A Weekend in Walnut Creek

Only Sunrise Earth would be able to capture the absolute stillness and beauty of an early morning in Walnut Creek.

View of the early-morning mist as it veils Goose Bottom Valley.

The morning mist slowly rises.

A distant farm comes into view.

Closeup of the distant farm.

As the sun rises on the eastern horizon, the fog lifts to reveal the lush rolling hills of Goose Bottom Valley. There is scarcely a sound. Only nature. A bird flying high overhead. Two horses in a field below. Cows and sheep grazing on a faraway farm. From somewhere in the distance comes the clippety-clop of an Amish horse and buggy on the road—at first, quiet, yet distinct . . . then louder—as it draws near, piercing the silence.

Watching morning rise in Walnut Creek is like catching a glimpse of what our world was like before man and technology started to interfere.

Patchwork farms, in vibrant shades of green, dot the landscape.

Walnut Creek lies in the heart of Ohio’s Amish country. Tom and I love it for its pastoral beauty and peacefulness. The pace is slower there. Old ways and new live side-by-side in harmony. We think it’s the perfect place to go for a weekend to get away from it all.

The Carlisle Inn

Tom and I always stay at the Carlisle Inn. There are other hotels in the area, but for us the Carlisle Inn is the epitome of peace and comfort.

The inn sits high on a ridge on the main road that leads into Walnut Creek. Views of the Ohio countryside from the hotel are remarkable. To the north is the patchwork landscape of Goose Bottom Valley’s bustling Amish farms. To the south is picturesque Mud Valley with its fertile, green pastures.

The Carlisle Inn has a wrap-around porch, small-town charm, and warm hospitality.

Grand staircase to second floor.

Featuring 52 guest rooms with beautiful views of the surrounding countryside, the Carlisle Inn feels more like an upscale bed-and-breakfast than a hotel.

It has three floors and a lower level and space for meetings, banquets, spa services, and a fitness room. There is an elevator, but a grand staircase will take you from the lobby to the second floor.

Décor throughout is an elegant mix of traditional and country Victorian. There’s a lot of polished brass. Dark cherry trim. Rich velvets. Stripes and patterns. Wallpaper. Country curtains. Common areas are warm and inviting. The hallways are wide with cozy places to sit. Everything is well-maintained and clean, which is a huge plus when you’re traveling.

Hallway sitting area just outside guest rooms. Pastoral scenes, captured by local photographer Doyle Yoder, brighten the walls. (Photo: Dutchman Hospitality)

Guest rooms are large and comfortable. Each is unique in style and décor. Furniture is hand-crafted locally. Beds are covered with beautiful Amish quilts. We usually ask for a room on the second floor with a balcony facing north. This gives us an ideal place to sit and watch the morning sun rise over Goose Bottom Valley.

Our room was large, clean, comfortable, and quiet. Who could ask for anything more?

A complimentary continental breakfast is served country-style in a lovely wicker sitting room on the second floor. Breakfast includes cinnamon rolls and breads, sausage, waffles, bagels, hard boiled eggs, yogurt, cold cereals and oatmeal, assorted fresh fruit, juices, coffee, and hot chocolate.

Second-floor breakfast room . . . a lovely place to linger and plan your day.

I found this gem in the lobby at the Carlisle Inn . . . If you haven’t already read it, be sure to get a copy of Simple Secrets to a Beautiful Home: Creating a Place You and Your Family Will Love by best-selling author and home-management expert Emilie Barnes. It’s a fabulous little book full of inspiration, great ideas, and useful tips on how to easily weave beauty and happiness into the fabric of your daily life.

Scenic view from the parking lot of the Carlisle Inn.

Der Dutchman Restaurant and Bakery

Next door to the Carlisle Inn is Der Dutchman Restaurant. Founded in 1969, this is the first of several Der Dutchman restaurants established in the area. It is a popular gathering spot for locals and tourists alike, and is famous for its Amish kitchen cooking, bountiful buffets, and family-style dinners.

It’s always a good idea to eat where the locals eat. Der Dutchman is everyone’s favorite.

View from Der Dutchman.

At Der Dutchman the menu is loaded with true comfort food—simple, straightforward classics like broasted chicken, chicken pot pie, country-cured ham, pork, slow-roasted roast beef and turkey, and grilled liver with sautéed onions. Hearty side dishes include real mashed potatoes, homemade egg noodles, and the “freshest tasting creamed corn you’ll ever have the good fortune to eat.” Portions are large. Bread and rolls are fresh-baked daily. The cakes and pies are to die for. It is authentic Amish cooking at its finest and exactly what you would expect from an Amish farmhouse kitchen.

Staff and servers, too, are members of the Amish community, which makes eating at Der Dutchman all the more special and meaningful.

Tom likes the roast beef and mashed potatoes. For me, the baked chicken—real Amish farm country chicken, naturally organic, moist, and juicy—is an absolute must-have. It almost melts in your mouth . . . it’s that tender.

Charbroiled Chicken with Creamy Mashed Potatoes and Dressing . . . grilled onion and peppers kick it up a notch.
(Photo: Der Dutchman

Strawberry Crunch Salad . . . Romaine lettuce, fresh strawberries, toasted Ramen noodles, broccoli, pecans and onions with sweet vinaigrette dressing.
(Photo: Der Dutchman

Dandelion Gravy . . . gravy with egg, bacon, and dandelion greens served over potatoes.
(Photo: Der Dutchman

Mural by Tom Miller at Der Dutchman Restaurant in Walnut Creek. (Photo: Dutchman News)

Front porch of Der Dutchman. On quiet days, you can browse through travel brochures or sit in rockers and people watch.
(Photo: Der Dutchman)

The Der Dutchman Bakery, which is in the same building as the restaurant, has an tasty selection of fresh-baked breads, dinner rolls, cakes, snickerdoodles, cream-filled éclairs, pies, and cookies. You’ll also find homemade fruit preserves, jars of Der Dutchman apple butter, and Amish peanut butter spread. Items are available prepackaged on the shelves or individually from behind the counter . . . so you can take some Der Dutchman goodness home with you.

Der Dutchman Bakery has a wide assortment of baked goods that are pre-packaged and ready to take home. (Photo: Living Our Dream)

Walnut Creek Country Store . . . a fun place to browse and shop for food, gifts, and souvenirs.

The Walnut Creek Country Store is directly across the street from Der Dutchman. This is a quaint little Amish store where you’ll find a little bit of everything—bulk items, flour, baking supplies, spices, pastas, nuts, snack mixes, dried fruits, candies, dry goods, and more. All the food is locally made and packaged. We always buy homemade Amish pasta to take home with us—it is infinitely better than the pre-packaged, brand-name stuff you get at the supermarket.

Carlisle Gifts

Also across the street from Der Dutchman, and next to the Walnut Creek Country Store, is Carlisle Gifts, a charming three-story Victorian house filled to capacity with fine and unique gift items.

Gingerbread fretwork, graceful railings, and a generous wrap-around porch adorn the stately Victorian that houses Carlisle Gifts.

Brass chandelier above the center staircase.

When you step though the leaded glass doors and into Carlisle Gifts, it feels like you’re visiting a gracious home.

The shop is gorgeous and packed with items, china and pottery, collectibles, delicate lace, linens, tapestry throws, a variety of teapots, elegant lamps, treasures for the garden, framed fine art, floral arrangements, jewelry, rugs, colorful handbags by Vera Bradley, toiletries, scarves, fine clothing, cards and stationary, calendars, whimsical toys, and much more.

At the center is a beautifully curved cherry staircase, much like the one at the Carlisle Inn. There is also an elevator that takes you from floor to floor.

You are free to browse as long as you want. It takes a while to see everything.

Standing at the top of the stairway, looking down to the first floor.

Every time we visit Carlisle Gifts I see something I want. I have a weakness for faux floral arrangements that look real—the more real, the better—and scarves . . . I can never have too many scarves. Also fun are the life-like foods on display in table settings, a yummy array of desserts and drinks that look good enough to eat.

Fine china, a variety of teapots, faux flowers, and beautiful Victorian lamps.

The faux cake on the table looks good enough to eat.

Tiffany-style lamp, more faux flowers and plants, and a gourmet dip display.

P. Graham Dunn

Next door to Carlisle Gifts is the P. Graham Dunn gallery where you’ll find unique inspirational items that feature scripture passages and other thought-provoking sentiments beautifully crafted into the art.

P. Graham Dunn gallery in Walnut Creek. (Photo: P. Graham Dunn)

Stunning inspirational staircase.

The gallery has framed art, wrapped canvas, carved signs, and more. Most amazing are the engraved hymns, the music for each meticulously etched onto the face of a beautiful wooden plaque.

You can also get personalized gifts—photo frames, pen sets, plaques, pocketknives, key chains, desk accessories, and clocks—custom engraved on the spot with wording of your choice.

Tom and I enjoy browsing through the shop and, especially, the delightful bargain basement where you can find slightly-scratched, discontinued, or unfinished pieces at discount prices.

The carved staircase to the second floor is awesome.

The long and winding path

A winding brick walkway extends from P. Graham Dunn down the street. It’s a wonderful place for a leisurely stroll—like walking in a private garden—with lovely landscaping and gardens, gazebos, and plenty of quiet places to sit and relax.

Standing at P. Graham Dunn, looking down the walkway at the gazebo. It’s a charming path, winding its way past shrubs and flowers in full bloom during summer.

At the gazebo, looking up towards P. Graham Dunn.

Gazebo on the walkway . . . and a nearby barn. Views of Mud Valley from the walkway are beautiful.

Beyond the silo, the rolling landscape of Mud Valley.

A closer view of the rich farmland of Mud Valley.

An Amish buggy ride

Line for buggy rides starts here.

Coming up to Carlisle Gifts and the Walnut Creek Country Store with Der Dutchman on the left.

Lester, our driver and guide, provided a thoroughly enjoyable mini tour of the town.

Coblentz Chocolate

If you love gourmet chocolate, stopping at Coblentz Chocolate is a must. Even if you don’t have a sweet tooth, it’s worth a stop if only to browse and marvel.

Coblentz Chocolate Company in Walnut Creek.

Coblentz chocolates.
(Photo: Waymarking)

Nostalgic glass candy jars line the walls, and the counters are loaded with the most-delectable concoctions.

Family owned and operated, Coblentz has over 114 varieties of handmade chocolate candies, including creamy truffles, caramels, clusters, buckeyes, cream fills, peanut butter, meltaways, cordials, jellies, barks, and fudge. You can get milk chocolate, dark chocolate, white chocolate, and sugar-free. They also have gourmet nuts, sour gummy bears, saltwater taffy, and Smarties . . . something for everyone and everything you could ever want. I highly recommend the peanut butter meltaways—they are to die for!

There is also a production area with viewing gallery where visitors can watch the delicious confections being created.

The perfect end to a perfect day

As a guest at the Carlisle Inn, you have the luxury of indulging in one of their signature massages: 60-90 minutes of complete peace, rest, and relaxation to put your mind and body at ease, bring you back into balance, and restore your soul.

In the morning you wake up to yet another glorious sunrise.

For more information on Walnut Creek, visit walnutcreekohio.org.