What to Do in Ohio's Amish Country

Ohio's Amish Country encompasses Ashland, Coshocton, Holmes, Knox, Tuscarawas, Richland, Stark and Wayne Counties. It is a huge tourist destination in this part of Ohio. People from all over the country come to see Ohio's Amish community, because it is unique among American sub-cultures and offers a glimpse of what life was like a century ago.

The Amish in Ohio don't use cars; instead they travel by horse drawn buggy. They don't use electricity or telephone service, either. The women wear long dresses, which are pastel for unmarried and dark for married women, and cover their coiled hair with a starched white bonnet. The men where dark shirts under blue jean overalls and straw hats to shade them from the shade. Only married men wear beards. The Amish wear neither jewelry- of any kind- or zippers. They live on homesteads, where grown children will often build houses right on the same land as their parents, and work together in groups. They have tried to maintain the same lifestyle they had when they came to Ohio in the early 1800's. The men have a reputation of being wonderful craftsmen and the women of sewing glorious quilts and making fine food. Many thousands of people come every year to see the Amish and to purchase goods made by them.

A favorite past-time among travelers to Amish Country is antiquing. This involves traveling from place to place to find that perfect old piece of furniture, clothing, or toys. There are many antique establishments in Ohio's Amish Country. One such place is called The Riverfront Antique Mall. It's located in New Philadelphia and touts itself as the largest antique mall in America with over 7,000 sq. ft. of space. Of course, there are many more, smaller antique malls available in Berlin, Sugarcreek, and Walnut Creek. You can still find century old furniture and crafts, in good condition, if you look hard enough.

Shopping for homemade quilts, jams, and honey is another favorite sport of Amish country tourists. Along Route 93, going through Holmes and Tuscarawas counties, you can find many small "strip malls" filled with opportunities to partake of Amish country crafts and cooking. Amish ladies bake from scratch pies, jams, and cheese, while the men make sturdy, long-lasting furniture and house wares. Many people are awed by the Amish craftsmanship and are quick to buy cabinets, tables, and toy houses (for the kids).

After shopping, Amish country offers many different restaurants to experience Amish style cooking. The restaurant staff starts work early to make many of the menu items from scratch. Popular among the tourists is pie, but some come for the family buffet type meals. The server brings out the side dishes to your table, enough to feed your party, and you just help yourself. The price is often too good to pass up and the taste is excellent. Also, many of the restaurants here have a gift shop, where you can buy quilts and knick knacks made by hand. Just remember to eat before 8, because most businesses in these areas close early.

For the children, there are a few fun things to do. Some Amish offer buggy tours of their farms. In the summer children can also pick their own strawberries and watermelons in some locations. For fun, in the summer, there is Coshocton's Lake Aquatic Park- which is right next to Roscoe Village, a popular 1800's type town, or Tuscora Park in New Philadelphia. Both parks offer swimming and outdoor play areas. Lake Aquatic Park offers 2 water slides and other water play equipment, such a playground gym which has water shooting out of it from all angles. At Tuscora Park, the little ones can ride the ferris wheel, the merry-go-round, or hit balls in the batting cages. Also, right up the road, is Canton's Pro Football Hall of Fame, for the football fan. If you go to the Hall of Fame in the first part of August you might even catch a glimpse of legendary football stars who have come to town for the Pro Football Hall of Fame festival.

The entire family might enjoy The Wilds, just past New Philadelphia in Guernsey County. The Wilds is a conservation effort in Ohio, with free roaming giraffes, rhinoceros, and gazelles, to name a few species. For just a few dollars the family can enjoy a safari ride through the bush without worry of predatory cats or hopping a flight to Africa. And when they're finished there they can go a little north and visit Salt Fork State Park, and perhaps take a horse back ride.

There are many different things to do in Ohio's Amish Country, from riding in horse drawn buggies to catching site of a wild rhinoceros. Take the time to explore east central Ohio and you'll see a wonderful world of difference and experience a lifestyle you thought a century gone.