Planning an Iowa vacation means you're setting yourself up for a great trip in the Hawkeye State, but sometimes we get so used to our typical vacation spots that we want to mix it up! One great hidden gem is the Homestead Hotel in the Amana Colonies! This historic building has had many lives — it was built in 1862 as a hotel, it burned down in a fire in 1890, was rebuilt and continued to host travelers until it became Bill Zuber’s Dugout Restaurant in 1949. in 2004, the Homestead Hotel returned to its roots and was remodeled and opened as Zuber's Homestead Hotel, a place where any Iowan would be proud to stay.

Each of the 15 rooms at the Homestead Hotel is decorated with an Iowa-related theme, so by staying here, you can feel like you're truly taking an all-Iowa vacation.

The "Red Carpet Room" is a historic spot that celebrates famous Iowans over the years.

When the Homestead Hotel was Zuber's Restaurant, this room held family gatherings, birthday parties, and bridal showers. Now it's a large, colonial-style guest room where you can relax and enjoy a romantic atmosphere. There are six notebooks lying around the room that tell the tales of the most famous Iowans.

The Iowa Grand Oak Room might be the most elegant room!

This room reflects some of Iowa's grand nature! The area around Amana is known for its beautiful forests filled with a variety of trees, including the state's official tree, the Grand Oak! If you're staying in Amana to get in touch with nature, this is the perfect room to book. You'll find lots of information and ideas on how to spend your trip in this room's "Sights and Sounds of Iowa" booklets.

The Glimpse of Amana room tells the tale of the surrounding area.

Amana's local heritage is on display in this room. Simple Amana Colony life awaits in this blue and yellow room. Photographs of the original community, antiques, and handcrafted rugs are the touches that make this room so authentic.

No Iowa-themed hotel would be complete without a room dedicated to the Iowa Farmer!

The Harvester room shines the spotlight on our agricultural industry. This spot is a salute to the Iowa farmers that help feed the world. This country-themed room is one of the most charming places to stay in the entire state!

Finally, my favorite room is the Major Leaguer.

This room celebrates local heritage and American culture all in one! You'll find the sign that welcomed guests to Zuber's Dugout restaurant, owned by a former Major League player! This room celebrate's our national pastime and the history of this building itself.

The common areas throughout the Homestead Hotel are great ways to relax and read about Iowa history.

You'll find plenty of fascinating information about Iowa, Amana and the Homestead Hotel as you relax in the comfortable sitting area.

The charming Wagon Wheel room is where you'll enjoy your delicious, home-cooked breakfast.

Play a board game, watch TV, or play the piano for other guests when you hang out in here. Breakfast is served between 8 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. daily, and there are sweet snacks out from 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. to satisfy your afternoon hunger.

For anyone who's proud of their Iowa Roots, there's no better place to stay than the Homestead Hotel! You can read the stories of the other 10 guest rooms and book your stay, right here. Zuber's Homestead Hotel is located at 2206 44th Ave., Homestead, IA 52236.

To learn more about the Amana Colonies, read A Day Trip To Iowa's Historic Colonies Will Take You Back In Time.