Although the South Bend suburbs have expanded up to Elkhart's doorstep, the county's towns Goshen, Middlebury and Nappanee remain far enough away to retain some of their yesteryear's charm. Elkhart County is Amish country and can be well experienced along its Heritage Trail. This Indiana area is known for its skilled craftsmen, luscious Amish style foods and endless miles of picturesque farmland.
Elkhart County is the heart of the third largest enclave of Amish in America. The more conservative Amish broke away from the Mennonites in 1693 and set up restrictions on worldly conveniences. The Amish place a high value on the community, the group and their families. The county's 20,000 Amish serve up some of the area's best foods, offer heirloom-quality quilts and furniture, and present some of the most photogenic landscapes in the state.