Agritourism

• Agritourism is defined as a farm or business that welcomes guests and offers a plethora of things to see, do and learn. This is a vacation that has educational merit as well as providing entertainment and experience. Some farms are operational only for a season or a special festival, but farm bed and breakfasts are typically open year-round. Working farms appeal to a wide age range, and thus this type of Iowa vacation is a favorite for families (see Reference 1).
  
  

Features

• Depending on the location and season, tourists might participate by picking fruits and vegetables, riding horses, feeding farm animals and helping with household activities. A working farm volunteer vacation provides visitors an inexpensive education about farm life that city dwellers might have never experienced. Many bed and breakfasts have expanded the agritourism concept and have opened petting zoos, cleared hiking trails and have gift and antique shops on site.
  
  

The Farmhouse B&B

• A turn-of-the-century farmhouse outside of Fredericksburg, Iowa, is nestled next to a working dairy farm and vineyard. Cows, llamas, dogs and a multitude of cats greet tourists who arrive for a farm stay. Roaming the farm, you might uncover a restored one-room school house or a shed that sells antiques, red wine and native Iowa cheeses.
  
  Because The Farmhouse B&B is a dairy farm, guests are offered the opportunity to feed cows and are allowed to witness the birth of calves (a few are born each day). Stomping grapes or watching the Holsteins being milked are popular pastimes here.
  
  

Kathy's Pumpkin Patch

• Donnellson, Iowa, has a pumpkin and gourd farm that is open seasonally. Family activities such as mazes, pick your own, horse-drawn wagon rides, an open-air market and educational agricultural undertakings abound. Kathy's Pumpkin Patch also teaches workshops and provides picnic areas for an enjoyable day stay.
  
  

Barn on the Bluff Bed & Breakfast

• Barn on the Bluff Bed & Breakfast in Elkader, Iowa, is reminiscent of days gone by. A charming century-old barn is available for guests to rent. Bring a group here (it sleeps 20-plus) and enjoy the countryside. This bed and breakfast is perfect for a family reunion or a extended family farm stay. A game room, large covered porch, a fire pit and a grill are some amenities. Enjoy the countryside and the view from the hayloft, too.