Things to Do in Shipshewana, Indiana

Shipshewana Things to Do

Nestled in the heart of Amish country, there are many interesting things to see and do in Shipshewana, Indiana.

Amish and Mennonite Culture

If you’ve wondered about the Amish people and their Mennonite kindred, Menno-Hof (Amish Visitors Center) is the place to stop. This is a fantastic center/museum that educates visitors on the Amish and Mennonites so others can understand their philosophy, religion and way of life. You’ll learn about their faith journey from the old world to Indiana; you should plan for about two hours. If you don’t have time for a tour, there are some books and other literature inside the building for purchase. There is also a beautiful Quilt Garden to see. It will answer many questions visitors often have.

Take a Buggy Ride and Dine in an Amish Home

Another way to learn more about the Amish is to take a buggy ride and then partake in an authentic Amish meal in a traditional home. The Amish will happily answer any questions you have and you can see first-hand how they live. A typical meal includes chicken, roast beef, homemade noodles, fresh corn, mashed potatoes, gravy and salad, along with homemade bread and spreads. The meal is finished off with dessert. Good time, good food and friendship.

If you don’t want to do the buggy ride, you can still see Shipshewana by car. Drive down the back roads and see the landscape full of white-washed houses and barns, fields of corn and hay, and the horse and cow pastures. The scenery is beautiful and comfortable.

Shop ‘Til You Drop

There are plenty of places to go shopping in Shipshewana. Stop by the Davis Mercantile with its two-dozen shops filled with home accents, apparel and Amish-inspired specialty food. If that isn’t enough to whet your shopping spree, also visit the Shipshewana Flea Market. Touted as the Midwest’s largest flea market, there are hundreds of vendors who sell everything from fresh fruit to handcrafted furniture. Each floor has different specialty shops with some excellent quality merchandise. The flea market is only open on a couple of weekdays, some holidays and it is seasonal (May-October). Check to see the current schedule before you plan.

On Wednesdays (except Christmas and New Year’s) is the weekly Antique Auction. It starts at 9 a.m. and goes until the auctioning is finished. Visitors are allowed to view and inspect the merchandise on Tuesday and Wednesday before the bidding starts. If you’ve never bid at auction before, you might want to watch first to get the hang of it and make sure you know exactly what you are bidding on (e.g. a set of 6 chairs may be sold one at a time or some furniture may be reproductions). Cash payments only, unless prior arrangements are made. If you prefer a more traditional way to shop for antiques, The Antique Gallery across the street has more than 100 vendors in over 31,000 square feet.

Also check out Yoder’s Meat and Cheese or stop in one of the many other smaller cottage shops and furniture stores while in town.

Editor’s Note: The information contained on this page was compiled using real traveler reviews about things to do in Shipshewana.