We visited Sugar Bottom for a beach day. The area was beautiful! It has a number of paths and what…read moreseems like a nice camping area (although we weren't there for that). The beach area was spacious--lots of room to spread out on the sand. The beach also has a couple of good shady spots, which is helpful on a hot day. However, we ended up heading over to the Lake MacBride beach because the Sugar Bottom area was a little less lively. Could have just been the day, but we were looking for somewhere more high energy on a summer weekend afternoon. They also don't have the boat rental options that MacBride beach has. If you do like quiet spaces then this would be the place! It also seems great if you have kids (which we don't) because there is just more space to run around. Just be prepared to bring all of your own entertainment.

Beautifully maintained campground. Several spaces with a lake view! Great for families and anyone…read morewho likes outdoor recreation. Boat dock available, and honors system firewood available in the evening. We did reservations through Recreation.gov and that made check in super easy! We brought our 2 Yorkies, and about 1/3 or more of the campers also brought dogs. Lots of trees, but also well mowed green spaces. This is now on our top 10 for Iowa campgrounds! Several spots right next to the bathroom / shower house, and great areas for larger camping groups. Would like to see a couple more updates to the shower facility. The water temp was fully adjustable-a knob rather than a button type, so you could have water the full duration of your shower. The water pressure was great, temperature great, but tile could use some updating. That may be in the works because the lighting was motion sensor and LED. There was also a ceiling fan which helped discourage bugs in the bathhouse!

Perfect place to stop right off the interstate. Very flat surfaces sit right next to a cornfield…read moreand apparently a pig farm. It's Iowa. You have to expect smells!

People running the place are absolutely wonderful, very well kept and quiet campgrounds. Spacious…read morelot spaces and pool. Love it!!

I've spent several weekends here tent camping at site 54 (walk up) over the past few months. This…read morepark is about a 10 - 15 drive on 94 (Blairs Ferry) from Cedar Rapids (now that Palo Marsh RD has reopened). Tent sites are generally 'walled off' from one another with patches of natural flora separating the sites, with a walking path leading the length of them. (Water spigots are also available on this center path). Each and every time has been ideal and serene. Most visitors adhere to the 'quiet time' rule (10:30 PM to 6:30 AM, I believe), so noise is generally not a concern. Washroom facilities in both the shower equipped and latrine are clean, and well stocked with toilet paper. DNR staff are both friendly, and generally 'hands off' during your stay. My most recent stay was on 10/22 through 10/23, and albeit a very cold morning, the views were breathtaking with the morning fog surrounding the park. (Image attached). I cannot speak to fishing at the park as I have not fished here, however camping is great, and I highly recommend this park.

We stayed in a 25 foot travel trailer in the middle of the week. Weekends are pretty much…read moreSold out. We love the area. Kayaking, biking, and fishing. Very well maintained grounds. Camp sites do not provide private water/sewer but there is a good water/sewer station on the way in. My only complaint. Thurs evening we had friends join us. The Ranger Man enforced a 2 car per campsite rule. He forced 3 over 65 couples to drive to a parking lot and I shuttled them back and forth. Really? Do us Seniors party too hard for you? Haha I understand rules but I don't have to like them...

The Sudbury Court is a Classic Mom & Pop motel…read more As the director of the Route 6 Tourist Association, I have occasions to travel two lane highways many times per year. We sometimes do classic car tours across Iowa along America's longest highway, and the Sudbury Court is one of my favorite stops. (Before I go any further, I pay full price for my rooms, and they are not currently members of the association. So my review is neither biased nor solicited.) My wife and I, along with several other couples on our tours have stayed there many times over the past 4 years, and have enjoyed reasonable rates, clean rooms, and great hospitality. While the amenities are not fully up to some modern standards, the rooms are clean, well maintained, and comfortable, and do feature Wi-Fi, AC, and cable. Sure, a mini fridge would be nice, but you also don't find those in rooms that cost a great deal more every time. Besides the great rates and comfort, you also can't ignore the "cool" factor. How many motels these days have a neon sign? The Sudbury Court is a good old fashioned, well kept up, American owned piece of history. It's hard to ask for more than that. And here is the clincher. Because they are locally owned, and not part of some big chain, the money you spend with them stays in the community and benefits people near them. This is not only good for Marengo, Iowa, this is good for America. Whenever you travel, try and do business with locally owned. It's win-win.

It's cheap -- and you get what you pay for…read more The positives: the rooms are tidy, adequately spacious, and don't smell weird. The owners are nice people. The bathroom (in my room at any rate) was recently redone. The setting is relatively quiet -- there are literally corn fields across the street. And while it sits at the intersection of two highways, traffic on those highways is pretty light; plus the intersection is a four-way stop so the cars are slowing down on their approach, meaning there's much less wind, tire, and engine noise than if they were roaring by at full boil. The negatives: the walls are thin enough that you can hear neighboring rooms' televisions and/or conversations fairly clearly. Decor is way outdated. There was no mini-fridge which I consider a must even in the most base-rate motels. For that reason alone I'd be hesitant to book a room here again. The clincher between a 2-star and a 3-star rating was being woken up at 7:50am by the staff to retrieve a package they had delivered to my room while I was away but was intended for the next room over. For one, I had no intention of being up before 10am, needing desperately to get caught up on sleep. So much for that. For another, it also meant they had entered my room without my knowledge or consent. If they had something for me, they should have kept it at the front desk and left me a message. When I pay for a room, I also pay for privacy -- whether I'm present or not. I'm sure they meant well enough but I was not pleased. Bottom line: if you just need a clean, cheap, no-frills place to crash after a hard day of... well, doing whatever the hell people do out in the middle of Iowa, this place has you covered. Just be sure to bring earplugs in case the folks next door aren't the quiet type; and if you value your privacy, be sure to remind the owners to stay the hell out of your room.

We stayed here when my cousin got married across the street (Price Creek Event Center) on Saturday…read more It's truly right across the street - might be a shorter walk from the hotel to the entrance of the event center than from the parking lot of the event center itself. Room was clean, mini fridge was very helpful, air conditioning worked well. Normal check in is 3pm - I asked if we could get in a little earlier to get ready for the wedding there. Not only was the answer yes, but I got a phone call when the rooms were ready. In all my years booking hotel rooms, can't say I've ever had that happen before, and it was much appreciated so we were confident we'd have plenty of time to get ready. Great service!

Good clean motel at a reasonable price. Only coffee in AM, but for the price a good dealread more

Wife and I stayed in the first floor one bedroom suite. The room was renovated well, still…read moremaintaining the old world charm. The place was very clean and well maintained. We were very comfortable and we appreciated the peace. There was a large Jacuzzi tub and a king sized bed in this suite which made it perfect for a couple retreat. The location of this place cannot be beat. Just a stumble away from all the good restaurants and wineries at Amana. Close parking and easy entry/exit. We really enjoyed our stay.

Just got back from a nice stay in Amana, My mother and I really liked the lodging, and for a short…read morenotice getaway stay it provided exactly what we needed. Pros: The suite was spacious for such a cheap price and was well furnished and very clean. The bed was soft enough and the couches and chairs provided were all comfortable as well. The Lodging is very close to main street in Amana and was within walking distance of most of the attractions, restaurants, and shops. The bathroom is also handicapped accessible Cons: The main problem we had with the Lodging was that it was advertised as a Bed and Breakfast. While the bed part was pretty nice the Breakfast was...well neglected. The "english muffins" were stale and the tea and juice were ancient and tasted bad. Luckily due to the central location there was a very nice cafe ( Serena's ) right down the road where we had a great breakfast. Additionally the lodging had no wifi or any way to connect to the internet and the television had a limited 20 channels and bad resolution. Overall we had a nice stay in the Lace lodging but would have appreciated more attention to have been paid in regards to breakfast and technology.

Owner is a great hostess and very knowledgeable about the area. Breakfast is served at 8 and is…read morealways delicious. Rooms were clean and towels changed daily. If you need anything, the owner is a phone call away. We will definitely come back!

This is the best place to stay. The owner is very hospitable and is full of information (not to…read moremention a great cook) Every time we go to Amana we stay at Dusk to Dawn.

Love, love, love this museum. Nestled right on the Pentacrest of The University of Iowa campus, we…read morereally do have an amazing resource in our own backyard (for those of us who live in the Eastern Iowa corridor area, at least). The museum hasn't changed much since I last visited 10+ years ago, but that's okay. Rusty the Sloth and the polar bear in the gift shop are staples. Macbride Hall houses the Department of Anthropology at U of I. Wouldn't it be cool to see these artifacts every day as a student? The pair of lions in Mammal Hall were placed in an enclosed case in 202 (previously not enclosed) and a nice mural was painted behind them. From what I could tell, that's the most recent update to one of the museum's exhibits. Museum is free, but a donation is suggested. Please don't skip the donation box located near the guestbook in the gift shop. As indicated in a previous review, some of the exhibits have become quite 'well-loved.' Interactive features no longer work, particularly in the Hall of Birds. Mammal Hall is my most favorite, but there's so much to learn from each area of the museum. The museum covers 3 floors of Macbride Hall. Take the stairs and work those quads! Elevator available as well. Due to the summer season museum hours are a little different, so I'd call ahead or check the website for details. Parking during the summer on the street is easy to find. $1.50/hour. Highly recommend!

Great spot to walk around and explore with kids. Staff was friendly, fun scavenger hunt.read more