If you’re looking to explore the heart of Amish Country with an engaging, fun, and charming guide, look no further than The Shipshe Tour Lady, Karleen Richter. With 25 years of experience and a deep love for the area, Karleen is a step-on guide for group tours beyond the more traditional stops you’d get as an everyday visitor. These experiences invite you to discover the peace, beauty, and hidden gems of Shipshewana and the surrounding countryside.
What is a Step-on Guide?
“First of all, you are knowledgeable about the place. You are either getting in the car, a bus or on a minibus and telling the people what they are going to see as they go along the way.” Whether it’s pointing out new sights or sharing a piece of history, Karleen is always ready to provide a fun fact or answer any question.
“As we’re going down the road, if I see something on the left side, I say, ‘oh, look over here at 11 o’clock, they’re plowing a field or over here on the right, that barn’s black because…’ and just what they’re seeing as they go. I don’t really have a script.”
Karleen knows the area because she actively explores it. She has a heart for adventure and immerses herself in the destination she’s visiting. Whether it’s one of the many countries she’s visited or right here in Shipshewana.
“I’m always seeking new places for visitors to go to and making the experience for them the best it can be.”
A day with Karleen is anything but ordinary. Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a returning fan of Shipshewana, she’s full of helpful hints and knowledge meant to inspire, surprise, and delight everyone on board.
“I just told a bus group, every time I come out here, there’s something new, a new building, or a new house, or somebody put up a new fence. There’s always something new going on.”
Here’s a taste of what you’ll get when Karleen steps aboard your bus:
- 🌾 Off the Beaten Path Adventures – Discover quiet country roads, scenic farms, and local secrets you won’t find on your own.
- 🎨 Make & Take Activities – She’ll know where you can go to make hands-on, creative crafts with Amish crafters.
- Shopping Excursions – She’ll take you behind the scenes of local Amish shops, as she’s got an in with local business owners.
- 🍽️ Home-Style Cooking – You’ll eat delicious Amish home cooking, and Karleen will be there with you throughout the entire meal.
“I’ve met wonderful people. There are people I deal with, whether it’s a meal in an Amish home, or Carolyn that makes her jams and jellies, and they’re out in the country, they’re not here in the city. Yes, we have businesses in the city, but we like to get people out in the countryside; they wouldn’t know where these [businesses] are located. We do have the barn tour and some backroad tours, but as you’re driving, you might be looking at a barn quilt, but what’s the story behind that barn quilt? That helps when you have a local guide or can talk to somebody in the neighborhood.”
Book your group tour to Shipshewana to meet Karleen Richter as your step-on guide. Contact The Shipshe Tour Lady to spend a day with one of the most experienced tour guides in Shipshewana.
