Things to do in Metropolitan Goshen:

[SimchaSabre]

This will be our first RV rally of any kind & we're real excited about going to Goshen in Aug. We've actually been through the area a couple of times as we are only in Mi and we have 2 daughters in Indianapolis area...
So...
I thought it might be interesting to hear from some Goshen rally vets about any cool places to go or things to do in the area., beside rally events of course.

Here's a couple to start with, that come to mind:

• Yoder's Hardware store in Shipshewanna is great if you are into oldtime hardware stores. (Like me)
• Southside Soda Shop in "downtown" Goshen has great dinner food...also they were on Diners, drive-ins and dives

[MtnGuy]

Pumpkinvine Nature Trail

We did part of the bike path last year. A thunderstorm made things quite interesting.....and wet.

[F.R.O.G.]

For several days leading up to the rally, the World Magic Festival will be going on in Colon, MI, about 30 miles north. For those who were at the rally last year, the magician who performed for us manages a magic store in Colon and is one of the sponsors (as is Forest River, since our Palomino plant is located there). The festival brings together hundreds of magicians and thousands of fans for street performances and formal shows. Stop by the town cemetery with a map of the graves of many of the most famous magicians ever, and check out some of the cool headstones.

Also leading up to the rally, there's a huge arts & crafts festival at Amish Acres in Nappanee, about 15 miles from Goshen.

Visit the Elkhart County Courthouse and see the gun turrets that were erected to protect against Chicago mobsters who might be passing through the area.

Visit museums and historic sites, including the RV / Motorhome Hall of Fame and Museum.

Attend the Shipshewana Flea Market on Tuesday or Wednesday.

Visit the Quilt Gardens throughout the county.

Stop by Waukarusa Dime Store for giant jelly beans and old-fashioned candy, and the Waukarusa Hardware Store to see their 1,000-drawer hardward cabinet.

Stop by South Bend and visit the University of Notre Dame. It's the home of the Fighting Irish, who up until January were the next BCS National Football Champion. (That didn't turn out so well.)

See A LOT of Forest River manufacturing plants. We'll help you visit some of them.

Go to Enjoy Amish food -- LOTS of Amish food!

Respect the wishes of the Amish by not taking pictures of them.

Meet FROGs!

(There are a lot of other possibilities, many of which are described in John Denver's song, "Saturday Night in Toledo, Ohio.")

Lots to do in the "Land o' Goshen"!

[BOBFIDY]

One day while at the 2nd International FROG Rally we went to the RV HALL OF FAME AND MUSEUM then drone over to South Bend...an easy 30 minute rdive and saw NOTRE DAME, TOUCHDOWN JESUS, and the COLLEGE FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME.

A great day of sightseeing.

Also there a number of Amish furnature companies in the area. We had bought a dinning set from an Oklahoma Amish Furniture store and got the chance to go to the shop where the table was made in the outskirts of Goshen.

[CheezPack]

Essenhaus Amish Style Inn, Conference Center & Restaurant - Middlebury, IN. Nice place to look around, great food and fantastic bakery!

[lswartz]

A couple of great places to eat Welcome To The PatchWork Quilt Country Inn, A premier Northern Indiana Country Bed & Breakfast served family style, but get reservations. The other place is in Topeka https://plus.google.com/116758897617...ut?gl=us&hl=en. They serve what my grandmother called a 'poor man's pie' AKA old fashion cream pie. You will see Amish buggies parked there as well since it is a local favourite. Topeka is a small town so don't worry about getting lost in it.

Enjoy the area as it is Home for me.

[N9ID]

FYI, the College Football Hall of Fame has closed. Not enough traffic to support it.

[N9ID]

On a more positive note, right next door to the College Hall of Fame building is the South Bend Chocolate Cafe. Great place to visit, eat chocolate, drink coffee, eat chocolate, eat lunch, eat chocolate. My wood carving club meets there every other Saturday and it is a fun place. Most of us wood carvers manage to resist the chocolate, although I know from personal experience that their banana nut muffins are very good.

South Bend Chocolate Company - Gourmet Chocolate Candies & Treats

Also, in Goshen, there is the Old Bag Factory. This is a collection of artists and merchants selling an eclectic mix of products, artwork, sculpture and pottery.

the Old Bag Factory located in Goshen, IN

For the more adventurous, southwestern Michigan has many very fine wineries. My wife and I have visited most of them and we can tell you that our area has some of the finest wine around. The wineries are about a 60 - 90 minute drive from the fairgrounds.

Wineries

Lots of things to do around here. Of course, just sitting and yakking by the RV is great fun as well.

See you in August in Goshen!

Mike & Nena

[RVChick]

I would be interested in knowing great places to ride motorcycles?

[AquaMan]

Originally Posted by RVChick

I would be interested in knowing great places to ride motorcycles?

Pick a country road off the beaten path and go. Flat terrain, by most standards, but some of the farm scenery is very nice.

[Earth Station]

with all there is to do in "Downtown Goshen and surrounding area"... I am wondering.... will we have time for the Rally??

[tentcamper1]

all great places to see and there is also the Railroad Museum
City of Elkhart, Indiana ~ NYCRR Museum

and if you get time my grass will need a mow!

[youroo]

Originally Posted by RVChick

I would be interested in knowing great places to ride motorcycles?

Just remember while on the Back roads in Amish country,look out for Left Over Horsepower!! Youroo!!

[RVChick]

Originally Posted by youroo

Just remember while on the Back roads in Amish country,look out for Left Over Horsepower!! Youroo!!

Now that is a road hazard we have not watched out for! left Over Roadkill!! Haaaaa!!!

[RVChick]

Originally Posted by RVChick

Now that is a road hazard we have not watched out for! left Over Roadkill!! Haaaaa!!!

Not roadkill...my bad....left over horsepower!

[LKicklight]

This is the information that my wife was looking for. We have visited some towns with amish folks and have looked forward to visiting their culture once again. As we are also avid bikers, the pedal kind of course, we looked for some great bike trials, there seems to be a great abundance of them around and all look to be well maitained. With that said, we are looking forward to coming up from Georgia for the Rally at Goshen..
The Kicklighters

[TURBS]

Creeks got me thinking..... yeah uh oh...

Is there any trout streams near by?


Turbs

[lowbubba]

Youroo will be taking a bath in them if he finds one,

[TURBS]

Is he considered a legal catch?

[lowbubba]

I think you would throw him back, way back.