If You Have Cabin Fever - Check out Shipshewana for those Winter Blues

Shipshewana is wonderful destination for those who have “cabin fever.”  Most of the restaurants and shops are open year round. My wife and I were going a bit stir crazy at home, so we decided to take a trip out that way this weekend. We had a wonderful time. We love Amish country during this time of year – it is less crowded than during the summer months.

We made a trip to the antique market. As we took our time to meander through the market we found many treasures ranging in price. Even if you cannot afford to purchase items, looking is free and fun. The market had items from glassware to books. We could take our time as we went through. It was nice to walk around in the warm shop, admiring all of the antiques. When we had our fill of antiquing, we decided to head over to Yoder’s Department Store.

Yoder’s Department Store offers a grocery store, home goods store, and a clothing and sewing notions shop. The place is quite unique. One can find just about anything under their roof. If quilting is your passion, be sure to stop. They offer one of the largest fabric shops that I have ever seen. Yoder’s is a fun place to browse about in. You are also almost always guaranteed to see Amish shopping here.

After we finished our shopping and browsing, we went over to the famous Blue Gate Restaurant. Their hearty meals are wonderful during the coldest days of the season. They offer traditional homemade comfort foods, like roast beef, and chicken to egg noodles and mashed potatoes. The real jewel of the Blue Gate Restaurant is their desert menu. They offer a vast array of pies and cakes. After we were done eating, we wondered over the Bakery located in the building. They sell Amish peanut butter and any jelly that one could think of.

We finished our trip in Amish country with a drive through the country lanes just west of Shipshewana. We passed Amish farms, which were absolutely beautiful set amongst the rolling hills of the area.  It was interesting to see how the farms function in the harsh climate. We also had to see Amish buggies making their way along the same country lanes.

If you need to get out to chase the winter blues away, try a short trip out to Shipshewana. The shops and restaurants stay open all year. Take advantage of the “off season” in Amish country.