Explore Indiana Amish culture by foot, horse and buggy or motor vehicle. Northern Indiana Amish country encompasses Elkhart and LaGrange counties, while Daviess County is home to a large Amish community in the south central region. Heritage tours unveil Amish traditions and provide opportunities to learn the ways of the faith-based communities that first settled in Indiana in 1869. While in Amish country, be respectful when sharing the road with buggies and refrain from feeding horses or taking photos of individuals.

Explore Shipshewana Sights and Sounds

Whether you have 10 minutes or hours to explore Amish heritage, you can tour one of the state's largest Amish communities by traditional means. Horse and buggy tours provided by companies such as Buggy Lane Tours connect Shipshewana visitors to the sights, sounds and tastes of a world where time stands still. Enjoy a guided trip through town or traverse the countryside to see Amish farms, a schoolhouse, fields and shops. Dine with an Amish family and share in farm chores. Shipshewana tours may also include the Midwest's largest flea market where hundreds of vendors sell a variety of goods between May and October and a year-round antique auction often rewards lucky bidders with their own Amish Country heritage treasure.

Discover Amish Country Barn Art

LaGrange County Barn Quilt Trail winds through Amish country linking seven communities. The self-guided driving tour showcases 37 hand-painted quilt murals decorating the exterior walls of historic barns, farmsteads and public places. The murals celebrate the area's agriculture roots, quilting heritage, art, community pride and hospitality. Quilt murals with names like Hens & Chicks, Rising Star and Autumn Splendor each tell a personal story. Communities along the trail showcasing quilt art include Shipshewana, Howe, Mongo, LaGrange, Topeka, Wolcott and Middlebury. The tour incorporates opportunities to enjoy Amish cottage businesses, restaurants and galleries. Maps are available at the Shipshewana and LaGrange Visitor Center.

Take a Narrated Auto Tour

More than 20,000 Amish make their home in LaGrange and Elkhart counties. Learn about their way of life following the 90-mile Heritage Trail Driving Tour. A free audio CD narrating the journey is available at the Elkhart County Visitor Center and participating trail vendors, or may be downloaded from the Center's website. Participate in simple country pleasures, like picking a bushel of apples. Discover gift shops and home-cooked Amish foods. Trail sights include the 80-acre Amish Acres Historic Farm and Heritage Resort in Nappanee. Farm visitors enjoy a Thresher's Dinner at the hand-hewn barn restaurant and stage productions at Round Barn Theatre. Allow time for a stop in Shipshewana to explore the flea market and take a buggy ride. Take a break in Middlebury for a family-style meal at Das Dutchman Essenhaus. Stunning quilt gardens made from more than a million blooms add color to communities along the route.

Experience Simple Pleasures

Although the number of Amish families in southern Indiana doesn't equal the numbers calling northern Indiana home, the families nonetheless contribute to area heritage. In Daviess County, more than 700 families of the Old Order Amish live their simple lifestyle within the region's rolling hills. Touring visitors are welcome to enjoy their inns, restaurants and markets. A Daviess County Amish highlight is the 92-acre Gasthof Amish Village. Enjoy an authentic Amish meal at the restaurant built by Amish carpenters. Shop for Amish quilts, baskets, foods and antiques at The Pig & Fiddle, The Heuoden and Blue Door shops. Settle in for the night at the Gasthof Village Inn surrounded by Amish decor. Dillon Amish Country Tours provides excursions showcasing 15 or more Amish homes, farms and sites.

About the Author

Sally Barber is a 20-year veteran of the publishing industry. A specialist in business, travel, sustainable tourism and the environment, she has written for Virgin Atlantic Airways, the "Detroit Free Press," "Great Lakes Seaway Review" and various websites. Barber is also the author of three books.

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