It's easy to hear someone talk about Ohio's Amish Country and picture rolling hills, country roads, a barn or two and the obligatory horses and buggies.
And while, if you visit Amish Country, you're likely to come across most or all of those things, there's a lot more to the area than nice scenery.
Take, for example, the vibrant town of Berlin.
Now the oldest existing village in Holmes County — the heart of Ohio's Amish Country — Berlin began as an unassuming country town whose industry and shops propelled it into what it is today: A hub of craftsmanship and artistry with an old-meets-new appeal that holds promise for millennials (check out the uber-hip Moxie, pictured below), seasoned antique hunters and "Just-curious"-types alike.
We stopped in Berlin on a gorgeous Memorial Day weekend, and it seemed loads of others had the same great idea.
After parking in a lot at the outskirts of town, we walked toward Main Street to begin a busy day of browsing.
A number of artisans had set up displays along the sidewalk, while the merchants along the street ensured a steady stream of foot traffic with colorful displays and inviting storefronts.
One of our favorite stops was the Catalpa Trading Company, a whimsical store whose interior was a maze of vintage books and games, toys, artifacts and memorabilia. The man/trickster who greeted us the moment we walked through the door evidently had something burning a hole in his wallet...
Before we left for Berlin, we'd made up our minds to taste some local flavor for lunch at Boyd and Wurthmann Restaurant, whose slogan, "Home Style Cooking," says it all. My chicken salad croissant, the special of the day, was enjoyed amid constant perusal of the walls decorated with old-timey kitchen appliances and tables full of folks chatting as they enjoyed their hearty midday meals.
The shelves of pie were tempting, but we promised ourselves we'd walk a bit before we tackled dessert (and there are lots of dessert places to choose from).
A number of antique shops lined the streets, displaying rustic and country-inspired wares for both indoors and outdoors.
Our favorite antique destination was the massive Berlin Village Antique Mall, a treasure trove of all things gracefully aged: Furniture, clothing, jewelry, decor and oh-so-much-more, at what seemed to us very reasonable prices.
On our way back toward the center of town, we stepped into Sommers Olde Tyme General Store, where the smell of fresh-brewed coffee greeted us and lingered as we browsed through shelves of goods and gifts.
We took a break from the heat of the day with delicious ice cream cones from Bigg Bubb's Ice Cream, which we enjoyed from the shade of the front porch as we watched traffic go by.
It was such a fun, memorable day in Ohio's Amish Country where we experienced more than we ever knew we could!
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