Amish Country Blog

Twitter Party! We’ll be online and in person at the Elkhart County Visitor Center talking about our Quilt Gardens and Hope Along the Heritage Trail.

The 2010 Quilt Gardens and Vera Bradley Foundation for Breast Cancer are partnering to raise funds for breast cancer research by raffling an original quilt wall hanging.

Please join Heidi Floyd, Development Ambassador for the Vera Bradley Foundation and Sonya Nash, Quilt Gardens Project Manager. Heidi will be talking about The Vera Bradley Foundation, the latest cancer research, inspirational stories, Vera Bradley products and more! Sonya will be on hand to answer your questions about the Quilt Gardens event. Of course we will have lots of fun prize opportunities for our Twitter Party guests!

WHEN:
Date: Wednesday, May 26th
Time: 12:30-1:30 (light lunch provided)
Hashtag: #QuiltGardenTour

Follow us on Twitter: @QuiltGardenTour @AmishCountry @FollowHeidi
Event Tweet Grid: Use the following link to set up a unique TweetGrid to follow the party hosts.  http://is.gd/c3eGi

Registration: To be eligible to win great prizes!
1. RSVP by leaving your Twitter handle/username below where it says Click here to enter.
2. Tweet the details of the party before the start time and share the details with your friends.  Be sure to include @QuiltGardenTour, @AmishCountry, @FollowHeidi and post a link back here to RSVP.  (Be sure to add @QuiltGardenTour in your tweet).
3. Sit back and tweet with us during the party or join us at the Elkhart County Visitor Center during the event as we learn all about the 2010 Quilt Gardens Tour and Hope Along the Heritage Trail campaign!

Pre-register to win our Grand Prize! Anyone registering (according to the directions above) between now and May 25th by Noon EST will be entered to win one of our great prizes!

1. Grand Prize – A One Night’s Stay at Jameson Inn Elkhart!
2. Set of 2 Quilt Gardens Tour Travel Mugs (black)
3. Set of 2 Quilt Gardens Tour ceramic coffee mugs (red & blue)
4. Quilt Gardens Tour rain guage & reusuable grocery bagVera Bradley Clutch (retired pattern) & A Vera Bradley Lipstick holder (Loves Me pattern)
5. Vera Bradley Clear Lotion Bag (Hope Garden pattern) & A Vera Bradley Lipstick holder (Loves Me pattern)
6. Vera Bradley Mini Notebook (Hope Garden pattern)

Winners will be selected using Random.org from all party attendees following the instructions.  Must be 18 or older to register.  Open to residents of the US and Canada.  Canadian winners will be required to pay shipping. Registration is not required to attend the Twitter Party.

Elkhart County Visitor Center
219 Caravan Drive, Elkhart, IN 46561
We’re located in Elkhart at North Pointe Plaza, just off the I80/90 Toll Road (Exit 92) behind the Cracker Barrel Restaurant.

To RSVP and be registered for party prizes enter your Twitter username and link to your Twitter username below.
Example:
Blog or Link Title: @UserName
Link: http://www.twitter.com/UserName

RSVP with your Twitter Link and Twitter ID below! Click here to enter your link/RSVP for the party!

The Elkhart County, IN CVB was just named the winner of the 2010 Efroymson Award for Excellence in Cultural Tourism Development for the Quilt Gardens Along the Heritage Trail. The announcement was made today at the Annual Indiana Cultural Tourism Conference held in Indianapolis, IN.

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

Exhibit Features Artists Diana Bennett & Lina Zerkle

Designs by Diana Photos

Designs by Lina Zerkle Photos

Have you seen this amazing exhibit? Share your comments with us today!

The ECCVB has long recognized the importance of cultural and heritage travel and developed the Heritage Trail to increase visitor volume, diversity, spending and economic impact for the entire destination. It’s the cornerstone for many programs. The nationally recognized route, along with a self-guiding audio tour, takes visitors into the downtowns of our cities and towns and along country roads introducing them to the area’s history, heritage, and people while directing them to must-see attractions. It’s dynamic; it’s popular; and it’s free. In 2009 alone, we’ve distributed over 3,200 Heritage Trail CDs. Add to that over 3,000 audio downloads from our website. When you consider our average visitor spends $52 per day and stays 2.8 days, then multiply that by an average 2.5 persons per vehicle, the economic impact of heritage travel is significant

-Diana Lawson, FCDME, ECCVB Executive Director

Have you driven the Heritage Trail Audio Driving Tour? Leave a comment and tell us about your experience.

Ahh, Halloween is on Saturday.  I have 500 pieces of candy, and I’m still not sure that it’s going to be enough.  Saturday is the big day, and it makes me nervous that there will be twice as many kids out as usual. This year,  I have out a half bale of hay and 4 pumpkins, and that’s the most festive I’ve been for Halloween in years.

Here are a few events that are going on in Amish Country to help get you in the Halloween mood.

Thursday, October 29
The Elkhart Environmental Center annual Monster Hike.  Bring your children out to trick or treat for Halloween with nature’s monsters. They will see live creepy crawlers. Costumes are encouraged. A $3 donation is appreciated. Please call 293-5070 to register.  It starts at 11am.

Friday, October 30
Hall of Heroes, the largest Superhero Museum in the world has been taken over by Doctor Doom and his fellow nefarious colleagues.  Experience this Halloween Extravaganza as seen from the villain’s point of view.  From 7pm to 10pm, admission is $5.

Trick or Treat on Main Street in Goshen.  Starting at Noon, you can visit participating Main Street businesses and do your trick or treating, and shopping all at once.  It’s a good way to get your little ones ready for the big day.

Saturday, October 31
American Countryside Farmers Market will give treats to all kids who dress in costume.  There will be games, clown, balloons, and entertainment.  It will be a fun time for all those who want to celebrate a little earlier in the day.

For more events, check out our events page at AmishCountry.org/events

Mindy, Amish Country Northern Indiana Contributor and Visitor Center Specialist

Linton’s Enchanted Garden is one of my most favorite places in Amish Country. There is so much to look at, and many things to do there. The garden center is packed full of items for the house. There are always unique and lovely things to help make the inside of your house beautiful, especially during this time of the year. They have lots of fall and Christmas decorations. The Garden Center also holds the floral shop, so you can pick up your fresh flowers too.

Outside, are all the plants, trees, shrubs and flowers you could want. At this time of the year, there are also pumpkins, and you can get whole or half bales of hay. I bought 3 small pumpkins, one medium, and a half of bale of hay. I don’t know if we’re going to decorate the pumpkins, but it’s as festive as I’ve gotten in five years.

October 24 and 25 is Spooktacular. You can save on plants and flowers, and the kids get treats too.

So when you need that plant or flower, go to Linton’s. You’ll find the perfect plant, and a few other things to go along with it.

- Mindy, Amish Country Northern Indiana Contributor and Visitor Center Specialist

The travel landscape has changed dramatically, yet there are signs of hope on the travel horizon. According to the U.S. Travel and YPartnership TravelHorizons™, consumer’s intentions to travel are on the rise. Leisure travelers in the U.S. planning to take at least one trip in the next six months grew to 63 percent in July. That’s up 2 percentage points from last year.

That news along with a more stable housing market and the recent impact of the government stimulus is providing sparks of hope for travel. Up-to-the-minute economic forecasts and outlooks for all sectors of the travel market will be addressed at the upcoming U.S. Travel’s Marketing Outlook Forum. Stay tuned.

Are you planning a trip in the next six months? Leave a comment and let us know!

So my new favorite thing in Amish Country this month is the Rise and Roll Bakery outside of Middlebury on US 20.

We went on a Monday, and things were hopping. The lunch special was a huge hit, and the potato salad was wonderful. People were still buying doughnuts and cinnamon rolls. The isles held all cookies of all kinds, jams and jellies, noodles, and pies. They had a cooler case of cheese and meats. You could easily find everything you need for a perfect picnic there.

Then there was the shelf back by the wall where they sell their crunch. It’s a lot like peanut brittle, in lots of different flavors. I tried their caramel cashew crunch and fell in love. It’s the perfect blend of sweet and salt. They have all different kinds of crunch. I also loved the chocolate cashew crunch.

I did find out that the Rise and Roll provides Hudsonville Ice Cream their chocolate covered cashew crunch, and I ran out and bought a container. It was wonderful!

So if you’re near Middlebury, go and find the Rise and Roll Bakery. If you live somewhere that you can find the Hudsonville Ice Cream with the chocolate cashew crunch, I would recommend trying it. You won’t be disappointed.

-Mindy, Amish Country Northern Indiana Contributor and Visitor Center Travel Specialist

You can always find something to do in Amish Country.   September is full of Festivals.  So here is just a listing. For details, please go to our event page at amishcountry.org/events.

Bristol Storytelling Festival September 11-12
Nappanee Apple Festival September 17-20
Borkholder Dutch Village Fall Furniture Festival September 18-19
Middlebury Fall Festival September 18-19
Mennonite Relief Sale September 26
Pumpkin Chase Race September 27

If you’ve been here for one of these festivals, let us know what you enjoyed about it.  I love the Mennonite Relief Sale.  Although I can’t afford any of the auction items, I love the feel of having all those people in one place helping a great cause.  I know many people love the Nappanee Apple Festival’s 7 foot pie.  Whatever your looking for, I’m sure one of our September festivals has something to enhance your trip.

-Mindy, Amish Country Northern Indiana Contributor and Visitor Center Specialist