Amish country in Ohio is one of the most visited places in the state every year. The area is visited by 4 million people annually. There are numerous reasons why so many people visit Amish country every year. There are rolling hills, beautiful scenery, excellent restaurants, wonderful places to stay, the Amish people and many different activities to do.
As with any area some of the activities that you can do can be free, less expensive or can be hard on the pocketbook. In this post, I share 10 budget friendly things that you can do by yourself, with a loved one or with a whole family. Many of the things on the list are actually free. It doesn’t get more budget friendly than that.
No matter what budget friendly things that you choose from the list to do, you will have a great time and will be able to make some great memories.
If you would like some more ideas of things to do in Amish Country, you can also check out my post titled “20 Great Things to Do in Amish Country.”
Where is Amish Country?
Amish Country is located in Holmes, Tuscarawas, Wayne, Knox, and Coshocton counties with the biggest concentration of the population being in Holmes County. This Amish settlement is the largest in the world.
In many ways, it is like going back in time when visiting the area. You are going to see horses and buggies on the road and a slower pace of life and it is a great place to visit as a couple or with your family.
10 Budget Friendly Things to Do in Amish Country
1. Large Cuckoo Clock
In the downtown area of Sugarcreek, which is known as the Little Switzerland of Ohio. is one of the world’s largest cuckoo clocks. In 1977, it was featured in the Guinness Book of World Records as the world’s largest cuckoo clock. That Guinness title may now be with a cuckoo clock in Germany but it still is one of the world’s largest.
The clock was built in 1972 and was located at Alpine Alpa restaurant located between Wilmot and Winesburg, OH. The clock was brought to the village in 2012 and restored by volunteers. It is 23 feet tall and 24 feet wide.
Every 30 minutes, a couple that are 3 feet tall located on tracks dance to Bavariian music from a 5 piece band and a cuckoo bird pops out. The clock does this April through November from the hours of 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM.
Cost is free.
2. Farm at Walnut Creek
The Farm of Walnut Creek is located in the heart of Amish country. It is a working farm so depending on what season of the year that you visit you may see planting, thrashing, harvesting, canning or growing produce.
On the farm are 500 different animals that come from 6 of the 7 continents. Some of the animals that are on the farm include: llamas, buffalo, horses, deer, giraffes and more.
You can take a tour with your car and hand feed the animals or you can take a horse drawn wagon ride to feed them. There is also a petting area to get even closer to some of the animals.
You can also stroll through the farmhouses and they have a produce stand. Plan to spend 2-3 hours here.
Click the link to see current prices.
3. Drive Amish Country Byway
The Amish Country Byway is located in Holmes County. It consists of 13 state routes that criss cross the county and are 160 miles long. The county is full of rolling hills, valleys and natural vistas.
As you travel the byway you will see local furniture stores, bulk food stores, one room school houses, Amish buggies, restaurants and maybe even some Amish walking to a wedding or to church.
The whole county is picturesque and worth the drive but if you want to see more of the Amish, staying Millersburg and east is what you will want to do.
Tips for driving the byway
Driving through the eastern part of the byway during late spring through the beginning of November can be hectic. If you just want to take a nice relaxing drive to enjoy the scenery, during that time of year you will want to do so before stores open up or after they close.
Sunday is a great time to take a drive through the county because most businesses are closed on Sunday. If you are up for a little more adventure, you can even take some of the county roads. All the county roads are paved and well maintained.
One suggested route
Start in Berlin and take SR 39/62 west towards Millersburg. Turn left onto SR 557 towards Charm. Follow SR 557 until it dead ends into SR 93. Take a left onto SR 93 and at the light in Sugarcreek turn left onto SR 39. Next, take a right onto SR 515 in Walnut Creek. Follow SR 515 until it dead ends into SR 62. Take a left onto SR 62 back to Berlin. The total mileage for the loop is 32 miles.
Cost is free.
4. David Warther Carvings
David Warther Carvings is located a mile west of the village of Sugarcreek. The ships that are on display were carved by David Warther. He is a master carver of ships which he makes out of ivory, which is obtained legally in the United States, ebony wood and abalone pearl.
There are over 90 ships which are housed in a 10,000 square foot facility. There are five spacious rooms that house the ships which are all carved in the scrimshaw method of carving.
Some of the different ships David has carved include Christopher Columbus’ ships the Nina, Pinta and Santa Maria, the Mayflower, and the H.M.S. Bounty and Endeavor.
With his carvings, David is tracing the history of ships from 3000 BC till present day. The history of carving runs in his family. David’s grandfather Ernest “Mooney” Warther was a master carver of steam engine trains.
Besides the ships there is a gift shop and a 30 foot clock tower that has a spiral staircase that you can go to the top of to get a better view of the surrounding area.
Click the link to see current prices.
5. Mt. Hope Auction
Do you want to have a different cultural experience? If you answered yes, then head to Mt. Hope and go to the Mt. Hope Auction. They hold their livestock, hay, straw, ear corn and firewood sale every Wednesday.
They hold various other auctions throughout the year, such as the horse sale, machinery sale, and the Mid-Ohio Alternative Bird and Animal sale.
On the site of Mt. Hope Auction is a 61,125 square foot event center that offers different events throughout the year. Some of them include a train show, quilt show, sportsman show, furniture auction and home and garden show.
Cost is free.
6. Country Acres Mini Golf
Located just east of Berlin is Country Acres Mini Golf. Country Acres has two 18 hole courses to pick from. The Barn Course is geared towards families which is mostly accessible with strollers and wheelchairs.
The Bridge Course is a little more challenging course with elevation changes, water, covered bridges and more. They also have a snack bar to purchase drinks and snacks.
Click the link to see current prices.
7. Hershberger’s Farm and Bakery
Hersberger’s Farm and Bakery is less than 2 miles from the village of Berlin located on SR 557 and it is unique in that it has a bakery, farm store and petting zoo.
The bakery has many of the standard bakery items, such as donuts, pies, cookies, muffins, bread and fry pies. They also have meats, cheeses, canned goods and spices.
The farm store has tack bird seed, leather goods, wooden toys, wallets and furniture. The farm petting area is great for the kids. There are chickens, goats, rabbits, ducks, cows, and horses. They also offer pony and horse rides for a small fee.
Starting in the spring, Hersberger’s has a food truck that offers a variety of fare. During the summer months there are lots of local produce that can be purchased. In the fall, you can take a wagon ride to pick out pumpkins.
There is a cost in doing the petting zoo. You can click the link to see the current price.
8. Cabin Creek Golf
Cabin Creek Golf is more than just a miniature golf course. Not only do they have golf but there is a driving range, sand volleyball courts, batting cages, shuffleboard, pavilion and a play area for young kids.
There are two 18 hole miniature golf courses. The courses have challenges such as water wheels, geysers, bridges and water holes.
The driving range has 10 covered tee boxes with 5 of them having heaters. There are 4 unsheltered tee boxes. The driving range is lit and there is even a token dispenser that allows you to hit balls when they are closed.
The batting cages are for both baseball and softball. There are 6 different stalls and it is lit for night time practice. The speeds for the baseball cages are 35, 50, and 85 mph. The softball cage speeds are slow pitch and 50 mph.
There are two shuffleboard courts and two sand volleyball courts. There is an area with some swings and a slide for younger kids.
Click the links to see current prices for mini golf, driving range, batting cages, shuffleboard and sand volleyball, and pavilion rental.
9. Amish and Mennonite Heritage Center
If you love history and want to learn more about the Amish and Mennonite people than visiting the Amish and Mennonite Heritage Center is a must stop. One of the attractions at the center is a one room schoolhouse from the pre civil war era.
A mural is the main attraction at the Heritage Center and it depicts the history of the Anabaptist. The Amish, Mennonite, and Hutterite came out of the Anabaptist movement.
The mural starts in the year 1525 and ends at the present day. It is one of four cycloramas located in North America. The cyclorama is 10 feet high and 265 in length. The painting is known as Behalt which means “to keep or remember.”
If you stop at the center, you will want to take a guided tour of the painting. Before you go into the cyclorama, you will watch a 15 minute video about the area.
After the video, a tour guide will take you through the history and events that are being depicted in the mural. Each tour is 30 minutes long. The tour guides are more than happy to answer questions that you may have.
The Amish and Mennonite Heritage Center also contains a Gift Shop/Bookstore. The gift shop offers authentic handcrafts of the Amish and Mennonite communities.
In the bookstore, you will find books and videos from and about the Amish, Mennonites and Hutterites. The bookstore also has CDs of choral groups, individuals and recordings of Amish singing.
The Amish and Mennonite Heritage center is open from April through October. You can click the link to see current prices.
10. Walk or Bike Rails to Trails
If you like to bike or walk then the Holmes County Rails to Trails, is a nice peaceful way to do both in Amish Country. The trail was once a railroad line that was eventually washed out by a flood.
One side of the trail is paved for bikers, runners, wheelchairs, roller bladers, and walkers. The other side of the trail is chip and sealed for Amish buggies and horseback riders. You will also find benches along the trail.
The trail is broken into two sections. The first stretches from Fredericksburg to Killbuck. It is 15.7 miles long. Access to the trail can be found in Killbuck, Millersburg, Holmesville, and Fredericksburg.
This part of the trail has shaded areas as you travel on it. There are spots where you will see open fields. Other parts of the trail go through swamp areas where you can see waterfowl and other wildlife.
The Hipp Station in Millersburg is the main access to the trail. You will find a restored train depot located there along with a visitors center that has wildlife displays, trail information, vending machines, restrooms, covered picnic area, and playground.
The other section of the trail is a 7.3 mile stretch of trail that goes between the towns of Brinkhaven and Glenmont. There are only two access points which can be found in Brinkhaven and Glenmont. The trail is mostly flat with some sections having a gentle slope.
If you don’t have bikes, Charged Bike E-bike Rentals in Holmesville is a bike shop very close to the trail where you can rent bikes by the hour or for the day. They have road bikes, comfort bikes, electric bikes and electric trikes to rent.
Cost is free if you don’t have to rent bikes or if you walk the trail.
Final Thoughts
There is something for everyone as it comes to things to do in Amish Country. Not only will you be able to make some memories along the way, but you will also be able to keep more of your money in the process.
If you want to learn ways to save on travel, how to earn and maximize credit card points and miles, see travel itineraries and more, go to my blog at Travelwidstom.
That looks like an amazing trip! The Farm at Walnut Creek sounds so fun!
The area is a great place to live and visit.