A visit to Pine Tree Barn and Farms near Wooster is like giving yourself a present. Four presents, actually.

These presents are a result of 25 years of a now-four-generation family operation owned and operated by Roger and Rita Dush. As one of the few places in Amish Country to be open on Sunday, Pine Tree Barn isn't "just another gift shop." What you find there is different. That's 25,000 square feet of different.

According to the Dush's son, Matt Kilbourne (the store's manger and also the one in charge of advertising, the computer and "just about everything mechanical"), "theres very little duplicity in what we carry and what's found elsewhere in the area."

Your first present is a wonderful gift shop one of the largest in Ohio. It offers exquisite gifts, accessories, handcrafted collectibles and artwork. When you enter the beautiful 1868 Dutch "bank" barn, you can scarcely take it all in. Gift items (and ones for yourself, too, of course) are tucked into every nook and cranny, from high in the rafters of the second floor loft, to the many alcoves in the basement. It's very easy to miss something, so be sure to have lots of time to browse. A Christmas shop on the first floor is a favorite spot, year-'round.

The second present is the very intimate restaurant, The Granary and Gardens. Open only for lunch (see hours below), it specializes in gourmet lunches made from fresh, quality ingredients. When I first visited Pine Tree Barn nearly 25 years ago, I remember how "lunch" consisted of homemade herb bread, delicious soup from a crock pot, and very limited seating. How times have changed! Now the restaurant offers much more seating and spectacular views of the family tree farm, twin lakes and the beautiful, lush Killbuck Valley. And yes, The Granary and Gardens is open for lunch on Sunday (a rare find in Amish Country). During warm weather, you can enjoy your lunch on the new roof deck, taking in the breathtaking views and fresh country air while you indulge in the fantastic lunch fare, homemade desserts, fine wines and other delights.

Roger said, "Most area restaurants have gift shops, but we like to think of ourselves as a gift shop with a restaurant!"

And don't worry if you work up an appetite while shopping past the lunch hours. Even though the main menu is retired, you can still take a break in the restaurant and enjoy some delicious desserts, wine and cheese until 4 p.m.

Now on to your third present, a wonderful design-driven store filled with furniture. Not just furniture, but everything else to go with it, as well. We're talking carpet, tile, rugs, bedding, indoor and outdoor lighting, accessories and a floral department (with three professional floral designers on staff).

"We have fine, museum-quality Early American furniture," Matt said. "We carry traditional, as well as handcrafted 18th-Century reproductions from Ohio craftsmen. Were a licensed Williamsburg Furniture dealer, plus we carry nearly 200 top-quality home furnishing lines, including Century, Harden, Drexel Heritage, Henredon, Lauren by Ralph Lauren, Habersham, Michael Thomas, Theodore and Alexander, and Maitland Smith, among others."

Nine full-time interior designers are ready and willing to help you, whether you're looking for just one item, a room full, or a house full.

Your fourth and final present is really special, but you can't open it until Christmas (November, actually)! It's the 200-acre family Christmas tree farm! Back in 1954, Roger's father, Robert Dush, had the idea of growing and selling Christmas trees. His business (one of the three oldest Christmas tree farms in Ohio) has grown over the years and is now one of the four largest such farms in the state. Horse-drawn wagons pull those in search of "the perfect tree" through the tree farm (kids of all ages love this). Wreaths, greens, ribbons and lighting are also available. Customers may begin tagging their trees in early November.

I've been a "cut-your-own-Christmas-tree" advocate for more than 30 years now, and I've trudged with my family through rows and rows of spruce, pines and firs all over the state. But I must say, the family operation at Pine Tree Barn is the most efficient and positive experience we've had. And they have lots of tall trees from which to choose (up to 18 feet); those are the ones we like! Be sure not to miss this opportunity for a fun-filled family experience.

Many events take place at Pine Tree Barn throughout the year furniture sales, accessory sales, sweetheart dinners, an annual warehouse sale, a Mother's Day brunch, the Wayne County Humane Society "Second Chance" Dog Walk (it's June 18th this year), a Father's Day lunch (and spend the afternoon "catch-and-release" fishing in the two lakes), an annual "Barnyard" sale (where they "clean house" to give you the best bargains), a Christmas preview, floral demonstrations and an after-Christmas sale. Details of these events are available on their Web site.

Perhaps the largest event, though, is Pine Tree Barn's Colonial Williamsburg Festival on the first weekend of October every fall (October 1st and 2nd in 2005). This is the event to which you'll want to bring the whole family. There is a colonial militia "living history" encampment, craftspeople, artists, music, "proper" food, guest lecturers on Colonial history, information on Williamsburg-style decorating (including floral demonstrations) and a 10-percent-off sale on all licensed Williamsburg products. And, to top it off, admission is free. Mark this event on your calendar now, and plan to spend time at the festival with your family on a beautiful autumn weekend.

Pine Tree Barn is very conveniently located, just off US 30, south of Wooster, on State Route 226 (you can also take State Route 514 from State Route 39 in Nashville in Holmes County, and head north, through Shreve). Very detailed directions are available on the Web site.

Each season is the best time to visit Pine Tree Barn, so be sure to plan a trip there soon (and again, and again and again!). As you open each of your presents, be sure to experience each one to its fullest. Youll be glad you made Pine Tree Barn your enjoyable and entertaining destination. You won't be disappointed.

And be sure to tell the kind folks there you read this in Amish Heartland magazine!

Pine Tree Barn Farms Inc., 4374 Shreve Rd. (SR 226), Wooster, OH 44691, (330) 264-1014, www.pinetreebarn.com; hours: Mon.-Sat., 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sun., 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; lunch hours: 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m., daily.