*Article Sponsored by Northern Indiana Amish Country*
The meticulous craftsmanship of handmade quilts can be seen everywhere in Northern Indiana Amish Country. Groups blend fabrics and fun with gardens and giggles in this special interest themed tour.
Groups get up close and personal by touching and seeing magnificent quilts, then join in a real Amish quilting bee on their farm. Exclusive to groups, watch how these ladies have fun around the quilt frame, then sit down beside them as they work and share homespun stories and laughter.
A stay at Amish Acres Historic Farm & Heritage Resort in Nappanee specializes in the sumptuous Threshers’ Dinner, served in a historic restored barn under massive hand-hewn beams. Combine this with memorable shopping and tours of an Amish house and farm from yesteryear plus get recharged for the next day with a good night’s sleep in their cozy country inns.
Das Dutchman Essenhaus in Middlebury has its own quilt shop, so you can head there after devouring fried chicken, mashed potatoes plus pie at Indiana’s largest restaurant! If that’s not enough, many shops on the grounds are filled with specialty gift items, home baked goods, décor and novelties.
Plan a visit during the annual Shipshewana Quilt Festival each June which is an extravaganza of all things quilting. See the best of the best at the festival’s juried quilt show and learn something new from your choice of lectures and workshops taught by nationally known experts.
The Shipshewana Auction & Flea Market is a must-see on any visit to northern Indiana. Visitors can browse acres of flea market vendors (Tuesdays and Wednesdays, May through September) or take in the weekly antique auction which often includes vintage quilts. Numerous fabric shops and notion stores are found in the quaint downtown.
The beauty of quilts isn’t limited to fabrics either in Amish Country! The 2016 edition of the Quilt Gardens Tour features 19 gardens planted in intricate quilt patterns with historical significance, in honor of Indiana’s bicentennial. The gardens line the Heritage Trail, named by LIFE magazine editors as one of “America’s Most Scenic Drives.” Viewable May 30-October 1, this annual event is only found in northern Indiana and is an American Bus Association Top 100 event.
Master Gardeners or expert quilters are available as step-on guides which completes the tour experience making Northern Indiana Amish Country one of the most popular group destinations in the Midwest. For more information: www.AmishCountryTours.org, 800-262-8161.
