Road Trip to Kalona, Iowa: Amish Country Travel Guide and Things to Do

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Steven and I decided to go on an overnight trip to Kalona without a plan. As we got closer, we shared the road with horse and buggies, electric bikes, and tractors full of kids. I had no idea Mennonite kids drove tractors like that, so I watched each one pass. It felt like we were entering a place that moved at a different pace. We didn’t really know what to expect, so we started at Kalona Historical Village, and that first stop changed how we saw everything else.

Table of Contents

• Kalona Historical Village
• Stringtown Grocery
• Ice Cream at the Creamery
• Coffee and a Walk Through Downtown Kalona
• Marriott Weekend Trips
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Kalona Historical Village

We spent more than two hours at Kalona Historical Village, which surprised me. I expected a quick stop, but it slowed us down in a good way. The village was created by the Kalona Historical Society to preserve early settler life in this part of Iowa.

As we walked through the buildings, I started to see how Amish, Mennonite, and pioneer communities shaped the town. The Wahl Museum is part of the visit, along with displays of horse-drawn buggies, antique farm equipment, and early household furnishings. The rooms were simple, and nothing felt staged.

One section I did not expect was the military display. It included uniforms, memorabilia, and stories from local service members. That part caught Steven’s attention right away. He leaned in and studied the insignia like he already understood what they meant. At one point, he asked if he could fix one on display.

We ended up talking with a woman named Judy, who works there. That conversation is why we stayed so long. She shared stories about the people behind the artifacts, not just the objects themselves. Steven even received a challenge coin.

Address: 715 D Ave, Kalona, IA 52247, https://kalonaiowa.org/

Monday–Saturday: 10 AM–5 PM
Sunday: Closed

Stringtown Grocery

After that, we drove just outside Kalona to Stringtown Grocery. We pulled in ten minutes before closing, so I moved fast. I’ve been to plenty of grocery stores set up for tourists, but this wasn’t that. This is where people shop every day.

The shelves were lined with baking staples, spices, dried goods, and packaged snacks, many made nearby. The packaging was simple, and so were the labels. I also noticed several women in traditional dress holding clipboards and speaking a foreign language I later learned was Pennsylvania Dutch.

Someone told me this was the place to find everything locally made, so I was excited. I grabbed candied papaya and salted caramel cashews. Then I got to the register and realized they only accept cash or check. They don’t take credit cards. Make sure you bring cash.

Address: 2254 540th St SW, Kalona, IA 52247,

Monday–Friday: 8 AM–5 PM
Saturday: 8 AM–4 PM
Sunday: Closed

Ice Cream at the Creamery

We stopped for homemade ice cream down the street. Kalona Creamery is so bright it pulls you in, sitting right on the corner with a line out the door. They offer both year-round and seasonal flavors. Steven and I shared half scoops of chocolate with M&Ms and vanilla, then another with raspberries and a hint of chai. I kept it simple and ordered a seasonal vanilla with shortcake and sprinkles. All three were good. The line was long, but it moved quickly. Steven also picked up some taco-flavored beef sticks for later. Unlike Stringtown Grocery, the Creamery accepts credit cards.

The creamery started in the 1950s as the Kalona Cheese House and is now a place for ice cream, snacks, and small gifts.

Address: 2206 540th St SW, Kalona, IA 52247, https://kalonacreamery.com

Monday–Friday: 6:30 AM–12:30 PM
Saturday: 8 AM–3 PM
Sunday: Closed

Coffee and a Walk Through Downtown Kalona

I heard the downtown was cute, and it was, but it was small. We grabbed a coffee at Kalona House Coffee and sat outside at a bistro table for a few minutes before we walked up one side and down the other. I love storefronts, so we decided to step inside a few. We passed the Kalona General Store, a chocolate shop, and a few vintage stores. Quilts hung in soft colors, and the gift shops carried handmade items.

Marriott Weekend Trips

You might have also noticed that we go on a lot of weekend trips 2-3 hours from our home on the Rock Island Arsenal. We are Marriott Bonvoy members trying to keep our status. Marriott is offering extra points for each stay and Steven and I are taking advantage of that while exploring the midwest. There was a time when I probably wouldn’t go to a place like Kalona. However, I start with activities I like like wine walks, so we went to Beloit. We love a beautiful botanical garden so we went to Rockford. Last week we went to Bloomington because they have a Daiso– a store I loved in South Korea.

So this week, we went to Kalona to see its Amish and Mennonite community up close. It is only about 90 minutes away, but it felt much farther from home. I heard a language I didn’t recognize and noticed food I don’t see every day. The Kalona Historical Village is worth the stop. You can visit in a day, but an overnight stay gives you more time to look around.

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