The 'Breaking Amish' Guide to Amish Country
TLC’s “Breaking Amish” gang. Troyer and Byler are at the far left. (Photo: TLC “Breaking Amish”/Facebook)
On TLC’s hit show “Breaking Amish,” community members trade the simple life for the Big Apple with all its technology and forbidden fruit. But what if you want to escape 21st century life for Amish country? Yahoo Travel talked with Bates Byler and Miriam Troyer, two stars of the latest season of “Breaking Amish,” to find out what to do in Amish country.
Amish community members are often camera shy. (Photo: Getty Images)
“For people that want to experience Amish life, you should just go and visit!” says Byler. There are Amish communities scattered throughout the world (even in Belize!), but some of the most famous and easily accessible ones are located in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Indiana. These areas are home to some of the largest Amish populations in the world and provide a host of activities that let you step easily into their world. Here’s what Troyer and Byler say are must-do’s.
Take a tour
Amish use traditional methods to farm. (Photo: Getty Images)
It will really immerse you in the experience, says Bates. “You can participate in one where you really see how we live on a day-to-day basis.” One amazing place for tours is Amish Country Tours at Plain & Fancy Farm in the community called Bird-in-Hand, Pa. Try the 90-minute tour, in which you visit Amish farms — you can see families harvesting crops without the use of modern equipment, check out craft and quilt shops, and go to the Amish Experience Theater. (The production called “Jacob’s Choice” is a story about young Jacob’s struggle between choosing the Amish church or leaving behind family and community for the allure of the modern world.) Another great choice is Ridgeview Country Tours in Middlefield, Ohio. The company promises “country hospitality” and offers many packages, including “Growing Up Amish,” where you meet with a man who explains what it was like to be in the community; “Amish Tea Party,” where you visit a cheese co-op; and “Meet Our Amish Friends,” where you check out a one-room schoolhouse.
Ride in a horse-drawn buggy
Take a leisurely ride in a buggy. (Photo: Ralf Peter Reiman/Flickr)
Images of horses and buggies fill our imaginations when it comes to envisioning the Amish way of life, and Troyer says, “Riding a horse and buggy gives visitors an authentic experience of what it’s really like getting around in Amish country. If you want to have a true Amish vacation, then riding in a horse and buggy definitely makes the trip better.” Several companies offer buggy rides throughout Amish country. AAA Buggy Rides in Kitchen Kettle Village, Pa., has a 35-minute, four-mile ride where you can see a working Amish farm; a five-mile, 55-minute covered bridge tour; and a 60-minute tour of an Amish homestead. It’s a fun and relaxing way to see the countryside and witness the daily activities of the community.
Related: Better Than ‘Breaking Amish’ — a Bike Ride Through Indiana’s Amish Country
Do some shopping
Traditional wicker baskets are an Amish specialty. (Photo: Getty Images)
The Amish are known for their goods in both the culinary arts and in crafts. “People can get a taste of Amish life when they go to our farmers’ markets, because they can purchase fresh cheese, vegetables, homemade bread, and pretty much everything you can grow on a farm and make at home. And Amish farmers refrain from use of growth hormones or steroids to assure a delicious natural product,” says Troyer. “A lot of these markets and stores depend on tourists to sustain their business.”
Kauffman’s Fruit Farm and Market in Bird-in-Hand, Pa., has homegrown fruits, local produce in season, sweet apple cider, pickled and canned food, and a deli with all-natural meats. Here you can get some Amish specialties like homemade jellies, pork products from local slaughter- and smokehouses, and chow-chow, which is a specialty relish. The Valley Marketplace in Boardman, Ohio provides a similar experience, with 30 Amish vendors selling everything from their famous Middlefield homemade cheese to Amish-made furniture, known for its quality. “At Amish woodworking shops, they make everything,” says Bates. “Seek out their tables, chairs, birdhouses, and wicker baskets.” Many places are closed on Sundays for religious observance, so plan accordingly.
Related: Yum-o-Rama! The 10 Best Farmers’ Markets in the Country
Eat an authentic Amish meal with a real Amish family
A slice of Shoofly Pie, an Amish specialty. (Photo: Getty Images)
“Family is so important in the Amish culture,” says Miriam. “So getting to sit down with an Amish family to see how they interact is just as fun as getting to eat the food!” Check out The Carriage House in Topeka, Ind., or Amish Heartland Tours in Millersburg, Ohio to get an authentic Amish meal, which is more like a feast. Meals are made in wood-burning or kerosene stoves (just no electricity), and usually consist of freshly baked homemade bread, peanut butter spread, salad with two homemade dressings, roast beef, baked chicken, mashed potatoes, noodles, green beans, hot and cold beverages, and assorted homemade pies — all served family style.
Stay at an Amish inn
The Farmstead Lodging in Fredericksburg, Ohio. (Photo: The Farmstead Lodging)
After a long day of perusing and exploring the simpler way of life, you may be inspired to skip the chain motel with the TV and free Wi-Fi and opt for a more low-key night. “There are Amish inns where you can spend the night,” says Bates. “They have the room set up as a typical Amish home, and you get to see if you can survive a night.”
At The Farmstead Lodging in Fredericksburg, Ohio, you may not have all the comforts of home (you’ll be reading by a gas lamp in simple surroundings) but when you wake up you will have the comfort of fresh baked goods for breakfast. You can even ask the family if you may go along for the ride on a wagon pulled by great Belgian draft horses and help feed the farm animals.
The Beacon Hollow Farm Amish Guest House in Gordonville, Pa., is an actual working dairy farm in the heart of Lancaster County and offers a similar experience where you stay in the guest cottage and chow down on a hearty breakfast each morning. And if you so desire, you can wake up early with the family and help out with their morning chores to understand what it’s like maintaining a farm with no electrical equipment. Talk about a working vacation!
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Just remember, while sightseeing be aware of the proper etiquette when entering an Amish community. If you’re driving, keep an eye out for slow-moving buggies, and avoid high beams and the horn so as not to spook the horses. Another major tourist faux pas is the use of cameras. Avoid taking photos or video of the community members, because most consider it an unacceptable act of pride. They will, however, often allow you to snap a shot of their homes, farms, and buggies. Many are shy but will be polite and could even strike up a longer conversation with you. Hit it off and you might find yourself invited for dinner!
“Breaking Amish” airs on Thursdays at 10/9 Central on TLC.
WATCH: Goodbye Amish Country, Hello New York
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