Sugarcreek: The Little Switzerland of Ohio

It was not planned as a gimmick, or meant to be a hotbed of tourism, but the heritage of the town's citizens created a veritable Swiss getaway, right in the heart of Ohio.

When the German and Swiss early settlers of Sugarcreek, Ohio started setting up shop, it was just a natural progression that they would turn their talents toward what they did best. The citizens started numerous cheese-making factories, utilizing the same skills they had always used to make money and bring commerce to their towns.

This focus on cheese led to the launch of the Ohio Swiss Festival, a yearly event aimed at unloading the excess cheese made in the town throughout the year and left unsold. This brought visitors from all around the state and surrounding areas to the town, and once there, guests were taken with the quaint and distinctive village and architecture.

These days, Sugarcreek is home to shops, restaurants, and businesses that vaguely recall the town's history and heritage, and a few museums that more directly remind visitors of the past.

The Alpine Hills Museum explores the story of the Amish who settled in the area in the early 1800s. An exhibit depicting an Amish kitchen, and artifacts and exhibits that present the early Amish lifestyle immerse visitors in a time and culture that may be unfamiliar to them.

At the Warther Carving Museum, visitors can see works of art carved by Ernest Warther from the ivory tusks of elephants, legally obtained from estate sales and sellers. These creations from the antique tusks have been shown off and on at the museum. Funding for the museum is from private individuals, who fund the museum in an effort to protect the elephant in the obtaining of tusks, and also to keep the artists' works in a secure, and cohesive, collection, until it is obtained for exhibition at a larger museum, and the museum is run by today's generations of Warther's.

Grab a bite at Miller's Dutch Kitch'n, where homemade pies, dressing, and gravy join potatoes and swiss steak, smoked sausage, turkey, or ham for an old-fashioned family dining experience. You can even get family style servings, instead of individual plates.

Out on the main streets, check out one of the many unique gift shops, or just take a look at the distinctive architecture and styling. If you get there in the summer, you can check out the Fabulous 50's Fling in June, a car show and cruise-in, or the All Horse Parade in July. During the fall, Sugarcreek hosts the Ohio Swiss Festival, the town's biggest party, focusing on the heritage, the people, and the cheese.