Named one of America’s “Most Scenic Drives,” the Heritage Trail, in northern Indiana, takes you on a 90-mile journey through the rolling farmland around Nappanee, Wakarusa, Middlebury, and Shipshewana.
When you plan your Heritage Trail experience, make time to enjoy stops along the way. Amish artisans are all around you and eager to demonstrate their craft. Furniture- makers apply time-honored techniques to piece together tables, chairs, and cabinets of stunning beauty and ingenuity in design.
From baskets, quilts, and blankets to noodles, pies, and breads, Amish Country artisans blend tradition with the present.
Take a walk or ride your bike along the Pumpkinvine Nature Trail and you’re likely to bump into Amish families going to work, heading to town to shop, or just enjoying the scenic beauty of this rails-to-trails path. Like the Heritage Trail, the Pumpkinvine connects community, building on the creative energy of all.
JOURNEY OF DISCOVERY
The Heritage Trail also connects to the larger, more urban communities of Goshen, Elkhart and Bristol. This is where worlds collide and artisans put their heart and soul behind fine art, jewelry, functional pottery, exquisitely crafted soaps, and, yes, even one-of-a-kind hand- built motorcycles.
Goshen buzzes with a college town vibe and is a great place to soak in the vivid artistry. Local bartenders mix hand-crafted cocktails, while craft brewmasters concoct heady hops. The walkable downtown boasts a trendy record store that also serves as a venue for touring indie bands. Boutiques blend seamlessly with antique shops, and restaurants serve cuisine from around the globe. The past meets present at the Millrace Farmers Market and neighborhoods along a trail line a one-time hydraulic canal.
Elkhart puts its stamp on its unique take on an urban center. Shows at the Lerner Theatre, a glittering restored movie palace, burst with the creative energy of young talent. Art galleries blending modern interpretations and timeless classics are the ideal complement to an eclectic array of restaurants, eateries and museums. The city always seems to be in motion and that’s most apparent at a world- class aquatics center rising as the centerpiece of the growing River District.
MAKE MEMORIES HERE
Look around a little and you can’t help but notice the Heritage Trail is rich with awe-inspiring scenery.
Waterways snake through unspoiled farmland, urban vistas, and woodlands. Fishing or kayaking along the St. Joe River in Bristol or just waiting to capture the perfect photo—it’s your choice of adventure.
For iconic sights, the only place to start is the historic barns, mills, and factories that symbolize the power of innovation and entrepreneurship. The story of Elkhart County is told in those places and in the mansions and stately neighborhoods that speak to prosperity through the work of making things by hand.
