What does fresh baked bread with apple butter have in common with the clip-clop from a nearby horse-drawn carriage? They are two of the reasons I love traveling to the ‘Amish Country’ of northern Indiana. With a number of charming small towns and welcoming locals, it’s a fun place to explore on a weekend getaway.

The Amish are a Christian sect and subgroup of the Anabaptists. Most people cite horse-drawn carriages, plain clothes and a denial of modern technology when describing the Amish, and all of these things are expressions of devotion to their religious beliefs.

Although this area of northern Indiana is often referred to as Amish Country, I’ve learned that there are actually three different groups of Anabaptists here, the Hutterites, Mennonites and Amish. If you’d like to learn more about these different groups, I recommend checking out the Menno-Hof Mennonite-Amish Visitor’s Center in Shipshewana, Ind. This AAA listed attraction offers hour-long guided tours describing the history and religious beliefs of the different local communities.

Amish Country spreads across the towns of Elkhart, Goshen, Middlebury, Nappanee and Shipshewana. Warm weather always signals the arrival of curious travelers, and there is plenty to discover.

Swap meets and antiques, arts and crafts shops, outdoor activities, farmer’s markets and plenty of old-fashioned comfort food are the major highlights for me. To experience the friendly hospitality firsthand, I recommend staying in one of the many bed and breakfasts in the area, such as the Three Diamond Scottish Bed and Breakfast in Bremen, the Three Diamond Country Victorian Bed and Breakfast in Middlebury or the Two Diamond Olde Buffalo Inn Bed and Breakfast in Nappanee. 

Once you’re in the area, plan on spending time perusing the various shops. Whether you are looking for a special antique piece or handcrafted items, you can probably find it here. I can never seem to leave the area without stocking up on homemade apple butter, but luckily many of the restaurants in the area also have bakeries and markets on-site so I don’t have to look far.

Amish restaurants and old-fashioned home cooking is plentiful here, with many offering family-style meals or large buffets. Typically menu items include chicken pot pie, meatloaf, baked ham, roast turkey and roast beef, mashed potatoes with gravy, carrots and green beans, as well as fresh baked pies and sweets. I’m always a sucker for the fried chicken and sweet potatoes, followed  by a piece of either apple or chocolate cream pie.

In Middlebury, stop by the Das Dutchman Essenhaus, a compound featuring a Three Diamond inn, a bustling restaurant and bakery, as well as a variety of shops right on site. You can choose from over 30 varieties of fresh baked pies daily in the restaurant and bakery, which seems like more than enough motivation to me to visit.

Continue on to Nappanee and check out the Amish Acres, a historic Amish farmstead listed on the National Register. Bring an appetite and the whole family when dining at Amish Acres, since meals are served family-style with all the fixings.

If you want an even more in-depth Amish experience, stay at the Homespun Country Inn, a Three Diamond B&B, and ask the innkeeper about special dining options. If arranged in advance, guests can attend a traditional dinner in an Amish family’s home. I’ve never had the chance to experience this personally, but it sounds awfully interesting.

Finally, head over to Shipshewana and attend the Midwest’s largest flea market held every Tuesday and Wednesday during warm weather months. After working up a sweat looking for those deals, I recommend dining at the Blue Gate Restaurant and Bakery, a Two Diamond restaurant, and catching a show at the Blue Gate Theatre afterwards.

One of the newest attractions that I have yet to experience is the Quilt Gardens Tour. It features over 17 gardens designed to reflect quilt patterns, spanning across different local communities.

Quilt garden sites are located in Elkhart, Nappanee, Goshen, Middlebury and Shipshewana. This sounds like a beautiful way to experience the outdoors, and I’m looking forward to checking it out this summer.

So plan a quick trip to northern Indiana and explore this unique area- it's a great spring getaway destination. Just remember to watch the road and pass a black buggy with care. You can expect a friendly wave in response!