Sarasota, Florida is famous for the whitest beaches on earth, tropical island retreats, the Ringling Museum with collections of circus memorabilia, and Sarasota’s vibrant cultural activities. But what many people don’t realize is that Sarasota is also home to a thriving community of Amish and Mennonites.
Within the city limits of Sarasota is a neighborhood known as Pinecraft. Pinecraft’s narrow streets and small houses in a grid layout mark the area’s “Amish community.” The area is actually made up of Amish, Mennonites, and others, but it is the people of the Plain Sects, in their traditional clothing, that catch the eye.
Pinecraft presents a popular Farmers Market on Saturdays where one can buy fruit, pies, jellies and jams, and many other homemade delights. If you’re passing through Pinecraft on a weekday, you can also visit “roadside stands.”
To find out more about Sarasota’s “Amish restaurants,” stop by the Sarasota Visitor Information Center and pick up brochures for Der Dutchman, Dutch Haus, Dutch Oven, Sugar & Spice, Dutch Heritage and Yoder’s. While these restaurants may not be owned by the Amish, you will see Amish and Mennonites working and eating there. Troyers Dutch Heritage and Yoders are two locally popular places for good home cooking meals.
So while you’re visiting Sarasota, kicking back on the beach or attending cultural events, be sure to save a day or two to take a step back in time and visit Pinecraft. Handmade quits and furniture, great food, and a simplier lifestyle will make it a vacation treat you will never forget. And isn’t that what vacations are all about.
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