Most People Have No Idea Just How Unique This Village In Minnesota Truly Is
By Betsy Rathburn|Published February 10, 2017
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Betsy Rathburn
Author
Betsy is a Minneapolis-based writer who's lived in Minnesota for 20 years. If you know of any amazing Minnesota restaurants, nature areas, or other attractions, feel free to let her know about them at brathburn@onlyinyourstate.com or on Twitter @betsyrathburn.
Just a few miles north of the Iowa border, a tiny community called Harmony sits nestled in the beautiful bluff country of southern Minnesota. This little town is about 130 miles from the hustle and bustle of the Twin Cities, but that doesn’t mean there’s nothing to do there. In fact, for such a small community, Harmony has quite a lot to do. Where else can you take an Amish tour in the morning, then see an underground waterfall in the afternoon? Take a look:
From the north, Harmony is an easy drive down Highway 52 through Rochester. It'll give you a chance to take in some of Minnesota's pretty countryside.
As you get closer to Harmony, you'll notice that Highway 52 becomes the Amish Byway. Why? Because this area of Minnesota has the largest Amish population in the state.
The first thing you'll notice as you enter Harmony is that the town is quite small, with a population of just over 1,000 people. But it still has a cute downtown full of historic buildings.
The real draw, though, is the Amish community that lives in and around Harmony. Within the town, you'll find the charming Village School Quilt Shop, where you can buy a hand-crafted Amish quilt.
Nearby, you can buy goodies in several other Amish shops. The Sugar Plum House is a great spot for something sweet to eat, like the famous Amish cashew crunch candy. Furniture and gift stores are also nearby.
Of course, you can't visit Harmony without taking an Amish tour. Guided tours will take you to Amish farms to see how people live and work. Many of the farms have stores where you can buy handmade baskets, furniture, and more.
If you don't take a guided tour, a drive through the country is a must. The sight of an old-fashioned horse and buggy climbing through the hilly countryside is part of why Harmony is so beautiful.
And when you're all done touring Amish country, you can't leave the area without a stop at Niagara Cave. It's located just a few miles outside of town.
This beautiful cave is one of Minnesota's most unique natural wonders. A guided tour of the cave will let you see fossils upwards of 450 million years old.
