Hundreds of thousands of people tour Amish country each year to experience great food, simplistic culture and beautiful scenery.

Tourism the second largest industry behind manufacturing in Holmes County, which is in the heart of Amish country.

The industry is critically important to the health of the communities in the area, as it supports 4,000 full-time jobs in a county of just over 40,000 people, said Shasta Mast, executive director of The Holmes County Commerce and Visitors Bureau.

In 2005 alone, travelers spent 141 million dollars in direct travel expenditures, feeding the local economy.

For those people traveling into Holmes County for the first time, there are some customs you should be familiar with, especially when it comes to driving on country roads.

The Amish preference of travel by non-motorized means you will see a high volume of traffic by buggy, bicycle, horseback and on foot. When farm traffic is added into the equation, travelers in Amish country can expect slow moving vehicles at every turn.

Kat Williard, with Safe Communities Coalition of Wayne and Holmes counties, said motorists need to keep in mind the fact that motorized vehicle traffic comes up on non-motorized traffic very quickly.

"Always be cautious in our area," Williard said. "When approaching hills and curves remember that you don't know what's on the other side."

The Holmes County Sheriff's Office recommends the following:

-Travel at speeds that allow plenty of time to stop for slow moving traffic.

-Though Amish Country is well known for its beautiful scenery, the driver must keep their eyes on the road at all times. Passengers should not distract drivers by pointing out sights of interest while the vehicle is moving.

-Horses are unpredictable. When stopped behind a buggy, allow enough room for the horse to back up; when passing a buggy, do not sound the horn or come to close to the horse.

-Expect pedestrians, bicycles and farm vehicles as well as buggies.

Another important custom to be courteous of is the Amish populations opposition to photographs. Most Amish people do not want their picture because of a belief that the followers of Jesus Christ are to be humble and put "no other gods before Him."

Many times, photographs will be snapped from a distance, without their permission. But to be respectful, you should be careful to not show an Amish persons face in a photograph or take a picture up close.

When visiting the heartland, it is important to not that almost all Amish businesses do not operate on Sundays. So if you are in the area, make sure you do your shopping at Amish stores before Sunday.

Still, there are plenty of things to do on Sunday, including shopping in Millersburg, walking or riding on the Holmes County Trail and dining at one of the many restaurants in the area.

Christy Johnson can be reached at 330-287-1624 or cjohnson@the-daily-record.com