I am looking to find out if there are any Pa Amish shops willing to do an interior restoration of a 17′ Airstream RV Trailer. Floor to ceiling restoration, including cabinetry etc. Thanks, Gordon

No one may see this post, since it’s attached to an encyclopedic entry, but just in case…!

I live in Ohio’s Amish area and was recently in a local restaurant where there was a large group of what appeared to be Pennsylvania Amish, according to coverings and other signs. The women had the heart-shaped coverings (as opposed to Ohio’s “round” shapes) and black full-body aprons where the neckline was kind of a sweetheart-shape (those aren’t worn here).

I’ve seen the black “sweetheart neck” aprons before on some Penn Amish, but what surprised me was that the people were wearing somewhat bright fabric (buttercup yellow, a brighter light blue) that also had a very subtle pattern in it (looked like a very light checkerboard). Several of the families had all family members wearing the same fabric in dresses and shirts so they matched. Several of the men were wearing suspenders that also were some light colors with differing subtle patterns, like stripes or dots.

I’ve never seen any Amish wear any kind of pattern, even subtle, (except for Beachy Amish, which is different). I’ve never seen any Mennonite or Amish person with that combination of the heart-shaped covering and full-body black apron (withe the shaped neckline) along with any kind of almost bright and patterned fabric. It was like a combination of Penn Amish and Mennonite in a way.

Are there Amish in Pennsylvania who wear patterned fabric, even subtle, and patterned suspenders? Or maybe they were from another state and kind of moved off the “traditional” path in a small way?

looking for experianced quilters

I am looking for experienced quilters. Any Amish paper I can place my ad in. Please help. Thank you Barbara Glab

My visit home to Philly

I grew up in Philly, I came home for a visit in the earlt part of Sept. I was able to make it to Ready Terminal, I was so excited that the Amish had different set ups there. I wnet there almost everyday. (breakfast, except Sunday and Monday). I was also able to bring back some of the produce. I have such fond memories of traveling to Lancaster to see purchase produce, etc. That’s all I have talked asbout since I returned back to Atlanta. Does anyone know if the produce can be shipped? It is well worth it. I will always have a soft spot in me heart for the Amish Community. 🙂

I am trying to locate a man who bought a horse in the Ohio mix auction on May 12 2014. His name is David E Shetler from Saegerstown, Pa. The horse he purchased is very important to me. If anyone knows how I can get in touch with him just to see how the horse is doing please let me know. Thank you.

I have been researching puppy mills in the Amish community and am sickened by their attitude toward these creatures of God. Yes, it is a reasonable business venture to make money on breeding animals, but the animals deserve to be kept clean, fed and well taken care of, for the return on investment if no other reason. I’m also disappointed that the authorities haven’t done more to correct this situation. Sad that people who claim to only want to live the life by Jesus’s laws and earn themselves a place in heaven can treat other living creatures so inhumanely. Sure opened my eyes to the hypocrisy in the Amish communities.

photo permission

I found this photo on your site.

amish-smicksburg-indiana-county-pa

May I have permission to use it in a collage I am making about Central Pennsylvania?

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Franklin County, PA

Are there any Amish in Franklin County, PA? I know there are some OGBB of the new conference there in the Chambersburg area.

Amish in Franklin County, Pennsylvania

Adam as of 2013 there were 2 communities either entirely or partially in Franklin County. One is the Path Valley community, 5 churches in size, and the other is the Newburg/Cumberland Valley community, which would also be located in Cumberland County (6 churches in size). Hope that helps.

http://kb.osu.edu/dspace/bitstream/handle/1811/57700/JAPAS_Donnermeyer_Luthy_vol1-issue2_pp107-129.pdf?sequence=1

Franklin County, Pa

Yes, there are many Amish in Franklin county. You can spot many from traveling on I81. They seem to be a spill over from Cumberland county. They have farms, roadside stands, schools and stores hidden around the country side. Amish can also be seen in Greencastle, Waynesboro and Mercersburg.

Thank you Erik and Jerry, very helpful info. I’ll be driving through there this summer and I will be on the lookout. Thanks again.

Looking for mare with neck freeze brand 1k753

Looking for standardbred mare from Maine who came to pa in July 2016 at age 4. Her neck freeze brand is 1k753. If seen, please call 207 522-5865. I want to buy her. Thank you.

Looking for

There was an Amish gentlemen whom rented a farm in Bedford, PA whom picked his horses up without notice. The one person got hurt from the horses when she was trying to feed them for the gentlemen. They was asked to take care of the horses for him because he didn’t live in the area he lived up on the other side of state college. All they know is his first name is John. It’s been 3 months and she is now in a cast because her foot won’t heel. Any help would be greatly appreciated

York County?

I have seen Amish in Seven Valleys/Codorus areas but I cannot find information on their culture being in York County.

Amish in York County, PA

There are Amish in a couple of locations in York County.

First, there are a handful of church districts (4 or 5?) which are considered part of the Lancaster County settlement, which you come across once you cross the Susquehanna River on Route 372. The only mud sale in York County is held nearby at the Airville Fire Company: https://amishamerica.com/airville-mud-sale-york-county-pa/

Second, a separate settlement was formed in 2016 in the Glen Rock area of York County. This is an interesting story in its own right as the approach to founding this community was unusual: https://amishamerica.com/amish-settle-york-county-pa-in-new-model-of-migration/

Unfinished furniture

I am looking to purchase unfinished primitive furniture in Lancaster and Belleville, pa. If you know of a place, please reply. Thank you

Sullivan &amp; Bradford County's

Any Amish builders live in this part of Pa.?

sugar grove pa

this community in sugar grove pa is dear to my heart they have welcomed me as a friend i have leaned so much from the folks i met in sugar grove pa they also answer my dumb questions 16350

I saw a public TV documentary on Mennonites, ‘Life in Belize’ It details a strict group moving to Peru to start from zero. The trip was amazing as they had to sell all, and move to Peru, all the various worldly aspects somehow managed, and they brought with them heavy equipment to clear land, to form a more perfect, strict life. In less than a year they had 40 families with them! If heavy machines and generators are OK, to build with, why cant they drive cars?

OK, I have always admired the lifestyle, 40 yrs as a ‘English’ Christian leaves me barren, and alone. I even did missions work for free, after being involved with a great many churches. but can find no agreement, the Word is primary always. My only exposure to Amish/Mennonites is lite touches of Lancaster Amish, and one short retreat with some Mennonites. I know little, so cant understand why they stay in such close proximity to the heathen. (lititz – Lancaster areas)

Also, always thought electricity and machinery was forbidden! Some have electric to the homes also, cell phones.

I am a master welder and a expert computer tech. PC’s only. I smoke a pipe, and felt relieved when I saw an Amish doing so as well!

Would I be accepted as a 71 year old able to use my skills? We have lost, or given away most of the items we owned and now rent after owning homes became too much work/expense.

How does one find what may be an area of acceptance, domestically or otherwise? What do you recommend?

Closest Amish visit to NYC

Hi there, your site is so interesting and full of information. I wish I had more time to read it all and than go out for a visit. Unfortunately I only have today and tomorrow. I am in NYC and would love to get on a train with my bike and go for a visit. Can you advise where the closest place to go would be? What area would be most interesting? Some place i could stay for a night? I have been living in Israel most my life and everything is so intresting to me. Thank you :} Maggie

Farm for Sale in NW Pennsylvania

I would like to sell my farm to the Amish community; I believe in their lifestyle and their religion. How may I contact them to let them know the land is available for purchase? There are 30 acres with buildings, home, barn, pond, and more: a Northwestern Pennsylvania-based nonprofit organization is seeking the sale of the farm along with inheriting the nonprofit business (shop, table, chairs, tools, etc). Come and wander through our lush gardens of organic vegetables, herbs, fruits, and edible flowers. Explore our 30 acres of nature trails, red wiggler worm composting system, wind/solar energy system, geothermal & biomass heating, geothermal cooling, stained glass mosaics, spring-fed 1/2 acre pond, greenhouse, solar-powered gravitiy-fed irrigation system, yurt, stream, mushroom production, fruit trees, woods, meadows, earthen oven, hi tunnel, Hugelkultur, straw bale house, pavilion, and benches. Thank you for this venue and I look forward to communicating via email. Only serious offers with approved financing. Thanks!

Depending on where you are located in NW Pennsylvania, I would advertise it in a local classified paper, such as the Area Shopper. Perhaps post on the bulletin boards at feed mills, etc. Just like you are trying to sell it to anyone else.

train derailment

The Enon Valley and New Wilmington Amish settlements are close to and downwind of the East Palestine, OH train derailment and subsequent toxic chemicals release.

Does anyone know how these Amish people are doing??

Train Derailment

The Enon Valley and New Wilmington Amish settlements need to MOVE to:

PANOLA COUNTY, TEXAS Sparsely populated 27 people per Sq. mile: 40 to 45 inches of rain per year, hills and dales. Sandy loam, hay fields and gardens we have them.

Woods and Forest both Pine and Oak, Hickory and Pecan are in the bottoms, 240 day growing season. Yes, 240 day growing season, really we’re down south, you’ll like it

Here in Texas, you are FREE. Period.

Come on down, tell your cousins about paradise in Texas on the Louisiana border! This will be the biggest and best move since you immigrated!

I’m not selling, I’m just telling; if you needed a reason to move; AND YOU DO NOW, it’s time to move to Texas.

Tell some of them Wandering young men to travel to PANOLA COUNTY TEXAS, they’ll return telling you this is the time, and PANOLA COUNTY TEXAS is the place.

I live in central pa and would like to haul Amish local at first

Example for all

The Amish are good people who abide the Bible to the T and should be fully supported in every way Even us English can lest of what the Lord said about living in simplicity !!!They have my full respect and are our living history and all should be supported in every means they are also our history which should be cherished.peace of CHRIST Be With All The Amish!

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Mt. Hope – A small village with big appeal

On the surface, Mt. Hope looks like any other small town in Amish Country. Along Ohio Route 241 in northeast Holmes County, a mix of buggies, vehicles, and farm equipment pass by its quaint buildings.

The town is just big enough for a post office but not for an official population count. However, as you explore the few blocks that make up the business district, you’ll soon discover several unique gems.

Mrs. Yoder’s Kitchen , one of the region’s most beloved restaurants, has been serving visitors and locals for over 15 years with real home-style cooking. There is always a line, but the wait is worth it.

Whether you choose the incredible hot buffet full of homestyle staples – mashed potatoes, chicken, meatloaf, noodles, rolls, and dressing – or the Lake Perch sandwich, we promise you won’t leave hungry. For dessert, cream pies are a local specialty, and I recommend going with whatever fruit is in peak season.

With a full belly, you’re ready to start exploring the mom and pop shops that dot the town. First on the list is Lone Star Quilt Shop . Located just outside the square, it is full of the most beautiful Amish made quilts you have ever seen. They also carry an array of fabrics and materials that will make any quilter feel giddy.

If you will be in the area for a while, check to see if they are holding any classes. The classes fill quickly, and I am not surprised. The staff of Amish ladies love to share how they create these wonderful tapestries.

Homestead Furniture is another must-visit destination when in Mt. Hope. As you walk through the doors, you discover this furniture store is unlike any other. The warm and inviting staff truly cares what you as the consumer are envisioning in your home and will help you build a custom one-of-a-kind piece or select something from the showroom floor.

Wondering about E-Bikes and why you now see them everywhere in Ohio Amish Country? Then head to E-Bikes of Holmes County . The team there can show you the latest models, accessories, and reasons why E-bikes are winning over the Amish communities.

While traditional bicycles are great, the hills of Holmes County are aggressive and can be difficult for older Amish people to traverse without creating unsafe road conditions. Because E-bikes offer a safer mode of transportation for an individual, they’re becoming more widely accepted.

E-Bikes of Holmes County will allow you to test models right outside the door in their parking lot. I’m telling you from experience, those bikes can move. I tested one and it was a blast.

Mt. Hope is also known for some of the largest weekly auctions in Amish Country. Wednesday is auction day, and the number of visitors to the village explodes as the whole community is alive with activity. Auctions vary from produce and hay to firewood and livestock. Multiple times throughout the year, horse and carriage and machinery sales are held.

For an exotic experience, visit during an Alternative Animal and Bird Sale, which features emus, buffalo, zebras and more. The auction grounds include the Mt. Hope Event Center . With 65,000 square feet of exhibit space, it hosts sporting competitions, additional auctions, education conferences, furniture shows and other special events. For a complete list of auctions, visit their website.

Looking to stay overnight? Book a room at the Sleep Inn & Suites . The hotel is just steps away from the Mt. Hope Action Center, offering breathtaking views of the countryside and the everyday Amish lifestyle.

You may wake up to find the event center full of buggies, wagons, horses, and trailers as far as the eye can see. Don’t worry, the Sleep Inn & Suites has all the amenities you want in your travels. From hot breakfast to a fitness center, it bridges the luxuries of modern life to the charms of simpler times.

While it may be less known among travelers, we think Mount Hope is the perfect little spot to rest, reset, and enjoy the simple life.

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Two More Amish Spots To Check Out This Winter Season

• Lenawee County, Michigan: Visit this friendly and festive Amish community during Christmas for treats and holiday cheer.
• Hillsdale County, Michigan: Experience a lively holiday display in this tight-knit community with art and performance scenes.
• Sarasota, Florida: Enjoy the snowbird Amish community with festive activities and beautiful beaches during the warm winter.

Spending time with loved ones and unwinding are hallmarks of the Christmas season. On the other hand, holidays provide a fantastic opportunity to get out of town and see the world. A visit to an Amish community over the holiday season will provide visitors with a very unforgettable experience. In general, people in Amish communities adhere to a more conventional lifestyle. On the other hand, they are well-known for their jolly holiday parties.

The Amish really go all out for the holiday season. For those who have always wanted to know, this is the greatest Amish community to visit during winter. To help tourists get started on their holiday travel plans, here’s a list of the top Amish communities to visit.

UPDATE: 2023/11/25 17:24 EST BY NOAH STAATS

This article has been refreshed with two additional Amish communities to visit this Christmas season, both being in Michigan. Remember to be respectful of Amish rules and traditions, and have plenty of fun!

Related: 10 Things To Do In Lancaster: Complete Guide To The Amish Capital Of The World

13 Lenawee County, Michigan

One of the old-school Amish communities worth visiting this winter is the Lenawee County, Michigan, Amish settlers, who live life according to their old order. This group has long been hardworking, kind to guests, and great at producing goods, much like the other Amish communities on this list. Because this Amish group follows Christian holidays, Christmas is a big one for them. Therefore, treats, gifts, and cheer ring through the streets of Lenawee County and its respective Amish neighborhood.

• Lenawee County is home to old-order Amish people.
• The community is known to be very friendly and festive around Christmas.

12 Hillsdale County, Michigan

One Amish community that puts on a festive holiday display comes out of Hillsdale County in Michigan. With a white backdrop in November and December, the Amish people of Hillsdale make their presence known in town and the surrounding area. What's nice here is that the Amish community makes up nearly 1,150 people and is steadily growing, so there's holiday cheer to go around. Michigan isn't known for being an Amish state, but there are enough communities here to consider it a great spot to enjoy this wonderful culture.

• Hillsdale is known for its tight-knit community and its art and performance scene.

11 Sarasota, Florida

As one of the prettiest Amish communities in the South, Sarasota is home to many Amish people and traditions. This is also known as the "snowbird" Amish city, bringing older Amish folk for the holidays. There are many activities to try, including carriage rides, crafts, holiday shows, and local businesses to support. There are also countless stunning beaches!

• Sarasota is known as the snowbird Amish community.
• Although warm in winter, there are still plenty of holiday activities to try.

10 Lancaster, Pennsylvania

Lancaster is one of the nicest Amish villages in the country, and it's a wonderful place to have weekend getaways in Pennsylvania . Visit Amish Country or take part in a Christmas-themed event; Lancaster has it all throughout the holiday season. Amish Country is a lovely area to come to over the holidays. Traditional Christmas activities in the area include singing carols, attending church services, and feasting with family and friends. Visitors can also learn how the Amish live by taking a tour of an Amish farm or enrolling in an Amish cooking class.

• Lancaster is one of the nicest and largest Amish villages in the United States.
• There are various tours and cooking classes during the holidays for visitors.

RELATED: Learn About The Amish On New York's Self-Guided Amish Trail

9 Shipshewana, Indiana

Northern Indiana is home to a number of tiny towns, one of which is Shipshewana. Many people who are curious about the Amish way of life visit the town because it is home to a sizable Amish population. Shipshewana is a wonderful spot to come to during the Christmas season due to its abundance of festive activities and shopping opportunities. The village comes to life with Christmas decorations, music, and the fragrance of freshly baked delicacies wafting through the air. Tourists may take a horse-drawn carriage ride or an old-fashioned sleigh ride through town, and the various stores and booths offer unique items and homemade decorations.

• Northern Indiana is known for its abundance of small towns, including Shipshewana.
• The Amish village comes to life around the holidays, boasting music, lights, decoration, and cheer.

8 Intercourse, Pennsylvania

The town of Intercourse, which may be found in the state of Pennsylvania, is home to the oldest Amish hamlet in the United States. The town is well-known for its picturesque surroundings and the traditional Amish way of life that it preserves. It has a location that puts it smack dab in the middle of Pennsylvania Dutch Country . Visitors have the choice of exploring the town's abundance of stores and dining establishments, taking a ride in a horse-drawn carriage, or checking out one of the many tourist destinations located in the region around the town.

• This is another Pennsylvania Amish community known for being influenced by Dutch traditions.
• There are many festive stores, events, and sights here during the holidays, as well as horse-drawn carriage rides.

This Amish town is heavily influenced by Dutch traditions. Seeing the Amish village of Intercourse in the winter is a great way to experience a Dutch-themed Christmas.

7 Bird-In-Hand, Pennsylvania

Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, is home to the quaint community of Bird-in-Hand, Pennsylvania. The town is well known as a destination for tourists due to the sizeable Amish community that resides there. Visitors may gain insight into the Amish way of life by touring the town's diverse collection of stores and points of interest. There are also a number of events that take place on a yearly basis in Bird-in-Hand. These events include the Christmas in Bird-in-Hand celebration as well as the Buggy Days festival.

• This town is not solely Amish but does have a sizeable community of them.
• The annual Christmas celebration in Bird-In-Hand is talked about throughout the area.

RELATED: The Dos & Don'ts And What To Expect Staying At An Amish Guesthouse

6 Berlin, Ohio

The picturesque Amish community of Berlin, Ohio , is one of the famous places In Ohio , and it may be found right in the middle of Ohio's Amish country. Visitors will discover a diverse selection of stores and companies that provide a comprehensive range of products and services for their patronage. In addition, there are a number of coffee shops, restaurants, and bed & breakfasts in the area. Exploring all the Amish way of life has to offer is a wonderful way to spend a day or two in Berlin, making it the ideal location for such an excursion.

• This is one of the many famous towns in Ohio, bringing a wide selection of Amish stores, culture, and people.
• There are many places to stay here, which are run by the Amish.

5 Sugarcreek, Ohio

Sugarcreek, in the state of Ohio, is one of the best places to visit for those who want to spend their vacation among the Amish. Because of its position in the middle of Amish country, the town is well-known for the stunning scenery that surrounds it as well as the numerous holiday events that take place there. While they are in town, guests have the chance to take part in many activities for a fun day in Ohio , such as taking rides in horse-drawn carriages, shopping at local businesses, and watching Christmas performances.

• Sugarcreek, Ohio, is one of the premier Amish destinations in the country.
• There are carriage rides, shops, and even Christmas performances here.

4 Walnut Creek, Ohio

Walnut Creek, Ohio, is a favorite holiday destination since it lies in the heart of Amish Country in the state of Ohio. The town is a fun spot to visit with loved ones because of all the amazing things to see and do. Horse-drawn carriage rides, seasonal events, and authentic Amish fare are just some of the highlights for tourists. For those who are interested in staying the night in the area, there are also a number of bed and breakfasts to choose from, each of which provides cozy accommodations.

• Walnut Creek is one of the more scenic Amish towns in Ohio.
• The entire town decorated for the holidays, as well as putting on shows.

RELATED: Not Just Lancaster: Discover The Amish Way Of Life In Ethridge, Tennessee

3 Charm, Ohio

Holiday happiness abounds in this sleepy hamlet during the Christmas season because of its significant Amish population. Charm is a wonderful place to spend the holidays since there is so much to do. Tourists may peruse the unique stores downtown, enjoy a horse-drawn carriage ride, or try some of the great food at the local restaurants. And make sure to check out the stunning Amish homes adorned for Christmas; it’s one of many things visitors need to do in Ohio's Amish Country ! Guests may also get one-of-a-kind presents for their loved ones at Charm. The local stores provide a broad variety of homemade things, from quilts and furniture to toys and baked delicacies.

• Charm is a smaller town with unique stores and local businesses.
• The majority of the town's holiday activities happen on Main Street.

2 Millersburg, Ohio

Ohio has some of the most beautiful photo-worthy spots . Millersburg, Ohio, is the place to go if one wants to experience a traditional Amish community during winter. Located in the heart of Ohio's Amish Country, this charming village is famous for its stunning Victorian buildings and traditional holiday decor. During the holidays, visitors will find lots of festive things to enjoy in Millersburg, from horse-drawn carriage rides to visiting local artisan stores. Guests should try some of the authentic Amish cuisines while they're at Millersburg; otherwise, they're missing out.

• Millersburg is famous for its Victorian buildings, old-world charm, and festive holiday spirit.
• The town transforms into a Christmas village in November and December.

1 Strasburg, Pennsylvania

The town of Strasburg, Pennsylvania , is a quaint community that can be found smack dab in the middle of Lancaster County. The town is well known as a destination for tourists due to the sizeable Amish community that resides there. Visitors can learn about Amish culture by touring Amish farms and shops and getting a glimpse into Amish daily life. In addition, Strasburg is home to a number of museums and other points of interest, the most notable of which are the Strasburg Heritage Center and the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania .

• Strasburg is famous for its railroad, as well as being a large Amish hub.
• Winters here are filled with Christmas lights, treats, and entertainment.
• Destinations
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Beyond the Buggy: Things to do in Shipshewana

I n the northeast corner of Indiana, bordering Michigan and not quite to Ohio, is a land of farms and lakes. A highway runs through it. If you don’t get off the interstate, you might think there’s nothing to see.

Oh, how wrong you’d be.

Shipshewana and LaGrange County is a popular destination and an easy day trip from Chicago and multiple large cities.

But this is a place worth more than a quick visit.

Home to the third largest Amish population in the United States, there are so many things to do in Shipshewana.

It’s a place where you’ll want to spend some time. Unwind. Relax. Disconnect from hectic daily life and try out a slower pace.

You’ll find miles of trails and acres of lakes, live entertainment, and the Midwest’s largest flea market. Stock up on fresh produce and breathe in fresh air.

You can feed bison and fill your belly, discover quilt barns and quilting bees. Enjoy the polished feel of beloved antiques and the sharp scent of new handmade furniture.

Welcome to Indiana Amish Country.

LaGrange County is the heart of Indiana Amish Country. To visit is to step into a simpler time, among people who live simply.

Life is slower. Traffic jams involve buggies. Furniture is hewn from hardwood. Quilts are art. Even the food is simple: peanut butter, mashed potatoes, chicken and noodles, pie.

But simple living doesn’t mean boring. In Shipshewana and the surrounding communities, simple means intentional.

The furniture is sturdy. Reclaiming and repurposing are a way of life. When it comes to the food, it also means delicious. There’s a reason Amish cuisine is prized.

In a time of constant demands for our attention, of “hustle culture” and 24/7 access to information, of phones and tablets buzzing with notifications, of social media and apps and endless digital distractions, sometimes you just want to shut it all off and BE.

This is a place where you can do that. It’s a place where you can see the mist rise off the fields in the morning and, in the evening, witness the sun dip to the horizon as a farmer drives a horse-drawn plow.

But a visit to Shipshewana and LaGrange County isn’t all rocking chairs and pie (although if it were, that wouldn’t be a bad thing).

In this guide, we’ll explore this fascinating area that’s home to Amish culture and within three hours of several major cities and millions of people.

Are you ready? Enough chit-chat. Let’s discover Shipshewana.

Hate ads? Want to read this without interruption? Become an official Local Tourist – only $5/month on Substack! Click here to sign up .

My visit to Shipshewana was hosted by the LaGrange County Convention and Visitor’s Bureau , but all opinions are my own and not influenced at all by horsies and pie.

Top Things to do in Shipshewana

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Because of LaGrange County’s significant Amish population, you’ll see lots of horse-drawn carriages and bicyclists. Be careful and aware while driving.

Navigating the county is fairly simple, as there are several north-south and east-west roads. Everything starts with US 20 and State Road 9. East and West roads are oriented around SR 9, and the dividing line for North and South roads is US 20. Each 100 is one mile. So 100 North means 1 mile north of US 20.

Easy, right?

There are a few diagonal and curved roads, but for the most part, it’s easy to get around.

Here are some tips to make driving in Amish country better for everyone.

• Take your time; pedestrians, buggies, and bikes are also sharing the road.
• Give yourself longer to brake—horses can’t compete with automotive speed.
• Resist the urge to pass a buggy on curves or hills; it’s not worth the risk.
• Give a buggy plenty of room at intersections; horses can reverse without warning.
• Be careful when overtaking a buggy; the driver’s field of vision is quite limited.
• Horses are unpredictable. Exercise caution when nearing them.
• Keep an eye out for reflective markings on buggies, especially when driving at night.

What better way to get the lay of the land than to see the land. Take a driving tour and go on a rural scavenger hunt, searching for barn quilts and Amish shops while exploring the beautiful northern Indiana countryside.

The Barn Quilt Trail starts in Shipshewana and connects six communities around the county. Many of these colorful squares are on the sides of barns, as you’d expect, and others are in more unexpected places, like a log cabin in a campground.

Begun as a way to enhance the Shipshewana Quilt Festival, the Trail is now a draw on its own. It’s simultaneously thrilling and relaxing to drive past farms and fields and encounter one of these works of art.

The history of barn quilts dates back to early Pennsylvania immigrants. It’s said the patterns were used to celebrate heritage as well as navigational tools. Since 2001, they’ve become increasingly popular.

As you’re driving from one town to the next to find the next quilt, take some time to stop at one of the many county parks, grab a bite to eat, and maybe even row on the Pigeon River for a bit.

You could also go shopping. If you see a sign selling crafts, baked goods, or other items, feel free to pull over–unless it’s a Sunday. 

Amish goods are another reason people visit LaGrange County, and the Amish Shop Trail makes it easy to find them. This trail is primarily on the western side of the county, where the concentration of Amish live.

You can download a map featuring all the stops on both of these trails, as well as additional places to eat and drink, at visitshipshewana.org .

I also recommend picking up a paper map at the visitor’s center. And while you’re there, you can check one of those barn quilts off your list.

One of your first stops when you visit Indiana Amish Country should be Menno-Hof Amish & Mennonite Story . This non-profit information center tells the stories of the Anabaptists, from their origins in Switzerland to the Mennonites, Amish, and Hutterites of today. 

Menno-Hof opened in 1988, prompted by the many questions attendees of the Shipshewana Flea Market had about the local population.

Inside, Menno-Hof takes you through five centuries of history, but it’s not done in a dry manner. Instead, there are interactive displays: you’ll sit in a medieval dungeon, explore a 17th century ship, and see what a 19th century printing shop was like.

You can experience what a tornado feels like, and view a replica of an Amish home.

Menno-Hof is open Monday through Saturday. A guided tour lasts about an hour and fifteen minutes. It’s located on State Road 5 (South Van Buren) across the street from the flea market and down the road from the Visit Shipshewana visitors’ center.

Be sure to stop at the gift shop. It’s filled with locally-made items.

One of the best ways to slow down is to get outside. Fortunately, there are plenty of opportunities for enjoying Mother Nature in LaGrange County.

As you’re driving along the backcountry roads, searching for quilt barns or Amish cottage shops, you’ll find hiking trails, public beaches, lakes just waiting for your fishing rod, and even an archery range.

There’s also a bison ranch, where you can feed the nation’s mammal, and an animal park where you can meet—and feed – all sorts of other creatures.

History buffs will love discovering pioneer log buildings which have been relocated from around the county. You can go canoeing, kayaking, and hunting, and ride your bike.

With nearly two-dozen lakes and miles of trails, if your idea of a great vacation includes some time in the fresh air, LaGrange County’s got you covered.

Cook’s Bison Ranch

If you’re fascinated by the national mammal, then planning a visit to Cook’s Bison Ranch is a must. This is one of many unique things to do in Shipshewana, because not only do you get to see the animals, you get to feed them.

This family-owned business is a working bison ranch, so check their website or call ahead, because they don’t have a regular tour schedule.

LaGrange County Parks

LaGrange County has plenty of parks and nature preserves, offering a variety of experiences.

Started in 1969, the LaGrange County Department of Parks & Recreation has carefully developed a series of outdoor settings that mix cultural richness with nature’s beauty.

These ten park properties include public beaches, nature preserves, and lots of opportunities for outdoor recreation, including picnic areas, archery and disc-golf.

Dutch Creek Farm Animal Park

Dutch Creek Farm Animal Park is a hands-on animal park where you can feed a variety of species from deer to zebras. Ideal for families, it offers educational animal shows and a petting zoo area.

You can tour the entire farm in your own vehicle or via a horse-drawn wagon. If you want to feed the animals, the wagon’s the way to go.

Canoeing and Kayaking

LaGrange County’s a paddler’s paradise. The Fawn River is one of Indiana’s clearest and most natural rivers, and it flows through the northern part of LaGrange County.

T & L Country Canoes will rent you canoes or kayaks so you can enjoy some time on the water and see unspoiled country. You can rent a vessel for as little as an hour (min. 2 vessels) or up to seven hours.

Head to Mongo and Trading Post Outfitters and travel through the Pigeon River Fish and Wildlife Area. They offer four different trips, including one that’s for thirteen miles and meant for experienced paddlers.

They also have a beautiful campground on the Pigeon River with both primitive sites and those with hookups.

Hunt and Fish

Pigeon River Fish and Wildlife Area is nearly 12,000 acres, including seventeen miles of free-flowing river. A dedicated area for hunting and fishing, the preserve requires a state license for both activities.

It offers a variety of fish, including smallmouth and largemouth bass, and game such as deer, pheasant, wild turkey, and waterfowl. There’s also a shooting range.

If you just want to view the wildlife, head to the L2 parking lot and the Waterfowl Resting Area overlook. Canoeing and kayaking are permitted, but some areas are restricted during waterfowl season.

Like LaGrange County parks, foraging for mushrooms, berries, and nuts is allowed.

Hike or Bike

Want some exercise after indulging in JoJo’s Pretzels at Davis Mercantile? Walk a couple blocks to the Pumpkinvine Nature Trail.

The Pumpkin Vine Railroad, so named because of its twists and turns, served the area for a century before shutting down in 1980.

Today, it’s a paved biking and walking trail that stretches from Goshen through Middlebury to Shipshewana. Its nearly seventeen miles pass through farmlands and forests, offering both scenery and a well-maintained path.

Shopping in Shipshewana is a true delight, even if, like me, you don’t consider yourself a shopper. This is a place where commerce intertwines with culture and tradition.

Whether you leave with full bags or simply with memories and insights, the experience is unique and enriching.

One important note: Shipshewana closes down on Sundays. If shopping is part of your itinerary, plan to visit the other days of the week.

Shipshewana Flea Market

More than just a place to find bargains, the Shipshewana Flea Market is the largest flea market in the Midwest.

With over 700 vendors and a history stretching more than a century, this market is a piece of the area’s history and a vital part of the community.

The Shipshewana Flea Market takes place from May through September and is open Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Davis Mercantile

Speaking of community, another must-stop is Davis Mercantile . It’s more than just four floors of amazing shops featuring unique items.

It’s a family-owned business in a structure built in an old-fashioned barn raising after a devastating fire. Don’t miss the vintage carousel on the top floor.

Downtown Shipshewana

As you stroll around downtown Shipshewana, the sheer number of shops is mind-boggling. In addition to Davis Mercantile are several boutiques lining the streets.

The main shopping drags are Harrison Street and Morton Street. There are antique, clothing, home goods, and quilting shops, and furniture stores.

Amish Cottage Shops

As you’re driving the back roads of LaGrange County, keep your eyes peeled for signs advertising goods. These are known as “shingle shops,” so named because they hang a shingle on the side of the road.

You can find a whole variety of products, including baked goods and quilts. And, as Rebecca Haarer said, “if you see a sign that says ‘eggs for sale,’ go buy some.”

Quilt and Fabric Shops

If you’re a quilter, or interested in learning, you’ve hit the jackpot. Quilting shops can be found all over the county, but primarily in Shipshewana.

Downtown you’ll find Lolly’s Fabrics inside Davis Mercantile and Rebecca Haarer Arts and Antiques on Morton Street. You can pick up a brochure listing area shops at the visitor’s center.

Lehman’s Variety Store

Lehman’s Variety Store is aptly named; it’s got a huge variety of goods on its shelves. Catering to the Amish, the store carries battery-operated appliances and fans, toys, books, canning supplies, linens—pretty much everything you’d need to supply a house in the country.

Lehman’s is on a dirt road behind a farmhouse. There’s a sign, but it’s easy to miss.

E & S Sales

Just south of the Shipshewana Flea Market, E & S Sales is easy to find. The Amish-owned bulk foods store offers a wide range of items—from various cuts of meat and an array of cheeses to home-style noodles made on-site.

Shoppers can also find a comprehensive selection of baking essentials such as spices, nuts, and flours, along with a variety of jams, jellies, and snacks.

Fresh produce and freshly baked items round out the offerings, making it a one-stop shop.

Pack your stretchy pants for your visit to Shipshewana, because when you eat in Amish Country, you won’t go hungry. The area’s known for hearty cuisine and generous portions.

Blue Gate Restaurant and Bakery

If you’ve heard of Shipshewana, you’ve probably heard of Blue Gate Restaurant and Bakery . The dining room can seat almost as many people as the town has residents, and the bakery has more varieties of pie and baked goods than you could finish in a month.

The Blue Gate Restaurant specializes in home-style Amish cuisine. You can order off the menu or go all-in with one of their buffets.

Signature items include Blue Gate Fried Chicken (highly, highly recommend), roast beef, mashed potatoes, noodles, beans, corn, and other hearty options. It’s basically an all-you-can-eat homage to comfort food, Midwest-style.

The Carriage House

If you want to get a true Amish country experience, have dinner in an Amish home .

The Carriage House is a mother-and-son team that hosts Amish family wedding feasts and other special events. Elaine will even teach you how to make cinnamon rolls.

You’ll need to plan in advance for this one, but it’s worth it. It’s one of the best things to do in Shipshewana.

Shipshewana Auction Restaurant

If you’re in Shipshewana for the auction and flea market, do yourself a favor and stop at the Shipshewana Auction Restaurant. It’s right next to the action, making it an easy stop between rounds of bargaining.

The menu is a mix of Amish favorites and classic American comfort food. Think fried chicken that’s crispy and juicy. And don’t even get me started on the pies—apple and rhubarb are the stars here.

Best part? Most of the ingredients come from local farms, so you’re getting a real taste of the area.

Shipshewana’s entertainment scene is vibrant and a perfect encapsulation of this complex area. There are live performances, big name entertainers, rodeos, and more.

Art is on public display with several murals in LaGrange County’s communities, especially the series painted by the Walldogs.

There are also many barn quilts, which you can discover while taking one of the driving tours.

Blue Gate Music Hall and Blue Gate Performing Arts Center

Located conveniently above the Blue Gate Restaurant, the Blue Gate Music Hall (formerly Blue Gate Theatre) seats 325 and specializes in Broadway-style musicals. There are also concerts, and in this intimate space, there isn’t a bad spot in the house.

Down the road next to Blue Gate Garden Inn, the Blue Gate Performing Arts Center (PAC) is where the big artists come to play. This 1500-seat venue attracts nationally touring artists like Marina McBride, Marie Osmond, and STYX.

Michiana Event Center

The Michiana Event Center, commonly known as the MEC, is a key entertainment venue in LaGrange County.

The center’s coliseum can seat up to 6,000 people, accommodating a diverse lineup of events, and they’ve got a 100,000 square foot trade show area.

Murals of LaGrange County

If you’re from the Midwest, or have driven through a few small towns, you might have noticed that murals have become increasingly popular.

Towns like Dubuque, Iowa; Delavan, Wisconsin ; and Pontiac, Illinois are a miniscule sampling of communities who have turned bland buildings into works of art.

So has Shipshewana.

Many of these murals are painted by a group called Walldogs, a collection of talented muralists who travel the country to make it more beautiful. Not only are these murals attractive, they also tell the stories of the communities.

Walldogs came to Shipshewana in 2014. The collection of sixteen murals they created introduce you to important figures in the area’s past.

These aren’t the only murals in town. Stroll through the Shipshewana Flea Market and you’ll see a few that were added in 2023.

Over in the county seat of LaGrange are even more, as well as in Howe. Each one helps to bring the past to life.

You can take a self-guided walking tour to view most of the Walldogs murals in Shipshewana. There are maps at the visitor’s center.

LaGrange County and Indiana Amish Country are magical places inviting you to slow down, reconnect, and rejuvenate.

Discover even more things to do in Shipshewana with my curated, full-color guidebook!

Are you ready to plan a visit to Shipshewana? Then you’ll need Show Me Shipshewana: a Guide to Indiana Amish Country .

Show Me Shipshewana: a Guide to Indiana Amish Country  invites you to step away from the frenzied pace of day-to-day life. You’re invited to relax. To eat (a lot). To enjoy connecting with your loved ones, with nature, and with yourself. 

Show Me Shipshewana  is more than a travel book; it’s a companion that invites you to experience the third largest Amish community in the world and create memories that will last a lifetime.

Available September 15, 2023. Reserve your copy today and you’ll be planning your Shipshewana getaway!

The Scenic Amish Country Route In Wisconsin That Leads To 4 Old-Fashioned Bakeries

By: Author Madison Turner

Posted on August 12, 2024

There’s something inherently comforting about the aroma of freshly baked bread and pastries wafting through the air.

It’s a sensory invitation to slow down and savor life’s simple pleasures.

In Wisconsin , this comforting aroma leads you to four delightful Amish bakeries, each offering a taste of tradition and a glimpse into a way of life that’s both timeless and heartwarming.

Ready to embark on a journey through Wisconsin’s countryside and discover some of the best Amish bakeries the state has to offer?

1. Pleasant View Bakery (Dalton)

The first stop on our journey is Pleasant View Bakery in Dalton.

This charming bakery is a haven for those who appreciate the art of baking.

Stepping inside, you’re greeted by the sight of shelves laden with freshly baked goods.

The rich, buttery scent of pastries fills the air, promising a delightful treat with every bite.

Pleasant View Bakery is renowned for its assortment of pies.

The flaky crusts and rich fillings are a testament to the skill and dedication of the bakers.

Whether you prefer the classic apple pie or something a bit more adventurous, each slice is a slice of heaven.

Beyond pies, the bakery offers a variety of breads, donuts, and cookies.

One of the unique aspects of Pleasant View Bakery is its commitment to using traditional baking methods.

Every loaf of bread is hand-kneaded, and the pies are made from scratch using recipes passed down through generations.

This dedication to authenticity is evident in every bite.

So, if you’re someone who values quality and tradition in your baked goods, Pleasant View Bakery is a must-visit.

2. Oven Fresh Bakery (Markesan)

Next on our route is Oven Fresh Bakery in Markesan.

This bakery stands out for its impressive variety of baked goods.

From sweet to savory, there’s something here to satisfy every palate.

The moment you walk in, the friendly staff makes you feel right at home, and the tantalizing display of treats beckons you to take your time and explore.

Oven Fresh Bakery is particularly known for its cinnamon rolls.

These aren’t just any cinnamon rolls—they’re generously sized, perfectly spiced, and topped with a rich, creamy icing that melts in your mouth.

Each bite is a delightful blend of sweetness and spice, making them a popular choice among locals and visitors alike.

In addition to cinnamon rolls, the bakery offers an array of bread, pastries, and donuts.

The pastries, available in a variety of flavors, are always fresh and flavorful, making them a perfect choice for breakfast or a mid-day snack.

What sets Oven Fresh Bakery apart is its commitment to quality.

Every item is made fresh daily, using high-quality ingredients.

The bakers take great pride in their work, and it shows in the exceptional taste and texture of their products.

If you’re in Markesan, a visit to Oven Fresh Bakery is a must.

3. Miriam’s Bakery (Fredonia)

Our journey continues to Fredonia, where Miriam’s Bakery awaits.

This bakery is a gem in the heart of Amish country, offering a delightful array of baked goods that are sure to satisfy your sweet tooth.

The moment you step inside, you’re greeted by the warm, inviting aroma of freshly baked bread and pastries.

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Miriam’s Bakery is famous for its fruit pies.

Each pie is a work of art, with a golden, flaky crust and a filling bursting with fresh flavors.

Whether you’re a fan of strawberry or apple, you’re sure to find a pie that will make your taste buds sing.

The pies are made using traditional recipes and techniques, ensuring a taste that’s both authentic and delicious.

But the delights at Miriam’s Bakery don’t stop at pies.

The bakery also offers a variety of breads, cookies, and pastries.

The sourdough bread is a particular favorite, with its perfect balance of tangy and savory flavors.

The cookies, available in a range of flavors from chocolate chip to oatmeal, are always fresh and delicious.

What makes Miriam’s Bakery special is its dedication to quality and tradition.

Every item is made from scratch, using the best ingredients and time-honored techniques.

The result is a range of baked goods that are not only delicious but also a true reflection of Amish baking traditions.

If you find yourself in Fredonia, a visit to Miriam’s Bakery is an experience you won’t want to miss.

4. Yoder’s Bakery (Bonduel)

The final stop on our scenic route is Yoder’s Bakery in Bonduel.

This bakery is a beloved fixture in the community, known for its warm, welcoming atmosphere and exceptional baked goods.

The moment you walk through the door, you’re greeted by the mouthwatering aroma of freshly baked bread and pastries.

Yoder’s Bakery is renowned for its bread.

Each loaf is baked to perfection, with a golden crust and soft, fluffy interior.

The variety is impressive, from classic white and whole wheat to more adventurous options like cinnamon raisin and cheese bread.

Each loaf is a testament to the skill and dedication of the bakers, and the taste is simply unbeatable.

But Yoder’s Bakery offers more than just bread.

The bakery also boasts an impressive selection of cookies, cakes, and pastries.

What sets Yoder’s Bakery apart is its commitment to using traditional baking methods and high-quality ingredients.

Every item is made from scratch, ensuring a taste that’s both authentic and delicious.

The friendly staff and cozy atmosphere make it a place you’ll want to visit again and again.

If you’re in Bonduel, a trip to Yoder’s Bakery is a must.

The delicious baked goods and warm, welcoming atmosphere make it a highlight of any visit to the area.

Traveling through Wisconsin’s Amish country and visiting these four bakeries is a journey filled with delicious discoveries and warm, welcoming experiences.

Each bakery offers a unique taste of tradition and a glimpse into a way of life that’s both timeless and heartwarming.

You can use this map of the route to guide you in reaching these destinations.

Ready to embark on this delightful journey and savor the simple pleasures of life one bakery at a time?

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From cloud forests to glacial lakes, these destinations are the world's best sights to see.

Anne Olivia Bauso is a travel writer and hotel expert based in New York City. She has written hundreds of hotel reviews, from 5-star Ritz-Carlton properties to treehouse eco-resorts in the jungle.

From sky-blue lakes in Canada to sandstone beaches in Seychelles, beauty abounds in every corner of the Earth. Focusing largely on national parks , mountains, beaches, deserts, and other natural wonders , we’ve compiled the world's most beautiful places to inspire your next dream destination. 

• Best tourist destination: Iguazú Falls, Argentina and Brazil
• Underrated hidden gem: Fairy Meadows National Park, Pakistan
• Best for families: Grand Canyon, Arizona
• Best for couples: Anse Source d'Agent, Seychelles
• Best for solo travelers: Railay West Beach, Thailand

Join us for a journey to some of the most beautiful places in the world, like the red rocks of the Grand Canyon and the abundantly colorful Great Barrier Reef.

Iguazú Falls, Argentina and Brazil

Altogether, the 275 cascades on the Argentina-Brazil border form a mind-blowing, panoramic waterfall. The overwhelming sight of Iguazú Falls, combined with the sound and energy of water rushing at up to 450,000 cubic feet per second in the rainy season, is pure magnificence.

Fairy Meadows National Park, Pakistan

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Near the foot of the world's ninth-highest mountain (Nanga Parbat), Pakistan's Fairy Meadows offers sublime mountain scenery and wildlife, including brown bears, markhor, and Himalayan ibex. To get to Fairy Meadows, you’ll have to hire a Jeep but be forewarned, the road there is not for the faint of heart.

Grand Canyon, Arizona

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Offering some of the most spectacular scenery on the planet, the Grand Canyon truly merits the term "breathtaking." The vast geologic wonderland, one mile deep and up to 18 miles across, displays countless layers of colorful rock and practically hypnotic vistas.

Anse Source d'Argent, Seychelles

Pinpointing the most beautiful Seychellois beach is like splitting hairs, but Anse Source d'Argent gets extremely high marks for its sugar-white sand framed by dramatic granite boulders and sparkling aquamarine water. The sweet shoreline is relatively secluded from the resort crowds on La Digue Island.

Railay West Beach, Thailand

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On the Railay peninsula's west side, Krabi's famous karsts meet a simply stunning jade-green lagoon. The vertical cliffs block access from the Krabi mainland, making Railay reachable only by boat, adding to its incredible appeal.

Torres del Paine National Park, Chile

There's no better way to experience Patagonia's rugged natural beauty than in Torres del Paine National Park . The UNESCO Biosphere Reserve is home to its namesake granite towers (the park's name is a combination of the Spanish word for “towers” and the Tehuelche word for “blue”), as well as sparkling lagoons and otherworldly glaciers.

Bagan, Myanmar

It's hard to truly grasp the magnitude of Myanmar's Bagan Archaeological Zone , dominated by thousands of temples, pagodas, and stupas. Explore the UNESCO World Heritage Site on a bike, or for an eagle's-eye view, take a hot-air balloon ride at sunrise to see the temples scattered across the lush landscape.

Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve, Costa Rica

This magical, misty, and well-preserved cloud forest in northwestern Costa Rica is a successful template for sustainable ecotourism. Along with its sister cloud forest, the Santa Elena Reserve, Monteverde is a practically untouched paradise home to thousands of plant, animal, and bird species (including the radiant quetzal), visible from jungle paths and nail-biting steel bridges hanging over the canopy.

Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe and Zambia

One of the world's largest waterfalls, Victoria Falls spans the Zimbabwe and Zambia borders. As a destination, "The Smoke That Thunders," as it is known in the Bantu language family, is a hub for white-water rafting, helicopter rides, big-game safaris , and other thrilling adventures.

Whitehaven Beach, Australia

Whitehaven Beach mesmerizes from above with swirls of white and blue hiding amid the offshore islands of Queensland. Part of Australia's Whitsunday Coast, the star attraction is remarkable for its amazing combination of pure silica sands and vivid blue-green waters.

Avenue of the Baobabs, Madagascar

On a dirt road near the west coast town of Morondava is a stretch of tall and ancient baobab trees unique to Madagascar, and all that remains of a once-dense forest. The centuries-old giants are especially magnificent cast in the light of a sunrise and sunset.

Uyuni Salt Flat, Bolivia

The world's largest salt flat covers 4,000 square miles of the Bolivian Altiplano. In the dry season, it's an endless white sheet of salt tiles made all the more dazzling by clear, sunny skies. From December to April, however, regular rains create a mirror effect that merges lake and sky. No matter when you see it, Salar de Uyuni is one of the most captivating sights on earth.

Hạ Long Bay, Vietnam

With hundreds of jungle-covered karst cliffs rising out of emerald green waters, Hạ Long Bay is a photographer's dream. Hop on a boat or kayak to explore the UNESCO World Heritage Site 's beautiful islands and surreal cave systems.

Lake Atitlán, Guatemala

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Lake Atitlán in the Sierra Madres offers a combination of Indigenous culture and waterside serenity. It likely comes as no surprise that a place this tranquil is also a popular destination for yoga retreats. Cross the gorgeous crater lake by boat and explore various pueblos, shop local markets for Mayan crafts, and sleep in treehouse accommodations.

Le Morne Brabant, Mauritius

A freestanding basaltic mountain hulking over a bright blue-green Indian Ocean lagoon certainly makes for spectacular scenery. When viewed from above, the surrounding sand and silt form an optical illusion that appears to be a massive underwater waterfall at this mythic place — and there is a fascinating history to uncover. Thanks to its isolation and near-inaccessibility, Le Morne sheltered people who escaped enslavement during the 18th and early 19th centuries.

Acadia National Park, Maine

From rocky shorelines shrouded in mist to conifer-cloaked mountainsides, Acadia National Park is a wild place of sea, stone, and forest. Visitors flock here to hike, fish, climb, camp, and experience the end-of-the-world feel in New England's only national park.

Okavango Delta, Botswana

The mighty Okavango , the largest inland delta in the world, is a vast network of winding waterways and animal-attracting lagoons. Navigating through reed-studded channels in a mokoro (traditional canoe) and spotting hippos, leopards, and elephants is one of the world's great travel experiences for nature lovers.

Maasai Mara, Kenya

This famed wildlife preserve (next door neighbor to the Serengeti) is one of the world's most enchanting ecosystems . The Mara's golden grasslands stretch to the horizon, interrupted by graceful acacia trees and rumbling throngs of wildebeest and zebra — and their stalking predators.

Beautiful Forests Around the World

Cat island, the bahamas.

Cat Island is a secret nirvana hiding in plain sight in the Bahamas . Sparsely developed and off the main tourist track, Cat Island is resplendent in miles of nature trails and wondrous pink sands sprawling under the Caribbean sun. Far from the mega-resort scene of busier islands, the mood on Cat Island is very laid back, so expect to find local vibes and small family-owned hotels.

Zhangye National Geopark, China

Distinct rolling bands of orange, cream, yellow, brown, and russet against jagged mountain peaks make this geological anomaly in the Northwestern province of Gansu look like a psychedelic scene on Mars. Boardwalks have been built throughout the park allowing visitors to see the stripes up close.

Glencoe, Scotland

The Scottish Highlands are filled with astonishingly scenic glens, but Glencoe Valley is perhaps the most famous (and infamous, due to a brutal 17th-century massacre that marked a pivotal moment in Scottish history). Today the valley is a haven for hikers, mountaineers, and whisky lovers — the 19th-century Ben Nevis Distillery is a short drive away.

Mount Kōya, Japan

The Buddhist monk Kobo Daishi founded this mountaintop temple town in 819. Today, the sacred and serene place is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site and contains more than 100 temples, including the head temple Kongobuji, featuring gorgeous gilded sliding doors and ceilings carved with flowers. Within the ancient complex is a mausoleum and cemetery surrounded by a cedar forest with old-growth trees up to 600 years old.

Dead Sea, Jordan, Palestine, and Israel

Name aside, the Dead Sea is a lake and one of the world's saltiest, at that. (In fact, the saline water has such a high density that it keeps bathers afloat.) Set between Jordan, Palestine, and Israel at the Earth's lowest elevation, it's known for its beautifully clear and tranquil waters (with nearly 10 times more saline than the ocean) and its surrounding mineral formations, sandy beaches, nature preserves, natural pools, and waterfalls.

Zion National Park, Utah

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Glorious Navajo Sandstone cliffs, rainbow-colored canyons, and incredible biodiversity make Zion one of the most popular (and most scenic) national parks in the U.S. Utah is famous for its many gorgeous national parks, but in Zion, you can enjoy unique hikes like The Narrows, a slot canyon trail following Virgin River upstream — just make sure you go in the right season .

Vatnajökull National Park, Iceland

Dominated by a 3,000-square-mile ice cap of the same name, Vatnajökull is a chilly, Icelandic wonderland of caves, craters, glacier-filled calderas, and waterfalls. Perhaps the most famous cascade is Svartifoss, plunging over hexagonal lava-rock columns.

Pamukkale, Turkey

Pamukkale's electric-blue thermal pools and white travertine formations, naturally formed by slowly crystallizing calcium carbonate, make for gorgeous vacation photos. Its location is quite remote, so you will need to set aside a day or two for this special trip, but with steaming hot waters and a name that translates from Turkish to "cotton castles," it's worth the experience as well as the view.

Nā Pali Coast State Wilderness Park, Hawaii

Nā Pali translates to "the cliffs" in Hawaiian, a deceptively simple name that might not fully prepare travelers for the epic glory on display on the Kauai coast. The staggering coastline is too rugged and vertical for road access, so the only way to see it is by boat, air, or seriously intense hiking trails.

Table Mountain, Cape Town

Ascending iconic Table Mountain tops the to-do list for most travelers in Cape Town. Adventurous hikers can go on foot, but there's also an aerial cableway that gently sweeps up to the 3,563-foot summit. Either way, the top offers insane panoramic views of the South African capital and the Atlantic.

Machu Picchu, Peru

Built nearly 8,000 feet above sea level, Machu Picchu is a 15th-century Incan citadel whose engineering ingenuity and head-spinning views rival the extraordinary beauty of its Sacred Valley setting. It may be a hotspot for tourism now, but the rest of the world has only known about its existence since it was rediscovered in 1911.

Lucerne, Switzerland

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Picture a serene alpine lake fringed with soaring Alps. Now add in a walkable medieval town and you've got the setting for this long-popular Swiss destination . Don't miss Mount Pilatus (via the world’s steepest cogwheel railway) and the Rigi for nature trails and a famous viewpoint overlooking three lakes.

Blue Ridge Parkway, North Carolina and Virginia

The Blue Ridge Parkway may lack Highway 101's ocean scenery, but it trades Pacific views for peaceful Appalachian beauty. Stretching 469 miles from Great Smoky Mountains National Park to Shenandoah National Park , the 45 MPH, no-trucks route winds past overlook after overlook, letting road-trippers marvel at the mountains' dreamy blue hue.

Pulau Tioman, Malaysia

This isn't a tropical island getaway with a wild party scene or a string of upscale resorts. Pulau Tioman is more of a floating nature preserve, with local character and a strong sense of environmental conservation (coral rehab and sea turtle preservation are major focuses for the island's Juara Turtle Project ). The island, off the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia in the South China Sea, is popular for its dive sites, shipwrecks, and tropical rainforest.

Damaraland, Namibia

Damaraland region is an almost mystical vision of red-earth desert plains, flat-topped mountains, a petrified forest, and well-preserved ancient Bushmen rock paintings. Though it looks like a scene from Mars, Damaraland is rich in wildlife, home to lions, elephants, zebras, giraffes, and the critically endangered black rhino.

Matira Beach, French Polynesia

The South Pacific calls up many visions of spectacular beaches . The otherwordly Bora Bora 's Matira Beach gets singled out for its miles of pearly white, flour-fine sand, and breathtaking bright turquoise lagoon.

Cirque de Gavarnie, France

Cirque de Gavarnie is a popular hiking destination in the Pyrenees and one of the most beautiful in France . Called "the Colosseum of Nature" by Victor Hugo, the Cirque is a ring of sheer granite mountain walls enclosing a picture-perfect green valley. It's astounding even before you add in three-tier Gavarnie Falls pouring over a 922-foot drop.

Shark Bay, Australia

Shark Bay: where the red earth of Australia's westernmost point meets the teal waters of the Indian Ocean. The bay is home to one of the largest and richest beds of seagrass in the world, as well as rare stromatolites — rocky-looking, cauliflower-shaped microbial reefs and some of the oldest life forms on Earth.

Lofoten Islands, Norway

The Lofoten archipelago bursts dramatically out of the Norwegian Sea. Between the jagged peaks and steep slopes are quaint fishing villages, secluded coves, scenic backpacking and biking trails, and dreamy white-sand beaches. You can even get there by train via the Ofotbanen , a luxury rail service that takes you from Oslo up to the Arctic Circle.

Los Cabos, Mexico

Flanked by the Pacific Ocean and the Gulf of California, Los Cabos ' symphony of natural features — desert, mountains, sea, and plenty of sunshine — and yes, raucous party scene, have made it one of the most popular vacation destinations in North America. Its cobalt-blue waters are a hub for diving, snorkeling, kayaking, fishing, and whale watching.

Taormina, Sicily

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Taormina has all the elements for a gorgeous Mediterranean destination : ancient ruins, a charming old town, and a setting backed by Mount Etna, an active volcano you can summit by foot. One of the highlights is visiting the beach of Isola Bella, a small storied island that you can walk to during low tide.

Dal Lake, India

The snow-capped Zabarwan Range rises above Kashmir's romantic Dal Lake, a long-time Himalayan escape for Indians fleeing the south's heat. During the summer, veranda-clad cedar houseboats bob along the lake's western edge while floating markets and brightly painted taxi boats drift by.

Great Barrier Reef, Australia

The world's largest barrier reef is an unrivaled experience for snorkelers and divers. The sensational underwater world is made up of 2,900 individual reefs, 900 islands, and a mind-boggling diversity of marine life.

Wulingyuan Scenic Area, China

Thousands of tapering quartz sandstone formations spiral skyward in this 100-square-mile stretch of karst terrain in China's Hunan Province . Beneath the towers lie valleys, streams, waterfalls, caves, natural bridges, and dense green forests.

Banff National Park, Canada

Canada's oldest national park showcases the majesty of the Canadian Rockies in Alberta. Banff is known for its staggering peaks, dense pine forests, hot springs, animals — grizzlies, bighorn sheep, and moose all call the park home, and almost eerily azure glacier-fed lagoons, such as the postcard-perfect Peyto Lake.

Wadi Rum Reserve, Jordan

Wadi Rum is a stunning red desert landscape filled with canyons, dunes, mountains, springs, archeological sites, and stone archways. Brave hikers can cross the largest, Burdah Rock Bridge, which is more than 200 feet above the ground.

Milford Sound/Piopiotahi, New Zealand

Glaciers carved this awe-inspiring valley , leaving behind craggy peaks with sheer drops into glistening waters. Part of UNESCO World Heritage Site Te Wahipounamu , the South Island's Milford Sound is blessed with waterfalls, rainbows, rainforests, and a diversity of wildlife — everything from black coral to bottlenose dolphins, with seals and even penguins in between.

Fernando de Noronha, Brazil

Blissfully isolated 217 miles off the Brazilian mainland, this lovingly preserved archipelago offers pristine beaches and clear waters abundant in marine life perfect for world-class snorkeling. The remote island is also a hub for honeymooners looking for a slice of paradise.

The Algarve, Portugal

Surrounded by the Atlantic to the south and west, Portugal's Algarve region looks and feels like a wild respite. Wind-sculpted cliffs and headlands frame big, sandy beaches popular with surfers and dotted with secret coves and grottoes.

Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania

Solitary Mount Kilimanjaro is one of Africa's most stunning icons, rising more than 19,000 feet from coffee and banana farms up to snowy volcanic peaks. Along the way to "The Roof of Africa," hikers trek through distinct climate zones, from rainforest to high-altitude desert to the arctic-like summit.

Mount Fuji, Japan

Both an active volcano and an emblem of serenity, Mount Fuji is one of the world's most magnificent sights. You can hike to the sacred landmark's summit for sweeping views or simply gape at it from Lake Kawaguchi and elsewhere in the beautiful Five Lakes region . Head to the spa town of Hakone in winter to pair crisp Fuji views with steaming hot springs.

Li River, China

The Li River carves through the lowland farms and jagged karst terrain of northwestern Guangxi, creating some of China's most picturesque scenery (the area is so pretty, it appears on the 20 yuan banknote). A four- to five-hour river cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo is the most popular way to experience Li River, though travelers wanting more autonomy can rent bamboo rafts or hike — the natural moon-shaped arch of Moon Hill makes a glorious lookout.

Lake Como, Italy

Lake Como has been one of Italy's most popular vacation spots since the time of the Roman emperors. This unabashedly high-rolling resort area still attracts a posh crowd with its lush gardens, cinematic palaces and villas, and sun-soaked alpine shores. Take the funicular to the tiny village of Brunate for an amazing panorama.

Crater Lake National Park, Oregon

Like so many of Earth's most stunning sights, Crater Lake is the result of earth-altering, volcanic forces. Its 1,943-foot depth makes it the deepest lake in the U.S. , filled with mesmerizingly deep blue waters fed by rain and snow. View its perfection from hiking trails, boat tours, and the 33-mile Rim Drive around the caldera. Keep in mind, some attractions like boat tours and the scenic Rim Drive close for the winter season.

Big Sur, California

Makito Umekita/Travel + Leisure

Even considering California's 840 miles of monumental coastline, it's hard to rival the beauty of Big Sur . Thick redwood forest, foggy canyons, and rocky cliffs tumbling into the Pacific define this area (the name refers to both the town and the coastal region), made all the more famous for its freewheeling NorCal vibes and Old Hollywood history.

Great Smoky Mountains, North Carolina and Tennessee

With half a million acres split by Tennessee and North Carolina, this famous park 's wondrous mountain scenery encompasses hardwood forests, steep-sided ravines cut by rivers and streams, and brilliant wildflowers in bloom from spring to fall. Hikers have 150 trails available to them, from the Appalachian Trail’s Charlies Bunion hike to the more challenging Rainbow Falls route.

Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda

The scenery alone — waterfalls, calderas, misty bamboo forests — makes Volcanoes National Park a worthy contender of any travel list. The mystical setting is all the more special for hosting buffaloes, birds, golden monkeys, and the elusive mountain gorilla.

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A New Venue Beckons Jazz Musicians and Beyond to Upstate New York

The Mill, an arts center with art galleries and a performance space in an old flour mill, opened over the weekend. Its owners hope it sparks a “ripple effect.”

By Richard Scheinin

Reporting from Westport, N.Y.

Fourteen years ago, Taylor Haskins , a veteran jazz trumpeter, and Catherine Ross Haskins , a visual artist, moved from Brooklyn to Westport, N.Y., a picture-book town on Lake Champlain, 275 miles north of Manhattan. It became “the place on Earth that we love,” Taylor said. “But sometimes it could use a little bit of an injection of the outside world.”

So three years ago, they bought an abandoned, 11,000-square-foot flour mill on Main Street, gutted it and refashioned it as the Mill , a center for contemporary visual arts with a chapel-like performance space.

The venue, which had its official opening on Saturday, is exhibiting and commissioning esteemed visual artists. And it is booking musicians — including the pianist Guillermo Klein, the slide trumpeter Steven Bernstein’s Sexmob and the violinist Sarah Neufeld of Arcade Fire — who don’t often drive up to the Adirondacks for a gig. (They’d typically perform at downtown Manhattan clubs like the Village Vanguard or Joe’s Pub.) The hope, Taylor said, is to create “a cultural oasis” that the community will embrace.

The Haskinses, both 52, are financing the project with their own funds. During their years in New York City, they watched as empty industrial buildings were given new lives, too often as condos (they lived in one), but sometimes in creative ways. They thought they’d give it a try: “We could fail,” Catherine said. “But what are we even alive for if we don’t do something we believe in?”

Situated about 100 miles south of Montreal, the Mill isn’t yet on anyone’s performance circuit. At the same time, it is one node in a network of far-flung venues that operate largely under the media radar. “It reminds me of places I’ve encountered not in the U.S. — in Japan, in Poland, in France,” said the harpist Zeena Parkins , who performed at the opening on Saturday. “And it’s always the energy of one or two people that makes this incredible thing happen just because they love the music and they love the art, and they’ve developed a trust with their community.”

Before Klein and his quintet performed a show last month, the Haskinses rushed around in flip-flops, delivering cocktails and small plates from the Knock — the Art Deco-inspired “speakeasy” that adjoins the performance space — to audience members. The crowd included local shop owners, contractors, farmers, a paramedic and a contingent of “summer people.”

At twilight, the room had the aura of a cozy cocoon with high walls of white pine assembled in a herringbone pattern, topped off by a large picture window that frames a group of tall oaks. Klein’s music — a matrix of melody and rhythm that grew quietly intense — cast a spell over the 50 or so audience members. (Haskins, who has played with Klein’s bands off and on for close to 30 years, sat in on one tune, sight-reading in his shorts and a T-shirt.)

Fifty people is almost a sellout here. The experience was intimate, and not only for the listeners. Afterward, the Haskinses put up the five musicians in their home: “Taylor made breakfast for us,” Klein said. “Full service, man.”

Taylor Haskins grew up in rural New Hampshire, was mentored through college by the trumpet great Clark Terry and moved to New York in 1996. He first played with Klein at Smalls Jazz Club in Greenwich Village, subbing with the pianist’s big band, and began making a name for himself on the broader scene.

In 2005, while performing with the bassist Dave Holland’s big band in Montreal, he ran into Catherine, who was attending a friend’s wedding. They married in 2008. Their son, Felix, now a budding cellist, was born in 2010. Tired of the city grind, they bought a lakefront house in Westport that summer. Taylor opened a production studio there and later began hosting a weekly music show, “The Thread,” on NCPR (North Country Public Radio). From 2014 to 2017, the couple curated a summer music series in a local park.

Westport has around 1,300 residents and typical small-town problems; reliable jobs aren’t easy to find. But over the past couple of decades, idealistic young people have migrated to the region to establish bakeries, carpentry businesses and a multitude of farms with C.S.A. programs. Here and there, an old church or grange has been turned into a gallery or performance space, setting the stage for the Mill.

When the Haskinses bought the old flour mill, it was “dark and creepy,” Catherine recalled — nearly windowless and crammed with silos, grain elevators, hoppers and other machinery, including a 23-foot-tall, steel-beamed sifting tower in what is now the music space. Everything was coated with old flour dust. “Lots of happy squirrels in there,” Taylor noted. A crew of Amish farmers spent weeks sweeping, bagging and carting away the flour.

During the building’s demolition phase, Taylor prowled the premises, measuring, analyzing and imagining what it might look like as an arts center. He came up with a detailed design (“I saw it in my mind’s eye”), which was realized by a Vermont architectural firm and set in motion by local contractors and dozens of workers. Windows appeared. Catherine stepped in to design the five galleries.

The project’s cost? “A lot,” Taylor said.

The couple sees its experiment as opening a door: “We’re willing to make the investment,” Taylor explained, “because the ripple effect will be profound if we’re successful.”

Dan Keegan, a full-time resident and a former director of art museums in Milwaukee and San Jose, Calif., thinks the odds are favorable. He’s noticing fewer “sideways glances” from locals, he said, as “suspicions give way to the curiosity factor. People are showing up to figure out what the heck it is.”

The Haskinses are going year-round with concerts and exhibitions. The artist Amy Ellingson , based in Santa Fe, N.M., will soon install a six-paneled, 8-by-8-foot stained-glass window near the apex of the churchly performance space, its design inspired by the grain sifting that once happened in the very same spot. Primarily a painter, Ellingson had fantasized about working with stained glass, she said, “and then Catherine called and said, ‘How’d you like to do this window?’”

In the same room, the Baltimore-based artist Stephen Hendee has installed a 24-foot-long light sculpture, “Buisine.” Named for a medieval herald trumpet, it calls to mind the inflating and deflating of lungs. He likens his creative process to a jazz performance: A basic form gives way to “free-styling creativity and moments of improvisation.”

“It’s one of the things that drew them to my work,” he said of the Haskinses. “And having my piece over in the corner improves the room from a sound perspective; somehow, it augments the sound. Taylor has commented on it. He notices all these things.”

On Saturday night, Art Blakey was on the sound system in the Knock and the bar was full. Introducing the show, Taylor explained that Björk’s “Vespertine” has been one of his favorite albums for 20-plus years, but that he had only later learned the name of the harpist who is so prominent on the recording: Zeena Parkins, who would now give her own electroacoustic show at the Mill.

Parkins walked over to her instrument, which was partially wrapped in gold foil and looked like its own art installation. The harp was connected to a tangle of cables leading to pedals and a laptop, and she began to coax unexpected sounds: rumblings and rustlings and traces of melody that turned into faraway moans, like songs of a humpback whale or a slide guitar in outer space.

The room darkened as “Buisine” began to glow and change colors: sky blue, emerald, rose. Parkins stopped at one point to dampen the harp’s strings and further transform the sounds. “These are Styrofoam corners from a set of shelves that I bought,” she explained, inserting blue chunks of foam between a few of the strings. “I knew they’d come in handy at some point — and here we are in Westport.”

An earlier version of this article misstated the name of the “speakeasy” inside the Mill. It is the Knock, not the Knack.

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