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Elkhart County Convention & Visitors Bureau |
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1. American Countryside Farmers Market
(574) 296-7827; AmericanCountryside.us Open year-round. Jan-April Thursday - Saturday; May-December Wednesday – Saturday.It’s a celebration of the American farm and all Northern Indiana has to offer in the world’s largest Amish-built wood peg barn. The huge red building is an icon on this region’s landscape and houses everything from fresh produce in season to artisan breads and cheeses to Amish furniture. Treat yourself to fudge, ice cream and soft pretzels and shop for clothing, fine jewelry, antiques, doll clothing and handmade rugs. The food court offers a variety of steamy, hot delicious choices when you’re ready for a break. |
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2. Bonneyville Mill
(574) 535-6458; ElkhartCountyParks.org Open May-October; Wednesday-Sunday 10am to 5pm. More than 150 years ago, this water-powered mill began producing quality flour in the Northern Indiana region. It still operates today and visitors experience the rustic charm of Indiana’s oldest continually operating grist mill. Staffers share the mill’s history and give demonstrations of grinding grain. Purchase stone-ground flours such as wheat, rye and buckwheat at the mill. In the gift shop visitors can purchase Bonneyville Mill souvenirs, cookbooks, cast iron cookware and other historical, environmental and natural items. |
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3. Country Victorian Bed & Breakfast
(800) 262-7829 or (574) 825-2568; CountryVictorian.com Open year-round; Check-in 4pm to 6pm unless other hours requested. Rest, relax and refresh at the Country Victorian B & B where comfort, value and friends come together. You might feel as if you’re in another century when you stay at this lovingly refurbished Queen Anne Victorian-style home along quiet Middlebury’s main street. In the heart of Amish country, visitors explore the area by day and return to one of five antique-filled guest rooms. Relax on the front porch as Amish buggies clatter by. Morning brings the best surprise of all with a scrumptious breakfast that may include baked French toast with pralines and maple syrup or a garden vegetable omelet. |
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4. Dutch Country Market
(574) 825-3594 Open year-round; Monday-Friday 8:30am to 5:30pm; Saturday 8:30am to 4pm. You can watch the bees at work in an observation hive before you purchase honey from local hives at this old-fashioned country store run by an Amish family. Norman Lehman, his wife and six children put the bees’ work to good use, making nine flavors of whipped honey, peanut butter/honey spread, soaps, hand creams and beeswax candles. You can also see a noodle-making demonstration and take those goodies home, as well as jams, salsas and fruits and vegetables preserved in glass jars. |
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5. Eyedart Studio Gallery
(574) 533-6262; EyeDart.com Open year-round; Wednesday-Saturday 11am to 4pm. It seems as if there’s always a special art show going on at this gallery, which features the contemporary works of Northern Indiana artists. You may happen on an exhibit focusing on glass formations, landscapes, sculpture or some other special venue. But every day, you’ll find paintings, drawings, prints, sculpture, videography and photography to browse and buy right in downtown Goshen. |
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6. Kercher’s Sunrise Orchard & Farm Market
(574) 533-6311; KerchersOrchard.com Open year-round; Monday-Saturday 8:30am to 5:30pm; also noon to 5pm Sunday in May, September and October. For 88 years, the Kercher family has farmed here and there’s a good chance you’ll meet one of them when you stop to shop for locally grown and locally produced products such as fresh fruits and vegetables, honey, maple syrup, noodles, tempting baked goods, popcorn, flowers and morel mushrooms. In the fall, enjoy a hayride and fresh pressed cider. You can pick your own apples in the orchard or choose the perfect pumpkin right off the vine. |
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7. Lehman-Goertzen Pottery
(800) 952-6670 or (574) 534-1162; DickLehman.com Open year-round; Monday-Saturday 9am to 5pm. You can shake the hands that throw the pots in this working studio, with more than 3,000 handmade creations for sale. Watch the artisans at work, making bowls, vases, and an array of functional and decorative pieces. Owner and potter Dick Lehman and the other potters who work with him take pride in explaining the process to visitors. You’ll also find wooden accessories to go along with your finds. |
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8. Mint City Millwork
(574) 642-1192 Open year-round; Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday 8am to 4pm. You might feel as if you’re back in a long-ago time and place when you enter Mint City Millwork and hear the magnificent clocks ticking. Wayne Helmuth is a master when it comes to building grandfather and mantel clocks in his one-man shop. He loves to take the time to explain the art or creating grandfather clocks, showing visitors how he starts with rough lumber and refines it through the stages, including the final installation of the timepiece’s movement. Pick out one you like or work with Wayne on a custom design. |
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9. Old Hoosier Meats
(574) 825-2940 Open year-round; Tuesday and Wednesday 8am to 5pm; Thursday and Friday 8am to 6pm; Saturday 8am to 2pm. No pre-packaged meats on Styrofoam trays here! This old-fashioned butcher shop specializes in real smokehouse products, including hams, bacon, pulled pork, ribs, ring bologna and beef jerky. Many of these products have won awards. You’ll also find steaks, chops and other meats. Load up the cooler with treats to take home and choose some to snack on along the road. |
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10. Quilt Designs at the Old Bag Factory
(574) 534-5111; QuiltDesigns.com Open year-round; Monday-Saturday 9am to 5pm. Indiana fiber artist, Shirley Shenk, has been expanding the boundaries of traditional quilting concepts for more than 25 years. With several of her asymmetrical compositions actually flowing beyond their borders, you will find artistry in both color and design. Bed-size quilts as well as wall hangings are on display in an 1837 two-story log cabin on the grounds of Goshen’s Old Bag Factory. There’s even a welcoming committee – soft sculptured “Grandma and Grandpa” look forward to your visit. |
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11. Quilt Gardens Along the Heritage Trail
(800) 262-8161; QuiltGardenTours.com Memorial Day – October 1. Color bursts everywhere in Amish Country, where huge gardens are planted in quilt designs that are so much a part of this Northern Indiana region. More than 90,000 blooms go into creating these living displays. Large outdoor quilt murals are displayed along the route and add to the experience. The gardens and murals at 25 sites are a feature of the nationally known Heritage Trail, which you can follow with a map available at the Elkhart County Visitor Center or from directions at the web site (both listed above). |
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12. Schmidt Furniture, Cabinetry & Gifts
(574) 862-2200; SchmidtFurniture.com Open year-round; Monday-Friday 8am to 5pm; Saturday by appointment. Whether you’re looking for a custom-made table, cabinet or even wooden toys, you’ll find a finely-crafted piece of authentic Amish work at this shop, with a reputation for quality that stretches from Northern Indiana through the Chicago area. In business since 1976, these artisans craft their wares from mahogany, cherry, oak, ash, maple and walnut using time-tested methods of the past combined with the latest techniques. Take a tour of the job shop to find out how it’s all done before you pick out your own cherished treasure. |
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13. Studio at Greene & Berkey
(574) 825-7787; ExtendingTheEdges.net Open year-round, but closed mid-February through mid March; Wednesday - Friday 1pm to 6pm; Saturday 11am to 4pm. Artist Janis Martin transformed a 1929 school building into a haven for art when she opened her shop. Today, she displays and sells her oil paintings, as well as t-shirts, mugs, cards and journals embellished with images of her paintings and collages in the shop. A slide show and photo gallery shows the restoration of the building. |
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14. The Cinnamon Stick
(574) 825-7725; MyCinnamonStick.com Open year-round; Monday-Saturday 10am to 5:30pm. Housed in a building that dates to 1897, this store is rich in Middlebury history with creaking floors and original brick walls. But the inventory is totally today! Shoppers find a wide variety of Vera Bradley purses, South Bend Chocolates, Quilt Garden merchandise, pottery, greeting cards, candles and luxurious Lollia Bubble Bath that Oprah has featured. Indulge yourself and find perfect gifts to take home.. |
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15. The Quilt Shop at Essenhaus
(800) 455-9471, ext. 300 Open year-round. January-March; Monday-Thursday 10am to 5pm, Friday 10am to 7pm, Saturday 9am to 7pm; April-September Monday-Saturday 9am to 8pm October-December Monday-Thursday 10am to 7pm; Friday 10am to 8pm; Saturday 9am to 8pm. If you’re looking for a locally made Amish quilt or wall hanging, you can choose from more than 100 that grace this shop, which prides itself in displaying and selling the works of local artisans and crafters. Or custom order a design of your choice. If you’ve had an urge to get into quilting yourself, take part in the hands-on demonstrations of locker hooking, needle felting and all kinds of other techniques, even crayon art and quilt magic. |
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