We stayed at Carmen & Scott's "Cozy Cabin" from Sept. 2-9. 2017. The cabin was everything it was supposed to be, but also so much more. It would be difficult to put into a VRBO description all of the things that came with our stay: Solitude and silence except for the sounds of farm animals, total privacy except for discovering that the cows and the horses in the pasture have chosen to spend a few minutes near the fence below our deck, and charming hosts who invited us into their life to share an evening campfire with them the night before we left. We even found ourselves friends with their dog, "Lulu!" If you are worried about isolation, the high speed wi-fi internet and Dish Network TV kept us connected to the rest of the world as much as we liked. Weekend breakfasts prepared by Carmen and delivered to our cabin by their son was a perk that will likely be unparalleled by any other VRBO vacation anywhere else. It was gourmet!

Nearby Kalona is influenced by the Amish community who are somewhat prevalent in this area. Downtown seemingly is thriving. Every business is occupied, and storefronts are so well kept that it looks like it could be from a movie set. If you enjoy antiques & craft stores, an Amish General Store, but also great restaurants that run the gamut from Mexican to Italian to family dining to a micro-brewery with a fine menu, you can easily spend a couple of days just exploring what Kalona, population 2500, has to offer. Be sure to take advantage of an available bus tour of the Amish countryside that includes information about Amish culture as well as stops as three rural businesses that one would probably never learn about without this activity. If you want the attractions of a bigger city, nearby Iowa City (75,000) is nice college city just a short drive away, and the trip there offers some additional attractions along the way.

Finally, the part of this stay that will vary a little for everyone are the potential exchanges with your hosts, Scott & Karmen. You could stay on their property and farm yard and opt for distance and privacy, or, you can ask a few questions and learn about why they live here, how their hobby farm has expanded, their dreams for the future, how they have helped those around them, and leave - as we did - with an unanticipated friendship. A week in the country at "Cozy Cabin" rejuvenated our spirits.