The insulated nature of Amish communities has always piqued our interest due to their shunning of modern conveniences, their closed communities, and their way of living and thinking that seems so far removed from the modern-day stresses so ingrained in our daily lives. Iowa is home to many established Amish settlements throughout the state. Here are a few Amish places in Iowa that will definitely pique your interest and take you into another world.
- Amish Country Store, Lamoni
Flickr/LearningLark
Flickr/LearningLark The Amish Country Store is a general store with plenty to look at, plus Iowa travel information, an Amish bakery, and even a Maid-Rite. 109 S Spruce Dr, Lamoni, IA 50140, USA
- The Dutchman’s Store, Cantril
Flickr/BarbaraLN Dutchman’s Store, 103 Division St, Cantril, IA 52542, USA
Flickr/Jody Halsted As you make your way to Cantril, you’ll see horse-drawn buggies with Amish men, women, and children going about their business. This community is between Bonaparte and Milton and a favorite local spot is the Dutchman’s Store, which sells a variety of items to local Amish families, such as a huge variety of quilting fabrics, groceries, and clothing. Dutchman’s Store, 103 Division St, Cantril, IA 52542, USA
- Milton Creamery, Milton
Milton Creamery Website/Milton Creamery Milton Creamery buys all of its milk from local, Amish farmers who raise grass-fed cows. This is a great opportunity to buy some high-quality, award-winning cheeses like Prairie Breeze™, an aged white cheddar, and support local farmers. Milton Creamery LLC, 202 IA-2, Milton, IA 52570, USA
- Villages of Van Buren County
Flickr/Jimmy Emerson, DVM This series of charming villages is definitely worth checking out. The 12 Villages of Van Buren are in southern Iowa and they include Bentonsport, Birmingham, Bonaparte, Cantril, Douds-Leando, Farmington, Iowaville-Selma, Keosauqua, Milton, Mount Sterling, Pittsburg, and Stockport. As you tour through the villages, you can enjoy shopping for antiques, baked goods, and much more. Villages of Van Buren, Inc, 809 1st St, Keosauqua, IA 52565, USA
- The Amish Boulevard, Hazleton
Flickr/LindaDee2006 The Hazleton community is recognized as Iowa’s most conservative Amish community. There are almost 50 Amish-run businesses on the Amish Boulevard, so prepare to spend some time meandering down the street to shop for a wide array of things, such as handmade furniture, baked goods, and more. Amish Boulevard, Amish Blvd, Iowa, USA
- Kalona Quilt & Textile Museum, Kalona
Facebook/Kalona Historical Village The Kalona Quilt & Textile Museum is located in the Kalona Historical Village Welcome Center. It contains galleries for both Amish and English quilts, along with fascinating information about Midwestern quilting history. Kalona Historical Village, 715 D Ave, Kalona, IA 52247, USA
- Kalona Historical Village, Kalona
Facebook/Kalona Historical Village The fascinating Kalona Historical Village is an 1800s village with 13 buildings. Each building has been restored and contains displays depicting the life of Iowa immigrant settlers. Kalona Historical Village, 715 D Ave, Kalona, IA 52247, USA
- Midwest Woodworks, Kalona
Facebook/Midwest Woodworks Midwest Woodworks is an Amish-owned furniture store located a mile west of Kalona at 2019 Highway 22.
- Amish By-Ways Tour, Kalona
Flickr/Iowa Farm Bureau The Amish By-Ways Tour offers a rare inside look into Amish life. The tour winds its way along scenic backroads, where you can get a close-up look at Amish schools, homes and farms, with several stops at country shops along the way. 514 B Ave, Kalona, IA 52247, USA
- Bloomfield/Drakesville, Southern Iowa Produce Auction
Flickr/LindaDee2006 This seasonal produce auction is south of Drakesvilles and happens twice a week. The auction attracts buyers from far and wide and offers a huge variety of produce, flowers, and more. 19141 Ice Ave, Bloomfield, IA 52537, USA
Which of these Amish places in Iowa are you most interested in visiting? If you’re looking to explore more of Iowa, check out our list of road trips in Iowa that will show you so much of what the state has to offer.
Flickr/LearningLark
The Amish Country Store is a general store with plenty to look at, plus Iowa travel information, an Amish bakery, and even a Maid-Rite.
109 S Spruce Dr, Lamoni, IA 50140, USA
Flickr/BarbaraLN
Dutchman’s Store, 103 Division St, Cantril, IA 52542, USA
Flickr/Jody Halsted
As you make your way to Cantril, you’ll see horse-drawn buggies with Amish men, women, and children going about their business. This community is between Bonaparte and Milton and a favorite local spot is the Dutchman’s Store, which sells a variety of items to local Amish families, such as a huge variety of quilting fabrics, groceries, and clothing.
Milton Creamery Website/Milton Creamery
Milton Creamery buys all of its milk from local, Amish farmers who raise grass-fed cows. This is a great opportunity to buy some high-quality, award-winning cheeses like Prairie Breeze™, an aged white cheddar, and support local farmers.
Milton Creamery LLC, 202 IA-2, Milton, IA 52570, USA
Flickr/Jimmy Emerson, DVM
This series of charming villages is definitely worth checking out. The 12 Villages of Van Buren are in southern Iowa and they include Bentonsport, Birmingham, Bonaparte, Cantril, Douds-Leando, Farmington, Iowaville-Selma, Keosauqua, Milton, Mount Sterling, Pittsburg, and Stockport. As you tour through the villages, you can enjoy shopping for antiques, baked goods, and much more.
Villages of Van Buren, Inc, 809 1st St, Keosauqua, IA 52565, USA
Flickr/LindaDee2006
The Hazleton community is recognized as Iowa’s most conservative Amish community. There are almost 50 Amish-run businesses on the Amish Boulevard, so prepare to spend some time meandering down the street to shop for a wide array of things, such as handmade furniture, baked goods, and more.
Amish Boulevard, Amish Blvd, Iowa, USA
Facebook/Kalona Historical Village
The Kalona Quilt & Textile Museum is located in the Kalona Historical Village Welcome Center. It contains galleries for both Amish and English quilts, along with fascinating information about Midwestern quilting history.
Kalona Historical Village, 715 D Ave, Kalona, IA 52247, USA
The fascinating Kalona Historical Village is an 1800s village with 13 buildings. Each building has been restored and contains displays depicting the life of Iowa immigrant settlers.
Facebook/Midwest Woodworks
Midwest Woodworks is an Amish-owned furniture store located a mile west of Kalona at 2019 Highway 22.
Flickr/Iowa Farm Bureau
The Amish By-Ways Tour offers a rare inside look into Amish life. The tour winds its way along scenic backroads, where you can get a close-up look at Amish schools, homes and farms, with several stops at country shops along the way.
514 B Ave, Kalona, IA 52247, USA
This seasonal produce auction is south of Drakesvilles and happens twice a week. The auction attracts buyers from far and wide and offers a huge variety of produce, flowers, and more.
19141 Ice Ave, Bloomfield, IA 52537, USA
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The OIYS Visitor Center
Discovering Iowa September 29, 2022 Sara Dager What are the best hikes in Iowa? Hiking enthusiasts love the Hawkeye state, and for good reason, there are tons of great hikes in Iowa for all levels of ability. For those looking for an easy trek with a great visual payoff, the Backbone Trail in Backbone State Park is the kind of hike you can take almost anyone on. At just under a mile, this trail still takes you to one of the highest points in Iowa and rewards you with remarkable views. Those looking for a slightly more strenuous hike may enjoy exploring Brent’s Trail in Harrison County. Now, eight miles might not seem much to the most experienced hikers, but with an almost 1,700-foot elevation gain, this could possibly be one of the hardest hikes in Iowa. Prepare for mud, heat, bugs, and more, but also prepare to be amazed — the view is well worth the effort. Are there any unique accommodations in Iowa? Those looking for unique places to stay in Iowa have a few interesting choices. You could sleep in a real train boxcar at the Mason House Inn in Bentonsport. One of Iowa’s oldest hotels, all the rooms at the inn are appealing, but none so much as the comfy converted boxcar. Or you could cozy up at The Castle Bed and Breakfast in Sabula. This hotel has excellent amenities, gorgeous water views, and the option of a scrumptious breakfast in the morning. Perhaps you want to rough it a little bit, then spending the night at Horse Creek Adventures in Sidney will be perfect for you. Camping on an actual horse ranch is cool enough as is, but if you’d prefer not to pack a tent, you can rent out an actual covered wagon to stay in! What fun things can I do for free in Iowa? There are many free things to do in Iowa for every type of person. Did you know the house that is in the background in American Gothic is in Eldon Iowa? For the low low price of zero dollars, you can recreate the famed painting. Museum buffs can visit the Farmhouse Museum as well as the Museum of Natural History, the Des Moine’s Art Center, and the Union Pacific Railroad Museum for no money at all. And of course, for nature lovers, we have the entire grand outdoors (well, most of it that is!) Check out one of the gorgeous state parks in Iowa or enjoy a beautiful hike.
The OIYS Visitor Center
Discovering Iowa
September 29, 2022
Sara Dager
What are the best hikes in Iowa? Hiking enthusiasts love the Hawkeye state, and for good reason, there are tons of great hikes in Iowa for all levels of ability. For those looking for an easy trek with a great visual payoff, the Backbone Trail in Backbone State Park is the kind of hike you can take almost anyone on. At just under a mile, this trail still takes you to one of the highest points in Iowa and rewards you with remarkable views. Those looking for a slightly more strenuous hike may enjoy exploring Brent’s Trail in Harrison County. Now, eight miles might not seem much to the most experienced hikers, but with an almost 1,700-foot elevation gain, this could possibly be one of the hardest hikes in Iowa. Prepare for mud, heat, bugs, and more, but also prepare to be amazed — the view is well worth the effort. Are there any unique accommodations in Iowa? Those looking for unique places to stay in Iowa have a few interesting choices. You could sleep in a real train boxcar at the Mason House Inn in Bentonsport. One of Iowa’s oldest hotels, all the rooms at the inn are appealing, but none so much as the comfy converted boxcar. Or you could cozy up at The Castle Bed and Breakfast in Sabula. This hotel has excellent amenities, gorgeous water views, and the option of a scrumptious breakfast in the morning. Perhaps you want to rough it a little bit, then spending the night at Horse Creek Adventures in Sidney will be perfect for you. Camping on an actual horse ranch is cool enough as is, but if you’d prefer not to pack a tent, you can rent out an actual covered wagon to stay in! What fun things can I do for free in Iowa? There are many free things to do in Iowa for every type of person. Did you know the house that is in the background in American Gothic is in Eldon Iowa? For the low low price of zero dollars, you can recreate the famed painting. Museum buffs can visit the Farmhouse Museum as well as the Museum of Natural History, the Des Moine’s Art Center, and the Union Pacific Railroad Museum for no money at all. And of course, for nature lovers, we have the entire grand outdoors (well, most of it that is!) Check out one of the gorgeous state parks in Iowa or enjoy a beautiful hike.
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
Hiking enthusiasts love the Hawkeye state, and for good reason, there are tons of great hikes in Iowa for all levels of ability. For those looking for an easy trek with a great visual payoff, the Backbone Trail in Backbone State Park is the kind of hike you can take almost anyone on. At just under a mile, this trail still takes you to one of the highest points in Iowa and rewards you with remarkable views. Those looking for a slightly more strenuous hike may enjoy exploring Brent’s Trail in Harrison County. Now, eight miles might not seem much to the most experienced hikers, but with an almost 1,700-foot elevation gain, this could possibly be one of the hardest hikes in Iowa. Prepare for mud, heat, bugs, and more, but also prepare to be amazed — the view is well worth the effort.
Are there any unique accommodations in Iowa?
Those looking for unique places to stay in Iowa have a few interesting choices. You could sleep in a real train boxcar at the Mason House Inn in Bentonsport. One of Iowa’s oldest hotels, all the rooms at the inn are appealing, but none so much as the comfy converted boxcar. Or you could cozy up at The Castle Bed and Breakfast in Sabula. This hotel has excellent amenities, gorgeous water views, and the option of a scrumptious breakfast in the morning. Perhaps you want to rough it a little bit, then spending the night at Horse Creek Adventures in Sidney will be perfect for you. Camping on an actual horse ranch is cool enough as is, but if you’d prefer not to pack a tent, you can rent out an actual covered wagon to stay in!
What fun things can I do for free in Iowa?
There are many free things to do in Iowa for every type of person. Did you know the house that is in the background in American Gothic is in Eldon Iowa? For the low low price of zero dollars, you can recreate the famed painting. Museum buffs can visit the Farmhouse Museum as well as the Museum of Natural History, the Des Moine’s Art Center, and the Union Pacific Railroad Museum for no money at all. And of course, for nature lovers, we have the entire grand outdoors (well, most of it that is!) Check out one of the gorgeous state parks in Iowa or enjoy a beautiful hike.
