Jul 20, 2009 - June 2-12, 2009 Amana, IA

Amana Colonies RV Resort The campground is nice and close to the Colonies. It was pretty empty when we arrived but got busier as the time passed. First there was a trail ride group that came in with lots of horse. Then a Good Sam Rally came in a packed about half the campground (it is a big place). We saw lines of RVs coming in and lining up down the road. Luckily most of them came in as we were about to leave so that town wasn't too busy with "tourists." We made it to Iowa this year and it isn’t under water. The rivers level looks fine and...

Jul 18, 2009 - Amana Colonies, IA

When you hear the word Amana, what do you think of? Right - appliances. They make those appliances in this small town outside of Cedar Rapids, IA! Amana is one of 7 communities that comprise a National Historic Landmark! I had the privilege of staying in this town in a campground for free right next to Habitat friends of mine - France and Bill Moriarty and their dog Spirit. We went out to dinner at Ghengi's Grill, a Mongolian Feast restaurant where you go through a line with a bowl, choosing your meat, the flavoring for that meat,...

Jun 28, 2009 - Amana Colonies

Hi everyone, We drove to the Amana Colonies this morning, the RV park there is in a big field with lots and lots of room. After we got settle and had lunch, we walk over to a building on the park that was having a dog show, just to see what it was, watch the video, it was very barky and fast. Fun to watch. Then we went into the colonies, there are 7 quaint and closely united villages. Settled in 1850 a religious sect from Germany. The people lived communally until 1932. All the buildings are orginal and still have there factories in thenm....

Jun 24, 2009 - Amana Colonies in Iowa

Amana Colonies is a National Historic Landmark and one of America's longest-lived communal societies began in Germany in 1741. There are seven villages with historic brick, stone and clapboard homes and s hops. The oldest microbrewery in Iowa, several winery's, bakery's and butcher shops where we sampled some of the products. Last night was the first time we really needed the AC. Yesterdays temps were in the high 90's and the humidity can compete with Georgia!! We are moving on to Illinois today.

Jun 11, 2009 - Amana Colonies

We are at the Amana Colonies, in eastern Iowa. Amana is close to Iowa City, where we lived for 4 years. So we have fond memories of this place. The Colonies are composed of 7 villages, all in proximity. They were founded in 1855 by a group of German immigrants, who broke from the Lutheran Church and established their own religious community in Iowa. Most people think the Colonies are Omish....they are not and never have been. But the Amanas were set-up as a joint communal society, and existed as such until about 1940. For the first 80++...

Sep 9, 2008 - Amana Colonies, IA

Tuesday, September 9, 2008 Amana Colonies RV Park, Amana IA We started in Middle Amana at Hahn’s Hearth Oven Bakery, the last brick oven in Iowa – just in time to purchase the third-from-last pastry! Then around the short driving loop of all 7 villages and back to the camper to get out the bicycles for a return to Amana for a late lunch of schnitzel at the Ronneburg Restaurant. The story of our stops is in the photos!

Sep 8, 2008 - Amana Colonies, IA

Monday Sept 8, 2008 Amana Colonies RV Park You remember Cousin Eddie from yesterday? (Clark Griswold’s cousin in National Lampoon’s Family Christmas?) Well, you should also then remember Snot, Cousin Eddies’ drooling dog. Well… Snot woke up lonesome & crying last night about 1:15 AM, because he was tied outside. I (Chuck) listened to him for about 45 minutes until Eddie finally came out to console him. But that only lasted for about an hour when again, Hoowl …. This time Snot got invited inside for the night. Ah the joys of trailer (trash)...

Aug 23, 2008 - Amana,Iowa

AUGUST 23rd. Our destination was Peoria Illinois, when we arrived within 50 klm.it was just past lunch so Norm opted to drive longer adding another 150 klms we ended up in Amana, Iowa. We finish driving through Indiana then drove through Illinois, and ended up in Iowa just over 500 klm.The highways were very good and plenty of rest areas which we used every 50 miles or so.We've been driving through corn and soybean country since Jersey City and we are not tired of looking at them yet. We were told that a lot of these crops both corn and...

Aug 8, 2008 - Iowa

Hello Everyone, We are glad you are checking our travel journal. Thanks for your emails. We are now in Iowa and is this a beautiful state. I feel like I am in an Americana picture. The fields of corn and soy beans with all shades of green and the peaceful looking farm houses and red barns. This is really the heartland of America. You have to know that these farm families are real workers when you see what they have been able to produce. We found a real interesting place to visit called the Amana Colonies and stayed at their RV park. If you...

May 7, 2008 - Damp start to the rally

We woke to a morning of clouds and drizzle. Not a very nice start to our Mobile Suites Rally here in Amana. Although there were a lot of rigs already here, many more came in during the day. In total, we have 88 couples attending. We had our morning coffee and I worked my crossword puzzles. My normal daily routine. Jack drove in to town to fill up the truck and we went down and registered with the rally after he got home. We received our welcome packets filled with lots of information on the Amana Colonies stores and restaurants. Let the...

Apr 16, 2008 - Amana Colonies Iowa

We arrived in Amana, Iowa Monday the 13th around four in the afternoon. We wanted to visit the Amana Colonies, a National Historic Landmark and one of America's longest lived communal societies that began in 1714 in Germany and continues today in the Iowa prairie. In 1855 they arrived in Iowa and set up six villages a mile or two apart across a river valley tract of 25,000 acres. Amana, East Amana, West Amana, South Amana, High Amana and Middle Amana. The village of Homestead was added later in 1861 making it seven villages. It is an...

Oct 4, 2007 - Hello from Amana

Got here and set up camp. I had forgotten how rough a road Hwy 151 is. Almost as bad as I-10 in LA. No problem getting a site for one night. Guess there is a big wedding here this weekend. We finally went to town for lunch (3 pm!!) I was so hungry I could have eaten the centerpiece. Had a great lunch in a quaint German inn. Lots of snitchel etc on the menu but I had a chicken sandwich and a cup of veggie soup. Topped off with apple pie ala mode!!! Stopped at a winery and picked up 3 bottles of wine. These are all sweet fruit wines - peach,...