Ohio's Amish Country Guide

Well this week I went with the fam to Ohio's Amish Country. If you know me, you know I love cheese! So, I fit right in with the Amish (other than their lack of technology use, lol.) Anyways, I thought what better way to describe the places we went than by making a link list. So here it goes!

Chalet in the Valley
This is an AWESOME restaurant that serves Swiss and Austrian cuisine (Although, I would categorize it as German food, LOL). Things such as schnitzel and sauerkraut with sausage are on the menu here. They also have a buffet, but I believe it is only on Sundays. We did not go here this trip, but last time, we sampled their Polka Punch, very tasty! And now they have chocolate fondue which I have yet to try, but assume that it's amazing.

The Farmstead Restaurant
Here is where we ate this time for my mom's birthday. They have an excellent buffet every day of the week, not just weekends. Also, they have a little bakery where I found some cheese bread for the best price.

Heini's Cheese Chalet 

Not sure which cheese to choose? Stop by Heini's. They have tons of samples of cheese and their cream cheese fudge. Dee-lish!!!

Kauffman's Country Bakery
This place has lots of samples of their breads and pastries. They have some unusual items as well such as purple grain bread. They also have cookies, candy, and cheese. Located right across the street from Heini's Cheese Chalet.






Walnut Creek Cheese
Everything you could possibly want AND the cheese, this place includes a grocery store and kitchenware section as well as a clearance loft. Oh, and don't forget the the little cafe and ice cream shop.

Guggisberg Cheese

The cutest little cheese factory ever!

Sol's
Lots of homemade crafts, foods, furniture, and much more.

Ashery Country Store
So far, THE lowest prices on bulk foods I have come across in Amish Country, it's a little out of the way, buy definitely worth it!


Walnut Creek Antique Mall (no website)

4872 Mckinley Place Dr.
Walnut Creek, OH 44687

I got a great coffee table there for $12 that I sanded and finished for about the same price!


Troyer's Country Market

In addition to their signature trail bologna, Troyer's has lots of other food and snacks including some great produce from their local farm. They always have many samples as well.

Here is an interesting little fact I have recently learned: 

Troyer's Trail Bolonga is actually made in a little town not far from Berlin, in between Walnut Creek & Winesburg on SR 557 in a little town named Trail Ohio where the same family has been making it since 1912... Troyer's Country Store is a fabulous store but they don't make Troyer's Trail Bolonga. 

Click here to see their Facebook page.

Berlin Village Antique Mall

Lots and lots of great antiques here, as well a cute little diner.

Share and Care Thrift Store

I also cannot find a website for this thrift store, but they have LOW LOW prices on everything. One time we were there, everything was 50% off! It's not a big place, but they have toys, kids and adult clothing, and housewares items as well as some tools and hardware. Also a little bit of furniture.

4663 US 62

Berlin, OH 44610

(330) 893-3890

For many, many more places to check out in Ohio's Amish Country, visit Holmes County's Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Bureau's website.

Thinky Linky Thursday: Making Christmas Shopping A Learning Experience

Is this a familiar sight this time of year? For most of us, by this time we are getting a little tired of fighting the crowds just to find that perfect gift for our loved ones. And just think about our children. If you're like me, you may have been dragging your little ones around to all the store with you until they are ready to pass out. But if we take just a little time while we are out to make the trip fun and educational, it can make all the difference. Maybe even become your own family tradition.

0-2 Year Olds: 

• With this age group, they are taking in everything they see around them. Make a game out of shopping like looking for a particular item and whoever spots it first, gets to choose the next item to look for.
• For younger children who aren't speaking much yet, teaching them new vocabulary is a great idea while you are going around to places and seeing things they don't see everyday. Point something out and repeat the word a few times. 
• Make a game out of waving at people, of course only the ones who are friendly enough to initiate the interaction themselves or people who work at the store like the cashier. Teach your child to say hi, bye, and other polite greetings.

3-5 Year Olds:

• Signs are a great learning tool. Have your child point out letters or numbers they know on the sign, especially letters that are in their own name. Let them compare the different types of writing they see on the signs. Talk about the difference between capital and lower case letters.
• Sing a song. In the car, maybe in the store depending on the atmosphere of the store you're in. Let the children choose songs they like, but also add in some with rhyming words, ABCs or counting.
• Have the kids help you make a list before you go to the store. Some of them may even be able to help you write down some of the words. Give each person an item they are responsible for finding in the store such as a gift they will be giving a grandparent. This will help keep them on task so they don't get bored as quickly and distracted by that brand new toy that Santa already got them.
• Talk about safety in the parking lot and have them tell you some safety rules they already know such as look both ways before crossing the street.

Older Children:

• Get them involved in the shopping. Maybe even give them some money (unless they already have their own). Pull out the calculator (or smart phone) and have them do some math. Adding and subtracting the amounts things cost to see how much the total cost will be and how much will be left over. Have them estimate what they think the total will come to. 

• Measure distances between things or how long an aisle is using footsteps. (Not recommended in a crowded store)
• Compare prices on different brands of a product by looking at the 'per unit' pricing label. 
• Talk about caring and sharing. See if they can come up with a way to help people who are less fortunate. Offer to let them choose a gift to buy for Toys for Tots or some other organization or encourage them to save their own money to buy an item to donate. Have them put some change in Salvation Army's bell ringers bucket. You could even have them go through some of their old toys, clothes, etc and choose a charity to donate them to.

Happy Shopping!

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