Indulge your Sweet Tooth on the Richmond, Indiana Chocolate Trail
Are you ready for a delicious adventure? The Richmond – Wayne County Indiana Chocolate Trail offers a unique and mouthwatering experience for chocolate lovers and explorers alike. This self-guided tour takes you through charming towns, quaint shops, and local eateries, all while sampling delectable chocolate treats. Let’s dive into the sweet details of this enticing journey.
Our trip along the Chocolate Trail was an absolute delight! We paced ourselves and spent 10 hours exploring the many shops, restaurants, and cafes. We particularly enjoyed watching the chocolate-makers at Abbott’s Candies, relaxing at a picnic table in the woods while sipping hot chocolate, and snacking on Ghyslain’s chocoates while shopping for unique gifts.
Let us share with you tips on making your adventure along the chocolate trail a memorable one.
Here’s how to begin your chocolatey adventure:
The Chocolate Trail is easy to access and enjoy. The trail includes 13 diverse stops, each offering a free chocolate sample. It’s a perfect way to explore Richmond and its surrounding areas while indulging in sweet treats.
- Pick up a Chocolate Trail Passport at the Old National Road Welcome Center in Richmond, IN. Address: 5701 National Road East, Richmond, IN 47374
- Alternatively, you can download the digital Chocolate Trail Passport on your phone for a digital guide.
- Visit VisitRichmond.org for more information and updates.
- Map out your route to make the most of your tour. We spent 10 hours and still didn’t make it to three of the stops. I’ll share tips on that below.
Highlights of the Chocolate Trail
- free chocolate samples at each of the 13 stops
- self-guided tour allowing flexible scheduling and pacing
- diverse range of experiences, from cafes to Amish markets to artisan shops
- mix of historic venues (like Abbott’s Candies) and modern cafes (like Cafe Neo)
- opportunity to watch chocolatiers at work at Abbott’s Candies
- scenic drive through charming Indiana and Ohio towns
- taste of local specialties like Amish cheese, award-winning cakes, and sugar cream pie
- other experiences like coffee tasting and wine pairing
- exposure to local culture and hospitality in small-town Indiana and Ohio
- opportunity to purchase unique, locally-made gifts and souvenirs
Planning Your 2024 Chocolate Trail Adventure
Some of the shops that offer free chocolate samples can change each year, so be sure to check your chocolate passport for exact locations.
Time and Route
The main loop through New Paris, Fountain City, Centerville, Cambridge City, Hagerstown, and Richmond takes about 1.5 hours of driving time. If you include all stops and shopping, plan for a full day or consider splitting the trail over multiple days.
We arrived at our first stop at 8:15 a.m., hit our last stop at 5:30 p.m., missed 2 stops in Richmond (they closed at 4:00 pm), and didn’t make it to the winery in Arcanum. We plan to go back to finish the trail soon.
If you do get to all 13 locations, be sure to stop by the Old National Road Welcome Center to pick up a special treat (at this time, it’s a T-Shirt)!
What to Bring
- a cooler for perishable purchases
- comfortable walking shoes
- cash for small purchases (Fountain Acres Amish Market only takes cash)
- your appetite!
Tips for a Sweet Experience
- Start early to make the most of your day.
- Don’t hesitate to make purchases along the way – many stops offer unique local products.
- Take breaks between chocolate samples to avoid sugar overload (there are plenty of options for meals and savory snacks along the way).
- Engage with local shop owners for a more immersive experience.
Our route along the chocolate trail:
We drove in from Dayton, Ohio, so we began our adventure in New Paris, Ohio at The Cedar Coffee.
Enjoy your Coffee in a Beautiful Setting
The Cedar Coffee
What a fabulous place to start our chocolate adventure. We drank our free mocha and hot chocolate while sitting on a picnic table in the woods. It was so peaceful and beautiful.
Location: 500 S. Washington Street, New Paris, Ohio
Free Sample: Small Mocha or Hot Chocolate
Highlights: Nestled in the woods with outdoor seating.
Recommended: This is a great place to get breakfast. They freshly prepare all their food on site and it looked amazing. We can’t wait to visit again to enjoy an omelet or breakfast sandwich.
Tip: This is the perfect spot to start your day and enjoy some time out in nature.
Amish Delights and Local Specialties
Fountain Acres Foods
Location: 1140 Whitewater Road
Free Sample: Bottle of locally made Family Tyme chocolate milk
Highlights: Amish marketplace with an impressive candy aisle. They have a great selection of cheeses and sausages too.
Don’t Miss: Sugar Cream pie – We brought one home and enjoyed it for dessert the next day. It was an absolute dream, with its creamy filling and perfectly flaky crust topped with a hint of cinnamon sugar magic.
Recommended: Buy a sandwich or savory snacks along with other sweet treats.
Tip: Bring a cooler for perishable purchases. Plan to spend about an hour here if you want to do some shopping. There is a lot to see!
Historic Chocolate Makers
Abbott’s Candy
Abbott’s Candies in Hagerstown provides a glimpse into traditional chocolate-making. Watch as artisans craft cream-filled chocolates and stir kettles of fresh caramel. This iconic shop has been satisfying sweet tooths since the 1800s.
Location: 48 E. Walnut St., Hagerstown
Free Sample: milk or dark chocolate cream-filled chocolate
Highlights: Watch candy makers at work in the small factory area in the shop.
Specialties: butterscotch candies and caramels
Tip: Be sure to ask for a sample of their freshly made soft caramels. You’ll definitely want to buy a bag or box to take home.
Modern coffee cafe:
Cafe Neo
Location: 1598 IN 1, Cambridge City, IN
Free Sample: Coffee and 3 Ghirardelli Chocolate Loukomades (donuts)
Highlights: Modern, clean cafe that specializes in coffee and sandwiches.
Recommended: Try their reasonably priced breakfast or ham & cheese panini. We enjoyed lunch at this cafe. The sandwiches were yummy!
Tip: This cafe is directly connected to the Sunoco Gas Station. It’s easy to miss unless you are looking for the gas station’s yellow and red awning.
Unique Shopping Experiences
The Chocolate Trail isn’t just about eating; it’s also a shopper’s paradise. Explore the Cambridge City Building’s expansive gift shop, or spend time at Warm Glow Candle Co., where you can pick up chocolate-scented candles and various gifts.
Cambridge City Building 125
Location: 125 W Main Street, Cambridge City, IN
Free Sample: Small bag with 3 chocolate cherries
Highlights: Huge shop spanning 4 buildings, 2 basement shops, and an upstairs. Features rustic gifts and furniture.
Tips: If you like to shop, be sure to give yourself time to explore this expansive store.
Warm Glow Candle Co.
Location: 2131 Centerville Rd, N, Centerville, IN
Free Sample: mini chocolate-scented votive candle
Highlights: Large selection of candles and gifts. Features a lunch and snack counter with treats like peach and cherry cobbler.
Don’t Miss: Hershey’s Ice Cream counter
Tip: This store is huge! Plan to spend some time here shopping for gifts.
The Village Forager
For a taste of luxury, visit The Village Forager in Centerville to sample Ghyslain chocolates. These artisanal treats are as beautiful as they are delicious. We’d both rank this our favorite chocolate sample of the day!
Location: 624 E. Main St. Centerville, IN
Free Sample: Ghyslain artisan chocolate (local chocolatier from Union City, Indiana)
Highlights: Features artisan jewelry, home decor, and outdoor gifts. Excellent place for unique gift shopping.
Don’t Miss: The beautifully molded and painted chocolates by Ghyslain and their delicious assortment of gourmet baked goods, coffees, teas, and other unique beverages.
Learn to make handmade chocolates with Beth.
Beth (the author of this article) has been a chocolatier for almost 40 years and teaches online chocolate-making classes at The Sugar Academy.
Get the details ⏩
Beyond Chocolates – Cakes, Ice Cream, & more:
Lisa Cakes
Location: 414 N. 10th St. Richmond, IN
Free Sample: rich chocolate brownie with a hint of espresso
Highlights: known for her incredibly decorated cakes
Must Try: crème brûlée cake – Lisa Cake’s crème brûlée cake is an absolute masterpiece, a heavenly symphony of flavors and textures that ranks among the finest cakes I’ve ever tasted.
Tip: To avoid parking challenges, plan your visit for early morning or mid-afternoon, as the lot fills up quickly during mealtimes due to the neighboring restaurant.
Ullery’s Ice Cream
Location: 168 Fort Wayne Ave, Richmond, IN
Free Sample: Scoop of chocolate ice cream
Highlights: Variety of ice cream flavors, including vegan options
Recommended: Try the Raspberry Cheesecake or Honey ice cream flavors.
While the chocolate ice cream sample was a bit icy, I was excited to try other flavors that were smoother and creamier! I enjoyed both the Raspberry Cheesecake and Honey Ice Cream flavors.
Little Sheba’s Restaurant
Location: 175 Fort Wayne Ave, Richmond, IN
Free Sample: to-go cup with chocolate brownie topped with chocolate frosting and a maraschino cherry
Highlights: Extended hours, making it a good evening option. Our passport listed their closing time on Wednesday as 4:00 p.m. but they had recently extended their hours to serve dinner.
Recommended: Plan to have dinner or lunch here. The menu looks great.
Tip: Call and check on their hours.
Other Attractions along the Trail:
While chocolate is the star, the trail offers more than just sweets. Enjoy lunch at local cafes, explore antique shops, and take in the charm of rural Indiana and Ohio. For adults 21 and over, consider ending your tour at A.R. Winery for a wine and chocolate pairing.
We missed the following three stops but plan to get to some of them soon (an updated post will follow).
Undercover Coffee (Abilities)
Location: 831 N. “E” St., Richmond
Free Sample: Hot chocolate (to be confirmed)
Note: Not visited during the described trip, plan to visit in the future
Sweet Blessings
Location: 625 E. Main St, Richmond
Free Sample: Freshly baked chocolate chip cookies (to be confirmed)
Note: Not visited during the described trip, plan to visit in the future
A.R. Winery
Location: Arcanum, Ohio – This stop is in Ohio, 40 minutes from Richmond, IN.
Note: Adults 21+ only
Offer: Free chocolate sample with purchase of a 1-ounce sample of Blueberry wine
Tip: This is the only stop where kids won’t be given a fee sample.
Note: They serve brick oven pizza which looks amazing. Even though we are not wine-drinkers, we look forward to visiting to try out their pizza. If you enjoy wine and have sampled the A.R. Winery’s bottles, please leave any tips for our readers in the comments below.
Our Favorites:
These are our favorite chocolate samples:
- mocha and hot chocolate from The Cedars Coffee – We couldn’t agree more that these hot beverages were some of the best we’d ever tasted.
- Ghyslain’s chocolate from The Village Forager – Not only was the turtle-shaped macadamia nut caramel-filled chocolate beautifully decorated, but the flavor was perfection!
Conclusion: A Sweet Adventure Awaits
The Richmond-Wayne County Indiana Chocolate Trail is more than just a food tour – it’s a journey through local culture, history, and flavors. Whether you’re a chocolate connoisseur, a casual sweets lover, or simply looking for a unique day trip, this trail offers something for everyone.
So grab your passport (from VisitRichmond.org) or download the app, and embark on a deliciously unforgettable adventure through the heart of Indiana’s chocolate country.
