story by GLENDA WINDERS
Whether you’re on foot, in a car or riding a bike, who can resist the allure of a scenic trail? Shipshewana has several of them to delight locals and share with visitors. Pick up maps at the Shipshewana/LaGrange County Visitors Bureau (or print them from their website), and you’re ready to start exploring these free activities in the comfort of your own car.
The “Off the Beaten Path” adventure, for example, is not to be missed. This excellent byway will take you everywhere you want to go to discover Amish culture. To make your drive even more enjoyable, the Visit Shipshewana/LaGrange County CVB is offering a free Audio Driving Tour available on CD or streaming network.
As you drive through the gently rolling countryside you’ll take in some 80 colorful quilt murals that adorn barns, homesteads and public buildings. These diverse patterns celebrate northern Indiana’s traditions of farming, art, community pride, Hoosier hospitality and quilting itself.
Along the way you’ll be able to visit as many as 120 Amish-owned cottage shops that offer eggs, produce, honey and baked goods and studios where artisans demonstrate their work and sell what they have created. You’ll also find many places where you can pull in for some Amish cooking to fortify you as you travel.
Want still more? The Art in the Heart Trail leads you to discover some two dozen colorful and eye-popping murals, each of which tells its own story about the town’s early years, outstanding citizens and what’s happening today. See them all to knit together a comprehensive account of the area’s rich history. Be sure to save enough time to get a picture of yourself being the “I” in the Shipshe sculpture at the entrance to the Farmstead Inn.
Ready to get out of the car and stretch your legs? You’re going to love the Pumpkinvine Nature Trail, a 17-mile solid-surface accessible trail that connects the towns of Elkhart, Goshen, Middlebury and Shipshewana. Stops along the way allow you to have some ice cream, watch Amish farms at work or just sit back and enjoy the shade.
For more information visit: visitshipshewana.org
