Relax in Indiana's Amish Country

When I was a little girl, I was fascinated by the Amish. I read every book our local library had on the subject. Indiana is fortunate to have several Amish communities that add their flavor to the culture of our state.

Indiana Amish country is located in the northern part of the state. Communities such as Elkhart, Goshen, Berne, Bristol, Wakarusa, Shipshewana, Middlebury and Nappanee are blends of modern day life and the simple, hardworking existence of the Amish.

There are several reasons why a visit to Indiana’s Amish country is a great getaway for a weekend or even longer.

Shipshewana: The name is intriguing enough to entice a visit.  However, people from all over head to Shipshewana for the famous antique sales, auctions and flea markets.

Amish Acres: Located in Nappanee, Amish Acres puts you in the center of a Amish farm to give visitors an appreciation for the Amish way of life. Not to be missed are the family-style Threshers Dinner, performances in the Round Barn theater, and (for those of age) the wine tasting loft.

Quilt Tours: There are two ways in northern Indiana to appreciate the unique patterns and stories of quilt squares. The first is the Barn Quilt Trail. This self-guided driving excursion takes you through Indiana’s scenic Marshall County, where quilt square patterns adorn the side of numerous barns. A downloadable map gives locations of the 37 barns, along with the name of the quilt square. “Blueberry Patch” and “Breezy Day” are two that I’d like to see.

The second is the Indiana Quilt Gardens Tour. Eighteen carefully planned gardens bloom to display 18 unique quilt square patterns.  The quilt gardens are planted along the Heritage Trail, a 90-mile  driving tour that allows you to listen to an audio guide on your iPod to learn more about the history and development of Indiana’s Amish country.

Ready to pack your bags? Then check out Scottish Bed & Breakfast in Bremen, Indiana. Located for easy access to Amish country attractions, Scottish B&B offers luxury inn accommodations,  breakfast made with Amish farm fresh eggs, an indoor swimming pool, and a putting green.

For you deal hounds, Scottish B&B is offering a terrific deal on Eversave.com.  Now through Monday, April 17, you can get a two-night stay in the Green Room or the Antique Suite for only $129.  Click here to take advantage of this offer. If you miss out on the Eversave deal, visit the Scottish B&B website to find other specials and packages.