meanwhile in geauga county

Ohio has a rich history and is a state destined to witness so many incidents that changed the history of United States. It is the state that produced the maximum number of US presidents. It was the Ohio sky that Wright brothers invaded with their path-breaking invention of aeroplanes. The most famous tourist attraction in Ohio is also a historical monument: the Underground Railroad. Ohio also has plenty of recreational facilities. For example, Lake Erie is a splendidly charming and hugely sought after fishing location among bass fishing enthusiasts. It is also a place where there are plenty in store for the music enthusiasts, like the Cincinnati Opera, the Symphony, and Playhouse in the Park. Also, Ohio can also boast of some excellent museums like the Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage and Taft Museum of Art. There is also an opportunity for special journey through some picturesque surroundings on Hocking Hill Scenic Railway.

There are plenty of travel guide magazines and websites that are accessed absolutely free. They provide quality and useful information about the tourist attractions in and around Ohio. The Cleveland and Ohio visitor's Guide and Map is one such magazine. It is free, but does have an expensive air in its production and layout. It provides detailed information regarding restaurants, events and other popular attractions in Ohio. The 160-page magazine also has some discount coupons. Lake County Visitor's Guide is another excellent book for the visitors to Lake Country, which is very near to Cleveland. It provides a great deal of information regarding the historic places and other tourist attractions.

Amish Country Map and Visitor's Guide is a free travel guide to Holmes County, which is near Cleveland and contains the largest Amish Community in the world. Put-in-Bay is a summer holiday vacation spot near Cleveland. Put-in-Bay Visitor's Guide 2008 provides useful information regarding beaches, shopping malls and other tourist destinations in the county. Ashtabula County, near Cleveland, is famous for its wineries and a historic port. Ashtabula County Visitor's Guide contains highly informative stories and write-ups about the county. Geauga County is known for some scenic surroundings, maple syrup, and antique stores. Geauga County Visitor's Guide contains excellent information regarding the tourist attractions in the county. Lorain County is situated on the west of Cleveland and is on the banks of Lake Erie. Lorain County Visitor's Guide is a free magazine that offers plenty of information about Lorain County's tourist attractions. Go Coast Visitor's Guide is a free magazine that contains useful travel information about Lake Erie Islands in Ohio. Canton and Stark County Visitor's Guide is a free magazine that offers excellent information for tourists regarding Stark County, near Cleveland, where the William McKinley Presidential Library is situated.

The Amish of North America are a diverse group. As an Ohio Amishman recently put it, "the typical English (Amish term for non-Amish person) fellow looks at one of us and just sees an Amishman. In reality there is a lot of difference."

The Old Order

The most 'mainstream' group is known as the Old Order Amish. The Old Order is found throughout North America, in approximately two dozen states, as well as Ontario. Large Old Order settlements are found in Holmes and Wayne Counties of Ohio, Lancaster County in Pennsylvania, LaGrange and Elkhart Counties in Indiana, and Geauga County in Ohio. These four settlements rank as the largest in the country.

Old Orders use the horse and buggy, though styles can vary. The gray carriage is found largely in Lancaster County and its daughter settlements. The black 'Ohio' and 'Indiana' styles are popular in most other communities.

There is a wide variety of practice within the Old Order itself--the Amish religion is very congregational, in the sense that outside of a few key tenets of belief, cultural practice may differ to a significant degree. In the Lagrange settlement of northern Indiana, for example, which consists of over 120 Amish congregations, Amish on the western side are generally considered more progressive than on the eastern side of the settlement. This is reflected in certain practices--for example, gasoline engine mowers are allowed in some churches, while others require members to use push-mowers. Children in some homes in more progressive congregations were recently even seen with hand-held video game players.

The New Order

The so-called 'New Order' emerged in the 60's and 70's as a response to a desire for change regarding certain practices within the Old Order. Specifically, New Orders became open to the idea of a more personalized faith experience, and were desirous of youth study of the Bible, elements that were largely absent in traditional Old Order practice. New Order Amish also came out strongly against two cultural practices seen among the Old Order: tobacco use, and bed courtship, also known as bundling.

Today, New and Old Orders enjoy a friendly coexistence in large settlements such as Holmes County. New Orders use the horse-and-buggy and dress in a plain fashion. They tend to be more progressive regarding technology: some allow telephones in the home, take advantage of public electricity, and are generally more liberal on tractor use. However, one New Order Amishman explained that the two groups in Holmes County are in a sense closer to each other than they once were, perhaps reflecting a decline in cultural practices the New Order has found objectionable.

Swiss Amish

The Swiss are an interesting group for a number of reasons. Swiss are largely found in a few Indiana settlements--Adams and Allen Counties near Fort Wayne, as well as in Daviess County in the southern part of the state. Amish in these communities speak a somewhat different Swiss-influenced dialect, which Amish in other settlements can find amusing to listen to. In Adams and Allen Counties, only open-top carriages are allowed, which can make traveling in inclement weather a bit tricky. The Swiss would generally be considered part of the Old Order, 'Swiss' referring more to their place of origin and differing cultural practice.