What’s the magnetic allure this Amana Colonies has that I’ve heard so much good about it? I heeded my friends’ sounding recommendation to visit this place. We arrived there after luncheon hour. I was confronted with a style of houses built in sand stones, red bricks and dark clapboard exterior that gave them their rustic look. Stepping back in time is a theme I kinda adore. These unsophisticated solid, boxy, simple yet homely architecture echoes the lives of the communal German Pietist who with high hopes fled from their home country to find religious freedom, and fruitfully settled here in Iowa in the year 1714. These houses are their unique legacies left by the Community of True Inspiration, the Utopian society that founded the Amana Colonies.

Now on to explore their lightly adorned streets. The moment you enter this community, you are presented with a vibe untouched by modernization. An atmosphere that screams classical period. The aura makes me feel like being in that primeval era. The streets are moderately saturated with people from the city or maybe people that would just love to explore this locale and experience a unique historical heritage. We parked our car in one of their several parking lots that you can surprisingly find near every shop and store, or, you can park on the street with no gaudy signs advertising.

We started to probe this community and went inside their heritage museum.  The museum briefly provides you a great overview on how this community began and grew as a society as it is today. I was so excited in exploring more so we went on to the next shop, where we infiltrated Ackerman Winery. They have myriads of assorted sweet and dry wines. We did a sample of their dandelion wine and other flavors, and so far that dandelion flavor is the only one for us that touched the spot.

This eccentric, charming nice village has all the shops for antiques, clothing and accessories, furniture and home decor, gifts and books. You can intimately browse the shops through walking or wheeling up, and that’s your choice. They also have a brewery that I heard is phenomenal. A lovely day like today needs to be explored by foot and stop at each interesting shop we meet.

Where to eat:
Ox Yoke Inn
Millstream Brau Haus
Phat Daddy’s
Ronneburg Restaurant
Serena’s Coffee Cafe

They also have the Chocolate Haus, Dessert and Coffee Cafe. Of all their stores, this one is my favorite. They have different flavored gourmet decadent chocolates! They have signature fudge, caramels, popular gift boxes and chocolate subscriptions, and they have truffles! Each truffle is crafted from 100% pure and natural ingredients with no preservatives. My very definition of a feast for your palatal senses.

Where to stay:
Die Heimat Country Inn
Lower South Hotel
Baeckerei Bed and Breakfast

Popular shopping options also include the High Amana General Store (pictured above), offering old-fashioned candy, handmade soaps and antique toys. But at this time of year, this store is packed with Christmas trees, sparkling lights and everything shiny. This is an indoor wonderland of Christmas trees, ornaments, collectibles, nativity sets and miniature villages. They carefully and intricately adorned this store to satiate those holiday Yuletide spirit. It didn’t disappoint.  This is also my favorite store.  At the Amana Woolen Mill, visitors can tour the facilities and watch the looms in action, as well as purchase products such as blankets.

Lastly, we went to see their Tannenbaum Forest, an old world Christmas tradition. We permeate the Festhalle Barn, and lo and behold! A forest of Christmas trees was drowning my sight. It was beautiful, sparkly and aglow with colors of more than 25 glimmering trees, each uniquely decorated with themes. I perused the enchanting forest that encompasses trees adorned as the Grinch, Rudolph, and the Abominable Snowman. Within the forest was a tree crowded with colorful butterflies, and one with a pink motif. They also featured a 17-foot German pyramid, a 40-foot live Christmas tree, Santa Claus, gingerbread houses and a beautiful nativity set. It appeases my hunger for some Yuletide cheers. Such a delight for the holiday traditional celebration. A must see!

In summary, Amana Colonies is a quaint, nice charming town. Almost half the residents are descendants of the original German colonists; inns, restaurants and shops that draw densely on traditional foods and handicrafts. We didn’t get to experience their food but I heard it’s authentic. This quaint relic of the past villages is a pleasant spot to drop in. Quench your thirst for your historic inquisitiveness, douse your old soul with their endearing archaic surroundings and indulge in your sweet tooth’s luxurious hankering for chocolate treats and many more. They pretty much have everything you need here. This modest place is definitely worth a visit.