Amishview America

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FEATURING 6 AMISH COMMUNITIES 

* Cashton, Wisconsin

* Shipshewana/Middlebury, Indiana

* Holmes County, Ohio

* Montgomery/Gasthof, Indiana

* Arthur, Illinois

* Amana Colonies, Iowa

  When the crocuses start to shoot their green spikes from the tender earth and lambs prance about in verdant fields, it’s time to escape to the peace, quiet and simplicity of America’s Amish Country. Join us on our most complete and comprehensive exploration (to date) of this fascinating, refreshing and inspiring lifestyle.

Day 1 – Home to West Madison, WI

Following a morning drive and a short lunch near La Crosse, we begin this Amish Adventure with a visit to “Down A Country Road.” Chuck and Kathy Kuderer invite us to their farm near Cashton, Wisconsin, in the heart of Wisconsin’s largest Amish community. Set deep in the heart of southwestern Wisconsin we will find a serene spot nestled in the valley amongst the gorgeous rolling countryside. Chuck and Kathy, a non-Amish family, have established a special friendship with many of the Old Order Amish families that surround the Cashton area. Kathy will guide us on a tour of Amish Country to learn more about the history, customs and traditions of the Old Order Amish. Enjoy hearing about the customs of courtship and marriage, church services, funeral practices and much more. We will have the chance to meet Amish families as we stop at their farmyards to take a look at the goods they may have for sale. We’ll most likely stop at a Bakery or Candy Shop, possibly a quilt shop or wood working shop and who knows what else. You will absolutely love this experience! We then journey on to Mazomanie and enjoy an old-fashioned dinner together at one of our favorite spots, The Old Feed Mill. We rest our bodies in comfort tonight at the Comfort Suites in West Madison. Included Meals: Dinner  Hotel: Comfort Suites 

Day 2 – West Madison to Shipshewana, IN

Following breakfast at our hotel we journey through southern Wisconsin, northern Illinois, and the farmlands of Indiana to Shipshewana. Lagrange County is home to the largest Amish settlement in Indiana. This warm and inviting community is well reflected in the welcoming atmosphere of our beautiful accommodations for the next two nights, The Blue Gate Garden Inn. The first thing you’ll notice is the soothing, steady and melodic “clip clop” sounds of the passing horse and buggies. One thing for sure we will do on this tour is indulge in unbelievable home-style comfort food. Our dinner this evening will introduce us to that tradition. The Amish are great entertainers as well, and the Blue Gate Theatre is fast gaining the reputation of one of the best venues in the USA. This evening we thrill to the inspirational sounds of the Jim Brady Trio – they are awesome! Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner  Hotel: Blue Gate Garden Inn (2 Nights) 

Day 3 – Shipshewana

Enjoy the breakfast buffet at the Garden Inn, a dining experience all to its own! We are in for a real treat today as our tour docent, Cathy, will guide us on our Shipshewana Amish Insight Tour. There are incredible people and sites just waiting for us to experience, like an Amish school and dining in an Amish home, delighting in the aroma and tastes of authentic Amish cooking as our hostess serves us a traditional Thresher’s Meal. We’ll have time also to explore the village of Shipshewana and the many unique shops of Amish goods. Tour the town in a genuine Amish buggy, an experience only available here! We will enjoy dinner together before the latest outstanding production at the Blue Gate Theatre. With a family secret soon to be uncovered, Levi’s journey is one you won’t soon forget in Blue Gate’s newest musical, THE HOME GAME – A Son’s Journey, A Father’s Hope. Filled with laughter and drama, this newest Blue Gate production is sure to hit it out of the park! Included Meals: Breakfast, Amish Lunch, Dinner 

Day 4 – Shipshewana to Sugarcreek, OH

Following another great breakfast at the Inn we depart for Ohio. Throughout this entire journey we have the pleasure of viewing the heartland of America’s farming community, beautiful well groomed farms at the peak of the Spring growing season. We arrive in Sugarcreek (sounds like a magical place from a children’s novel!) and the incredible Carlisle Inn, our home for the next 3 nights. Welcome to your own country oasis filled with simple comforts, remarkable views and warm hospitality. Here is a place offering nothing but comfort, all for your pleasure. From valley views to cozy fireplace nooks and fresh-popped popcorn, this is a place to relax and refresh. We will arrive with ample time to enjoy this wonderful setting before dining together at the Dutch Valley Restaurant. Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner  Hotel: Carlisle Inn (3 Nights) 

Day 5 – Amish Country

Breakfast is served in the convenience of the hotel before we begin our day of exploring. Ohio’s Amish Country (35,000 strong) is one of the top tourist attractions in the state and home to the world’s largest Amish Community. It offers a unique glimpse into a slower paced life where neighbors lend a helping hand and friendly folks stop to say hello. In this Amish Country, there are nine different orders of Amish who make their home here. There is no real boundary where the Amish begin, but you will know you have arrived when you begin to share the road with horse & buggy or spot a team of Belgium horses pulling a plow through a field. We are joined this morning by a local step-on guide as we travel to the heart of Amish Country. We’ll receive a detailed narration on the Amish way of life as we tour scenic back roads and visit several spots of interest, like the Behalt Historical Mural. History comes alive with this 265’ x 10’ cyclorama mural painted by a German artist. Next the Center offers local crafts, display of various head coverings worn by the conservative Amish, postcards, and last but not least, clean rest rooms. Our backroads tour continues, highlighting the Case House and Dawdy House, while also helping us understand the various Amish groups, including the difference between the old and new Amish Orders. Our next stop will be the village of Kidron. You will be able to shop at the world famous Lehman’s Hardware – it is unbelievable! Lehman’s is the place where “old fashioned” is always “in fashion.” It is contained within three Civil War era buildings decorated with museum quality antiques. Lehman’s is the ultimate shopping experience for the chronically nostalgic, where you will find everything from oil lamps and pottery to tin toys and cast iron cookware. Lunch will be on your own in the charming village of Kidron. Then we will visit the home retail store of Smuckers Jams & Jellies: “With a name like Smuckers, it has to be good!” Each of us will receive a small gift from Smuckers. Afterwards we visit a local Amish family who represents the most conservative of all Amish. They have 9 children and make baskets for a living. She will give an interesting demonstration on basket weaving, and then you’ll have the opportunity to purchase from a variety of baskets for sale. Next on our agenda is Heinis Cheese, where you will find over 50 varieties of locally produced cheese to sample. This is the only cheese factory that uses 100% Amish Artisan milk. But be sure to save room for chocolate as our next wonderful, tantalizing stop is Coblentz Chocolates, where the large variety of chocolates are bound to please your sweet tooth. Our final treat today will leave you feeling, “I just might want to be Amish.” We will enjoy an entire meal in an Amish home consisting of homemade bread, roast beef, chicken, real mashed potatoes, gravy, noodles, green beans, beverage and assorted pie! Plus each person also receives a small cookbook to take with you! We return to our Inn to rest with a very satisfied stomach. Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner 

Day 6 – Amish Country

After breakfast our morning stop will be the Alpine Museum in the Swiss village of Sugarcreek. It’s a great look at a slice of the Amish culture. From there our travels take us to the Breitenbach Wine Cellars, where you can taste a bit of Grand Champion cheese & meats. Browse through the Victorian shop and grab a bite to eat at your leisure as you explore the delightful surroundings. This afternoon we are privileged to see a matinee performance of “Josiah for President” at the Ohio Star Theater at Dutch Valley. Can a common-sense man of faith unknowingly become a write-in candidate for president? It remains to be seen in this brand-new musical production. When former Congressman Mark Stedman throws in the towel on his presidential campaign, his only choice is to return to his home state and decide how to spend the rest of his life…until he meets Josiah Stoltzfus, an Amish farmer from Pennsylvania. Stedman learns more from Josiah in a few hours than in his many years in office. He comes to the conclusion that someone like Josiah should be running the country. Not a career politician, but someone with a little old-fashioned common sense, someone who’s not afraid of rolling up his sleeves and getting his hands dirty. Someone like Josiah Stoltzfus. Using his old campaign headquarters for a base, Mark Stedman determines to introduce a new candidate to America. Without Josiah’s consent or knowledge, he becomes a write-in candidate for the Presidency. Mark pledges to do everything in his power to make sure Josiah gets elected. Following the production we enjoy dinner together at the Dutch Valley Restaurant. This evening relax in your beautiful, peaceful surroundings. Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner 

Day 7 – Sugarcreek to Montgomery, IN

Traveling today will be a fresh delight as we motor our way through the rolling countryside of central and southwestern Ohio into Indiana and the beautiful “hill & dale” country of southwestern Indiana. This is a region we seldom traverse and is quite possibly an opportunity for many of our travelers to “break new ground.” We’ll skirt metro areas such as Columbus, Dayton and Indianapolis but will primarily be enjoying the pleasant farm views of the heartland. Our destination is Gasthof Amish Village, near Montgomery, truly an “oasis in the farmland” of southern Indiana. Here we experience a blend of Amish history and heritage in true southern Amish comfort. Dinner is at the Village Restaurant, a buffet that is famous for its authentic Amish recipes served in a rustic building that was constructed by Amish carpenters in traditional mortise-tenon joints and pegs style by using Indiana oak and poplar timber. The bakery is legendary, making fresh homemade pies, bread, noodles, cookies and cakes everyday. The gift shop is a showcase for locally produced Amish crafts and food. Enjoy the peacefulness of Amish Country. Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner  Hotel: Gasthof Amish Village 

Day 8 – Montgomery to Le Claire, IA

Continental breakfast is served at the hotel before our departure. Our destination today is Arthur, the heart of the Illinois Amish Country. Arthur is the 7th largest Amish community in the country with nearly 5,000 “House Amish,” a group known as favoring holding their services in homes instead of church buildings. Here they love to paint the image of a “traffic jam” of horse-drawn black Amish buggies. We look forward to touring an Amish Farm where we’ll be treated to another great Amish meal! This afternoon we travel to Le Claire, Iowa and our lovely hotel right on the banks of the Mighty Mississippi. Dinner will be on your own to select from many great restaurants in the quaint, historic river town. Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch  Hotel: Holiday Inn Express 

Day 9 – Le Claire to Home

On our journey home today we have one last treat. A stop for lunch in the Amana Colonies will provide the perfect backdrop for us to reflect on all we’ve seen and experienced over the last week as we have traveled Amishview America! Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch