Inside: Join us as we explore historic Sauder Village in Archbold, Ohio. Step into the past with us on this perfect Ohio weekend getaway for families!
We are always on the hunt for easy, family-friendly weekend getaways from Columbus, Ohio. Somewhere interesting to explore, with good food, and a short drive. So we were thrilled when we discovered Historic Sauder Village in Archbold, Ohio.
About two and half hours northwest of Columbus, Ohio, it’s the perfect distance for a weekend trip. If you’re visiting from Columbus, it CAN be done in one day, but there are some lovely options to book a stay so I think you should make a whole weekend out of it!
Where to stay on your Ohio weekend getaway to Sauder Village
We stayed at the Heritage Inn, a cozy country lodge right next to the village. Inside, you’ll find a beautiful fireplace, bright atriums filled with live plants and flowers, and natural wood decor. The Heritage Inn is the perfect Ohio weekend getaway for families and large groups because the amenities include an indoor pool with a fun waterfall feature, a hot tub, exercise room, lots of books you can you can borrow and even a game room.
Accommodations are clean and cozy and when you check in, you’ll be treated to fresh baked cookies from the on-site bakery! These were definitely a highlight.
Your stay also includes a continental breakfast in the morning. You’ll find pastries, bagels, yogurt, waffles, coffee and juice to help start your day.
Another option is staying at the Sauder Village Campground. The campground also has a lake for fishing, playgrounds for the little ones, and even a fun splash pad! There are options for tent camping or RV/Camper sites. Bathrooms and showers are also available.
For a list of campsite rates and more information, click here.
Visiting Historic Sauder Village – Important Info
We spent a full day at Ohio’s largest living-history village and I think there was still more to see. Here’s what you need to know:
2022 Admission Rates:
Tickets can be purchased at the Welcome Center which is also the entrance to the Historic Village. There are discounts available for AAA members, seniors and military families (active military receives FREE admission)
2022 Regular Admission Rates:
Adults: $22
Students (ages 6-16): $16
Children (ages 5 and under): Free
Seniors (60 and over): $20
There is no fee for parking.
Visiting Historic Sauder Village – What to See and Do
When you arrive, the first thing you’ll see is the multiple buildings and costumed guides at each stop. You’ll get to explore a grist mill, church, schools, homes, and many shops.
My little one had so much fun exploring each building and watching the guides do their work and answer all her questions.
She got to learn about making wooden buckets.
And also watched how to use a giant loom to make tablecloths, napkins, and even little fabric bookmarks.
Another highlight was also watching how old fashioned brooms were made. We loved being able to watch the artisans work and ask questions.
There was even a horse-drawn carriage! The horses were beautiful, and you could opt to buy tickets for a ride if you wanted.
Next, we walked through working farms, gardens, and even a historic farmhouse. So much to see and learn.
We got to see lots of antique farm equipment, and ask lots of questions. The farms are all working farms, which means there are animals to feed and crops to tend to.
One of our favorite things to watch was when they were feeding the pigs! They have the feeding times listed at the front. Check to see what time they feed the animals so you don’t miss out on the fun.
My little one also loved watching the guides cook over an open flame and show us how it was done back in the day. Everything smelled so good!
How delicious do these pies look? After exploring the farms, gardens, and farm houses, we headed to the 1920’s Main Street area.
There is so much to see and do – including watching a silent film at the movie theater, visiting a barbershop, bank, grocery store, grabbing a chocolate malt and so much more!
I definitely recommend stepping into the old fashioned soda shop for a well-deserved break!
The ice cream scoops are generous and DELICIOUS. I also loved my cream soda!
It was so neat to see all the goods in the grocery shop. The items on display all have historically correct marketing. Many of the brands from then are still in business and sent Sauder Village the labels that were in circulation back then.
We loved learning about the bathhouse and barbershop!
After exploring all that 1920’s Main Street had to offer, we were ready for another break. We hopped on the (free) train ride!
Next, we explored the Natives and Newcomers Village.
How cool are these log cabins?
There were guides in period costumes available to answer questions, offer demonstrations, and teach us about life during this time period.
We had so much fun exploring all that Historic Sauder Village had to offer. By this time, we had worked up a pretty big appetite.
Historic Sauder Village – Where to Eat
You have lots of options here. In the soda shop, in addition to malts, old fashioned sodas, and ice cream, they also had some snacks and small items like freshly popped corn and hot dogs available.
There is also the Village Cafe, located in the welcome center. Offering affordable options like sandwiches, hot dogs, salads, soups, etc, this is a great option for a quick bite.
You could also pop in to the Doughbox Bakery for a treat. The bakery features specialty coffee, alongside doughnuts, pies, cookies, pastries, and more.
And finally, they have a full-service restaurant on site, called the Barn Restaurant. This family-friendly, casual restaurant features both a hot buffet and a la carte sandwiches, and features local favorites like roast beef, chicken, noodles, mashed potatoes, salads, soups, and so much more. The homemade pies, rolls, and fresh bread are baked next door at the Doughbox Bakery.
We were pretty hungry and tired at this point, so we opted for the Barn Restaurant.
The Barn Restaurant is cozy and casual – perfect after a busy day of exploring the Village.
They have both a la carte and buffet options, and we opted for the buffet.
She was a huge fan of the salad bar and the fact that they had GREEN OLIVES. Her favorite!
My husband and I enjoyed their chicken and all the sides. Everything was tasty and the service was friendly!
We had so much fun visiting Historic Sauder Village. It’s the perfect Ohio weekend getaway for families.
Disclaimer: This post was written in partnership with Historic Sauder Village. As always, thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.