The alarm clock rang, but the kiddo had other plans—snuggle time. So instead of rushing out the door, we found ourselves watching a video on how to get electricity from lemons. Fun fact: lemons can power tiny lights, and kids love procrastination disguised as science. Speaking from experience, with my older three now almost two decades older than the youngest, I can say one thing for sure—cuddle when you can. They grow up fast. Sure, the days feel slow, but the years? They whiz by. So naturally, we left the house an hour and a half later than planned.
By the time we arrived at Sauder Village, the parking lot was nearly full. We parked way back by the campground—thanks for the extra steps, right? It wasn’t bad heading in (I keep telling myself I need more movement), but that walk back after a day of exploring and a heavy lunch? Not quite as fun.
I hadn’t been to Sauder Village in over three decades, and it’s grown—just like my waistline after that buffet. It still has the charming historic houses, shops, and a general store. The store even had a checkerboard set up, and of course, we had to play a game. (Yes, I lost. Yes, I let him win.) I let him grab a bag of assorted jelly beans as a victory prize. Pro tip: Sauder Village is perfect for history buffs and candy lovers alike.
To my surprise, they’ve added a 1920s street—absolutely gorgeous. I even convinced the kid to watch a 10-minute silent film with me. It was like stepping back in time. Did you know they had Oreos and Kool-Aid in the 1920s? I didn’t, but now I’m obsessed. I’d love to see the village all decked out for Christmas, but sadly, they close on November 1st. Bummer.
Now, we didn’t see everything. After about two hours, our son lost interest, even after we visited the play area. We grabbed a chocolate milk at the soda fountain, where they add syrup to the milk. Next time, extra chocolate. We skipped the train ride since he wasn’t up for waiting in the sun—good call.
For lunch, we hit up The Barn Restaurant next door. I went for the buffet, and he had a cheeseburger (with extra pickles of course)and fries. Free refills of lemonade and iced tea, which we fully took advantage of. It was decent, though not as good as the buffet at The Blue Gate Restaurant in Shipshewana. For $40, including a tip, it wasn’t too bad.
The buffet featured fried chicken, lasagna, mashed potatoes, mini corn dogs, and a salad bar with the basics. I can’t remember if there was soup—by that point, my brain was on a child-induced vacation.
Since it was Homeschool Day at Sauder Village, I scored a deal on admission. Regularly $25 for an adult, I paid just $24 for both of us. That’s a budget win!
In summary, the kid’s favorite part was, unsurprisingly, the food and drinks. If you go, make the train ride a priority if you have a patient child (or adult). Otherwise, take your time, enjoy the atmosphere, and for bigger families, consider a season pass. Or go on Homeschool Days to save some cash—because who doesn’t love a deal?
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