How Do You Vacation In The Amana Colonies, Iowa?
Visit the Amana Colonies in central Iowa and you are liable to hear “Willkommen!” (Welcome!) in seven different towns. Settled in the 1850s, these small villages became a religious communal society made up of German immigrants. Residents moved away from communal life after the Depression and, today, the colonies remain steeped in history, with an eye toward the future. Here’s how to vacation in the Amana Colonies. Get your bearings. The seven villages are Amana, West Amana, East Amana, High Amana, Middle Amana, South Amana and Homestead. The communities were settled on either side of a valley along the Iowa River about 15 miles south of Cedar Rapids. Find a place to stay. You can find anything from a Holiday Inn water park resort hotel to a quaint bed and breakfast or a restored 1890s hotel in or near the colonies. An RV campground is nearby, as well. Visit the Amana Colonies website (see Resources below) for a listing of accommodations. Go shopping. You won’t see an Old Navy, Liz Clai
