Specialized Theme Tours

 Your guide will take you on a 2-hour loop between Shipshewana and Middlebury, while telling you about the basics of the Amish culture—horses and buggies, clothing, church, and schools—and answering any questions you have. Many stops and landmarks will be pointed out along the route for you to explore later on your own. If time allows, some possible stops are Dutch Country Market, Heritage Ridge Creamery, and/or Rise N Roll Bakery—all of which have fascinating Amish backstories. 

  Included in our scenic drive will be stops such as a basket workshop, large furniture workshop, large chair making workshop, rag rug maker, local cheese maker, small bakery, buggy maker, cruiser (open buggy) maker, harness maker, pottery maker, wooden toy maker, wind chimes maker, and/or leather shop. Between stops, your guide will answer all your questions about the local Amish culture. Number of stops varies according to length of tour and length of stops.

 Included in our scenic drive will be quilting and fabric stops that are “off the beaten path” (away from downtown Shipshewana), as well as stops such as an Amish general store/fabric store (or maybe two), basket maker, Amish quilt co-op shop, leather shop, and/or log cabin art gallery (acrylic paintings representing all 66 books of the Bible).  Between stops, your guide will answer all your questions about the local Amish culture. Number of stops varies according to length of tour and length of stops. 

  No quilt shops or girly stuff in this tour! Included in our scenic drive will be stops such as large or small bakeries, small Amish food market (lots of munchies), leather worker, buggy maker, cruiser (open buggy) maker, furniture maker, chair making workshop, harness maker, wooden toy maker, and/or an Amish junkyard!  Between stops, Gary (or Sue) will answer all your questions about the local Amish culture. Number of stops varies according to length of tour and length of stops. Be sure to have your guide point out the new “guy-friendly shop” on the Essenhaus campus.

  This tour runs May through October only.  Included in our scenic drive will be stops such as Krider World’s Fair Garden, a few of the famous quilt gardens, an Amish greenhouse, dairy farm, popcorn shop, produce stand (July to mid-October), farm and garden bookstore, and/or herb shop (“Amish pharmacy”).  Between stops, your guide will answer all your questions about the local Amish culture. Number of stops varies according to length of tour and length of stops.

  Bring home some goodies, and sample some on the spot! Included in our scenic drive will be stops such as large and small bakeries, cheese maker, small Amish food market/noodle maker, honey store, sugar-free jam maker, and/or a produce stand (in season). Need a lunch stop? Share a pretzel at Ben’s and have more Q&A time with your guide.  Between stops, your guide will answer all your questions about the local Amish culture. Number of stops varies according to length of tour and length of stops. Why not end your day by pre-booking your dinner meal with our Amish friend Leah?

  Take a deeper dive into the Amish culture! Included in our scenic drive will be stops such as a log cabin prayer chapel (orientation talk with music and pictures), an Amish school (in season), small Amish food market, Amish cemetery, general store, fabric store, rag rug maker, Amish cemetery, Amish farm, carriage maker, farm and garden bookstore, Amish junkyard, and/or herb shop (“Amish pharmacy”). Get to know the locals!  Between stops, Sue will answer all your questions about the local Amish culture—she’s rarely stumped! Mid-day lunch will be in Topeka. Number of stops varies according to length of tour and length of stops. For an even deeper dive, end your day by pre-booking a meal at our friend Leah Bontrager’s home.

 Not all stops on this tour are Amish, but many are local legends and have backstories I love to tell! Included in our scenic drive will be stops such as an Amish general store, log cabin prayer chapel (to hear some music and look at some pictures), Amish fabric store, Amish birdhouse/birdfeeder store, Amish cemetery, Rise N Roll Bakery, a small Amish bakery (if it’s open), an Amish farm, the Chief Shipshewana gravesite, a look at some of the 16 Walldogs murals in Shipshewana, the story of Hezekiah Davis (and his rival), a bookstore, Amish junkyard, and/or Krider World’s Fair Garden (in season) to hear its amazing backstory.  Between stops, Sue will answer all your questions about the local Amish culture. Mid-day lunch, if needed, will be in Topeka.