Amish Adventures In Shipshewana Indiana

If the hectic pace of life has you stressed out, then a weekend in Amish country may be just what the doctor ordered.

Shipshewana, located in LaGrange County in Northern Indiana, is deeply rooted in the Amish culture. With the frequent clip-clop of horses pulling buggies throughout town, residents and visitors alike get to experience a simpler way of life.

My husband and I, along with my stepdaughter and her husband, recently enjoyed a very full yet relaxing weekend exploring this unique Indiana community.

We spent two peaceful nights at the Morton Street Inn and strolled right out the front door to experience all there is to do in Shipshewana.

Shop

One of my favorite things to do when I travel is meander in and out of quaint shops. And Shipshewana has no shortage of shopping opportunities!

The streets in town are dotted with bakeries selling heavenly Amish baked goods and storefronts showcasing quality Amish furniture and a variety of handcrafted items.

We admired everything from painted signs to metal windmills to Life is Good clothing and so much more. If you want to stock up on home decor from Joanna Gaines’ line, Magnolia Home, be sure to stop by the Ole Tin Rooster.

For a plethora of shopping under one roof, Davis Mercantile boasts 4 floors and over 21 shops. Selling everything from fabric and musical instruments to patio furniture and clothing, even the pickiest of shoppers can find plenty to spend their money on here.

Just a short walk or drive down the main road leading into Shipshewana are even more shopping options. We sampled and purchased a variety of treats in Yoder’s Meat and Cheese Company and browsed more unique gifts in Yoder’s Red Barn Shoppes.

As a self-diagnosed shopaholic, even I couldn’t make it through every shop in Shipshewana. But that just means a return trip is warranted!

Eat

Even though we enjoyed a farm fresh breakfast at the Morton Street Inn each morning, that didn’t stop me from sampling some tasty treats as we shopped. Needing to rest our feet for a bit, we sat down at JoJo’s Pretzels in Davis Mercantile and devoured 2 fresh from the oven pretzels with a variety of mustards.

Best pretzel I have ever eaten, hands down!

I quickly regretted my decision to split a pretzel with my husband.

Later in the afternoon when our stomachs started to rumble, we stuffed our bellies at the Blue Gate Restaurant.

We opted for the buffet and feasted on fried chicken, ham, meatloaf, mashed potatoes, green beans, Amish bread with apple butter, and more. It was like a fabulous homecooked Thanksgiving feast without the kitchen full of dirty dishes.

And then there was the dessert bar, loaded with assorted pies, cakes, and other calorie-laden goodies. I did offset a bit of the caloric damage by starting with a trip to the salad bar…that counts for something, right?!

Take a Buggy Ride

When in Amish country, do as the Amish do and experience a buggy ride! We opted for a short excursion through town with Buggy Lane Tours.

Our capable guide, Leroy, and his trusted horse, Bob, took us on a 15-minute peaceful jaunt through the main streets and backroads of Shipshewana.

I was surprised at how comfortable the seats were in our deluxe covered carriage.

Along the way, Leroy pointed out the one-room schoolhouse and several houses where Amish families live. He kept Bob on a short leash ensuring we kept to the planned route as he answered our questions about this unique town and its intriguing inhabitants.

Buggy Lane Tours offers many additional options for longer rides through the countryside for those wishing to really immerse themselves in the beauty of Shipshewana.

As far as I’m concerned, your trip to Amish country isn’t complete until you’ve saddled up and appreciated Amish transportation at its finest!

Learn About Amish Culture

As you interact with Amish people working in Shipshewana stores and restaurants and watch the horse and buggies pass by, you will most likely have questions about Amish culture.

Why do they choose not to drive cars or wear modern clothing?

What is the difference between the Amish and Mennonites?

Why did they settle in Northern Indiana?

What are their beliefs about religion, war, schooling, marriage, and families?

You can get all these questions answered and more by visiting Menno-Hof to see and hear the Amish-Mennonite story.

We spent nearly 2 hours immersing ourselves in everything Amish as we made our way through the 24 sequential stops on the Menno-Hof tour. Many of the rooms use multi-media presentations and interactive displays to reveal the story of the Anabaptist movement that started in 16th-century Europe and evolved to current day practices of the Amish, Mennonite, and Hutterite people.

We learned about their enduring faith, which in the early days often lead to their torture and execution. We explored a traditional Amish kitchen and sat in a barn to experience a simulated tornado.

All along the way, we gained a deeper appreciation for the seemingly “strange” practices of the Amish community, which were slowly making a bit more sense to us as we learned the “why” behind their lifestyle.

If you visit Shipshewana don’t miss the opportunity to get your questions answered at Menno-Hof. You will undoubtedly leave with a broader perspective on the diversity in our world, and you may just improve your trivia skills with all your new found knowledge.

Enjoy a Live Performance

Shipshewana’s Blue Gate Theater offers a variety of live performances including plays and musicals that often feature an Amish storyline. Blue Gate also puts on a variety of concerts with well-known artists ranging from Country music to Gospel to a wide variety of tribute bands.

We were excited that legendary country singer, Charley Pride, was in town during our weekend visit. Concerts generally necessitate a bigger audience than the Blue Gate Theater can hold, so the Charley Pride concert was held at the event center just down the road. It was an intimate setting for a concert and several TV screens brought Charley Pride into clear view for all concert goers.

Not being terribly familiar with Charley Pride’s vast body of work, I wasn’t sure what to expect as we walked into the venue. But I can honestly say I didn’t stop tapping my feet throughout the entire concert!

Charley may be 85 years old, but his voice is still strong and velvety smooth. He belted out his classic tunes and several favorites from other country superstars while supported by his loyal band, the Pridesmen.

From his hits “Kiss an Angel Good Mornin” and “Just Between You and Me” to some of his lesser-known titles, the crowd quickly caught on to his storytelling lyrics, and it often felt like a giant, feel-good sing-a-long.

It was the perfect way to wrap up our fabulous day in Shipshewana!

Observing the Sabbath

On Sundays, Shipshewana is rather quiet as the Amish observe a day of rest for the Sabbath. You won’t find any shops or restaurants open, so travelers should plan accordingly.

Even with the storefronts closed, we found Sunday to be a great time to window shop as we wandered through town enjoying the blooming flowers.

On our way home, we did participate in another one of my favorite activities with a stop at Fruit Hills Winery in nearby Bristol, Indiana. Check out the article about our wine tasting adventure!

More Than a Days Worth

Shipshewana’s slogan is More Than a Days Worth, and we certainly found that to be true! With so many great shows to see at the Blue Gate Theater, we plan to return for another live performance.

While we had a fabulous weekend getaway, I would love to visit Shipshewana during the week sometime to experience the Shipshewana Auction and Flea Market.

Held every Tuesday and Wednesday from May through October, people come from miles around to bid on everything from livestock to furniture to tools. With over 700 booths this is another shopper’s paradise!

For those wanting to learn even more and immerse themselves in Amish culture, longer buggy rides are available that include a stop at an Amish home for dinner. I’d love to bring my daughters back to Shipshewana to experience that as a family.

But for now, take a stroll with me through Shipshewana with these video clips from our weekend in Amish Country.

Ready to explore Shipshewana for yourself?! Learn even more at www.visitshipshewana.org and start planning your trip to Amish country!

Wherever the road takes you, make it a joyous journey,
Traveling Tanya

I’d like to extend a HUGE thank you to Jordan with the Shipshewana Visitor’s Center for coordinating our trip and to the Morton Street Inn, Buggy Lane Tours, Menno-Hof, and Fruit Hills Winery for hosting our adventures in Amish Country!  As always, all opinions expressed are my own.

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