visiting the amish countryside

So I've always wanted to go to the Amish countryside, and fortunately, we live only two and a half hours away. So we went. I loved driving around and looking at the countryside. The Amish farms were so well maintained and appealing to look at. It was interesting to see the Amish people working on their farms or interacting with others in the community. The fields were freshly tilled or turning green with new growth. There was so much space with field after field after field. The kids enjoyed seeing the animals in the fields. The homes were so quaint with so much character. I kind of wanted to pick one out and move right in. It was wonderful to see the Amish buggies driving down the road alongside the cars. I loved it. We visited a touristy area called Kitchen Kettle Village where we ate ice cream, looked at the little shops, and fed animals at the petting zoo area. Why is it that all children love to pet and feed animals, and I hate it? We also went on a buggy ride through the surrounding countryside. Sarah even got to drive for a bit. She, of course, loved it.We also visited a home that was built in 1805 and lived in for several generations by an Amish family. It has since been turned into a museum called the Amish Farm & House. It was next door to and shared a parking lot with the Target. David thought it couldn't be too authentic due to this, but it was a really neat place. As we toured the house, our guide provided information about the Amish people and their way of life. I found it fascinating. Zach did not. On the farm the kids were able to milk a pretend cow, feed more animals, see all kinds of farm outbuildings, and learn about the way Amish farms run.We also visited a pretzel factory in Intercourse, PA where the kids got to make a pretzel. Despite Sarah's misgivings about a trip to Pennsylvania, fun was had by all.