This past weekend, I got to mark off another bucket list trip and that is to Amish Country. I found this really great packet from Dutch Host Inn called Amish Country Winter Package for Two. This package comes with one night stay and a coupon book of free meals and items from local businesses. When I made my reservation the total was $135.25 as the "Standard Daily Rate" for 2 queen beds and 2 adults which would have been $19.70 lower without the Winter Package. My total cost in the end for the Inn and Winter package for two queen beds was $180.25. This was an extra $25.30 for the $10 upgrade to queen beds and $15.30 added taxes.
If you are worried that one night will make the trip seemed rushed, then don't worry. Dutch Host Inn allows you to stop by after 7am on the day of your check-in to grab your coupon book and a map of the area. You can explore before your check-in time at 2pm. This is what we did and had half the items by the time 2pm came around.
We decided to go the furthest out and work our way back to the Inn. Our first stop was Country Creations for our free 1/2 lb. of Wrapped Hard Candy. I'm the type of person that normally does not like "free" items alone so I made sure to purchase something from each location as well. My purchase here was this cute sign ($7.22) that I thought went with a new year starting. The store has a lot of crafty items and mixed with random other items for purchase. This stop is close to Ashery Country Store where we were to get a summer sausage but the store was closed for New Years.
Next on the list was Hometown Merchants which gave you a choice of a kitchen utensil. My purchased item was this cute little inspirational hanger ($4.82). I loved what it had to say. The store is a mix of home items but also has some unique items to pick from.
On the first day, I missed the Main Street Fudge & Popcorn Company so we had to go back on Saturday morning. I put it here because it would be next on the line. Here you get your choice of two popcorn balls. My purchased item was the buy 3 bags of popcorn and get one free for around $20. This little shop had just about every popcorn flavor you could ever think of. I grabbed my favorites and then a few different ones to try.
One of the shops I was most looking forward to was the Kauffman's Country Bakery and their free loaf of bread. I got the normal wheat bread and for my purchase items, I got the jalapeno bread, pretzel buns and no sugar cherry pie. There was so many baked goods to pick from. It was hard not to buy everything!
This was just what the business name says, a Country Hills Market. Not much really to purchase that wasn't normal grocery store items. My free item was the 9 oz. strawberry jam and my purchased item was some much needed garlic salt ($1.85).
The Hillcrest Orchard was one of my favorite places to shop. Here you get a free 1/2 Gallon Apple Cider as well has free samples of hot or cold cider to try. I got the hot spiced cider and it was so good, I had to purchase the stuff to make it at home. I also grabbed some protein balls, banana chips and they had their Christmas candy on sale so the peanut butter chocolate balls ended up in my bag as well for a total of $13.02.
Right on the main strip is this little store called Tis the Season. Now this isn't part of the Winter Package but you have to stop just to explore this amazing place. It is three floors of heavily decorated Christmas items. It is broken down into sections depending on what you are looking for. It is pricy so you can expect to spend some money on these treasures.
After exploring all day, we were getting hungry and friends had recommended Der Dutchman. This is another place not included in your Winter Package. You do get a free Breakfast and Lunch/Dinner but we wanted to save the coupon for dinner so lunch was ours to pick. Der Dutchman was very business when we got there so it is a popular place to eat. It is advertised as a family friendly Amish restaurant with a view. It did not disappoint! We went with the $19.49 bar which had a wide range of what I would consider southern cooking from salad, fried/baked chicken, fish, roast, mashed potatoes, green beans, desserts and so much more. The view was also nice as it gave a snowy picture of the valley. There is also an on-site bakery if you want to grab something sweet to take home. Across the street is Carlisle Gifts where I had a coupon for a free dish towel but we didn't catch this until after we had left.
Next stop was the Walnut Creek Cheese shop for a free 9 oz. jam or jelly. My purchased item was another jam and natural peanut butter ($7.78). This place was huge and set up like a grocery store in the main part with a side section with lots of these different jam and jellies to pick from as well as more healthy items to purchase without all the junk chemicals added. There is also a restaurant, Mudd Valley Cafe and Creamery, on the upper floor that offers sandwiches, burgers, wraps, salads and build-your-own bowls.
It was around 2 pm and the perfect time to head back to the Dutch Host Inn and rest for a few hours. Check-in was easy as I had already did it when I picked up my coupon book so all the host did was hand over the key. This is the old school type of key so don't expect the scanner cards most places use today. The hotel is very clean and nice. I loved that you can drive right to your door instead of having to take elevators to your room. I didn't grab pictures of the room so you can check it out on their website. Our room had two queen beds, table with two chairs, dresser, tv, mini fridge (no freezer), microwave, coffee maker, hair dryer, shampoo and soap.
This Inn has 33 guest rooms with 2 large jacuzzi rooms with fireplaces, double/queen/king rooms and a conference room with kitchenette great for groups. In the check-in area there is a small breakfast area for people who did not purchase the package as well as drinks and snacks for purchase. Our stay in the room was very comfortable and I would stay here again in the future. My only complaint has nothing to do with the place but with other guests. There was one couple in a very loud truck which woke us all up really early in the morning.
After resting for a while, we decided to head on out to Silver Moon Winery and pick up the free 1 oz. Green Cream Pain/Sinus Relief. This item was high on my list to get because I suffer from sinus issues and am always up to try anything natural that might help relieve the issue. While at this place we also enjoyed a wine tasting. We were given a list of all their wines and for $5.99 we were able to try 5 different ones of our choosing. Out of all of them, we liked the Crispy Apple white wine so grabbed a bottle ($12.99) to bring home with us. We also got to keep our glasses. The ladies running the place was really nice and made the experience very enjoyable.
Right down the street is Broad Run Corner which we stopped to get our free 4 oz. jar of mustard. The champagne dill mustard sounds interesting so I had to get it to try. My purchased item was this cute little Gnome ($5.28) as we had just left a wine tasting and I thought it was a cute little souvenir to mark the occasion.
It was dinner time so right behind the Broad Run was Hans' Place Restaurant & Winery which is where we used our coupon for a free meal for two. We got the hamburger with fries and a side of mac and cheese. For the purchased item we got a side of cheese sticks and then left the waitress a generous tip since we only had to pay for one item. After this we headed back to the Inn to tuck in for the night.
In the morning, check-out was easy as we just to had return the key and then we headed out for our free breakfast bar at Dutch Valley Restaurant. I have to say, out of all the places we ate at, this was our favorite. It was a breakfast bar and had everything you could think of. Bacon, sausage, eggs, mini pancakes, french toast sticks, fruit, biscuit and gravy, cinnamon buns, yogurt and so much more. If you use the coupon, the bar is free but you have to pay for your drinks. As our "purchased" item, we again left a generous tip to the waitress. They have a gift shop and bakery attached if you want to pick up something to take home. In the same area is Dutch Valley Gifts where we had a coupon for free dip or seasoning but it was closed. There is also a neighboring food market with local meats, cheeses, jams and more.
After breakfast, we headed out to explore Sugarcreek area and find the rest of our free items before heading home but first we swung by the Amish Country Donuts and Cafe to grabbed some monster size donuts to take home. When I say monster, I mean they are the size of your head and one of the best donuts I have ever tasted. I almost wanted to get the maple bacon but we stuck with just the original one and it did not disappoint.
Sugarcreek is known as "Little Switzerland" and home to the World's largest Cuckoo Clock. The clock was closed for the winter as the water for the wheel freezes up but when it is operational, every half hour from 9 am to 9 pm you can watch the doors open and the magic of a cuckoo clock work with its mechanical dancing couple and five-piece oompah band. In the 1970's the Alpine Alpa Restaurant family in Wilmot, Ohio commissioned to have this clock built. When the restaurant was closed in 2009, it was purchased, restored and moved to downtown Sugarcreek. The clock stands 23 1/2 feet tall and 24 feet wide.
The Gospel Shop and Collectors Decanters & Steins stores are beside the Cuckoo Clock and you get 20% off coupons in your package but we didn't visit these places on this trip. Also within walking distance is the Alpine Hills Museum but it was closed so it is also a place we need to come back to visit. There is several smaller stores around the area that you can shop in as well. I did miss seeing the Brick Wall Sculpture so make sure you don't when you visit.
We moved on to Swiss Village Bulk Foods to pick up our free 1/2 pint of Yoder's Apple Butter. There is a section just for jelly and jams so you will find this product there. It was nicely marked with a sign to indicate which item was for the Dutch Host Inn Winter Package freebie. This took the guess work out of what item we were looking for. Our purchased items was more garlic salt, natural peanut butter, mango chips and some organic coconut for our hermit crab who just loves coconut ($14.89). This store is known for over 6,000 products, including meats, cheeses, spices, dips, dried fruits and candy with lots of samples to try. There is also an on-site restaurant which serves sandwiches, wraps, panini, salads, milkshakes, ice cream cones and sundaes.
Our last stop was at SunRise Market & Cafe for our free 1 lb. of cheese. This was a very small place like a deli. Our purchase items was drinks for the road.
In conclusion, this was a really fun overnight trip and well worth the cost with all the free stuff we were given. It is a great way to visit local businesses and explore the area that we might not of known was there. Some of the places we didn't get to was: Dutch Valley Gifts for garlic & herb spread dip mix, Ashery Country Store for Winesburg meats summer sausage, Hershberger's Farm & Bakery for two free Amish-made fry pies, Erb's Stove Center for free bottle of BBQ sauce or seasoning, Carlisle Gifts Walnut Creek for free dish towel, Charm Harness & Boot for free pair of socks, Coblentz Leather USA for free leather bracelet, The Cabin Store for free outlet cover, Kaycee's Western Store for free western charm bracelet, Lamp & Light Candle for free six wax dipped pine cones, The Gospel Shop for 20% off, Collector's Decanters & Steins for 20% off and bfearless for free earrings. These coupons are good until April so I can always make another trip!
