SHIPSHEWANA DAY-TO-DAY ITINERARY

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DAY 1: ARRIVE IN SHIPSHEWANA, INDIANA

Roll your own soft pretzel at Jo Jo’s Pretzels made from the King family secret recipe perfected by generations. In a flash, your pretzel will be hot out of the oven and served with your beverage of choice. Following your pretzel break, take a ride back in time on the full-size Carousel, home to multiple hand-carved and -painted farm animals. Complete your afternoon shopping in the multiple floor complex of Davis Mercantile filled with home décor, apparel, fabrics, candles, furniture and shoes.

Check-in at your Shipshewana host hotel.

Next, head to Farm Fun & Dinner at Meadow Brook Farm for a country feast complete with homemade donuts. The carefully restored barns are places of gathering and fellowship and your host location for a delicious dinner.

After dinner, tour the 1860 vintage home constructed during the Civil War. Hear documented stories from the farm’s Storyteller about visitors that traveled the nearby Pumpkinvine Railway. Enjoy hands-on fun with a homespun donkey craft and the story of the Jesus Donkey including petting and an irresistible photo op.

DAY 2: VISIT AMISH COUNTRY

Meet your local step-on guide after breakfast at your hotel.

Country Roads Off the Beaten Path Backroads Guided Tour is a memorable journey into the heart of Amish Country. Meet business owners in their cottage shops as they demonstrate their artisan goods. Craft your own souvenir to take home. Your guide will share insights along the way. Choose from a variety of fun farm experiences, including Carolyn’s Jams and Jellies, an Amish Toy Maker, an Authentic Amish Harness Maker, Ben’s Pretzels demo & tasting, Menno-Hof Amish Mennonite Interpretive Center, an Amish School, a Workshop for special needs Amish Adults or Dutch Country Market.

Take a hay-wagon ride into the pasture to hand feed the great American Bison as you learn the intricacies of raising, feeding and managing this wild animal. Lunch is an old-fashioned chuck-wagon barbecue at Cook’s Bison Ranch featuring bison and pulled pork, plus all the fixings, including dessert and beverages.

Enjoy some of the best Amish/Mennonite cooking and with outstanding entertainment, plus shop for locally crafted furniture and more at downtown Shipshewana’s Blue Gate Restaurant, which features three retail stores, restaurant, bakery, and theater. Tonight, sit in the 1,200-seat Blue Gate Restaurant and enjoy buffet or family-style dining. Following is a Blue Gate musical based upon popular Amish themed Christian books that are brought to life in the 300+ seat theater.

 DAY 3: EMBRACE A SCAVENGER HUNT

Breakfast at your host hotel

Enjoy shopping and a unique experience as you hunt for “Fleas” on The Flea Bag Scavenger Trail at the Shipshewana Flea Market, the largest flea market in the Midwest. Experience the Flea Bag Trail with a handy map. Complete 4 out of 6 finds for a special gift. Shop, people watch and scout for pictures of “The Fleas” in specified locations.

Tour Dutch Creek Animal Farm on a guided horse-drawn wagon ride and feed the animals. See where cows, llamas, monkeys, camels, deer, ostriches, kangaroos and porcupine make their home on this alternative farm. Be sure to bring your camera for all those animal close-up photos.

Take part in a once-in-a-lifetime event as you experience a traditional Amish Wedding Feast in the charming setting of “The Carriage House.” Elaine and her son Seth explain the details of what an Amish wedding day is like complete with the special meal that would be served.

Depart the area or extend your stay with additional options, including a Yoder’s Amish in-home Cooking Class Demo and dinner or an Amish rug weaving demo and Whoopie Pie Break.

Shipshewana still has plenty more for travel groups to experience, so be sure to Subscribe to Leisure Group Travel for FREE and get even more travel ideas and tips

 

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