A Fall Pilgrimage to Amish Country in Ohio

If you are from the Midwest, then you are probably familiar with the Amish. Travel through eastern Indiana, southern Ohio, or Pa., and you will eventually encounter a horse-drawn buggy, or wagon.

Traveling around Amish Country has always been a fall event for anyone within a few hours travel from this rolling and beautiful countryside. The hills and fields are especially beautiful with the fall foliage, and what was once a quiet community, has now become a haven for bus loads of tourists.

These immigrants from Switzerland and Germany, split with their more formal churches and migrated to Pa. sometime in the 18th century. Somehow, they have managed to maintain their lifestyle throughout the years, even though they now do business on a regular basis with the rest of us "English". Amish teams of men build homes and barns for hire, and Amish women sell homemade items and baked goods.

While German, Swiss, or a combination of the two is their preferred language, used at home and in church, the Amish do speak English, and are both helpful and polite, even with the increasing bother of gawking, picture-taking tourists. Amish do not believe in having their pictures taken, and it is a good idea not to be too obvious about it. Somehow, in spite of the increased traffic that is often dangerous to slow moving buggies, and the inconvenience of tourism in their small communities, the Amish have been able to maintain their sense of humor and friendliness.

All in all, the Amish population, whose homes can easily be recognized by their plain white simplicity, horses and buggies and lack of electrical wires, have transformed the sleepy little villages of Sugar Creek, Berlin, and Walnut Creek, Ohio, along scenic Rt. 39, into popular destinations. Besides the Amish watching, tourists now have an assortment of antique stores, gift shops, and the best German food restaurants in the state. If you are there just for the scenery, get off the main highways and travel the country roads, where you can get the best pictures of the foliage, and fields being harvested,18th century style.

Not all Amish made items, however, are Amish made, and there is a tendency to credit everything from potato salad to furniture to the Amish. There are still, however, places where you can actually buy Amish products, and, some Amish families will allow you to buy baked goods and other products at their homes.