Antiques & adventures

Millersburg may be situated right in the heart of Amish Country, but that isn't the only reason to visit the quaint village of 3,000 residents, said Judy Lamp, executive director of Historic Downtown Millersburg.

One of Millersburg’s most compelling attractions is the Victorian House and Museum. The 28-room restored Queen Anne-style mansion, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, demonstrates startling architectural beauty while containing intriguing historical items that rekindle the region’s earlier years. The home has appeared on HGTV and in Victorian Homes Magazine.

The old mansion not only becomes a focal point of Millersburg’s popular Halloween activities, but also its reputation for housing year-round spirits has captivated people who are interested in the paranormal. During the Christmas season, the Victorian House wears its most dazzling and festive dress of the year. Every room is cheerfully decorated with a Christmas tree gracing just about every room.

Downtown access to Holmes County Rails to Trails offers a leisurely adventure to the area’s rural environment. The 12-mile trail, which follows the route of abandoned railroad tracks, has become a great favorite of local residents. At any given time, it is not unusual to find cyclists, walkers, runners, horseback riders and horse-drawn buggies utilizing the trail for exercise, fun or transportation. Bicycles are available to rent.

Another Millersburg experience you may not want to miss is perusing the village’s quaint downtown shops for unique items, Lamp said.

“Our locally owned shops are sure to delight you with handmade, refurbished and repurposed goods that you’re unlikely to find anywhere else,” she said. Millersburg has long been famous for its antiques. But the town has taken an exciting twist in recent years, Lamp said.

“Artisanship and old-fashioned, home-made crafts have exploded in Millersburg, and it’s phenomenal,” she said. “Whether you love to shop for one-of-a-kind, hand-made items or want to learn the secrets of old-time quilting, you’ll be delighted by what Millersburg has to offer.”

Bolstering a growing interest in home-made and restored items, a relatively new artisans guild — the only one in Ohio — supplements Millersburg’s monthly quilting retreats, during which women congregate for a weekend of stitching together gorgeous works of art.

“A growing trend these days is to go back to basics and learn some of the older, forgotten skills like my mother taught me,” Lamp said. “The Colonial Homestead Artisans Guild teaches skills and techniques like wood working, leather making, and gun making and rug weaving. Many of these skills are at risk of being forgotten.”

Downtown Millersburg’s interesting shops are congregated into a vibrant, three-block, easily walkable area. With a plethora of locally owned pubs and diners mixed in, visitors conveniently take a break for lunch or a snack — then get back to their shopping. Or visit one of the two wineries located just minutes away.

Millersburg recently welcomed a new ice cream parlor and features a bulk food store, bakery and many restaurants and pubs that serve everything from barbecue to Angus burgers to stone-fired pizza.

“Our friendly pubs, which offer live evening entertainment, particularly on the weekends, are wonderful venues in which to relax with family or meet new friends and interesting people,” Lamp said. “After you visit Millersburg once, you’ll surely want to return.”

Visit HistoricDowntownMillersburg.com for more information.