Where exactly is Amish country?
 

Hi There, I don't know why....but have always been intriqued by the Amish. Would like to plan a trip but don't know where to start. I believe there are communities in several states, is that correct? Where is the heart of the "Amish country". Any and all thoughts are appreciated.

I believe what most people refer to as "Amish country" is the area of Pennsylvania near Lancaster- towns like Bird in Hand, Intercourse, Churchtown, are full of horse buggys. Amish farms with shops and Amish (or Amish style) craft shops. Also lots of Mennonites.

There are lots of Amish in Ohio as well, but I don't believe they are "marketed" as heavily.

There are two main areas. One is in Lancaster County in east central Pennsylvania, especially east of Lancaster.

The other is more broad, in the rural plains of Indiana and Ohio. Mostly in the band that goes from north of Columbus to north of Indianapolis.

However, they are in other rural areas too. I almost hit a horse-drawn buggy with my 18-wheeler in south central Kentucky at one time.

If you would like to plan a trip, plan in the warmer months (not winter). You can go to Lancaster Pa area. The Bird in Hand, Intercourse, are all areas that surround Lancaster. Hershey Pa is not far away either and has entertainment. There is a theme park there that is very nice. We went this past summer. I recommend the visit.

Like the previous posts said...Amish country is basically east of Harrisburg, PA - all around Lancaster. I don't know if I'd do a summer visit as it can get hot and muggy...maybe Sept or June though.

Illinois Amish country is located around Arthur, which is between Champaign and Effingham just a few miles off Interstate 57. Rockome Gardens is an Amish operated establishment featuring floral gardens, specialty shops, horse and buggy rides, and a family-style restaurant.

I live in the Columbia/Montour county area of Pennsylvania - located west of the Poconos, just off Interstate 80 - and there is a large amish community that resides in my region.

As rkkwan mentions,the amish "are in other rural areas too," so please take caution when driving any back roads. Signs are not always posted warning the driver of the possibility of buggies, and many of the buggies do not have adequate lights or "warning" signs (orange triangles).

In the town north of us last year a young mother and one of her daughters were killed when they pulled their buggy out of their driveway right into the path of a pick-up truck. It was early in the morning and there was a light fog and there were NO signs posted and the driver just couldn't stop in time. So please, always use caution. (enough preaching....)

There is also another community of Amish located in Centre County along Route 192, which paralells Interstate 80 for about 45 miles from Lewisburg to Centre Hall (east to west). It's a beautiful road to travel, and once you get outside of Lewisburg you won't hit another traffic light until you reach Centre Hall.

The first 10+ miles takes you through the rolling countryside, the next 10 through Bald Eagle State Forest (with two State Parks and a "comfort station" along Route 192, across from the R.B. Winter ranger office), and the last 25 miles past numerous bottom-land farms nestled between two mountain ridges, many of the farms belonging to the Amish. If you're travelling during harvest time, many have roadside stands.

For anyone travelling on I-80 through Centre and Union counties, and have the time, I would recommend Route 192 as a pleasant diversion, whether you're interested in the Amish or not. Peace. :)>-

Robyn

If you go to Pennsylvania, you will know you are in Amish Country when you see people taking photos of themselves near the sign for Intercourse.

There is also an Amish or Mennonite community in Sarasota, FL, by the way.

Hi There,
Thanks for the replies. Wish I could leave today. What major airport is closest to Lanscaster Penn? Thanks

letscruise - Harrisburg is the closest airport with service from most of the major airlines (using regional jets). Baltimore and Philadelphia are also not far, with mainline jet services.

I have been to both the Amish Country in PA and the Amish Country in Ohio and I really recommend the Ohio Amish Area more. It is all or most of Holmes County Ohio and there are tons of Amish things to see and do. There are many small towns in the area and you will see lots of Amish. This area is outside Millersburg, Ohio which is outside Wooster. It is South of Cleveland and west of Canton. We enjoyed the towns of Sugar Creek, Berlin, Kidron, and many more.

We have been to the Amish areas around Lancaster several times over the years and have watched with sadness as the area fills up with commercial enterprises, including outlet shopping, and some incongruously garish Amish-oriented attractions. The tourists far outnumber the locals. You might be better-off in Ohio.

We have been to Amish country in Holmes County, Ohio, and really loved it, and I would love to visit again. We picked up a map of the backroads and just started driving. The Amish seemed very friendly, when out working their fields, waving to us as we passed, I would highly recommend the Holmes County area, very beautiful rolling countryside.

I'd say any little town just east of Lancaster (Bird-in-Hand, Intercourse, Stratsburg). Lancaster has been built up so much I can't believe any Amish would want to live there. In the towns I just mentioned you will constantly see horse and buggies. Some Amish have moved to OH. Big place called Sugarcreek, OH near the PA/OH border not far from Youngstown, there are many speciality stores and I know my mission style queen bed frame was made by the Amish somewhere in OH (bought it from a furniture company at a mall near my area). They are known for their top quality furniture making.

Another place for Amish / Mennonite goods is near Shipshewana, Indiana. Somewhat smaller than the community around Lancaster, but also a LOT less commercialized. We were lucky enough to stumble across the quarterly quilt auction in the area; many of the hand made ones were absolutely breath-taking and going for a third of what they would cost in a store.

There are Amish communities in central and northern Missouri and southern Iowa. The largest community is at Jamesport, Missouri near the Iowa line.

In Kansas the largest community is at Yoder in the center of the state.

There are over 150,000 Amish in the US, with the majority in Indiana, Ohio and Pennsylvania.

Keith

I have seen Amish people in a hardware store here in north central Minnesota.

The also have a community in IOWA.

jor,

You may have seen Mennonites. They have similar roots and look much the same, but use some modern technology like cars and telephones.

Often communities have both groups. For example, there are both in Yoder. There is a Mennonite restaurant there. It is interesting watching the waitresses. Some are Mennonite and some are worldly and wear contemporary dress.

Keith

You are probably getting it by now that there are several Amish areas. I know several regions in Wisconsin and Iowa as well as those previously mentioned.

I believe that Amana, IA has a large base which I have heard is where the name of the town comes from. Also home to Amana applicances/refrigerators...or at least was originally.

We live close to Sugar Creek/Millersburg/Hartville OH and purchased our oak dining room and oak bedroom from an Amish manufactor (I believe the name is Andrea's) One thing that I find interesting is that their homes have no electricity, phone, no cars, ect. But a van picks them up, takes them to work where they do work with modern technology making their craft and then they return to their "no modern" technolgy homes.

I visited Amish country in Southern Illinois and it wasn't commercialized at all (at least not a few years ago). We ate breakfast at a restaurant w/Amish food and I have to say it was the most BLAND food I've ever tasted. Is this typical of Amish food or did we just stumble upon a bad meal?

So where do they read and post on Fodors.com?

There is also a Amish population near Mendon Michigan. They are not commercialized, but will have you in to a Saturday night supper, if you come with the Innkeeper from Mendon Country Inn. This is not far from chicgal's above Indiana locations, just across the state line a bit. They farm/live in community "structures" of no more than 26 families, as they have church in one of the families' homes every other Sunday. This self-limits their community size greatly. Although each single family may have 3 generations or numerous in-laws that have built on to the original house.

Their dinners are huge and all home cooked, but I do agree that many dishes are bland. Simple. Desert features lots of pies.

Amish country in Ohio centers around Holmes County south of Orrvile and Wadsworth and southeast of Wooster. Very nice to visit . Many craft stores and Amish-Mennonite restaurants.

One thing I will never forget about our visit to the Amish in PA : Their "refrigerator" was a natural cold water stream diverted to run through their houses, visible once you opened a lower cabinet door in the kitchen. There, in the water, were the food items meant to be kept cold.

to:Letscruise. If you would like to visit the Amish country in Lancaster,PA, enter a POST and someone will help you with trip plans and ideas. The area (Lancaster, Hershey & Gettysburg) has lots to do.

thanks for all the information!!

Check this out.....
http://www.cnn.com/2004/TRAVEL/DESTI....ap/index.html
I'm on the way!

there are Amish in New Wilmington,Pa.(Westminster College is located there too) about 50 miles north of Pittsburgh,Pa.---also in Indiana County,where IUP(Indiana University of Penna.) is located, too...and across the border in Ohio..and they are real Amish....

letscruise. CNN on their travel section has a very interesting article about the Amish you might enjoy reading.
cnn.com of course.

Thought of you when I read it this morning.

You have just received the Amish Virus. Since we have no electricity or computers, you are on the honor system. Please delete all of your files.
Thank thee.

The Swiss Woods Inn is a Bed and breakfast we have enjoyed in Lititz, PA.
Debrah & Werner Mosimann,are the Innkeepers. Debrah is from the area and is a Mennonite woman, very active in the community; she is also a gourmet cook. The bed and breakfast is lovely (any season) but what was truly impressive were the number of Mennonite ccouples in the area that stay at the Mosimann's for a special evening or celebration. I did a google search to see they were still in business. Many of the Amish farmers have lost their land due to economics, and much of the area has changed during the years--many outlets and landfills --

LoveItaly and BeachBoi.....thanks for the article....made me hungry!!

There is also an Amish as well as Mennonite comunities around Amity Oregon.

letscruise, actually when I read that article this morning it left me drooling. Not having a decent dinner last night didn't help either.

Didn't the food sound fantastic!!

Hi letscruise,
This is a very intriguing post in which you have received some great answers. If I was intrigues by the Amish, I think I would head to Ohio from the posts. But my intrigue is, why amish? are you intested as a scholar, convert? Did you see the movie Witness? I am truly asking in total respect to your post and the wonderful responses. I guess, I too am as little intrigued by the Amish, but for me it is that they seem to have become the complete opposite of who they truly are. They have become a tourist destination, caged animals that people come to see. It just seems very strange to me, this going to see the Amish...unless you truly want to understand and explore their life choices. Again, please, I am not attacking anyone here, I just don't get the whole thing. In my opinion, it could be compared to the papparazzi....don't they want to be left alone? Respecfully curious.

Mennonites dress completely differently than Amish, so it's awfully hard to confuse the two.

There is a large Amish community in western PA.

gyppielou, I wanted to visit the Amish areas because I personally found the Amish lifestyle to be interesting and intriguing. I think that, for most of us, its hard to imaging life without such everyday luxuries such as electricity, cars, computers, etc. When you visit an Amish community, its striking to see horse-drawn carriages in the midst of regular cars on the streets. I live in Illinois, near St. Louis, and have visited the Amish area near Arcola in Illinois twice. While it was interesting, the area has definitely turned into more of a tourist attraction. I find it actually quite bizarre, in a way, that these people are just going about their everyday lives, and yet we flood to their town in droves like its an amusement park! But at the same time, because most don't work "normal" jobs, a lot of their income comes from the tourists who visit their shops, buying their furniture and homemade goods.

Its interesting to visit the area, but I try to be respectful and not make a spectacle or myself or them.