Amana Colonies Convention and Visitor Bureau Review

While this isn't quite true, it's close; if you don't go to the Amana Colonies while visiting Iowa, why go to Iowa? There is the history of the colonies to start and plenty of shops and restaurants to finish with plenty in between.

A great day trip or 2, filled with beautiful scenery, art and food. A must visit.

Always a good time here in the Amana Colonies. Stopped in for Wurstfest. Had brauts, beer, dachshund racing and participated in the Masskrugstemmen (steinholding) competition. Going to the Amana colonies is like going home, you may be there for a visit but your not a stranger. The friendliness and courtesy of everyone makes it a great family trip

They are wonderful people and have many wonderful things to see or buy

it's like taking a walk back in ages...loved it. the restaurant was wonderful

It's a kind little place that brings back an earlier kinder time. Traditional goods, food, and people. Its a little slice of history and more so.

Decent side trip. Very commercial/touristy. I expected more of a living museum feel.

Always love coming her for the festivals. We always come for our Christmas ornaments here. Lots of good food and people.

Lovely place to visit. Great food and great atmosphere.

Great place to go for the day. Shops, antiques. Great food

Fun area to visit, have been here, I think five times now in last few years. Enjoy the handiwork that the Amana Woolen Mill and Furniture Shop produce specifically, as well the smaller independent stores.

The Ford Model A show towards fall is a show to see, as is Maifest, first weekend of May.

Charming small town look and feel.

Some day I will have to visit for Christmas time shopping.

Virus meant no free breakfast or socal evening, no pool, etc. But prices were MORE than usual. Liked full kitchen. Aged property.

What once was a beautiful and eclectic colony of shops and products has become on overly commercialized charicature of history. What once was nostalgic is near farcical.

The Midwest leather store is full of products from overseas and in most shops there is little to nothing locally made on the colonies any more.

There are certainly a few hidden gems amongst the madness such as the quilting and weaving stores but otherwise, even the pie in the restaurants now used whipped topping instead of real ingredients.

If you are looking for a more authentic experience, you may wish to try the Kelona colonies further south.

This place has become SO commercialized! Be prepared to spend a premium for all goods!

Lots of awesome little stores. The meat market and brewery are AMAZING! Everything is within walking distance and prices of goods aren't bad at all.

Jen and I always enjoy our day trips to the Amana Colonies. There is always something fun happening, amd we keep finding new places to see. It is a bit touristy, but in a good way. Today we had lunch at the Rotenberg, toured the Tanenbaum Forest, looked through several galleries, looked through the woolen mill offerings, bought popcorn and got coffee and treats from the chocolate store, and finished up with beer and a pretzel at Mill Stream. It was a great day!

Be ready to to do some great walking. Lots of neat little shop's. Really neat place. If your in the area this is a must stop and see place.

We came here to enjoy our 10th anniversary. It was what we needed.

First time visit to the Colonies and I can easily say I will definitely be going back again.

Great place for families to meet up at and have a wonderful meal.

I really enjoy the Amana colonies. The town is beautiful, the history and architecture are cool, and I really appreciate attempts to care for and maintain historic areas. It can get busy and a little tourist trappy, but I'll be back and I'll keep recommending it.

This trip was long.. Really long from TX.. The only thing here? Do your homework. We only saw a piece of it all.. You really need to do your homework to see it all.

Love the experience and the general store with the Christmas rooms.

Little town with very quaint qualities. We love coming here for a stress-free getaway. Good Quilts is our favorite shop, but there is so much to experience here in all of the "colonies" that you could spend a week here and not be bored. Everyone is very friendly. The brewery has very good locally crafted beer, root beer, and cream soda. The meat shop in the East Colonies has great prices and quality goods. Overall for a weekend getaway, this place can't be beat. Highly recommended.

Great small town (7 small towns) for events like maifest and Oktoberfest.

Spent two days enjoying the villages, shops and restaurants. Be sure to allow plenty of time to enjoy the countryside and the beautiful scenery. Everything about this destination is enjoyable.

Super place for great Amish food, and shops to tour (antiques, crafts, woodworking).

It's a very interesting and scenic place. There are many different ways to experience the villages. We love the meat shop and lily pond.

Awesome plance to spend an afternoon, or weekend. The little shops are great fun to peruse around.

Very historic area, with great shops and restaurants. Dedicate a day to see all the sites.

This was an awesome trip to take the family on. I had to take a star as we did a bit of shopping thinking everything was made at the Amana Colonies but I had to take a star due to I bought a leather wallet from the leather store and found that it was actually made in India. They don't seem to hold on to the locally made status they claim.

We took the $20 per person tour. It was well organized and guide was extremely knowledgeable. Bakery is a must visit. Fresh and great variety.

Labor Day weekend we visited the colonies. My daughter was visiting from Ohio, so we took a day trip here. She was disappointed, she thought she would see the Amish with horse and buggy. East Amana was the only place with all the shops.

We came just before the wineries closed and the employees were very helpful and didnt mind us coming in so late! We came from Minnesota and I really must say that I enjoy how the staff interacted with my daughter! Definitely on my list of places to go the next time I come to Iowa!

This is a okay trip. There are several things to see but I wish there was more to do.

We always love coming to the Amana Colonies. Beautiful day. Beautiful people.

Relaxing, slower paced towns filled with homes built in the 1800's, and museums, shops, and German food surrounded by rolling hills and century old trees. ! I recommend the Heritage Museum, the Ox Yoke Inn restaurant, the Broom and Basket Shop, and the Furniture and Clock Shop (the clocks are amazing!) Also make time to go to nearby Cedar Rapids and tour the Czech and Slovak Museum and the Brucemore Mansion.

Great people, great food, beautiful town and amazing products

They have unique little shops down there that contain cheesees, special meats, leather goods, rocks and fossils. There are three five star restaurants there. They have a clock shop where you can watch Glocks being made. They also sell furniture there.

Did appointed. Not what I thought it would be. Maybe out of season.

Really cool place to see, a ton of shops (just ask my wife), a lot of sights, a lot of history, some interesting, some sad. But really good food and I would surely visit again !

Everything was beautifully set up for the holiday season. The staff for the colonies was fast and friendly, more than willing to help and make suggestions. Had a great time exploring the historical area around the shops.

The women were so nice. And they had a few toys for my toddlers to play with. There are coupons for the colonies as well as event schedules!

The Noble Stone is the best store. They have something for everyone. It is my 9 year old son's favorite place in the Amanas. We have a great time every time. I buy all my special gifts there.

Always fun to explore the stores and candy, wine, chesse shops and restaurants.

The tiny village smells amazing; like spiced cider. I love that. Every building is so packed full with floor to ceiling trinkets you kind of have to hold your breath walking through...lol

Should have reached early to enjoy more, next time.

So relaxing and fun to shop so many different stores.

Had a good time many great shops filled with antiques German food at oxbow inn was great
I had Knox and kraut. Worth the trip

Very nice place !! Owners are very nice ! Very clean and inviting . Food is wonderful!!! Will return thank you for a great stay!

I totally enjoyed going through their quaint little shops. If you like looking for antiques this is the place to go. The Ox Yolk Inn was always a great place to eat, but, we did not have time to go there, maybe the next time we go we could eat there.

Always love to wander, but mostly get some fabulous wine at Ackermans.

Beautiful area! People are very friendly, with the trip from the QC's. Lots of foodie choices, beautiful landscapes and little shops. Will return every year, especially for the wine!

A wonderful place to visit, shop, and eat. Very good food options. The stores are wonderful. Just a great place to walk around. Looking forward to getting out there for some of their fests.

Love this place great for walks an finding good items

Nice quaint little village! Lots of antique shops and interesting history!

Interesting place but very touristy. The museum was very informative. Our favorite stop was the Meat shop!

The food, the atmosphere, the historic buildings and the friendliness is unequalled

Great place to bring your friends and family!! A little bit of everything for everyone whether that be shopping our fun stores, eating our delicious food or drinking our amazing beers and wines!! Definitely worth spending a day or 3 at learning about our history and experiencing our small town charm!! Note that during the winter some stores may not open during the week or close early with pending weather.