An Amish man by any other name would be just as plain. And just as extraordinary. You can dress a man in plain clothes, an Amish beard and a black hat, but he's still a man. He's a husband, a father, a son. He’s just the Amish guy next door.

The Amish man walking down the sidewalk is a regular at the village diner. He’s the local Amish serviceman who fixes anything. He’s on the volunteer fire department because he cares for his Amish neighbors, or with the chamber of commerce because it’s good for his Amish business.

The Amish man driving his buggy may be the co-worker you like, or the one you wish would quit. He's the Amish neighbor who'll feed your dog or go fishing with you. He shows up at his kids' school activities.

He votes for your candidate, or against him. Or he thinks his vote wouldn’t matter. He’s a source of political news, or he ignores anything outside his Amish community. He volunteers at school. He just happens to be Amish.

Your Amish neighbor may be a business genius, or a mechanical wizard. Maybe he works for a wage and tends his little Amish farm. He vacations with his Amish relatives in Florida every winter. He travels across town or across the country to help anyone who needs help, not just other Amish folk. He shows up on moving day.

Your Amish friend worries about his children, hoping they stay with the Amish church. He cares about his marriage, or ignores it. He wants good schools, less taxes, a more responsible government. He believes in God, family, the Amish church, hard work, good Amish cooking, and a safe buggy horse.

He's in his Amish world, and still in your world.

When you’re ready to see an Amish man, or woman, or child with new eyes, come to Amish Country in Berlin, Ohio. Explore the Amish world, not to see the differences from yours, but the similarities. Take time to get to know the Amish people, not just to look at their stuff.

For those few days and nights in Amish Country, look for lodging that encourages relaxation and contemplation, if you so choose. Find your way to the newly renovated Berlin Hotel & Suites, a perfect location just outside of Berlin, the heart of Ohio’s Amish Country. There you can unwind in your suite overlooking the Amish farmland. Or really relax with a body wrap, Swedish massage, or hydrotherapy session in the Berlin Spa & Salon.

No visit to Amish Country is complete without lots of Amish style cooking. At Berlin Hotel & Suites, your best bet is a walk across the parking lot to Troyer’s Country Dining. Better yet, they will cater dinner to your room. And enjoy free continental breakfast with fresh pastries from a local bakery, or go next door for a real Amish Country breakfast.

You may go home with the sense that your Amish neighbors may not be all that different from you. And you’ll have a new favorite Amish Country stay, Berlin Hotel & Suites.