Activities to enjoy in Ohio’s Amish Country

By Kim Lemmon, Ohio’s Country Journal

Often it is hard to find the time to take a vacation with the busy lives that we all live. Work and home obligations can sometimes make it difficult to go very far away, but don’t worry — Ohio has many fun activities and places to visit that are close to home.

For my husband and I, we like to visit Holmes County and the surrounding area. We can make the drive in less than two hours so we don’t even have to carve out a weekend to make the trip. We can spend the day exploring the area and then sleep in the comfort of our own bed that night.

Holmes County is of course famous for being Ohio’s Amish Country, but there are all kinds of fun activities and places to see while visiting the area and not all of them involve Amish businesses, but many do.

In preparation for our summer day trip to the Holmes County area (actually it may take more than one), I made a list of things I would like to do when we visit Ohio’s Amish Country.

1. Take a wagon ride at The Farm at Walnut Creek. I have taken this ride through their animal park before but it has been a couple of years. It is fun to feed the animals and take a horse-drawn wagon ride around the farm.

2. Visit a local Amish bakery. My husband, Mark, loves to stock up on baked goods when we are in the area. I like to go to Hershberger Farm and Bakery because there are also animals on display. It is fun to watch the goats climb up to the the top of the barn.

3. Visit a harness shop. I don’t really need anything, but I can never resist stopping at harness shops that we pass. You never know what you will find inside.

4. Take a horseback ride at The Amish Country Riding Stables  at Guggisberg Swiss Inn. I have never taken a horseback ride in Amish Country,  but since I no longer have riding horses at home, I have lately been missing riding. I think it would be fun to take ride and then stop for some cheese at the Guggisberg shops nearby.

5. The Coblentz Chocolate Company is also something I would like to visit. How can you go wrong stopping at a store dedicated to selling chocolate?

6. After stopping and eating at one of the many restaurants in the area, I think it would be fun to take a walk. The Holmes County Rails to Trails Coalition, Inc. offers a walking, biking and horse-drawn buggy path. This sounds like a nice way to work off a large lunch.

There are hundreds of things to do in and around Holmes County (even in the winter). This list is just a few of activities I would like to do if I can talk my husband into another trip to the area this summer.

Even if Ohio’s Amish country is not for you, get out there and enjoy and explore Ohio. It has much to offer.