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numerous events as well as tastings and The Christmas Haus Tour, held in early
tours� December, offers the chance to tour Amana
Colonies’ homes decorated for the holidays.
Shopping A Communal Meal is served at least once
In the Amanas, shopping becomes an per year, as is a Progressive Dinner in
outdoor activity. Specialty shops, including Homestead. Other German-themed culinary
antique shops, confectionaries, bakeries, tours are offered, sponsored by the Amana
crafts stores, and art galleries are just a stroll Colonies Visitors Center, including Guten
away in Amana. In fact, most shopping in the Appetit Sampling tours. “Village Stroll” tours
Amanas is done on foot. Thriving downtowns are offered several times each year in Amana.
in Belle Plaine, Marengo, and Tama also offer An easy-to-use Amana Colonies Audio
shopping suitable for pedestrians. Driving Tour, provides entertaining accounts
of communal Amana, pointing out important
Pleasure driving and tours historical, cultural, and architectural features
along the Byway.
Pleasure driving is enhanced by the beautiful
scenery and cultural and historic features There are tours outside the Amanas as well.
along the IVSB. The Amana Colonies is a The Iowa Valley Farm Heritage Tour is a
featured travel itinerary developed by the driving route highlighting four historic farms
National Park Service, one of only 65 in the between Marengo and Belle Plaine. Several
nation. This itinerary includes both driving and different tours have been established in
walking elements. Tama County, including a driving tour of Barn
Quilts, 8-x-8-foot vibrant decorations painted
The Amana Heritage Society provides on barns, reflecting the area’s agricultural
customized guided tours upon request, and heritage; a Rural Artist Studio tour includes
can include step-on guide service for motor up to 14 studios; the All Fun and Games Tour
coach groups. Past tours have included the choices include gambling, spas, vineyards,
Amana Colonies Barn Tour; a Girl’s Day Out, and artist’s studios; and the Historic Footsteps
where women’s roles in communal society Tour includes a choice of 16 museums, historic
are examined; Agriculture and Industry in buildings, and significant cemeteries.
the Amana Colonies; Natural History; Wine
Walking; a canoe tour of the Lily Lake; and The Tama-Toledo Car Show and Cruise
a walking Architectural Tour. They also offer attracts classic car enthusiasts to the Byway
a guided bicycle tour. Passport to History is in mid-September. Iowa Model-A-Day, in late
a GPS-based adventure, tailored to make August, attracts Model A cars and their owners
learning about the Amanas fun for children. to a vintage car tour of the Amanas. CRUZ for
Charity is a mid-September classic car cruise.
