Looking for the top 10 things to do in Shipshewana with kids? There’s more to this charming destination than just the flea market and live auctions. Shipshewana is full of family-friendly experiences that both kids and adults will enjoy. With so many options to choose from, it can be tough to know exactly which activities are truly kid-friendly. This is exactly why we’ve put together this list of the top 10 things to do in Shipshewana with kids!
1. Pot Your Own Plant Bar at Jungle Jane’s Plant Shop in Yoder’s Red Barn Shoppes
Start your adventure at Yoder’s Red Barn Shoppes upstairs at Jungle Jane’s Plant Shop and start developing your little one’s green thumb. Red Barn Shoppes is conveniently located next to the Shipshewana Flea Market and the Shipshewana Trading Place Auction.
The pot-your-own plant experience is a fun, hands-on activity in Shipshewana for kids of all ages. Your child can pick out their plant, choose a 4-inch plastic pot, and decorate it with a sticker. Then, they can finish it off with a decorative stone, trinket, and plant stick. For a limited time, we’re offering this plant bar experience for just $16 (regularly $20)!
For an added creative touch, you can upgrade to a terracotta pot for $7 total and paint your own design. This option is perfect for older kids or anyone who wants to get a little more artistic. All the paint supplies your child will need are included with this upgrade.
While your child or grandchild works on their pot, you can also pick out a plant and pot of your own!
Choose from a wide variety of plants, including plants that survive in low light and plants that require very low maintenance. There are also various kinds of tropical plants, succulents, your typical houseplants, animal-friendly plants, and even rare plants for those who pride themselves on being plant whisperers.
We are also now offering a Self-Sustaining Terrarium Workshop! This unique experience in Shipshewana lets you create your own closed ecosystem using 2-inch ferns and assorted tropical plants. You can also upgrade your terrarium with some of our newest and harder-to-find plant babies that just arrived in the shop.
2. Make Your Own Cowboy Hat at Fancy Farm Girl Boutique
In the very same building as Jungle Jane’s Plant Shop, you’ll find another fun hands-on activity. The Fancy Farm Girl Boutique is a darling shop in the heart of Shipshewana where you can customize you own cowboy or cowgirl hat. This personalized hat-making experience is a truly unique thing to do in Shipshewana.
In the video below, Erin walks you through the hat bar experience from choosing your hat to adding embellishments and even custom branding.
They also have a fragrance bar, tons of western-inspired clothing, jewelry, and more!
3. Grab a Hand Rolled Pretzel and Root Beer Float from Red Bud Coffee and Tea
Take a walk through the common area of Yoder’s Red Barn Shoppes and you will also discover Red Bud Coffee & Tea.
It wouldn’t be a trip to Shipshewana without getting a famous hand-rolled pretzel that the town is known for. As they say, “they’re big enough to share, but you might not want to!” Insider tip, get a side of their sweet homemade mustard.
And if you have a large appetite, we recommend trying their turkey cheese bacon pretzel sandwich.
Be sure to finish your pretzel or sandwich off with a root beer float.
4. Be a Kid in a Candy Store at Victorian Candy Company
Also located in Yoder’s Red Barn Shoppes is Victorian Candy Company. This Shipshewana candy store is a hot spot for locals picking up their delectable chocolates and fudge, which is made fresh daily!
Your kids will be mesmerized as they watch the famous Brittle Brackle candy being made through the observation windows. While you’re there, you can sample the sweets and browse a wide selection of candy and fun kid’s toys.
5. Popcorn Sampling at Shipshewana Popcorn Co.
Down the road and across the street from the Blue Gate restaurant is Shipshewana Popcorn Co. where you can sample over 40 flavors of homemade popcorn flavors.
They’ve got everything from Salted Pecan Clusters and their famous Amish Krack and Puppy Chow popcorn flavors to savory options like their delicious Creamy Dill and Loaded Potato for those who prefer something less sweet. If you’re craving a little heat, don’t miss the Cheddar Jalapeño or Cajun flavors. And if you need a quick pick-me-up, they also offer refreshing slushies and frappes.
They take pride in making fresh popcorn daily using high-quality ingredients, with allergen-friendly options available. Their flavor of the month is always rotating, so you can check ahead to see what’s popping or let it be a fun surprise when you stop in.
6. Grab a Scoop of Ice Cream from Vanilla Bean Creamery
Next door is a kid-favorite ice-cream shop, Vanilla Bean Creamery. They have over 22 flavors of ice cream to choose from and even more seasonal flavors and a few dairy-free flavors as well.
We highly endorse the Amish Peanut Butter and Jungle Jane herself is a big fan of the Birthday Cake flavor. One thing we can both agree on is their homemade waffle cones are amazing! They make them in house daily with homemade dough from scratch.
On super hot days you can eat your ice cream inside, but they also have a partially fenced in patio with a playhouse that is farther away from the parking lot. Whether you choose to eat your ice cream inside or outside, you can let your kids play carefree after their ice cream is gone while you take a moment to unwind before you head to your next adventure.
They also have two other locations in Elkhart and Granger, Indiana that are both equally worth checking out. (switch out photo of exterior for jane in the playhouse)
7. Ride the Carousel at Davis Mercantile
You can’t spend a day in Shipshewana with the kids and not visit the famous and historic Dentzel Carousel at Davis Mercantile! It’s a wonderful spot for families to make core memories.
The horses, cows, chickens, and dogs you’ll see on this ride represent the animals commonly found around Shipshewana, and each one was carved by Al Bontrager, who learned the craft as a young Amish boy.
8. Experience the Local Culture with Shipshewana Buggy Rides
This is one of the most unique things to do in Shipshewana, giving you the chance to tour the town and experience its rich local culture in a truly memorable way. Shipshewana Buggy Rides offers a basic 15-minute ride for $15/person all the way up to a 4-hour tour with dinner for $74/person and $35/child. All together there are 4 buggy ride options to choose from. When scheduling your buggy ride, let them know how many are in your group and the number of children including their ages.
Photo Source: Blue Gate
9. Rent Bikes at These Kid Friendly Bike Shops in Shipshewana
Two kid friendly bike rentals in Shipshewana are Otto’s Bike Rentals and Pumpkinvine Cyclery.
Both shops offer Burley Bees, also known as child bike trailers. However, Pumpkinvine Cyclery also offers electric bikes and Weehoo iGo’s, which is a single wheeled attachment that goes behind a traditional adult bike that lets kids pedal along with the adult or just relax.
To book your bike rental at Otto’s call 574-535-3233. If you’re booking with Pumpkinvine Cyclery you can book your rental online.
Please keep in mind their offerings may change. It’s best to call these places direct to ensure rental accuracy.
Photo Source: Otto’s Bike Rental
10. Playtime at Shipshewana Town Park
Rounding out the list of top things 10 things to do in Shipshewana with kids is a visit to Shipshewana Town Park. Because with kids, you can never go wrong with playtime! This park is very clean and peaceful.
There are two seperate playgrounds. One is perfect for toddlers, and the other is perfect for kids of all ages. Not only does it have two lovely playsets, there is also a shelter and a picturesque gazebo, both with picnic tables that are perfect for eating lunch or a snack.
One reason our kids love coming here is because they get to see horses at the nearby stable.
Shipshewana Town Park also connects to the Pumpkinvine Nature Trail that goes all the way from Shipshewana to Goshen, Indiana.
