Amish Views

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Day 1 – Home to Schererville, IL 

Welcome aboard! Our Amish Views journey begins as we travel to Illinois and check into our hotel. A welcome dinner will be served at an authentic Italian restaurant started by Guiseppe Scalzo when he arrived in America from Italy 27 years ago. With a passion for cooking, he believes that authentic Italian food should be made with love! 

Included Meals: Dinner 

Hotel: Hampton Inn 

Day 2 – Schererville to Sugarcreek, Ohio 

Enjoy a delicious hot breakfast at our hotel before we head to the popular Amish community of Shipshewana, Indiana, just a couple hours down the road. Experience the history and heritage of the Amish, Mennonites, and Hutterites at Menno-Hof. Travel through five centuries of fascinating history, from their origins in Switzerland to their arrival in America. History unfolds as you explore a 17th century sailing ship and replicas of a 19th century print shop and meeting house. Experience the simulation of a tornado as the wind blows and the theatre shakes. And, finally, see The Amish Room – set up like the inside of an Amish house. We will share a soup and sandwich lunch together at the Blue Gate Restaurant before continuing our journey to the Amish village of Sugarcreek, Ohio. After we check into our hotel, we will enjoy an included dinner together on the property. 

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner 

Hotel: Carlisle Inn (4 Nights) 

Day 3 – Sugarcreek 

After a leisurely breakfast at our hotel, we connect with our local step-on guide for an interesting Amish tour of the area. Our stops for the day include Behalt Amish/Mennonite Heritage Center where we will discover a 265’ cyclorama depicting the history of the Amish, an Amish Quilter/Candlemaker who will give us a quilting demonstration and visit to her home, and an Amish Haystack Benefit Meal at a local Amish home for lunch. These meals are held to raise money for local families in need. We will drop our guide off and then head to Breitenbach Wine Cellar for a tour and wine tasting. We will enjoy some time to shop the quaint town of Sugarcreek before heading back to our hotel for a little rest and relaxation as well as dinner on your own. Tonight we will see a delightful show, Salute to the Stars, at the Ohio Star Theater right on the campus of our hotel. 

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch 

Day 4 – Sugarcreek 

We start our day with a wholesome breakfast and a relaxing morning at the Carlisle Inn. Just up the road in Millersburg, we will tour Yoder’s Amish Home and Barn. This stop will give us another glimpse into the Amish history and culture, ride in a buggy, and an opportunity to see some darling farm animals! For lunch, we will head to the town of Berlin for lunch on your own in the downtown area before we meet our local guide again for an afternoon of touring. We will visit the famous Lehman’s Hardware in Kidron next. Lehman’s claims they are the world’s largest supplier of non-electric goods! Next we will visit an Amish basket maker. Anna is from the Swarzentruber Amish – the most conservative. This group does not have phones, indoor plumbing, or upholstered furniture! At our next stop we’ll have the opportunity to browse four local treasures! Enjoy complimentary samples of more than 60 types of cheese at Heini’s Cheese, snack on fresh baked breads and treats at Kauffman’s Country Bakery, check out unparalleled craftsmanship at an Amish furniture shop, or browse the various booths at the brand-new Berlin Flea Market. For supper, we will enjoy a delicious comfort meal at an Amish home. Don’t worry, you will burn off the calories from supper with laughter at a comedy show at the Amish Country Theater. Join Lynryd and his friends at this 2-hour, family-friendly Hee-Haw show complete with music and audience participation! 

Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner 

Day 5 – Sugarcreek 

After breakfast this morning, we head just a little way down the road to Dover for a delightful excurision! As a child, Ernest Warther found a pocketknife in the dirt road. He picked it up, started whittling, and never set it down for another 82 years. Although the knife changed over the years, his determination, ingenuity, and artistic ability never did. In those 82 years, he would hand-sculpt over sixty works focusing around the steam-engine. We will get the opportunity to marvel at these works of art and learn the history behind them at the Ernest Warther Museum and Gardens. After a tour and time to look around, we will enjoy lunch together at the museum. Our next stop takes us about an hour up the road to the magnificent Hartville Hardware. This is not your run of the mill hardware store! This 2 story, 305,000 sq.ft store has something for everyone! And just in case you need more, you can check out Hartville Kitchen, Hartville Shops or Hartville Marketplace. Make sure to wear your walking shoes! This afternoon, we will journey to Akron, Ohio for a tour of Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens. This amazing home of F.A. Seiberling, co-founder of The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company features a historic 65-room Tudor Revival Manor House, and recently restored Gate Lodge (birthplace of Alcoholics Anonymous) and approximately 70 acres of artistically landscaped grounds and formal gardens. Tonight we will get dinner on our own before we return to our hotel for the night. 

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch 

Day 6 – Sugarcreek to Shipshewana, IL 

After breakfast, we say goodbye to quaint Sugarcreek and make our way to the J.M. Smucker Co. Store and Café. Smuckers continues its proud tradition of creating quality products by showcasing various products and merchandise from the Company’s family of brands in this welcoming & tasty store. Afterward, we will make our way back to Shipshewana, IN. Spend some time downtown listening to the clip-clop of horses’ hooves or find a treat at the local bakery. After we check in to our hotel, we will enjoy a delightful family style dinner together before we’re guests at the Blue Gate Theatre for the presentation of “Dear Soldier Boy,” a hilarious, feel good musical comedy. It’s 1951 and the Korean War is in full swing. Anna King knows that war is contrary to the Amish way, but she still wants to help our troops by volunteering to write letters of encouragement to the soldiers, who must be lonely so far away from home. Anna doesn’t tell anyone about her mission, least of all her father. But to her surprise and dismay, three of her soldier pen pals show up on leave – on the very same weekend! And if that’s not enough, all three propose marriage! Now what’s she going to do?! Will Anna be able to keep the soldiers from finding out about each other? And her father from finding out about all of them?? And then… which one has she really fallen in love with? 

Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner 

Hotel: Blue Gate Garden Inn 

Day 7 – Shipshewana to Middleton, WI 

This morning we will visit the Shrine of Christ’s Passion in St. John, Indiana. The Shrine is an interactive multimedia half mile of winding trail that depicts the final days of Jesus’ life. Forty life-sized bronze sculptures, complete with beautiful music and amazing gardens, allow visitors to experience the story of the crucifixion and resurrection like never before. This afternoon, we will travel to Middleton, Wisconsin, our stop for the night. We’ll dine together tonight before a good night’s rest and our journey home tomorrow. 

Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner 

Hotel: Holiday Inn Express 

Day 8 – Middleton to Home 

Enjoy our last breakfast together as we prepare for our last leg of the journey. This morning, we will stop at the unique National Mustard Museum before we leave Middleton. This informative and tasty stop will give you something to talk about! After an included lunch and maybe a nap, we will visit at our last Amish stop on our tour. Down a Country Road will give us another look at Amish life in the La Crosse, Wisconsin area. This afternoon, we work our way home reliving the great memories of fantastic Amish Views! 

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch 

 We will have many opportunities to purchase products from the Amish and their children. Please note they accept cash only.