Amish Country Blog

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

If you’re ever interested in what is going on in Amish Country, click on our events tab.  You’ll find all kinds of events, and hopefully one of them will add to your Amish Country experience.  September is full of festivals.

The Quilt Gardens Tour is viewable for one more month.  Make sure you come and enjoy the tour.  There have been some interesting things happening to the gardens this year.  In Wakarusa, a hail storm took out part of the Quilt Garden.  In Goshen, a critter ate a little of the Quilt Garden at the 4-H fair, although the Meadow  Brook Agriquilt would have been more to his liking.

The Elkhart Civic Theatre announced their 2010-11 season.  It looks another great year for Elkhart Civic.  Premier Arts is finishing out their 2009-10 family series. Sauder Concert Hall at Goshen College has another great lineup for their 2010-11 season, I want to go see the Chieftains, and the African Children’s Choir.  The Round Barn Theatre finishes their season with Cats, which I love!  I would also check out the Blue Gate Theater in Shipshewana.
So while you plan your trip to Amish Country, check out our events page.  I bet there is something on that page you don’t want to miss.

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

It was a drizzling, wet day on Saturday, and I almost didn’t want to go out, but Arts in Bloom and Taste of the Garden was happening at Wellfield Botanical Gardens, and so I went.  I figured since it was raining, I would quickly look at art, and then go home. I love art shows.

The event started at 11am, and at 11am, parking was already getting full.  Some of the artist were getting out their rain gear, but they were happy to see everyone still showing up despite the rain.  I looked at most of the booths.  Dismas House of South Bend had bracelets and key chains that residents made, and I now have a new keychain.

Then after the art booths, I took walk around the pond at Wellfield.  It is a lovely place, with the creek running on the backside. A lot of work has gone on the east side of the pond to make it a beautiful resting place. With waterfalls, walk paths, and a flower garden, it is an ideal spot to spend time outside.

I did not eat, but by noon, most of the table seating under the tent for the Taste of the Garden was full.  I know the food was great, but I was a more soaked than I wanted, so I decided to go home.  It was a great event, and I can’t wait for it to happen again next year.

I love going to the Essenhaus to eat.  The meals are yummy, the service is great, but I’ve never been there for breakfast before.

I loved the breakfast buffet.  Of course, in Essenhaus style, there were plenty of choices – scrambled eggs, biscuits and gravy, mush, potatoes, bacon, country ham, sausage, pancakes, French toast, fruit, and all kinds of breads, and it was a great deal for under $7 per person.   I have learned with buffets, I get little bits of what I like, and then I can go back for more.  I think return trips are important to when eating at a buffet.

We were there at 10am, and people were still waiting to eat breakfast.  We had a group of 6, and were seated promptly.  Our waitress was attentive, and our plates were cleared off quickly.  As we were sitting there talking, we realized that lunch time had started.   However, after  breakfast, we no longer had room for anymore food.

When you need to start your morning, the Essenhaus will give you plenty of fuel for your day.

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