Take a Great Ohio Road Trip to Ohio Amish Country

The rolling landscape of Ohio Amish Country is dotted with barns, farmhouses and fields that reflect a way of life focused on hard work, family and the land. In every season, the region draws travelers with its mix of charming shops, markets, restaurants and places to stay, but the arrival of spring provides a particularly inviting time to explore.

Country Greenhouses 

It isn’t springtime in Ohio until you have a little dirt on your hands, and there is no better place to embrace the growing season than a region steeped in agricultural tradition. Ohio Amish Country is home to a plethora of greenhouses that offer a wide mix of plants and shopping experiences. 

Yoder’s Greenhouse & Nursery in Apple Creek is a great stop for those looking for flowers, ornamental grasses or fruit trees such as honey crisp or gala apples. The sprawling spot is also just a fun place to explore, with amusing touches such as outdoor shopping aisles with names like Rose Lane and Azalea Street, and a large wooden bridge that passes over the driveway welcoming customers. 

The 20,000-square-foot Olive Branch Home & Garden in Millersburg stocks perennials, annuals, hanging baskets and vegetable plants. Even those doing small container plantings can benefit from the guidance of the knowledgeable staff. While you’re there, don’t miss Modern Farmhouse, a connected store that sells wares that complement Olive & Branch. The funky and vibrant boutique is full of clothing, home goods and vintage vibes. 

These are just a couple of the well-stocked greenhouses found here — places where an afternoon of browsing captures your imagination of what is possible in your own yard. Many greenhouses are found down country roads that require a brief excursion from the heart of the region’s busiest areas. These tucked-away spots are well worth the trip for the expertise available that has been developed over generations of gardening. Find a map of several of these locations at visitamishcountry.com/blog/ringing-spring. 

Great Stays 

The Inn at Honey Run in Millersburg sits on 56 acres and is surrounded by woods that give the place a wonderfully secluded feel. Guests have the option to stay at the inn itself or in one of the rooms uniquely built into a hillside on the property. Both options feature Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs and other convenient and modern touches. 

The inn itself has indoor common areas with wood-burning fireplaces, and 3 miles of walking trails wind throughout the grounds. Be sure to check out the Holmes County Open Air Art Museum, a 1.5-mile trail that features nearly a dozen nature-inspired outdoor works of art, such as a totem carved out of a 55-foot-tall tree and a life-sized cuckoo clock composed of mostly found organic materials. Once you’ve worked up an appetite, Tarragon at the Inn at Honey Run offers a white-tablecloth dining experience with a small-but-mighty seasonal menu that features elegantly presented entrees such as ribeye steaks, chicken and pork chops.  

Tiny Stays Berlin offers a trio of cozy, centrally located accommodations that have a small footprint. The Lux, the most well-appointed of the three, features a full bathroom and kitchen, hardwood flooring, a 92-inch television and mood-setting accent lighting. A 32-foot-long deck lets guests soak in the outdoors. The Scandi features 12-foot ceilings and large windows, including one above the lofted sleeping space. If you’re exploring Ohio Amish Country as a family, Apt 359 provides a two-bedroom apartment that can accommodate up to six people. For more information, visit innathoneyrun.com or tinystaysberlin.com.

Beautiful Blooms 

Gina Morbitzer and her husband, Joe, moved from Columbus to the village of Shreve in 2020 to open the 6-acre Hummingbird Hill Flower Farm. The avid gardeners now welcome guests for workshops, private events like weddings and bridal showers and casual visits to stop and smell the roses (of which there are approximately 80 varieties).

If you’re as wild about flowers as the Morbitzers, head to the farm in the spring as roughly 5,000 bulbs, from daffodils of all colors and fragrance to fancy tulips and grape hyacinths, start to bloom. In May and June, catch peonies, poppies, bachelor buttons, lavender, snapdragons, larkspur, liatris, herbs and a variety of early blooming perennials. 

Workshops include Sunset Yoga, an experience that includes picking a bouquet of flowers out of the field, taking a yoga class and then sticking around to enjoy the sunset. The eco-printing workshop lets visitors pick flowers and stems out of the field and then use a dye-transfer process to imprint them onto silk or cotton to create a scarf, table runner or other textile items. From the top of the farm’s namesake hill, visitors can take in miles of Ohio Amish Country, and Adirondack chairs are set up around the farm. Plus, there’s always the chance you’ll see a hummingbird flitting by. Be sure to visit the farm’s Flower Bar Market where you can buy gardening decor, gifts and fresh-cut flowers. hummingbirdhillflowerfarm.com

Modern Market 

Sheiyah Market’s large red barn stands out like a beacon along state Route 39 in the heart of Berlin, but the 50,000-square-feet of shopping spans multiple spaces and experiences. Start your visit at Buggy Brew Coffee Co., which serves up cups of joe from locally roasted Red Mug Coffee Co., pastries and more in an inviting cafe space with tables and games for the kids. 

From there, explore Country Gatherings, an expansive, multi-room store filled with a vast selection of artfully assembled home decor and lifestyle wares in styles ranging from vintage inspired to modern farmhouse. From beehive-shaped candles to a framed painting of Abraham Lincoln to charming dining room table centerpieces, the wide and interesting selection offers a welcoming spot to lose yourself for a while. 

Next door, shoppers can step inside The Gardens, a greenhouse packed with a selection of plants, gardening tools, fountains, bird baths and more to beautify your backyard. Kids and the young at heart alike can explore the variety of fairy-garden accessories that range from miniature winged figurines to mushroom houses. If you need some magical inspiration, a courtyard seating area presents a charming display of assembled fairy gardens.

Then, head outside and past the life-size model of a horse and buggy to The Village Gift Barn, which offers three more levels of shopping. Visitors will find smaller home decor items and furniture, but the primary draw is the main floor’s Sheiyah Style Boutique, which offers all one needs to assemble a great outfit, from boots and sneakers to shawls and sweaters. 4755 St. Rte. 39, Berlin, Ohio 44610, 330/893-2648, sheiyahmarket.com

Trail Adventures 

Ohio Amish Country is all about taking it slow. So, instead of traveling from town to town in the family SUV, leave gas-powered transportation behind for the day and explore the area on two wheels by way of a path created by the Holmes County Rails-to-Trails Coalition. 

The multi-use, two-part trail — one 15-mile-long section connects Fredericksburg and Killbuck, while an 8-mile portion links Glenmont and Brinkhaven —accommodates bicyclists, hikers, horseback riders and buggies. A planned 8-mile section between Killbuck and Glenmont that is scheduled to be completed within the next couple of years will create a continuous, 31-mile pathway through the county.  

Although you can bring your own bike to park and ride at several spots, such as trailheads in Fredericksburg off Clay Street, Holmesville off state Route 83, Hipp Station/Millersburg Depot in Millersburg or Glenmont off County Road 25, you can also rent traditional or electric bikes. E-Bikes of Holmes County in Holmesville offers four types of bicycles or e-bikes and will deliver them to lodging locations throughout Holmes County for a fee. 

Once you’ve got your wheels beneath you, don’t miss the natural wonders along the way, including part of Lower Killbuck Creek Wildlife Area, where you can take in wetlands, wooded areas and rock outcroppings as well as spot wildlife such as mallard ducks, Canada geese and maybe even a bald eagle or trumpeter swan. Go to visitamishcountry.com to learn more about the Holmes County Rails-to-Trails Coalition. 

Local Flavors 

Ohio Amish Country is well known for hearty, country-style fare, but those time-honored dishes are only part of the story when it comes to this region’s food-and-drink offerings.

Founded in 1980 by winemaker Duke Bixler, Breitenbach Wine Cellars in Dover feels like a little slice of Europe, thanks to its brightly colored buildings with pitched roofs that give the feel of a German village. Set on 200 acres — 20 of which are vineyard — Breitenbach is known for crafting fruit wines such as apricot, cherry or peach as well as its bestselling Roadhouse Red, a semisweet and smooth wine. The winery’s sweet dandelion dessert wine is made from dandelion blossoms picked by a local Amish family, and it’s only available at the winery’s retail shop. The dandelions also serve as inspiration for the annual Dandelion Festival (May 5 and 6 this year), but stop by throughout the spring for wine tastings and food such as wood-fired pizzas and salads.

Open since 2022, The Cider Press restaurant in downtown Millersburg features farm-to-table fare. Chef CaSondra Edwards’ seasonal dishes make this eatery a must-visit spot for foodies. Although the menu changes weekly, past offerings have included dishes like mushroom risotto, brisket, Tuscan-style chicken and fried pickles. Ciders available include those crafted by Bent Ladder in Doylestown and Baltic Mill Winery in Baltic. With exposed brick walls and industrial-style lighting, The Cider Press is a great spot for a date night or a meal with friends. While you’re in downtown Millersburg, be sure to visit the area’s antique shops, boutiques and more. To learn more, visit breitenbachwine.com or ciderpressmbg.com.

This Great Ohio Road Trips article is a paid partnership with the Holmes County Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Bureau. For more information about these and other destinations in Ohio Amish Country, go to visitamishcountry.com.