Amish Country (Holmes County), Ohio (One-Day Tour)
This tour can be combined with Marietta travel packages

Take a break from the fast-paced world of cell phones, computers and demanding schedules, and enjoy the ‘simple life’ found in the Amish Country of Holmes County.  At first, you may feel as if time is standing still, but you'll soon discover that the Amish folk are highly enterprising and productive.  They have simply chosen to maintain their traditional beliefs and customs, continuing a lifestyle uncomplicated by the ways of the modern-day world.  As you travel through Holmes County, sharing the road with horses and buggies, you will experience first-hand the Amish way of life.  You will also take in plenty of beautiful scenery and have a wide variety of activities to pursue.

AMISH & MENNONITE HERITAGE CENTER

Begin your tour by visiting the Amish and Mennonite Heritage Center.  Learn about the community and see ‘Behalt,’ a dramatic 10 feet wide by 265 feet long mural-in-the-round that depicts Amish and Mennonite history, painted by the late international artist, Heinz Gaugel.  A video presentation, Conestoga wagon, pioneer barn, bookstore and gift shop are available.

DER DUTCHMAN RESTAURANT

For the hard-working people of Holmes County eating is a simple pleasure shared at family meals-times of fellowship and celebrations.  The Der Dutchman Restaurant has been at the heart of this community and its food traditions for more than 30 years.  Located in the center of Walnut Creek, Der Dutchman is a special destination for all.  Their traditional Amish kitchen cooking is the No. 1 reason students make the trip to Der Dutchman every year.  Their hilltop location and spectacular view come in a close second as the wall of windows that curves around the spacious dining room provides a breathtaking panoramic view of Goose Bottom Valley.

GERMAN CULTURE MUSEUM

The German Culture Museum, located in charming Walnut Creek, holds artifacts from one of America's unique cultures – the German-speaking people who settled in Holmes County and continue to speak the language today.  These Amish and Mennonite people brought their European craftsmanship to Holmes County, where their ancestors still flourish.  This exhibit highlights an original painting of eastern Holmes County's first settler, Jonas Stutzman, 19th century furniture crafted by local Amishman Valentine S. Yoder, a working replica of the Anabaptist Hiding Place used by Swiss Anabaptists to escape their persecutors in the 1500s and much more.

ROLLING RIDGE RANCH ANIMAL PARK

The Park features over 500 animals and birds from around the world.  Your group will be taken out into the 80-acre animal park by an experienced tour guide in a horse-drawn covered wagon.  On the journey your tour guide will be pointing out some of the more fascinating animals that are in this beautiful wooded rolling animal park; such as the Aoudad, White Elk and Eland.  The guide will take the time to stop at different points so you can feed the animals such as the Grant Zebra, Water Buffalo and Sika Deer.  A petting zoo is also available.

ROSCOE VILLAGE

Once a bustling port on the Ohio & Erie Canal, historic Roscoe Village now mixes the charm and history of the 1800s with plenty of fun and adventure for today.  See how broomcorn was fashioned into brooms.  Hear the click of the weaver's loom as she makes cloth out of yarn.  Smell the coal burning at the Village Smithy.  Write on a slate at the one-room school.  Enjoy a narrated canal ride on an authentic canal boat.  As a living history community, Roscoe Village is dedicated to teaching the cultural, natural and historical influences of the Canal Era, offering themed grade specific programs in addition to the traditional Living History Tour (all programs offer pre and post-visit activities designed to reinforce program objectives).

VICTORIAN HOUSE MUSEUM

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, this 28 room Queen Anne style home serves as the society's museum of Victoriana and collection of Holmes County history.  This beautiful mansion was built by L.H. Brightman, a Cleveland industrialist who moved there in 1902 with his wife and their 12 children.  Today, share the warmth and glow of this beautiful Victorian House Museum.

YODER’S AMISH HOME

Yoder's Amish Home was purchased in 1972 by Eli and Gloria Yoder.  Somewhat unsure of what to do with the badly run down farm which had been rented out to Amish families for 10 years, Eli and Gloria decided to do what they had in the back of their minds all along.  After extensive repairs, Yoder's Amish Home was opened for visitors in 1983.  Today, knowledgeable, local tour guides take students through two homes and the family barn.  The tour explains the history and lifestyle of the Amish people and is geared toward the age of your students.  While at Yoder's Amish Home, take a buggy ride, too.  Weather permitting, enjoy a horse-drawn hayride – using a team of large workhorses to give students an idea of how the Amish use these horses for field work.

Discovery Tours, Inc.
24719 Dundee Drive
Cleveland, OH 44143

TOLL FREE NATIONWIDE
P:  (800) 590.2669
P:  (216) 531.8884
F:  (216) 531.8885
info@discoverycleveland.com

Home | Student Tours | Baseball Tours | Motor Coach Tours | Cruise Adventures
Natural Heritage Tours | Vacation Getaways | Group Travel | Railroad Adventures
Disney World Vacations | General Tour Information | Frequent Traveler Program
Travel Shows | Newsletters | Downloads | Site Map | Contact Us

Copyright © 2008 Discovery Tours, Inc.  All rights reserved.  Legal Notices.
Discovery Tours and find more to discover are service marks of Discovery Tours, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.