Itinerary Day 3
Day Three
After a freshly made bakery breakfast at Shanna Rae’s or the Corn Crib, you have a number of options to fill your day. Enjoy fresh-baked eats and treats from a local chef who is also a farmer and able to source fresh ingredients from her 300-acre farm as well as from other farmers in the area who provide, among other things, locally sourced honey and vegetables. Shawna Rae says that “to be able to bake and cook with such fresh ingredients is a luxury I am blessed to have. I love that I can then offer those fresh products to my customers and I love to see their faces when they see the vibrant colors of their salad or can taste the quality in the ingredients.” Be sure to taste the gooey and cinnamon-y cinnamon rolls, and the key lime cheesecake. Other goodies include apple cider donut cake, made from fresh local cider and is sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar.
125 Harrison Street, Shipshewana, IN 260-564-0275 Summer: W-Th 11AM-6PM, F-Sat 11AM-8PM Winter: Th 11AM-6PM, F-Sat 11AM-8PM
The Corn Crib Café it a locally owned café offering breakfast, sandwiches, pizza, burgers, and salads also made from locally sourced ingredients. The café is located right next to Five Lakes Coffee, the best coffee in the Midwest. 0920 IN-5, Shipshewana.
Several suggested options for today include:
If available the days you are in Shipshewana, if you’ve never been to a livestock auction, come to observe the one in Shipshewana that happens every Wednesday, starting at 10AM, year-round. This is the real thing, where farmers from all over the Midwest come to buy, sell, and trade, hay, feeder pigs, dairy heifers, dairy cows, feeder cows, veal, sheep, lambs, goats, and bulls. In view of the rising number of organic farms in LaGrange County, the Auction is certified to handle organic livestock including both beef cattle and dairy cattle.
345 S Van Buren St, Shipshewana, IN 46565
And, on the same property, there is nowhere else in the world where shopping is like this! The outdoor flea market held in Shipshewana Tuesdays and Wednesdays from April 30 to the end of September, covers the size of 30 football fields. You’ll find nearly everything that can be sold, from home decor, clothing, produce, plants, tools, crafts, books, accessories, handmade items, vintage items and more. There are live bidding auctions throughout the day, and thousands of antiques and other items are sold in the Antique Auction building. Come prepared, since the market is held rain or shine, put on comfortable shoes, and bring plenty of bags to carry your purchases. Many of the vendors take only cash. When you’re hungry, there are food courts throughout the market. Or you can have a sit-down meal in the restaurant.
345 S Van Buren Street, Shipshewana, IN 46565
OR
Take a Tour with My Amish Indiana
This local, well-recommended, and very knowledgeable tour guide can make your experience along the Amish Backroads Byway extra special, introducing you to the region on a variety of 9 different in-depth tours that range from 2 hours to a full day. The length of the longer tours depends on how many stops are chosen to coincide with the time you have available to tour. A number of businesses close early on Saturday, with tours ending at noon. There are no tours on Sunday because virtually every business in the immediate Shipshewana area is closed. Between stops, your guide will answer all your questions about local Amish culture.
Examples of the tours you can choose from include:
- Introduction to Amish Indiana (2 Hours)
- Locally Made (M-F from 3-8 Hours, Sat 3 Hours)
- Farm and Garden Tour (3-8 Hours May-Oct)
- Sue’s Deep Dive into Amish Culture (6-8 Hours)
OR
Stroll the Art in the Heart Trail
LaGrange County is home to a collection of beautiful murals, with 11 located in downtown Shipshewana. Many of the murals commemorate the early days in Shipshewana while others add a more contemporary decorative component to downtown. All of them together create a living history of the area great for selfies! The Pumkpinvine Railroad mural located at 310 North Harrison Street, commemorates the reason Shipshewana is located where it is. Tracks were laid early in 1888 for a railroad running east and north from Goshen to Middlebury, then up through Northeast Indiana into Sturgis, Michigan, terminating at Findlay, Michigan. The Hezekiah Davis mural is dedicated to the most important man in Shipshewana’s history – he founded the town soon after the railroad came through! Nearby, Shipshewana’s newest mural, located in the alley near Teaberry and Cherry Pickers (Morton Street Art Alley), was designed and painted by Indiana artist Cassi Graber.
OR
Enjoy the Middlebury Then and Now Walking Tour
Middlebury’s original settlers hailed from Middlebury, Vermont. Landing in the area which reminded them of home in 1832, they named the town and got on building lives. It was not incorporated until 1868. Stop by the Chamber of Commerce office at 118 South Main Street and pick up a walking tour brochure that takes you past more than 100 stops. Each stop has a QR code, enabling you to learn both the heritage of Middlebury and the people who lived in the residences and owned the businesses.
OR
Relax on the Pumpkinvine Trail
When the Pumpkin Vine Railroad was abandoned, local residents were prepared with plans to preserve the connected railroad corridors, and the Pumpkinvine Nature Trail was born. The 17-mile well-maintained trail now winds through beautiful Northern Indiana countryside. Both asphalt and packed limestone surfaces are suitable for narrow-tired bicycles, walkers, runners, roller blades, and bikers. The Krider Garden in Middlebury serves as a gateway to the trail and also provides parking and restrooms. There is another trailhead and parking in North Park, located at the end of Depot Street in Shipshewana. If you’re interested in a longer biking trip, the Pumpkinvine Trail is a part of 25 miles of trails that connect Shipshewana, Middlebury, and Goshen.
Available Bike Rentals
Shipshewana Bike Rental
Pickup at the Farmstead Inn, 370 South Van Buren Street, Shipshewana 260-215-3656
Otto’s Bike Repair and Water Shop
3650 North State Route 5, Shipshewana 260-768-7223
M-TH 8Am-5PM, F 8AM-4PM Sat 8AM-2PM
Pumpkin Cyclery
413 North Main Street, Middlebury 574-825-2252
Tu-F 10AM-6PM, Sat 9AM-4PM
