Exploring the Heartland

Family vacations are a test. Your family is counting on you to find the one place that will make everyone happy. It must have activities for the kids. It must have fabulous shopping options. It must have a pace of life that is comfortable for the grandparents. It must be within driving range.

At Ohio’s Amish Country in Holmes County, the entire family can have fun, whether you make it a day-trip adventure or a long-weekend reunion. Plenty of unique experiences, from feeding a giraffe to buggy rides to making an Amish friend, create visits that young ones — from toddlers to teenagers — will remember.

>> Start with the shops.

Amish Country may be known best for its unique and authentic shopping experiences. In Berlin, several new boutiques have opened with fashion-forward choices, including locally handmade jewelry and accessories.

If antique shopping is your cup of tea, Millersburg is the place for you. Walk the historic downtown streets for several antique stores, and watch for special antique events, such as Antiques in the Alley throughout the year and the Holmes County Antique Festival, Oct. 5 and 6. Millersburg is also home to the Holmes County Tourism Bureau, where maps and local information are available.

DIY fanatics are drawn to Amish Country for the wealth of inspiration for home décor. Many Amish traditions incorporate handmade craftsmanship, which has made the region a source for materials and ideas for your next home and garden project. Stores in Charm and Kidron, in particular, have complete resources for home projects, and you can also get hard-to-find supplies like exotic woods or specialty tools here.

If doing the work yourself sounds like too much, well, work, you can also let Amish Country’s builders make it for you. Dozens of businesses offer beautifully designed solid wood furniture, storage barns, gazebos and even complete homes, built from scratch.

>> Nothing tastes better.

Don’t forget what Amish Country is best known for: the food. Broasted chicken. Noodles and mashed potatoes. Almost every kind of pie you can imagine. It’s the kind of food that both kids and grownups love. “More please” is a common phrase around here.

These favorites are the fare of the region’s restaurants, but there’s a whole other foodie life to experience in Amish Country. Because the area is surrounded by farms, you can go straight to the source to get the freshest — and best tasting — foods that would make any discriminating chef salivate. There are plenty of roadside stands selling in-season produce and several butchers stocked with fresh meat. Be sure to bring a cooler and cash; most small Amish stands don’t accept credit cards.

Just like any good meal, a trip to Amish Country isn’t complete without some excellent dessert, and you’ll want to bring treats home to share. The bakeries offer local favorites like fry pies and whoopie pies, along with fresh fruit pies, cookies and pumpkin rolls, and the equally delicious breads and rolls. There are several stand-alone bakeries in Holmes County, but many of the larger restaurants now also have on-site bakeries.

>> Take your time and stay the night.

While Amish Country is an easy drive from Akron — less than an hour — take a lesson from the Amish and live life at a slower pace. More than 50 options are available in the county or surrounding area for overnight stays, including unique hotels, quaint bed and breakfasts, cabins for larger families and RV parks.

With the variety of lodging choices, start with the location to make your choice. If you’re looking for a peaceful getaway where the only traffic is the occasional passing buggy, there are plenty of establishments hidden along the countryside. If you’d rather be within walking distance of the shops and restaurants, look for a hotel close to the center of town and ask for a room with a view.