Things To Do in Shipshewana and Elkhart County: A Group Itinerary

Take a journey to the heart of quilt country in Indiana

From classic small towns to energetic centers, the handmade welcome mat is always out in Elkhart County, Indiana. Create your memories along the Heritage Trail by immersing yourself in the cultures and stories of the people that call Elkhart County home. Get off-the-beaten-path on buggy-lined country backroads with a slower pace that beckons us to unplug, unwind, and embrace all the hidden quiet charms of Shipshewana, the third largest Amish Community in the US. As you traverse through the tranquil farmland, learn about the history, culture, religion, and education of the Amish and how this plain community lives today.

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Enjoy these Elkhart County and Shipshewana attractions

Ruthmere Mansion
Wellfield Botanic Gardens
Linton’s Enchanted Gardens
Elkhart County Historical Museum
Krider World’s Fair Garden
Menno-Hof, the Amish Mennonite Interpretive Center
Meet The Amish Off the Beaten Path Tour
Carolyn’s Jams and Jellies
Blue Gate Performing Arts Center
Blue Gate Restaurant
Cook’s Bison Ranch
Shipshewana Flea Market

Savor a delicious in-home Amish meal in Elkhart County and Shipshewana.

Day-to-Day Elkhart County and Shipshewana Itinerary

Day One: Ruthmere Mansion in Elkhart County

Your adventure begins with an early morning departure as you board the bus, setting your sights on Elkhart County, Indiana—a region known for its rich Amish heritage and stunning Quilt Gardens. The picturesque landscapes of Northern Indiana welcome you as you disembark at your first stop: the Ruthmere Mansion.

Nestled in the heart of Elkhart, the Ruthmere Mansion offers a glimpse into the area’s storied past. This guided tour reveals the grandeur of a bygone era, with elegant rooms filled with period furnishings and artifacts. The mansion’s grounds feature a beautifully curated Quilt Garden, where colorful patterns echo the region’s quilting tradition. After an hour of exploring this historical gem, you will find yourself steeped in—and hesitant to take even the briefest pause from—the local culture.

A short drive down Main Street leads you to the Wellfield Botanic Gardens, another of Elkhart’s treasures. Here, the Quilt Garden takes center stage amid lush, themed garden areas. Take in the vibrant displays and serene pathways that wind through this natural haven. A one-hour visit allows you to connect with nature while appreciating the artistry of quilt-inspired floral designs.

No trip to Elkhart is complete without a stop at Linton’s Enchanted Gardens. Enjoy a leisurely lunch packed with local flavors, then browse the unique shops offering everything from home décor to gardening supplies. This one-hour break is the perfect opportunity to recharge and pick up some souvenirs.

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Next, you will travel to Bristol and experience the Elkhart County Historical Museum. Here, history buffs and garden enthusiasts alike will delight in the venue’s Quilt Garden, which combines horticultural artistry with the area’s rich heritage in its collection of over 30,000 artifacts. Spend 45 minutes exploring the museum’s exhibits, which tell the story of the region’s development and its vibrant Amish community.

Your journey continues to Middlebury, where the 2.4-acre Krider World’s Fair Garden offers a peaceful retreat. Known for its historical significance, this garden was originally displayed at the 1934 World’s Fair. The Quilt Garden here is again a highlight, reflecting the area’s deep quilting roots. Spend 45 minutes meandering through this space, soaking in the beauty and history, not to mention amenities like picnic tables, viewing benches, pond, and gazebo.

As the day concludes, you will visit the iconic Das Dutchman Essenhaus in Middlebury. Indiana’s largest and friendliest restaurant and bakery serve authentic recipes passed through the generations. Enjoy a dinner or buffet of traditional Amish Country favorites, complete with a beverage and a generous slice of made-from-scratch pie. The Village Shops showcase specialty gift items, souvenirs, apparel, home décor and so much more.

Before dinner, stay in Middlebury and make a stop at the Dutch Country Market, where you can sample and purchase homemade noodles, jams, and other local delicacies. The noodles are made from scratch using no preservatives, while the honey comes from the establishment’s own bee hives, ensuring quality and authenticity. The Quilt Garden here adds a charming touch to this 30-minute visit, making it a great spot to pick up unique, handcrafted goodies.

Shipshewana is a great place to enjoy live music.

Dinner and Overnight Stay Options

As evening approaches, you have a couple of options for scrumptious food and comfortable places to sleep.

Settle into your room at the Essenhaus Inn and Conference Center, where the spacious guest rooms, therapeutic whirlpool, lobby fireplace, and warm rural charm make for a perfect end to your day. A deluxe breakfast awaits you in the morning, ensuring a rejuvenating respite.

Or stay in the heart of Amish Country in the Farmstead Inn or Blue Gate Garden Inn both located in the heart of Amish Country in Shipshewana. Both offer deluxe full hot breakfast buffet each morning with the Blue Gate including a made to order omelets. Each hotel offers wide open spacious rooms and hallways complete with quilts and scenic farm photos of the surrounding countryside. Expansive indoor pools, basketball courts, arcade games, outdoor firepits and hot tubs complete the evening experience. One hotel even offers a late night ice cream parlor complete with hand dipped sundaes, milkshakes and slices of hot pizza for evening munchies.

Travel to Topeka for a Family-Style Meal at Carriage House: Another tantalizing option is to head to Topeka for a family-style dinner at the Carriage House, which combines homemade breads and sweets with a welcoming environment. The cinnamon roll-making demonstration and tasting is a regular event that attracts hordes of new visitors to Carriage House, where comfort awaits.

Day Two: Attractions in Shipshewana Amish Country

These buggy-lined country backroads set the slower pace and beckon us to unplug, unwind, and embrace all the hidden quiet charms of Shipshewana, Indiana. As you traverse through the tranquil farmland, learn about the history, culture, religion, and education of the Amish and how this plain community lives today.

Explore backroads off the beaten path where your tour group will be captivated by the resurgence of one of the popular barn quilt trails in the nation. Barn quilts can be seen on barns, homes, and businesses throughout northern Indiana. Early settlers and colonists continued the tradition of displaying these beautiful mural designs as a way of celebrating their heritage. Others believed the Barn Quilts protected the farm and brought good fortune.

Peppered throughout this trail, are the Amish-owned businesses, or ‘cottage shops,’ You will encounter the finest homemade goods and amazing handicrafts that demonstrate the artistic and culinary talents that abound here in the Heart of Amish Country including leather goods, basket weaving, homemade jams, Amish furniture, toys, and fried pies. Guests will enjoy conversations with the makers who are eager to share their stories about their crafts and the Amish lifestyle.

You may want to top off the day with a home-cooked meal at an Amish home. Stay a day or several! There’s always more to explore and things to do in this peaceful community.

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Shipshewana County is a perfect place to enjoy all manners of arts and crafts.

Day Three: Things To Do in Shipshewana

Depart after breakfast and continue your Amish Country experience.

Begin your tour in Shipshewana with a visit to Menno-Hof, the Amish Mennonite Interpretive Center.

The Menno-Hof is an important and delightful stop to give you a foundational understanding and taste of the local culture while taking in the rich landscape and gentle charm of the Shipshewana area. Menno-Hof offers visitors accurate information through immersive multimedia presentations and hands-on displays about the faith and life of the Amish and Mennonites part of the 500-year lifestyle and religious tradition. The gift shop features handcrafted items made by local crafters.

Get to know local Amish entrepreneurs and see first-hand how they operate their unique enterprises. Hear the stories of friendly, hardworking people who use their special talents to create products and build businesses that serve the local community and beyond. Watch Amish noodles being made and see wood products come to life.

Teaberry Wood Products, a small, family run, Amish-Mennonite, wood working shop where you can see how a Monroe Dutcher style basket is assembled. The family specializes in handcrafted wooden baskets, puzzles, cutting boards, inspirational words items and gifts. Make your own heart from a variety of types of wood.

Walk through the kitchen at Carolyn’s Jams and Jellies where Carolyn and her grandchildren help her make the No Sugar Added Jams and Jellies. This popular condiment has been enjoyed by locals for several years. Carolyn sells a large variety of flavors in their shop.

Ben’s Pretzels was founded in 2004 by Ben and Elizabeth Miller, an Amish family from Shipshewana, IN, needing to provide for their family. Ben and his wife, 3^rd generation Amish bakers, spent years perfecting the Amish/Dutch dough recipe that makes a perfect soft pretzel. Ben’s pretzels are preservative free. Your group will enjoy a short presentation highlighting Ben’s amazing story and history of the company followed by an opportunity to roll your own pretzel; then watch it being baked before your eyes.

Shop where the Amish shop at E&S Bulk Food Store. Amish-owned, the area’s largest selection of bulk foods, baking and cooking supplies, spices, organic foods, meats, chesses, nuts, and candies line the counters for your foodie shopping pleasure. Hear and see some behind-the-scenes amazing facts about the in-store bakery, noodle and the pizza making sections, the warehousing and distribution areas that will shed a whole new light on this food lovers’ delightful stop.

During the evening, pay a visit to the Welcome to the Blue Gate Performing Arts Center and Blue Gate Restaurant located in downtown Shipshewana where a warm inviting atmosphere awaits your groups during your meal of great home-style cooking and friendly service. Your meal today will be buffet style featuring soups, salad bar, multiple meats, fresh side dishes, and plenty of sweet dessert options along with your beverage all included. Following your meal, enjoy the Blue Gate Theatre original production in the Music Hall or top name entertainment artists inside the new 1500 seat Blue Gate Performing Arts Center.

Travel to Cook’s Bison Ranch for a covered wagon ride on this family’s farm to pet and feed a bison herd. There will be amazing photo ops and memory making fun! Then enjoy a mouth-watering chuckwagon Bison Buffet Dinner before heading back to your host hotel for some R & R from a wonderful day Off the Beaten Path.

Relax overnight in one of two group friendly hotels both offering a large, hot, deluxe breakfast buffet each morning included with your overnight stay.

Choose the Blue Gate Garden Inn for it’s indoors ice cream parlor, outdoor relaxing fire pit open until 11 p.m. each evening, and large spacious guest rooms complete with Amish made furniture. From the “selfie farm scenes” located throughout the lobby, and their made-to-order-omelet station in the morning, groups staying at the Blue Gate Garden Inn feel transported to a country resort while staying in a small town boutique hotel.

Or, you can choose the farmhouse vibe of the Farmstead Inn. This hotel takes you to the simpler days of walking past quilt adorned hallways to large country rooms with all the modern amenities. From the cozy fireplaces in the lobbies to the deluxe swimming pool, hot tub, and basketball court, this hotel that looks like an Amish farmhouse will be unlike any other found in Northern Indiana.

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Day Four: More Things To Do in Shipshewana

After breakfast at your host hotel, continue your time in Shipshewana, the third largest Amish community in the nation

Known as “the trading place of America,” the Shipshewana Flea Market is the Midwest’s largest outdoor market with over 1,000 vendors covering 60 acres (open Tuesday’s and Wednesday’s only May-September). The antique auction barn, open Wednesdays year-round, has 11 rings simultaneously auctioning antiques and collectibles. The horse and cattle barn features cattle auctions open to the public on Wednesday’s and horse auctions open to the public on Friday’s.

While at the Flea Market, enjoy the New Flea Bag Trail. Enjoy shopping and enjoy a fun, unique one-of-a-kind experience as you hunt for “THE FLEAS” at the largest Flea Markets in the Midwest. With 700 open-air booths on 40 acres, there is something for everyone- bargains, gifts, home décor, produce, etc. For the Scavenger Hunt Trail you will have a handy map and booth numbers to find in only a quarter of the large space. This is not a race just complete the 4 out of 6 finds for a special gift for only those that complete the hunt. Shop, eat, or just people watch you will enjoy scouting for the pictures of “The Fleas” in specified locations. You will be given a card upon arrival with the instructions to each destination and after completing the hunt turn in your card at the Flea Market Office before you depart.

Amish farmsteads and homesteads like the Stutzman Dairy Farm are an essential part of the local economy and provide basic required food staples for this sustainable community. A stop at the Stutzman Dairy farm is an adventure to remember where you can get up close and personal with a favorite farm animal. Watch daily milkings from the comforts of a viewing room. Learn what you can make from milk and how the modern dairy cow lives her life. Sample one of the many award-winning flavors of milk, or just buy a small jar for cookie-dunking fun.

For lunch, step inside another Amish home for a real treat. What is a Haystack meal? Hear the story about the little country school in Honeyville, IN, just south of Shipshewana and how they won a National Contest with this ‘build your own Haystack.’ This is a yummy, topsy-turvy, unique lunch resembling an iconic haystack. It begins with a base of rice or crackers, and ‘builds’ into an edible haystack of deliciously seasoned meat, lettuce, beans, and other vegetable toppings and warm melted cheese! Then, mix your own take away experience with a jar of Amish-style spreadable peanut butter. Amish peanut butter is a must-have staple at a typical Amish meal.