Monday, February 2, 2009

Housing & Tourism @ AMBS

Guest housing at AMBS:

AMBS owns two homes adjacent to the campus that are used as guest houses:
• Several bedrooms have private baths.
• Others share the bath down the hall.
• The overnight cost is $25/person/night, shared or private room.
• A self-serve continental breakfast will be provided in the kitchen for an additional $4/night.
To reserve a room, contact Judy Yoder (Switchboard: 574-295-3726 or Toll Free: 1-800-964-2627). Indicate that you are attending the Chicago Area Theological Library Association meetings.

Hotels:

AMBS is on the south side of Elkhart, near the US 20 Bypass. The two most conveniently located hotels are:
Comfort Inn
Holiday Inn Express
Most other hotels are on the north side of Elkhart, near the Toll Road.


Entertainment:

Visit Mennohof, the Amish Mennonite Information Center in Shipshewana, IN.
• About 30 miles east of Elkhart.
• Excellent interactive museum that introduces Amish and Mennonite history and culture.
• It is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday - Saturday.
If you are interested in going as a group on Thursday and/or Saturday, please respond to Eileen Saner esaner@ambs.edu by March 13.

Eat supper in an Amish home Thursday or Friday evening. There are several Amish families in the area that provide catered meals in their homes, generally in a space specially built for groups. The food is homestyle, farm cooking. Family members are very hospitable and are willing to answer questions about contemporary Amish life after the meal has been served. I would need at least 12 people committed to the meal in order to make the reservation. Please respond to Eileen Saner esaner@ambs.edu by March 13. I will try to get a reservation.

In nearby Goshen, there is an indoor farmers market on Saturday mornings with local produce, meat, cheese, eggs, and crafts (http://www.millrace.org/Farmers_Market). Adjacent to the market is a European-style bakery with fabulous brick-oven breads, pastries and a very nice breakfast. Both the market and the bakery feature local and organic ingredients. This is the place to begin a Saturday of tourism and shopping in Elkhart County and Shipshewana.

For shopping and tourism, see:

http://www.shipshewana.com/
http://www.amishcountry.org/
http://www.goshen.org/dynaPages.php?cid=68
http://www.northernindianagetaways.com/