Amana Colonies more than just a place to eat

The words “family-style meals,” in large letters, tend to flash through minds when someone mentions the Amana Colonies in Iowa.

Famous for its German and American family-style dining in places such as the Colony Inn or Ox Yoke Inn, a visit means generous portions of good food right through dessert.

Whether Amana is a favorite spot to visit, or a new spot on a traveler’s agenda, there are several ways to see and do more.

One is to purchase a driving tour CD from the Amana Colonies Visitors Center in Amana. This CD comes with a map to help tourists find their destinations, as they drive through the seven villages that make up the Amana Colonies.

The tour is short enough to allow time for shopping and eating, but just right to give a glimpse of parts of the colonies that might be overlooked during a casual tour. It also provides insight into the area’s traditions and lifestyles throughout the years.

Amana settlers came from Germany and practiced a communal way of life for 89 years. A religious people, they attended worship or prayer services 11 times a week and prepared meals at neighborhood kitchen houses which fed more than 1,500 people three meals a day, plus two coffee breaks. The also staffed meat shops, bakeries, wineries and apiaries in each village. Those villages are Amana, Middle Amana, High Amana, West Amana, South Amana, East Amana and Homestead.

A second way to experience the colonies’ unique atmosphere is through a walking tour. Offered May through October from the visitors center, the walks last about an hour. During the tour, travelers get a glimpse of the area from the locals’ perspective and learn about the heritage and architecture they’ll see in the colonies.

The third tour is a Global Positioning System adventure from the Amana Heritage Museum in Amana. This tour is available Saturdays, May through October, and also Mondays through Fridays, June 15 through Aug. 14. Those taking the tour can use their own GPS unit or borrow one from the museum.

During this tour, travelers follow GPS coordinates through the colonies with a token treasure to be found at the end of the trail.