In the Autumn Season, take a scenic drive through the rural countryside along the Amish Trail. Wee Amish farmers out harvesting their fields with teams of work horses under sunny blue skies. Amish roadside stands and shops overflow with the fruits of their summer labor: fresh homemade jams and jellies, colorful handcrafted rugs and quilts, woven baskets, handmade furniture, fun wooden toys and yummy goats milk fudge.
View the blazing reds, oranges and yellows of the autumn trees painting the hillsides in a vibrant hue as you venture from Amish shop to shop, finding quality hand-crafted items. New York's Amish Trail can be found along the Western border of Cattaraugus County. Adventure is found along the back roads as well as a sense of distance from the rush of everyday life. Visitors can travel back in time to find breathtaking landscapes and catch some of the fresh country air and sun before the cold weather sets in, as you visit with the shop owners and make your way using the Map available in the brochure. Plan your route ahead of time or simply go where the autumn wind takes you.
Pick out a unique gift before Christmas! Why stress out at the malls and department stores, when you can take your time and find an enjoyable shopping experience. I mean what would you rather do? Fight for the last toy, wait in line for a half hour and walk a mile from your car to the store or watch the scenery go by as you travel from shop to shop, find a truly unique gift for someone special, and see nature preparing for the upcoming winter? Seems like an easy choice!
While you’re in the area, make stops at an Alpaca Farm like Cardinal Acres Alpacas, Mager Mountain Alpacas or Simply Natural Alpaca Gift Shop to experience these lovely animals who may just steal your heart. Grab a foot long and fries at Racer's Restaurant in South Dayton or enjoy a Vegan dish at the Mustard Seed Restaurant. Explore the Seneca Nation culture at the Seneca-Iroquois National Museum in Salamanca. Shop at some of the "English" businesses on the Trail like Mystic Hill Olde Barn, Randolph Retail Company, Hampshire Mills, or the Artists of the East Otto Country Associates. Pick up the motorcycle of your dreams at Gowanda Harley-Davidson and see Amish country from a fresh perspective.
Please remember to respect their privacy and personal property, and don’t photograph them, as it is against their beliefs. As you tour the enchanted countryside, drive cautiously and watch for black, slow-moving, horse-drawn buggies. Call 1-800-331-0543 for the map and brochure or questions you have.
So explore behind the hustle and bustle of today's world to find the NY Amish Trail. A place where you can take a step back in time, slow down and enjoy a simpler way of life.
