Have you ever wanted to see and explore Illinois’ Amish country? The perfect day trip destination, Arthur is located in “The Heart of Illinois Amish Country” where life is simpler and seeing a horse and buggy travel along the street is the norm. Take a step back in time and spend the day exploring the village of Arthur, Illinois.
Home to the oldest and largest Amish community in the state, Arthur has a population of just under 2,300 residents. While it is a small village, it has a lot to offer and is the ideal place to explore on a day trip!
Arthur Welcome Center/Facebook
To learn a little bit about the Amish community, start your visit at the Illinois Amish Heritage Center. Here you’ll find a historic farm as well as the oldest Amish house in the state. This is the best place to learn a bit about the culture and get a better understanding of the Amish in Illinois.
Illinois Amish Heritage Center/Facebook Read our full coverage to learn more about the Illinois Amish Heritage Center.
Seeing a horse and buggy traveling down the street in Arthur is normal and just adds to the charm of the town. But once you spot one, you’ll feel as though you’ve been transported to a different era.
Marcia Straub/ Moment via Getty Images
Although it is small, Arthur offers quite a bit including restaurants, bakeries, festivals, and more. And a visit to Arthur, Illinois would not be complete without stopping at Yoder’s Kitchen.
Amy P. /TripAdvisor
Yoder’s Kitchen is a must-visit in Arthur. Not only is it a restaurant that serves some of the best homemade food you’ll have, including many Amish dishes, but it has a buffet and a gift shop as well. Sit down for a delicious meal and then pick up some Amish goods in the store.
ziggy47/TripAdvisor Visit the Yoder’s Kitchen website to learn more.
The best place to get Amish baked goods in Arthur is at The Homestead Bakery which also hosts its annual Great Pumpkin Patch!
The Homestead Bakery/Facebook
The Homestead Bakery is filled with delectable Amish treats. You won’t be able to resist the cinnamon rolls! Have one here and then take a pack home.
The Homestead Bakery/Facebook You can learn more about The Homestead Bakery and The Great Pumpkin Patch in this article.
If you’re in the market for handcrafted furniture, Arthur is the place to come. You’ll find pieces made with outstanding craftsmanship that will last a lifetime.
Illinois Amish Country/Facebook One store you can visit in town for hand-crafted Amish furniture is Countryside Amish Furniture.
As for festivals, there’s one in particular that draws the crowds. People flock from all over the region to attend the annual Arthur Cheese Festival, held every Labor Day weekend. It’s an incredibly fun time, especially if you love cheese! During the festival, you can sample cheese, join a cheese-eating contest, enjoy live music, and participate in cheese curling.
Greg Schechter/Flickr Read our full coverage to learn more about the Arthur Cheese Festival.
As you can see, Arthur has a lot to offer and is the perfect day trip destination. Have you been to Illinois’ Amish country? If so, what did you think? Let us know in the comments! For more information on the village of Arthur, visit the website and Facebook page.
Arthur Welcome Center/Facebook
Illinois Amish Heritage Center/Facebook
Read our full coverage to learn more about the Illinois Amish Heritage Center.
Marcia Straub/ Moment via Getty Images
Amy P. /TripAdvisor
ziggy47/TripAdvisor
Visit the Yoder’s Kitchen website to learn more.
The Homestead Bakery/Facebook
You can learn more about The Homestead Bakery and The Great Pumpkin Patch in this article.
Illinois Amish Country/Facebook
One store you can visit in town for hand-crafted Amish furniture is Countryside Amish Furniture.
Greg Schechter/Flickr
Read our full coverage to learn more about the Arthur Cheese Festival.
Looking for other small Illinois towns to visit? You can read about the most beautiful small Illinois towns in this post.
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Address: Arthur, IL, USA
