Getaways in Iowa

Barb was friendly and accommodating throughout the weeks after booking leading up to check in. At check in she was super friendly to the girls who checked in and made herself available should we need anything else. Check in and out instructions were super simple. As for the property itself it was beautiful and well maintained. Yes there were dust bunnies, but nothing out of what would be ordinary for a lakeside cabin. The site had so much recreational things available on the lake such as kayaks and paddle boards and a dock to swim or fish off of. There was a fire pit right in front of the lake and PLENTY of firewood included in the rental. We had a bachelorette party for my sister so we were out and about most of the second day, but had we stayed in, we would have had plenty to do just on the lakeside. the beds were mostly comfortable and there was plenty of space. 10 out of 10 would return, and probably will with the kiddos at some point for a family getaway!

This is our second time staying at Larry’s place. We love how comfortable it is, the beautiful view, and how it has everything we need to feel at home. The outdoor space is so nice! Thank you for providing plenty of towels. 😊 We highly recommend staying here or at one of Larry’s other places.

We had a great stay! The place was so cozy, the decor was so cute, and the whole house was very clean (and the towels smelled amazing!😊) She was a great communicator and had very clear instructions on how to check in and out. Great for a little weekend trip! Would definitely stay again!

We love staying here, it was clean, easy to find, close Winterset Square, and the space was adorable.

Tom and Julie - this is stay no. 4, and it won't be the last! We brought friends along this time, and they too, really enjoyed your lovely place and all the little thoughtful touches. Coffee cake was apprecaited, and very delicious - did I say homemade! We love the privacy, and the woods all around the property. The beds were very comfortable, and 2 couples certainly had plenty of space. Having coffee on that large porch is my favorite. Internet connection was great. Just a wonderful stay, no complaints.

We absolutely LOVE staying at the Buckman's guest house! We have had several family events and Paula is the best host! Her place is very spacious, clean and has lots of things to do! I would highly recommend staying here if you get the chance!

Daniel was a great host, very responsive and helpful. We would definitely stay here again.

Excellent Airbnb for a large family gathering, especially with kids! Kitchen + house had everything we could need plus toys and activities for kiddos. Best part was the backyard space with 1/2 basketball court, yard games + toys, fire pit, and lake access with kayaking and paddle boarding! Nearby beaches, splash pad, pioneer museum, and little brown church also provided nice activities. Hosts were responsive and helpful. Would stay here again!

I loved my stay at the Malvern Depot! I walked on the Wabash Trace Nature Trail from Council Bluffs to Malvern that day and was expecting a simple and boring small town. I was surprisingly mistaken! Malvern is a great town. The depot is an awesome place to stay along the way; clean, comfortable, and cute. It is a short walk from 2-3 places to eat, Casey's, a grocery store, the art church, and local festivities. These things are usually unheard of in a town with about 1000 people. I had a great walleye dinner at the cafe. Then, the town was hosting a STEM event for the children, which included a band and a ballet performance by the Des Moines Ballet. I can't believe I had such great luck. Then the next day, I walked to Ike's Place in Shenandoah. I asked Cheryl if she knew anyone who I could pay to pick me up and take me back to my vehicle in Council Bluffs, and she offered. So, I met Cheryl and her sister, Marsheila, and had a fun ride back. Thanks, Cheryl!

Great quiet place, super clean, just what we needed while visiting friends in Des Moines.

My sisters and I stayed here and we had a great time! We had everything we needed and it was very relaxing here. The scenery was beautiful with deer walking through in the morning and evening, and many birds at the feeder outside the dining window.

Beautiful cabin in private area. Very quiet and secluded. Lovely decor and well stocked with everything we could possibly need. Rick responded promptly to all communication.

Janie and Bob were the best hosts Easy to talk with Extremely helpful Gave us a lot of information about the tiny home which I love that kind of stuff so that was awesome for me. It was a great place to stay and it was so cute and every little corner had something interesting in it. We enjoyed our stay tremendously. wish we could’ve stayed longer Thank you Janie and Bob

It is a very beautiful cabin! The neighborhood was very friendly and we felt very safe. We were especially thankful that we could take our two large dogs with us. They were very clear with their rules and quick to respond when we had a question. Thank you for sharing your cabin with our family! :)

This was our second year staying here, and it won’t be our last! The atmosphere is perfect—laid-back, welcoming, and full of charm. The community truly makes you feel at home. Kelly remembered us from last year and treated us like old friends, even giving us some free worms to get our fishing started. The community fire pit is a great place to relax and meet new people, and the fishing is top-notch. We caught over 20 walleye between 15–19 inches and even landed a beautiful 33.5-inch pike. We’re already looking forward to year three. Whether you’re planning a family getaway or a trip with friends, Sabula is a hidden gem you won’t want to miss!

I wanted to be immersed in nature and Liz’s cabin was just the ticket! Quiet, peaceful, and beautiful scenery with an amazing backstory for the rustic cabin! I loved our short 3 day stay without cell service and tv, perusing great Liz’s book collection, enjoying the trails on her property and listening to the birds early in the morning! ❤️Liz and her husband were very welcoming and genuine. The toilet and shower were not a problem—in fact we were very impressed with their functionality! These two city folk rate this trip 9.5 and expect to come back again next spring! Thank you for an absolutely perfect stay.

Great place for our one-night stay near Lansing. Nice small house with all the commodities. We really enjoyed it!

Lisa's home is beautiful! Spectacular views! We met friends for an overnight stay. Lisa's place had everything we needed, we spent 90 percent of our time outdoors enjoying the peaceful atmosphere. We will definitely return for our annual get together. Thank you Lisa for an incredible experience!

Very nice and quiet place to stay. Easy check in and friendly hosts. Thank you

After a long work trip, it was so nice to be able to go to Joe’s place and have a peaceful and relaxing home to be in. The house is surrounded by absolute serenity and peacefulness just far enough away from the heart of Ames that you feel like you’re out in the middle of the country but close enough where you can easily get into town and have all of the amazing restaurants experiences that you can have there!

We knew our daughter (4 years old) had off school a couple days around Easter, so we figured we would do a mini family getaway together to make some happy memories. She loves trains and treehouses, so we asked her to choose which one she'd enjoy most. She happily chose the train caboose, and it was a great choice that we all appreciated! The area scenery is beautiful, Decorah has many great shops downtown, tasty restaurants that we enjoyed, and gorgeous scenery all over that we loved seeing as a family. We feel blessed to have found this fun location, and loved its charming look. The horses on the property were a delightful bonus too, as we are a family of animal-lovers.

We loved the peaceful atmosphere and the animals! The area was beautiful and we enjoyed sitting around the fire pit and enjoying the sunny spring days :)

Everything was exactly as described. My step son loved it and we made great memories. I would stay again.

Beautiful cottage! We were a group of 5 college friends and this home worked well. We loved the outside. Morning coffee on the deck was fabulous. Very close to downtown. Responsive host. Definitely recommend staying here.