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From traditional Amish homes and farms, to Amish-made furniture stores and even wineries and golf courses, there is plenty to do and see in Ohio’s Amish Country. Ohio has several Amish Communities to explore but he largest concentration of Amish in the state live in Holmes County, so this is the place to go to experience all things Amish.
About the Amish
Amish people practice a form of Christianity known as Old Order Mennonite. They reject most technology and avoid many modern conveniences. They believe that scripture warns them not to conform to the changing ways of the world and to espouse tradition in all things.
Because of this, their clothing resembles that of 18th century peasants. They also strive to be “plain.” They wear solid colored clothing and no jewelry. Women do not cut their hair and must wear it in a bun. Married men grow beards but are forbidden to have mustaches.
All of these customs make a visit to parts of Amish Country feel like a trip back in time. But, you won’t have to worry about a lack of modern conveniences during your trip to Amish Country.
The Amish are savvy business people and have learned how to cater to “English” tourists while still maintaining their plain lifestyle at home.
Before You Go to Amish Country
- Almost everything is closed on Sundays. All the shops, attractions and most of the restaurants. Hotels that have restaurants are usually open on Sundays but only for part of the day.
- Watch out for buggies. This might seem obvious since buggies are the primary mode of transportation, however, many of the roads in Amish country are hilly and curvy and it’s easy to come upon a buggy suddenly.
- Don’t photograph Amish people. The Amish believe that a picture of themselves is a graven image and therefore never have pictures of themselves in their homes. This is also why Amish dolls don’t have faces.
- Saturdays are really crowded. Almost 4 million people visit Amish Country in Ohio each year and they all seem to come on Saturdays. If you can, visit during the week.
Amish Country Towns in or Near Holmes County
This area of the state is home to the largest Amish population by density in the US. The main towns of interest for tourists are Millersburg, Berlin, Walnut Creek, Charm and Sugar Creek. Nearby towns with some sights worth seeing are Baltic and Loudonville.
Where to Stay in Amish Country
Hotels:
Even though the Amish avoid modern conveniences and comforts, it doesn’t mean that you will have to when you visit. There are several modern hotels with all the amenities you’re used to. The following are all excellent choices:
The Wallhouse Hotel in Walnut Creek is a modern, boutique style hotel with all the amenities.
The Berlin Grande Hotel is a comfortable and homey hotel with an indoor pool and gathering spaces like a large, outdoor pavilion and patio
Sugarcreek Village Inn offers traditional rooms in a cozy Inn or options to sleep in a vintage train car. The Inn is in downtown Sugarcreek and has a big, covered front porch with rocking chairs so you can relax and watch the locals and tourists.
Berlin Encore Hotel and Suites is the newest hotel in Amish Country and offers regular rooms and suites and great views from the upper floors.
Cottages, Treehouses, Cabins
If you want a more unique experience than a traditional hotel offers, there is no shortage of places to stay. The Berlin Woods Treehouses are stand alone cabins 30 feet off the ground in the treetops.
There are also 2 adorable cottages right in downtown Berlin so you will be close to the action. Visit Amish Country Lodging for a list of everything that’s available in Berlin.
Where to Eat
Amish cooking is one of the main attractions in Amish Country. The Amish are known for their delicious, made from scratch meals and baked goods.
Boyd and Wurthmann’s Restaurant in Berlin is where the locals eat. This restaurant is full of nostalgia and simple, homemade food. Largely unchanged since it opened in the 1950’s, Boyd and Wurthmann’s usually has a line of people waiting to get in. Save room for dessert and try one of the 15 or more homemade pies they offer every day.
Dutch Valley in Sugar Creek is known for their “Barn Raising Buffet.” This is the best way to sample lots of Amish dishes. The buffet is filled with homemade mashed potatoes, noodles and dressing, along with fried chicken, roast beef and more. for dessert, try some date pudding. A unique treat you’re unlikely to find outside of Amish Country.
For a true Amish meal experience, you can have dinner in an Amish home. Amish Heartland Tours can arrange this for you. You need a minimum of 5 people and the cost is $30.00 per person. Obviously, you need to make reservations in advance. The tour company will book a date and particular Amish home and then send you the address. This is a perfect way to truly experience what life is like (or at least meal time) for the Amish.
Shopping
After the food, the shops might be the biggest reason people visit Amish Country. Holmes County and the surrounding areas are packed with shops of all kinds selling Amish goods.
There are a number of wood furniture stores, as the Amish are fine craftsmen and make beautiful and sturdy wood chairs, tables, dressers and more.
There are also specialty food shops, particularly cheese and trail bologna. If you’ve never had it, trail bologna is similar to summer sausage. Troyer’s Trail Bologna is one of the most famous brands.
Other shops include handmade craft shops, antique stores, flea markets and home decor gift shops.
Can’t miss shops include Guggisberg Cheese, Berlin Village Gift Barn and Charm Harness and Boot Store.
Museums and Attractions
The Farm at Walnut Creek is a working farm, petting zoo and more. It features over 500 animals from 6 different continents. You can pet and feed llamas, giraffes, buffalo and more. You can also observe the Amish way of farming, canning, forging and more when you tour the farm and 2 authentic non-electric Amish houses.
Open Air Museum
The Inn at Honey Run is an adults only resort in Millersburg and is the home of an open air art museum that’s open to the public. The open air museum is on a path on the grounds of the resort and winds through the beautiful rolling hills. As you travel the path, you will find art installations in metal, glass, wood and more. This eclectic collection of art is made by local and regional artists.
Age of Steam Roundhouse
This museum is a dedicated to restoring and preserving steam locomotives. The roundhouse was necessary because steam train engines only moved in one direction- forward. So the roundhouse was used to repair, store and turn train engines around when needed. You can take a guided tour at the museum and learn all about the golden age of railroads.
Amish Country Theater
The Amish Country Theater in Berlin offers family friendly comedy variety shows packed with laughs, singing, ventriloquists and more. The theater also has musical guests and special events. Check their website for a schedule.
Wineries in Amish Country
While it’s impossible to find alcoholic beverages at most Amish restaurants, there are a surprising number of wineries in Amish Country. Between Loudonville and Sugarcreek, there are 5 wineries: Ugly Bunny Winery, Sunny Slope Winery, Doughty Glen Winery, Swiss Heritage Winery and Breitenbach Wine Cellars.
There is even a Three Day Romantic Wine Trail with stops at all the wineries, restaurants, shops and more. Along the way, you’ll sample award-winning wines, see some beautiful countryside, come across lots of horse-drawn buggies and get a true sense of all that Amish Country has to offer.
These are only a few of the restaurants, shops, places to stay and activities in and around Holmes County. You could easily spend a week exploring all Amish Country has to offer.
For even more adventures in Ohio, check out our guide to visiting Columbus