Where to Stay

Red Maple Inn, 14707 S. Cheshire St. (Ohio 700), Burton.  Seventeen-room, AAA four-diamond inn with spectacular views of Geauga County hills. Rates: $99 to $210 depending upon the season. Information: 440-834-8334.

Goodwin House, 14485 N. Cheshire St., Burton.  Innkeeper Robyn Morris hosts a variety of events including culinary evenings with locally bought foods and Amish heritage tours at this two-bedroom inn built in 1814. Rates: $110 to $150. Information: 440-834-5050.

The Old Stone House Bed & Breakfast, 8505 Ohio 534, MesopotamiaBuilt in the early 1800s, this sandstone Greek Revival B&B with three suites rests on a farm. Amish tours, including lunches and dinners in an Amish home, can be arranged. Rates: $95-$110 depending on season. Information: 330-550-0285.

Punderson Manor Lodge and Conference Center, 11755 Kinsman Road (Ohio 87), Newbury.  Built for a Detroit millionaire (before he lost his fortune in the Great Depression), this stately manor, now owned by the state park service, has reported ghost sightings; 30 rooms, 26 cottages and one suite. Rates: $99 to $269. Information: 440-564-9144.

Where to Eat                                         (return to top)

Mary Yoder's Amish Kitchen, Bakery and Gift Shop, 14743 N. State St. (Ohio 608) Middlefield.  Leave your diet at the door at Mary Yoder's restaurant, which specializes in caloric Amish fare like oven-baked chicken, apple dumplings and noodles over mashed potatoes. Hours: 7 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday, Friday and Saturday; 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday; closed Sundays. Information: 440-632-1939.

Welshfield Inn, 14001 Main Market Road (Ohio 422), Troy Township.  This 1840s stagecoach stop is a Geauga County destination restaurant. Hours: 11:30 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 11:30 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday. Information: 440-834-0190.

What to do...                                           (return to top)
          when you are not riding Sunday in June

Amish tours.  For groups of 20 or more: ridgeviewfarmtours.com or 440-693-4000. Call for prices.

Buggy Rides.  Ma & Pa's Gift Shack, 15161 Main Market Road (Ohio 422), Troy Township; 440-548-5521. Buggy ride hours: 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday; reservations appreciated. $20 plus tax per person.

Geauga County Historical Society's Century Village Museum, 14653 E. Park St., Burton; 440-834-1492. This picturesque antique village of shops and homes -- including a marshal's office, an 1872 schoolhouse, blacksmith's shop, train station and farm -- on Burton Square is certainly worth a visit. Grounds open daily; public tours 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, noon-5 p.m. Sunday. Admission: $7, adults; $5, children 6-13; free, 5 and under.

Maple syrup                                            (return to top)

Richard's Maple Products, Inc., 545 Water St. (Ohio 6), Chardon; 440-286-4160. Hours: 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Friday; 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Saturday-Sunday.

Burton Log Cabin, Burton Town Square (Ohio 87). Hours: 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. daily. Burton Chamber of Commerce sells Geauga maple syrup at this working sugarhouse. Phone orders are taken at 440-834-4204 or 1-800-526-5630.

Also, look for maple-leaf signs along the back roads of Geauga County that advertise Ohio maple syrup. Go up to the farmhouse door and knock.

Local Apples                                            (return to top)

Geauga County orchards are loaded with apples through most of October. The following markets also have apples and other produce to buy.

Eddy Fruit Farm, 12079 Caves Road, Chesterland; 440-729-7842. Hours: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily.

Sunrise Farm, 13115 Kinsman Road (Ohio 87), Burton; 440-834-1298. Hours: Picking 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. daily through Sunday, Oct. 31. October weekends: Corn maze, apple fritters. Admission: $5; free, children 3 and under.

Sage's Apples, 11355 Chardon Road (Ohio 6), Chardon; 440-286-3416. Hours: 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Saturday, noon-5 p.m. Sunday.

Ridgeview Farm, 5488 Kinsman Road (Ohio 87), Mesopotamia; 440-693-4000. Hours: 11 a.m.-5 p.m. daily through October. Fall Fun Weekends, noon-6 p.m. Saturday-Sunday in October; hayrides, corn maze, pick your own pumpkin, petting barn and Amish lunch/bake stand. Admission: $8 for corn maze and hayride.

Sirna's Farm Market, 19009 Ravenna Road (Ohio 44), Auburn; 440-834-0696. Hours: 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday. Fall Festival: noon-5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 9-Sunday, Oct. 10. Corn maze, hayrides, oxen team demos. Admission: $5, free, children under 13.

Where to Shop                                         (return to top)

All Matters Gallery, unique pottery and jewelry, 14533 Main St., Burton; 440-834-4226. Hours: 11 a.m.-5 p.m. daily.

Settlers' Village of Shops, a destination shopping stop, with stores featuring quilts, model railroads, fine art and more; 14279 Old State Road, Middlefield; 440-632-1124. Hours: Most shops are open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday.

Hershberger's Housewares, an Amish variety store,15419 Madison Road, Middlefield; 440-632-9065. Hours: 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday.

Yoder's Furniture, 16109 Shedd Road; 440-632-0773. Find exquisite dining room sets, rockers, desks and lamps -- all handmade by Amish craftsmen. Hours: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday

End of the Commons General Store, 8719 Ohio 534, Mesopotamia; 440-693-4295. Ohio's oldest general store (established in 1840) recently doubled in size to include a cafe. Hours: 8:30 a.m.-8:30 p.m. Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday.

Middlefield Market, 15848 Nauvoo Road, Middlefield; 440-632-3196. Every Monday, rain or shine, this sale barn holds an auction; dishes, lawn mowers, a box of "miscellaneous" -- who knows what will be for sale? Auction: starts at 8 a.m. Mondays; flea market: 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Mondays, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturdays.                                        (return to top)

Middlefield Cheese, 15815 Nauvoo Road, Middlefield; 440-632-5228. "Don't miss our Swiss" is the slogan here -- and you shouldn't; founded by Amish dairymen who imported a Swiss cheese maker in the 1960s. Hours: 8 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Monday-Saturday.

Middlefield Original Cheese Co-op, 16942 Kinsman Road (Ohio 87), 440-632-5567. Arrive before 1 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday or Friday, and you'll see Amish cheese makers at work through a big window in the shop. Hours: 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday.

Geauga Farms Country Meats, 14320 Main Market Road (Ohio 422), Troy Township, 440-834-8476. Amish-owned butcher shop known for choice meats. Hours: 7 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday.

Amish Home Craft Shop & Bakery, 16860 Kinsman Road (Ohio 87), Middlefield; 440-632-1888. Hours: 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Saturday.

Countryside Home Bakery, 17075 Mumford Road, Burton; 440-409-2446. Hours: 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

Country Collections Antique Mall, 15858 Nauvoo Road, Middlefield; 440-632-1712. Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday.

Spring Street Antiques, 14531 Main St., Burton; 440-834-0155. Hours: 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, noon-5 p.m. Sunday.

Auntie's Antique Mall, 15567 Main Market Road (Ohio 422), Parkman; 440-548-5353. Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily.                 (return to top)