Unexpected Things to Do Near Shipshewana on Sunday

By Angie & Jeff

August 25, 2026

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Our time in Shipshewana, IN was hosted by Visit Shipshewana. The words in this article and the opinions we share are 100% ours.

If you spend some time on social media posts about all the fun things to experience in Shipshewana, it won’t be long before you notice one obvious theme in the comments. We noticed people telling others not to bother visiting the area for any date range that includes a Sunday, because “everything is closed on Sunday” and “there’s nothing to do here.”

We put those comments to the test by visiting Shipshewana (leading to our Ultimate Things to Do in Shipshewana Guide) from Friday evening through Tuesday afternoon and have to respectfully disagree. We found enough options that we were inspired to write this post!

First Stop: Breakfast at Blue Gate Garden Inn

As we shared in our Where to Stay in Shipshewana article, the Blue Gate Garden Inn served as an excellent home base for us in Shipshewana for us during the second part of our visit.

We cover all the details you want to know about the Inn in our Where to Stay in Shipshewana article, but for this post, we want to highlight their fantastic breakfast. No doubt you have stayed in hotels that tout free breakfast and you wake up to find a sad selection of donuts or a loaf of bread and coffee and not much else. We know we have!

That is not the experience at the Blue Gate Garden Inn. This hotel has one of the most impressive breakfasts we have seen included in a budget-friendly hotel in a while. Start your Sunday right at your Blue Gate Garden Inn breakfast so you’re all fueled up for the day ahead!

Quiet Scenic Backroads

In general, we encourage you to experience your time in Shipshewana (and honestly everywhere for that matter) where the journey is part of the experience and it is not all about the destination. This is especially the case in the beautiful backroads of Shipshewana!

We were so fortunate to visit in early June which was the height of baby farm animals season. We loved watching the antics of the baby horses, cows, and goats we spied along the roadside. We also saw a house with the most free range chickens we have ever seen in one place. We’re guessing over 50 chickens were running around that property!

Add in the rolling hills and lush farm fields and colorful laundry on the lines and you have a postcard-like experience to enjoy as you make your way from one destination to another.

Trading Post Outfitters in Mongo, Indiana

As Wisconsinites surrounded by outdoor water recreation opportunities, we didn’t expect our first time river kayaking to be in Indiana! We’ve canoed extensively in Wisconsin and done some lake and even ocean kayaking but never in a river until our Sunday in the Shipshewana area.

We were so pleasantly surprised to find the little piece of paradise that Andy and Jess Linder have in Mongo, Indiana at the Trading Post Outfitters. (To read more of their story and that of several area business owners who make Shipshewana such a special place to visit, don’t miss our post Unique Businesses in Shipshewana Indiana: Passionate Owners.)

Trading Post Outfitters offers a myriad of float options ranging from shorter and easier, the float we enjoyed as river kayaking novices, to longer and more challenging options. Andy and Jess and their team are fantastic hosts and even offer an onsite campground that features a restored vintage bus for glamping that we really hope to stay in on a return visit!

If you think there’s nothing to do in the Shipshewana area on a Sunday, you just need to venture 18 miles east on scenic backroads to Trading Post Outfitters!

For other day trips options in the area, don’t miss our post The Best Day Trips to Do Near Shipshewana.

Acres Away Winery in Ashley, Indiana

Another option just over 30 miles southeast of Shipshewana for Sunday fun is Acres Away Winery in Ashley, Indiana. You’ll know you’re in Ashley when you see the bright yellow smiley face water tower!

We will admit it: our travels have turned us into a little bit of wine snobs over the years. Our palates used to appreciate the sweet fruit wines common in the Midwest, but after years of traveling and enjoying wine in places like Sonoma and Napa, California, Italy, and France, we have become a little harder to impress! Having said that, the wines at Acres Away Winery truly impressed us! It is not the sweet fruit wines that we have come to expect in the Midwest at all. Acres Away Winery brings varieties that we could have been convinced were made in Sonoma if we didn’t know otherwise.

Owner Shane, is extremely passionate and knowledgeable about wine making with over two decades in the industry and it shows in their wines. We wished we could have stayed longer to try more of their varieties. They offered wine slushies that we need to return to try.

Even if you’re not a big wine fan like us, Acres Away is still a fascinating and lovely place to visit. Shane and the team are inviting and friendly. Shane gave the group we visited with an interesting and educational tour of the vineyards and wine production area in the back. We have been on a lot of wine tours over the years but still learned a few things.

Oh, and did we mention the food? The pretzels are a MUST ORDER and truly are as big as your head and not just massive, also delicious. The woodfired pizzas were also outstanding.

Add to the great wine and the excellent food that lovely patio with views of Acres Away lovely wildflower garden and the vistas beyond and you have yourself a pretty perfect Sunday afternoon!

Sip and Float Outing

If the Trading Post Outfitters and Acres Away Winery both sounded like too much fun to you to choose just one, you should look for one of the dates they collaborate in the summer and host a Sip and Float event. We enjoyed both places through this unique excursion and would happily do it again! These two businesses have even collaborated on a wine, fittingly called River Wine. We were both fans!

Also, Acres Away Winery has collaborated with Bloomfield Lavender Apothecary that we visited and wrote about in our The Best Day Trips from Shipshewana and Unique Businesses in Shipshewana Indiana: Passionate Owners. Their collaboration wine was so popular it sold out before we arrived and had a chance to try it.

Shipshewana Dinner Options

Once back in Shipshewana, there are two dinner options open on Sundays that we had the good fortune of trying.

If you’re looking for a quicker option, East of Chicago Pizza offers an evening buffet including salad, parm pops (their take on breadsticks), pizzas, and dessert options. You’re also able to order from their menu, if you prefer that option.

Our favorite out to eat experience of the trip was at The Black Sheep From Scratch Kitchen run by Shawna Rae, known for her equally delicious bakery in town, and lucky you, it’s open on Sundays!

For all the details about our food suggestions in Shipshewana, check out our post Where to Eat in Shipshewana.

Hotel Pool and Patio Evening

After a full day like this, if you’re anything like us, you’ll be tired!

You can read our complete Where to Stay in Shipshewana guide for more details.

Sunday Visit – Realistic Expectations

As we have shared here, there’s plenty to do on a Sunday in the area. But, it is important to note that the reputation of ‘everything is closed’ doesn’t come from nowhere.

You will find most businesses in Shipshewana, particularly Amish owned businesses, are closed on Sundays.

In addition, the Shipshewana Flea Market is a reason many people visit the area and it’s important to note that’s only Tuesday and Wednesday.

Make Sunday a Part of Your Shipshewana Adventure

After spending a full Sunday exploring the Shipshewana area, we can confidently say you should not skip a visit simply because your dates include a Sunday. We easily filled our day with beautiful scenery, outdoor adventures, delicious food, and memorable experiences.

That said, we do recommend adding a Sunday to a longer stay that also includes a Saturday or Monday or more if your schedule allows. While there is plenty to enjoy on Sundays, many Amish-owned businesses and traditional Shipshewana experiences are closed that day. Adding another day gives you the opportunity to experience more of the culture, craftsmanship, and hospitality that make this area so special.

For a deeper look at the traditions and people that make this region unique, be sure to read our Unforgettable Amish Country Indiana Experience article.