tours guide tips Swiss Valley Tours, Sugarcreek Mary Beachy owns Swiss Valley Tours and has been leading and organizing tours in Amish Country for 25 years. She knows the region as well as anyone. In discussing her company’s services, she had this advice for those contemplating a tour in Amish Country. Why book a guided tour rather than guide yourself? Anyone can pick up a brochure, but a tour will take you to the destinations, allow for enough time to visit each as well as travel time and provide interesting facts along the way. As opposed to a self-guided journey, Mary said, “Professional tours provide a much more meaningful tour.”
Jessica Hammonds, photo contest winner, Summer 2008.
How far in advance should one book a tour? It depends on the time of year when the visit is planned. Some are planning a year in advance, especially for trips occurring in the late summer or fall. But many tours are also booked under much shorter circumstances. Novice group tour planners and tour operators unfamiliar with our region are invited to work with our local receptives for help in designing a truly authentic visit. To get the most out of a visit, individuals, couples and families can plan an organized “back roads” tour with Amish Heartland Tours. For example, having a dinner in an Amish home is an experience not to be missed, but this can only be booked through our local operators.
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Inga Smith, photo contest entrant.
Tour Operators Amish Heartland Tours 330-893-3248 AmishToursOfOhio.com
Country Coach Adventures Swiss Valley Tours 877-359-5282 866-520-6690 AmishAdventures.com Ad p. 17
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visitamishcountry.com
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