Antiques

Antiques are more than collectibles in Kalona; they are a part of a way of life. What others may obtain as a memory of the past are used daily by many in the area, especially among the Old Order Amish.

With seven antiques shops featuring the wares from literally dozens of dealers, Kalona offers a wide range of antiques and collectibles to entice anyone from a serious collector to a first-time seeker. Even more, the price range, nearly without exception, falls into the reasonable categories.

Click here for a complete listing of antique dealers in the Kalona area.

Dining

When it comes to dining out, Kalona offers a diverse menu from which to choose including shops and restaurants that specialize in family-style meals, freshly made sandwiches, pizza and pastries. Advanced planning (and reservations) will provide a wonderful meal in a local Mennonite home. If picnicking is more your taste, the 25 acre Kalona City Park provides nice picnic and grilling facilities along with play areas for children and a municipal pool during the summer months.

Click here for a complete listing of restaurants in the Kalona area.

Lodging

Kalona's two bed and breakfast establishments, three campgrounds and one motel offer visitors a variety of lodging options.

Click here for a complete listing of lodging facilities in the Kalona area.

Golf

Kalona's golf course, with its 3029 yards-long layout on 60 acres, has watered tees, greens and fairways, and offers clubhouse facilities. Kalona's award winning 9-hole course is located one and one half miles south of Kalona and is playable for green fees.

Quilts

For 25 years, the annual Kalona Quilt Show and Sale has drawn thousands of visitors to the town, making it the quilt capital of Iowa. Held the last Friday and Saturday of April, the show reveals what is current in the quilt world in terms of new designs, fabrics and adaptive techniques. But the show is simply the annual culmination of what goes on in Kalona virtually every day.

Quilting is both an art and a social event in Kalona where the quilting bee is common in homes, churches, and clubs. The results of these hours of close handiwork are available throughout the town's shops. Even more, examples of antique and modern quilts are on display at the Kalona Quilt and Textile Museum.

In the process, Kalona quilts have found homes throughout the world (including one in the Kremlin) and were the subject of a Japanese documentary film. Many have found that the thread in Kalona quilts is a tie to history, especially in a town where the past continues with the present.

Click here for a complete listing of quilt dealers in the Kalona area.

Shopping

Unlike many small towns, Kalona has the resources to meet any need or interest from A to Z, for resident and visitor alike.

Long known for its quilts, Kalona offers not only an incredible assortment of fabric, but also the talent to fashion it into anything from a wedding dress to a sports coat at very reasonable prices.

There are numerous antique shops with an abundance of wares, from fine glassware and dishes, to Civil War wardrobes along with specialty shops that provide one of a kind items for interior and exterior decorating, most of which can be fashioned to your specific requirements. There are custom woodworking businesses that can make everything from a single chair, to furnishing an entire home. Skilled craftsmen are available who can repair, refinish, and refurbish that special item or family heirloom.

Click here for a complete listing of shopping in the Kalona area.

Kalona Area Tours

All area attractions are open to those who want to discover Kalona and its Village on their own time. Group tours of the area are arranged for groups of fifteen or more people by the Kalona Historical Society. Each tour includes a home-cooked meal in a Mennonite home, a visit to the Historical Village and a variety of other attractions from which selections are made, all under the direction of experienced tour guides. For further information about the tours, write to The Kalona Historical Society, P.O. Box 292, Kalona, IA 52247 or telephone 319-656-2519. Tours are available April 15 through October 31. The cost for the country side tour and meal is $30.00. The price for the country side meal is $20.00.

Mini tours are also available at the Chamber of Commerce building. Tours begin at 11 a.m. & 1:00 p.m. each lasting for approximately 90 minutes. Within this tour you'll get an "insiders" view of Amish life. You will travel the scenic backroads with our guides and discover the world of the Amish who continue to flow with the seasons and live simple, wholesome lives from our great grandparents. You'll see their homes, schools, farms and beautifully manicured gardens as you pass by. The tour will also include a visit to a local shop.

$10 adults, $6 Children(7-12) Register at the Kalona Area Chamber of Commerce located at 514 B Avenue, or call 319-656-2660.

Click here for other tour guides in the Kalona area.