Amish Country Blog

Lots of great family friendly events are going on this week in Amish Country.

Amish Acres Arts and Crafts Festival August 5-8

Goshen First Fridays August 6

Meet me in St. Louis presented by Elkhart Civic Theater August 6-7

Linton’s Enchanted Gardens Hawaiian Luau August 7-8

So get out and have fun in Amish Country this week, and let me know which family friendly event is your favorite.

July is National Hot Dog Month, National Ice Cream Month, National Horseradish Month, National Grilling Month, and National Blueberry Month.  Wow, that’s a lot to pack into one month, but here are our tips to help you celebrate this month in style.

Try the blueberry pie at Das Dutchman Essenhaus.  You can’t go wrong with pie at the Essenhaus.

For Ice Cream, go to Yup’s Dairyland in Middlebury.  I know there are lots of people in Middlebury who swear by Yup’s.

Mattern’s Deli in Goshen serves a wonderful London Broil Sandwich with a horseradish sauce that is wonderful.  Our group tour leader, Sonya Nash, personally recommended it.

Old Hoosier Meats will have everything you need for grilling, from ribs to steaks.  Tell Randy you need help celebrating National Grilling Month.  He’ll help you all month long.

Goshen and Elkhart now have great hot dog stands.  You can find Goshen’s hot dog stand on the corner of Lincoln and Main, on the side of Lake City Bank.  Elkhart’s hot dog stand is on the Civic Plaza.

I’m dying to try the London Broil Sandwich at Mattern’s.  I just found out about it today.  I hope find something on this list that you enjoy, and if you find somewhere to celebrate that isn’t on my list, let me what you prefer.

I went for a ride on The Elkhart River Queen.  It was a nice, relaxing ride on the upper St. Joe River.  There is beautiful scenery, lots of friendly boaters and natural wildlife to look at while taking this two hour cruise.   You also get to learn a little about Elkhart’s history on the water, something I didn’t know before.

So if you have a couple hours on a Sunday afternoon, and want to relax, take a ride on the River Queen. And while we’re talking about relaxing, let us know how you like to relax on a Sunday afternoon.

Its summer and everyone needs to find more ways to stay active.  Here are a few events that will get you moving.

11th Annual Pumpkinvine Bike Ride June 19

30th Annual Great Race July 2-3

The E Mazing Race July 24

I’m sure one of these events will help you start thinking about summer fitness.

If you love theater, now is the time to go.  Five different plays are opening up this month in Amish Country.

The Rock, The Redeemer, and Resurrection Morning at the Blue Gate Theater

Thoroughly Modern Millie at The Bristol Opera House

A Closer Walk with Patsy Cline at the Round Barn Theatre

Monetizing Emma at New World Arts

The Same Amazing Water that the Cows Drink at Menno-Hof

Hope you find something that interests you while supporting our local theater groups.  Let us know where you like to see local theater in Amish Country.

June is National Dairy Month.  I love this month, a reason to eat ice cream and cheese.  Here are a few places in Amish Country to help you celebrate this month.

Guggisberg Deutsch Kase Haus in Middlebury has award winning cheese.

Yoder’s Meat and Cheese in Shipshewana has over 100 different cheese selections.

Olympia Candy Kitchen in Goshen is family friendly soda shop that will be great for malts and milkshakes.

South Side Soda Shop in Goshen has lots of different ice cream treats that will make any ice cream lover happy.

Ramer’s Bed and Breakfast in Goshen is a dairy farm.  Enjoy talking with the Ramer’s about their farm as you stay the night in Amish Country.

Hope you enjoy this month, and let us know where you go for your favorite dairy treats.

“Is there anywhere we can get a meal in an Amish home?”  is one of our most asked questions at the Visitor Center.  Here are three great choices.
M&L  Acres Homestyle Banquets is in Shipshewana where LeAnna Yoder is a great hostess.  Reservations are required.
The Carriage House in Topeka is a little farther from Amish Country, but well worth the trip.
Mullet’s Dining in Nappanee is one of the area favorites.
Make sure you are hungry when you come, and plan ahead.  Usually there is a minimum of 10 guests that are needed before they will serve.   It is a wonderful way to spend a meal in Amish Country.  Let us know where you went for you Amish style meal.

The Shipshewana Flea Market is opening tomorrow for the season.  The Flea Market is on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, May-October from 8 a.m.-5 p.m.  There is a $3 parking fee for cars and a $6 parking fee for RV’s.

The best thing about the Flea Market is all the fresh flowers and produce that one can find.  When you go, it’s always best to look at this area of the Market last.  That way you can pick up items you want for dinner and your flowers as you go out of the Market, and you don’t have to carry them around all day.

There are always great finds at the Flea Market, no matter what you’re looking for, but I love food items that you can find at the Market.  Pies, cookies, pretzels, ice cream, peanut butter, apple butter, ahh the list goes on and on.  It’s enough to make walking the Flea Market several times a must so you can burn off all those calories that can be consumed.

So enjoy the Flea Market, and let us know what your best find from the Flea Market is.

You’re Invited to the Indiana 500 Tour Kick-off

Tuesday, May 11, 2010, 1:30 – 3:30 PM at
Amish Acres Historic Farm & Heritage Resort

Join us for Free Ice Cream at The Log Cabin Soda Shop and  Fudgery – Classic Vehicle Display – Wagon Tours – Opening Remarks by State Representative Wes Culver

*Classic car owners and motorcycle enthusiasts are encouraged to bring your vehicles!

The Indiana 500 Tour spans 500 miles and over 100 stops chronicling Indiana’s transportation and motorsports heritage.

Elkhart County is pleased to announce its 2010 Trail participants:
RV/MH Hall of Fame & Museum
New York Central Railroad Museum
Simonton Lake Drive-in
Elkhart River Queen
Amish Acres Wagon Farm Tour
Nappanee Railroad Depot / Nappanee Center
The nationally-recognized Heritage Trail

Event Location: Amish Acres Historic Farm & Heritage Resort (1600 West Market Street / Nappanee, IN 46550)

Please RSVP by May 5, 2010
Elkhart County Convention & Visitors Bureau
574.262.8161 or ecconv@amishcountry.org

The Wakarusa Maple Syrup Festival is this weekend.  On Friday, the festival runs from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and on Saturday the festival runs from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.   This is a great festival, with lots of events and entertainment for the whole family.

For the first time this year, there will be a car show, along with a parade, several contests, all you can eat pancake and sausage breakfast and Wakarusa’s  PTO all you can eat  BBQ.

I hope to see you at the Wakarusa Maple Syrup Festival this year.