Kalona Wanderings - QC Departure

 

Kalona Wanderings

Tuesday, June 11, 2024

 

 

$140 per person

Non-Members add $5

 

 

Come along with Burlington Trailways and your fellow Trailways Travelers as we escape for a day to a place where it is laid back and has the feel of much simpler times, Kalona, Iowa! We’ve a fun, relaxing day planned just for you that includes not only some free shopping time and Amish-style visits, but also a fabulous home-cooked meal in a "conservative-Mennonite" home! Do remember though that If you plan on doing some shopping, there are some places that may not accept debit/credit cards so you may want to consider bringing along some spending cash.

 

We start with you boarding one of our luxury motorcoaches from our Davenport Maintenance Facility where you will be greeted by our friendly on-board host and driver. Then sit back and visit with your friends as the countryside passes by on your way. Once we arrive in Kalona we will make a stop at the Kalona Historical Village Visitor Center to talk about the customs and lifestyles of the various Amish and Mennonite groups in the Kalona area along with some time for a rest & refresh break before moving on with our own tour guide for the morning. They will provide us with a drive through the Amish countryside with a stop at Farmer’s Hen House. Here you will witness the daily collection of eggs and learn about the care given to their layers. You can also contemplate the economic importance of egg money to the multi-generational Amish family versus large conglomerate operations. Sustaining small family farms has been the philosophy of Farmers Hen House since the beginning, when Eldon T. Miller founded the company in efforts to help local small farms get their organic eggs to market. Today, many of his sons, son-in-law, and nephews are also farmers with the Hen House. For centuries many of the family farms in this area have been handed down carefully from one generation to the next. Preserving the family farm means preserving the soil. This is why most of these farms are organic, and why many of them produce their own feed rather than relying on feed from outside sources. You will find that there are over 100 certified organic family farms in a six-mile radius here.

 

We move on to a visit to JK Creative Wood & Gifts where every one of the Brokaw’s get involved in their family-owned woodworking operation representing 6 generations! This family has been crafting one-of-a-kind wooden desk & dining accessories for 40 years and counting. Each product is individually designed using a variety of solid, kiln-dried wood and all designs are unique ensuring you will receive an individual creation. With a variety of items for sale that include earrings, necklaces, charcuterie boards, napkin holders, game boards, dining sets and more there is something for everyone. They even have a selection of handcrafted items from pewter and pottery as well as Amish quilts. Here you will be able to observe their creative process painstakingly making heirlooms from solid kiln-dried wood. They will have items available for your purchase today as well if you wish.

Our guide will be taking us to a local home for our home-cooked dinner today. Your meal will be served "family-style," which means you are served from large bowls and platters placed on your table and you spoon the size of portion you are comfortable with onto your personal plate. If the bowl becomes empty, the cook will see to it that it returns to the table so that you will never leave hungry. Today’s meal will include Roast Beef, Home-made Noodles, Mashed Potatoes with Gravy, Green Beans, a Lettuce Salad, Tapioca Salad and Home-baked Bread. Dessert will be a selection of homemade pies. Beverage choices of water, iced tea, or coffee are included.

 

We say good-bye to our local guide and set out for downtown Kalona for some free time to do some browsing, shopping, and exploration of the area with its variety of shops and more. Be sure to notice the sidewalks/crosswalks; they have quilt designs imprinted right into them!

 

Before we depart to return back home, we will be making a stop at Stringtown Grocery for a bit more shopping of a different variety. This locally famous Amish bulk food grocery is a favorite of locals, and a landmark for visitors interested in ingredients for baking and snacking. They recently opened a produce and plant department to the north and have added a cold room for organic locally grown meats and products. Be sure to check your spice cupboards and make a list of what you may need before you leave home as they have a really large selection of bulk spices at great prices.

 

With a full tummy and your treasured purchases tucked away, you can share your experiences with each other and perhaps plan for another great day out with us in the future on your return back home.

 

Tour includes:

• Deluxe Roundtrip Motorcoach

Transportation

• Friendly On-board Host

• Kalona Historical Village Visitor Center

• Farmer’s Hen House

• JK Creative Wood & Gifts

• Meal in "Conservative-Mennonite" Home

• Shopping in downtown Kalona

• Shopping/Visit at Stringtown Grocery

 

Activity level 2: This tour requires average physical activity. You should be in good health, able to climb stairs and walk reasonable distances, possibly on uneven surfaces including dirt paths or cobblestone streets.

 

Deposit & Final Payment: A $30 deposit per person is required within one week of reservation. Must be paid in full by May 10, 2024. No refunds will be issued after 5 pm on May 10, 2024. Reservations made after final payment date have no guarantee of availability or change in price.

 

Travel Protection:

We recommend that you purchase a travel protection plan to help protect you and your travel investment against the unexpected. Unforeseen events such as flight delays, baggage loss or even a sudden illness or injury could impact your travel plans. For your convenience we offer a Travel Protection plan provided by the United States Fire Insurance Company and administered by Trip Mate, Inc.; in UT and CA, DBA Trip Mate Insurance. To review full plan details online, go to www.tripmate.com/wpTPD040 for domestic tours valued up to $4,000 per person or to www.tripmate.com/wpTPG040 for all international tours or domestic tours valued over $4,000 per person.