Know Before You Go: About Berlin
Travel to Berlin, Ohio, and you're just as apt to see a horse and buggy trotting down the road as a modern car
This is Amish country—the place to sample homemade gingerbread and hearty soups in coffee shops that have a homespun touch. Leave the hustle and bustle of the city, and take it slow in Berlin while tasting some of the city’s delicious eats or stopping at a local boutique to buy a lovingly stitched quilt or a collectible antique. Come and enjoy the simple, quiet lifestyle of this small country town.
The Seasons of Berlin
Wind your way through the Amish countryside in late spring or summer and you'll find daytime temperatures in the 80s and pleasant nights in the mid-70s. In the fall, day temps average between the low 60s and 70s, triggering the leaves to change from green to red and gold. Like snow? The first flakes usually arrive in November, with December and January seeing the most, averaging 10 inches per month. This is the time of year when horse-drawn sleighs appear. Why not take a ride on one?
Fun Things to Do
Check out the Amish & Mennonite Heritage Center and see the famous circular mural, the Behalt. The 265-foot-long, 10-foot-tall painting tells the story of how these two groups migrated to North America. If you love a good antique find, check out the Berlin Antique and Craft Malls, which sit side by side on Schrock's Amish Farm and Village. One is filled with vintage collectables, the other with homemade craft items, often including sought-after quilts. Take an Amish Heartland tour and visit a working farm. If you really want to get out into the backcountry, mount a gentle pony for a guided horseback ride. The jaunt is even more enjoyable in the fall when the autumn leaves are bursting with color.
Industry: Where Old Meets New
Construction makes up roughly one-third of Berlin's industry, but that can be anything from building or renovating homes to turning out Amish buggies. Homemade furniture and parts for farming equipment are also lumped in that definition. Everyone helps out on the family farm, which is an important part of Amish life. You'll find traditional farms and those that have branched out into the tourist industry by giving tours, offering Amish-style meals or opening up craft or antique shops on the side. You'll also encounter old-fashioned retail outlets such as country stores with eclectic inventories, delis offering locally made foods, fabric stores and quilt shops.
Getting Around
If you're flying in, the closest commercial airport is Akron-Canton, roughly 40 miles and an hour's drive from Berlin. You'll find a Greyhound Bus Stop in Berlin, but no station. Your best bet is to get a rental car, both for the drive in and to get around town. You just have to be on the lookout for the buggies. Each one has a giant orange triangle on the back to make them more visible. Hay movers, tractors and other farm equipment may also be on the roads. All you need to do is slow down and enjoy the view.
Ready to travel? Find hotels in Berlin.
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