The Amana Colonies, one of the best day trips near me in Iowa, is a unique and quaint Iowa destination that will definitely charm you with shops, restaurants, wineries, and a wide array of fun activities. This is a great place to escape the stresses of the daily grind and ease you into an escape of a simpler time in one of Iowa’s historic colonies. This magical place is comprised of seven villages in Iowa County including Amana, East Amana, High Amana, Middle Amana, South Amana, West Amana, and Homestead. They were built and settled by German Pietists seeking isolated surroundings and a communal, uncomplicated life away from modern society. Amana Colonies will captivate your imagination igniting wonder about what life might have been like way back then. Here is just a glimpse of what this amazing place offers.
Flickr/Carl Wycoff Iowa’s historic colony is full of charming buildings. In fact, it was listed as a National Historic Landmark in 1965. To begin your trip, the variety of choices offerered can be dizzying, with craft shops, handmade furniture, homemade candy and more to explore. It’s fun to just go to one of the villages and start wandering through.
Kepper66 at en.wikipedia, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons You can visit the Amana General Store in the Amana Colonies to buy gourmet foods, gifts, meats, cheeses and sauerkraut made locally. This is definitely the place to visit if you’re looking for amazing brats to throw on the grill later. Amana General Store, 4423 220th Trail, Amana, IA 52203, USA
Facebook/Amana Heritage Society Next, check out the Amana Heritage Society, where you can visit the Communal Kitchen Museum, Community Church Museum, Agricultural Museum, Homestead Store Museum, and Amana Heritage Museum. Amana Heritage Society, 705 44th Ave, Amana, IA 52203, USA
FourSquare/Paula S. Have a glass of wine or a beer at the variety of wineries and breweries in the colonies, like Ackerman Winery, Fireside Winery, or Millstream Brewing Company, Iowa’s oldest brewery. Ackerman Winery, 4406 220th Trail, Amana, IA 52203, USA
Yelp/nuanpun c. For some German-American cuisine, dine in the Amana Colonies at the Ronneburg Restaurant for a homestyle meal in a cozy and comfortable cottage, offering a perfect serving in every appetite. The Ronneburg Restaurant, 4408 220th Trail, Amana, IA 52203, USA
Yelp/Yejun B. Or try the Ox Yoke Inn for chicken, sauerkraut, skillet fried potatoes and gravy, wiener schnitzel, rhubarb pie and other classics, sure to fill your belly.
Zuber’s Homestead Hotel/Facebook If you are looking for overnight lodging, several choices are offered including Zuber’s Homestead Hotel. Take advantage of the memorable experience staying in a century-old hotel can bring. Zuber’s Homestead Hotel, 2206 44th Ave, Homestead, IA 52236, USA
Zuber’s Homestead Hotel/Facebook Guests awaken to a complimentary, hot buffet-style breakfast every morning in the Wagon Wheel Room. This hearty buffet, which changes daily, generally consists of pastries and breads, two hot dishes, fruit, and oatmeal, along with the typical beverages including coffee, tea, juice, and milk. Special dietery considerations are not a problem; just notify the staff ahead of time.
In addition to self-guided tours of Amana Colonies, another choice for visitors is the two-hour guided Village Voyage Van Tour of key historic sites in Iowa’s historic colonies. Make a reservation and secure a comfortable seat on the 14-passenger van for an education of the colonies’ unique heritage and journey from Germany to Iowa. Learn about the communal life before 1932. Have you been to the Amanas? What was your experience like? Looking for other awesome day trips in Iowa? Try one of these absolute must-do excursions and write about it in the comments below.
Flickr/Carl Wycoff
Iowa’s historic colony is full of charming buildings. In fact, it was listed as a National Historic Landmark in 1965. To begin your trip, the variety of choices offerered can be dizzying, with craft shops, handmade furniture, homemade candy and more to explore. It’s fun to just go to one of the villages and start wandering through.
Kepper66 at en.wikipedia, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
You can visit the Amana General Store in the Amana Colonies to buy gourmet foods, gifts, meats, cheeses and sauerkraut made locally. This is definitely the place to visit if you’re looking for amazing brats to throw on the grill later.
Amana General Store, 4423 220th Trail, Amana, IA 52203, USA
Facebook/Amana Heritage Society
Next, check out the Amana Heritage Society, where you can visit the Communal Kitchen Museum, Community Church Museum, Agricultural Museum, Homestead Store Museum, and Amana Heritage Museum.
Amana Heritage Society, 705 44th Ave, Amana, IA 52203, USA
FourSquare/Paula S.
Have a glass of wine or a beer at the variety of wineries and breweries in the colonies, like Ackerman Winery, Fireside Winery, or Millstream Brewing Company, Iowa’s oldest brewery.
Ackerman Winery, 4406 220th Trail, Amana, IA 52203, USA
Yelp/nuanpun c.
For some German-American cuisine, dine in the Amana Colonies at the Ronneburg Restaurant for a homestyle meal in a cozy and comfortable cottage, offering a perfect serving in every appetite.
The Ronneburg Restaurant, 4408 220th Trail, Amana, IA 52203, USA
Yelp/Yejun B.
Or try the Ox Yoke Inn for chicken, sauerkraut, skillet fried potatoes and gravy, wiener schnitzel, rhubarb pie and other classics, sure to fill your belly.
Zuber’s Homestead Hotel/Facebook
If you are looking for overnight lodging, several choices are offered including Zuber’s Homestead Hotel. Take advantage of the memorable experience staying in a century-old hotel can bring.
Zuber’s Homestead Hotel, 2206 44th Ave, Homestead, IA 52236, USA
Guests awaken to a complimentary, hot buffet-style breakfast every morning in the Wagon Wheel Room. This hearty buffet, which changes daily, generally consists of pastries and breads, two hot dishes, fruit, and oatmeal, along with the typical beverages including coffee, tea, juice, and milk. Special dietery considerations are not a problem; just notify the staff ahead of time.
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.
Address: Amana Colonies, 622 46th Ave, Amana, IA 52203, USA
The OIYS Visitor Center
Day Trips Near Me In Iowa August 09, 2022 Carolyn Harmon Where is another one of Iowa’s historic colonies? The Kalona Historical Village offers an exploration of the first people in the Kalona, Iowa area through artifacts, writings, and pictures. Learn about the arrival of the first settlers and the establishment of Frytown, Joetown, Richmond, Sharon Center, and Middleburg; Iowa becoming a state; the Civil War; the motivational story of William Louden; and the railroad wall, which is a map of the railroad line mural timeline, complete with a push-button train whistle. In addition, check out when the next Fall Festival takes place, usually sometime in September. Where is another one of the best day trips near me in Iowa? Arnolds Park, in Arnolds Park Iowa, is home to a variety of extreme water sports on Lake Okoboji. Parasail, paddleboard, canoe, pedal boat, kayak, and then some — the choice is yours for whatever adventure suits you. You will definitely get your exercise for a day of fun for kids of all ages and adventure levels. Several great accessories are rented along with the boats, such as tubes, wakeboards, water skis, and the new addition of Chill Rafts. Go to Arnolds Park and cool off for the day. What is another unique thing to do outside in Iowa? The John and Mary 4.4-acre Pappajohn Sculpture Park showcases artwork from more than two dozen of the most celebrated artists in the world. Located in downtown Des Moines, The Pappajohns’ contribution of more than two dozen works for the park is the most significant donation of artwork ever made to the Des Moines Art Center. The exhibitions change, with some permant collections you can always count on including paintings, sculptures, and drawings by some world-class artists. This amazing space is open during city park hours — sunrise to midnight, with plenty of metered street parking surrounding the park.
The OIYS Visitor Center
Day Trips Near Me In Iowa
August 09, 2022
Carolyn Harmon
Where is another one of Iowa’s historic colonies? The Kalona Historical Village offers an exploration of the first people in the Kalona, Iowa area through artifacts, writings, and pictures. Learn about the arrival of the first settlers and the establishment of Frytown, Joetown, Richmond, Sharon Center, and Middleburg; Iowa becoming a state; the Civil War; the motivational story of William Louden; and the railroad wall, which is a map of the railroad line mural timeline, complete with a push-button train whistle. In addition, check out when the next Fall Festival takes place, usually sometime in September. Where is another one of the best day trips near me in Iowa? Arnolds Park, in Arnolds Park Iowa, is home to a variety of extreme water sports on Lake Okoboji. Parasail, paddleboard, canoe, pedal boat, kayak, and then some — the choice is yours for whatever adventure suits you. You will definitely get your exercise for a day of fun for kids of all ages and adventure levels. Several great accessories are rented along with the boats, such as tubes, wakeboards, water skis, and the new addition of Chill Rafts. Go to Arnolds Park and cool off for the day. What is another unique thing to do outside in Iowa? The John and Mary 4.4-acre Pappajohn Sculpture Park showcases artwork from more than two dozen of the most celebrated artists in the world. Located in downtown Des Moines, The Pappajohns’ contribution of more than two dozen works for the park is the most significant donation of artwork ever made to the Des Moines Art Center. The exhibitions change, with some permant collections you can always count on including paintings, sculptures, and drawings by some world-class artists. This amazing space is open during city park hours — sunrise to midnight, with plenty of metered street parking surrounding the park.
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
The Kalona Historical Village offers an exploration of the first people in the Kalona, Iowa area through artifacts, writings, and pictures. Learn about the arrival of the first settlers and the establishment of Frytown, Joetown, Richmond, Sharon Center, and Middleburg; Iowa becoming a state; the Civil War; the motivational story of William Louden; and the railroad wall, which is a map of the railroad line mural timeline, complete with a push-button train whistle. In addition, check out when the next Fall Festival takes place, usually sometime in September.
Where is another one of the best day trips near me in Iowa?
Arnolds Park, in Arnolds Park Iowa, is home to a variety of extreme water sports on Lake Okoboji. Parasail, paddleboard, canoe, pedal boat, kayak, and then some — the choice is yours for whatever adventure suits you. You will definitely get your exercise for a day of fun for kids of all ages and adventure levels. Several great accessories are rented along with the boats, such as tubes, wakeboards, water skis, and the new addition of Chill Rafts. Go to Arnolds Park and cool off for the day.
What is another unique thing to do outside in Iowa?
The John and Mary 4.4-acre Pappajohn Sculpture Park showcases artwork from more than two dozen of the most celebrated artists in the world. Located in downtown Des Moines, The Pappajohns’ contribution of more than two dozen works for the park is the most significant donation of artwork ever made to the Des Moines Art Center. The exhibitions change, with some permant collections you can always count on including paintings, sculptures, and drawings by some world-class artists. This amazing space is open during city park hours — sunrise to midnight, with plenty of metered street parking surrounding the park.
