Dotting the prairie along the Iowa River Valley, the historic Amana Colonies offer not only 150 years of history but also great dining, cozy bed and breakfasts and an opportunity to return to a less hectic way of life.  

Amana, meaning "remain faithful" and its colonies located west of Iowa City and east of Des Moines are a national historic landmark was founded by German Pietists as a place where they could live peacefully. The buildings are made of local materials such as sandstone, limestone and wood blending traditional German architecture with that of Colonial America. Old barns, mills and small factories still stand in the colonies that still produce many quality products.  

Often mistaken as Amish, colony settlers voted in 1932 to end their communal way of life, creating individual ownership of many of its business, including restaurants, furniture shops and farms. Perhaps one of the biggest draws for the

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