Girlfriend Trips to Shipshewana After Your Kids are Back at School
After a fun and crazy summer with your kids, we know just what you need! Now that everyone is back to school, we think it’s time for a trip with your girlfriends to Shipshewana Trading Place! We are proud to be the Midwest’s largest flea market, and we are open on Tuesday and Wednesday each week through September 27, 2023. We also have antique auctions on our grounds every Wednesday – year-round!
TAKE A DAY TRIP TO SHIPSHEWANA, IN
Shipshewana Trading Place is in the heart of the country’s 3rd largest Amish community, about 55 miles north of Fort Wayne, 130 miles east of Chicago, and 165 miles north of Indianapolis and southwest of Detroit in north-central Indiana.
If you live within a comfortable driving distance of Shipshewana, you and your gal pals can drop the kids off at school, come hang out with us for the day, and be back before anyone even knows you left!
Okay, so we aren’t saying you should keep secrets from your family … but we ARE saying that it’s easy to come over and spend a day with us!
1) Enjoy an Overnight Getaway With Friends
If you are a bit further away than a comfortable day trip allows, or maybe you just want two days to browse through all that Shipshewana Trading Place and our surrounding community have to offer.
If you can come for an overnight getaway, you can enjoy shopping items from our nearly 700 vendors at the flea market on Tuesday while looking for treasures and project pieces at the antique auction on Wednesday.
There is something for everyone at Shipshewana Trading Place, which boasts a large selection of new, handmade, vintage, antique, and repurposed items. Among all of these great offerings, you are sure to find some great stay-home presents for your loved ones as well.
We recommend reviewing our vendor directory and flea market map before you arrive, so you can make sure and visit all of the best booths for you and your friends. You can also preview the auction listings before you come. The days at Shipshewana Trading Place go quickly, and there’s nothing worse than realizing at the end of the day that you missed something you wanted to see.
And, at the end of your busy shopping day (or days!) you can enjoy winding down for the evening at our Farmstead Inn.
2) Stay at the Farmstead Inn
The Farmstead Inn is a cozy hotel located across the street from the Shipshewana Trading Place and just a short distance from other area attractions. It has clean and comfortable rooms, free continental breakfast, an indoor pool, hot tub, and complimentary Wi-Fi.
3) Enjoy Outdoor Adventures in Shipshewana
If you and your friends want to enjoy a scenic outdoor adventure, you can rent bicycles from the front desk at The Farmstead Inn and take a bike ride through the local countryside on the Pumpkinvine Nature Trail.
Water adventures are also nearby, with canoe or kayak trips along the Fawn River offered by T & L Country Canoes.
4) Take In the Amish History of Shipshewana
If bike riding isn’t for you, you may opt to enjoy the local scenery via a relaxing horse and buggy tour through the local Amish and Mennonite farms, gardens, and roadside stands.
Shipshewana is also home to the Dutch Creek Farm Animal Park. The park is owned by an Amish family and is a short drive from town with a walk-through area, petting zoo, and horse-drawn wagon rides.
5) Enjoy a Wine Tasting For a Fun Girls’ Night Out
As you wind down after your busy shopping days, you may decide a local winery sounds like a fun girls’ night out. LaGrange County is a dry county, but Fruit Hills Winery & Orchard in Bristol is a closeby option and would be pleased to host you and your pals for an evening of fun.
6) Experience Entertainment in Shipshewana
If live entertainment is more your style, we are also home to the Blue Gate Theatre. A variety of performers entertain audiences of all ages here. If your visit coincides with the schedule, a live show could be a great way to end your friends’ getaway in Shipshewana.
As you can see, whether you are looking for a quick shopping day trip or an extended overnight getaway with friends, you will find lots of fun in Shipshewana. We hope to see you soon!
Learn more about planning your trip to Indiana Amish Country by downloading our FREE Shipshewana Trip Planner.
