I wish I could give this place 5 stars. It's a beautiful setting in a valley surrounded by high…read morebluffs. The hosts were polite and accommodating. However... they flew a Trump 2020 flag. I don't care what there political beliefs are, but IMO, a hospitality service shouldn't do something so provocative in such a divisive climate. I would have had the same issue if it was a Bernie Sanders flag. We went there to relax and get away from the tension. Instead, it's there flying high above the campground. Too bad.

From the owner: Outback Ranch Inc. offers a beautiful country wedding venue with lodging and miles of trails to…read morediscover.

We stopped here as part of our Harvest Host tour this weekend and had a nice stay. Nestled in the…read morehills of Iowa the winery is a very quiet and beautiful place to sit on the patio and enjoy some wine. We were warmly greeted by staff when we got here, got the camper set up and came in for some food and a tasting. They have a nice menu of appetizers, salads, flatbreads and sandwiches. We got the 3 dip combo which was salsa, buffalo chicken and a southwestern bean dip. They were all really good. We both had a wine tasting of 4 wines and ended up getting a bottle of the Lazy Days Itasca. It was a crisp white wine that was refreshing while sitting outside on the patio. The menu does have a considerable amount of sweet wines but does have a few dryer wine. They also have wine slushes on the menu that we tried that were really good.

We've been here a couple times to enjoy a lunch at their grill, sample their wines and take home…read moreseveral bottles of our favorites. So, for the wine "purists" out there, remember, these are not necessarily like nice, earthy pinots, merlots or cabernets that you pour in a big glass and enjoy with dinner. More like light, sweeter pino grigios or rieslings. We drink them mostly like sweet dessert wines (think port) in small glasses after a meal or late in the evening. If you come at them from this perspective, you won't be disappointed as you might be if you went here looking for a conventional table wine. Great location, nice facilities, enjoyable wines and pretty good food. I had the Norwegian sandwich - VERY good. It's out past the Seed Savers, so if you are looking for something to do after visiting them - this may be just the ticket. Highly recommended.

New management has made this place a great choice for any event. Its accommodating to any requests…read more Out in the country but close to town. Available to be seen most times. The décor is charming in the lower level and simple on upper level, matches any theme. Being able to choose any caterer and not have gratuity is a plus.

I am very Very disappointed in the professional organization of this business. Not only did they…read morereserve the wrong year for my event, but had I not emailed them 10 days before my wedding, I would not have known until 5 days before. They booked the wrong year, and hadn't even noticed their own mistake. I spent lots of emotions trying to find somewhere else to hold our reception. After finding a venue, I then spent oodles of money on stationary AND postage, AGAIN to let our guests know the place had changed. Sincerely, Very VERY upset and disappointed customer/ client

Fast and friendly service. Nice atmosphere, clean and great food. We'll definitely return!read more

Came in for the live music and dinner, throughly enjoyed both! The grilled cod tacos were full of…read moreflavor and loved my Kentucky mule! And the atmosphere was amazing! Will definitely be back!

I waited a while to write this review because I wanted to be fair. If I had written it the day of…read morethe event it would have been 1 star. Given the time of further consideration, I think 3 stars is legit. Here's the deal: I attended a family wedding here earlier this summer. The bride & groom were radiant, their friends were ecstatic to participate in their nuptials & everyone in the family was thrilled this day had arrived. We were all eager to celebrate. The venue at The Court Above Main, meaning the large room where the wedding & reception took place, is gorgeous. With high ceilings & floor to ceiling windows there is plenty of natural light on a sunny afternoon. It's elegant & creates a lovely mood as the guests anticipate the blessed event. Finally, the moment arrives...the wedding was a delight. Soon after, pictures began & most of us were quickly scooted out of the wedding venue to a small outside ante-room which turned out to be the bar. There were about 120 guests. Thankfully, not the 150 expected, or this would have been even worse. That's 120 people all eager to get a drink at a small counter with 2 very nice, but obviously overwhelmed, bartenders. Once everyone had their drinks we were all stuck in this ante-room where there were a few tall tables & at most, 8 places to sit. It was a hot summer day & this room didn't have enough air conditioning. Everyone was sweating, there was practically no place to sit, there was barely room to stand, and not a bite to nibble on. (I realize that may have been an error made by the wedding couple in terms of not considering appetizers of any kind. However, what legitimate venue purporting to provide exceptional wedding services would allow an oversight like this without being sure the wedding couple seriously understood the importance of something to eat while drinking alcohol?). We were stuck in this situation for more than 2 hours! That's how long it took the room where the wedding occurred to be transitioned with tables & chairs for the dinner. Yup, 2 hours of being too hot, with aching feet, and no place to escape. Being a wedding, there were several elderly family members in attendance who were able to snag the few available chairs. But not everyone. So finally, people started trying to go in the main room where the tables & chairs were being set up & where it was much cooler because the AC worked almost too well. Those who tried got yelled at! That's hardly a welcoming vibe. The reason this transition took so long is because there were only 2 people on staff doing all the work. I have a good friend who manages wedding events & when I told him about this wedding, he said they always have a minimum staff of 5 for this number of people so they can ensure the transition happens in no more than 20 minutes. Now that seems reasonable. Once we were finally seated for dinner, the same 2 people were the only ones both serving & clearing. They were nice enough, but it all took way too long. I've gone on long enough. I'll finish by saying with this size venue & their limited staffing, I'm sure it could be a lovely wedding for 50 people, 75 at the most. Otherwise, it's simply not a large enough space, at least for the drinking portion of the event. And you'd be smart to insist there are a minimum of 4 staff to handle transitions & serving. Also insist there are enough tables & chairs in the bar area.

I was a wedding guest here in September. The venue itself is great, a cool cocktail room, and the…read moremain reception are is also nice. It's on the smaller side, so don't expect to have 150+ people and be comfortable, but for the clientele it serves, it's a great option. My frustration is with one of the bartenders. I ordered an old fashioned, a fairly common drink for most wedding-goers. The bartender made the drink, placed it in front of me, and said that it would be an extra $2 because "it's all alcohol, compared to other drinks." He caught me off guard, seeing as everything else other than top-shelf liquor is included in an open-bar package. The drink wasn't made with premium whiskey anyhow, unless Jack Daniels is considered premium in this neck of the woods. Anyways, if they're going to stiffarm you for an extra $2 here and there, so be it. But, to make your drink, set it down in front of you, and then ask for extra money, that's just unprofessional. Be upfront about it. The drink would've been better served tossed in his face, as his bartending skills were more insulting than anything.

We rented the lodge a few weeks ago for the weekend and had a family reunion with my 4 grown sons…read moreand their wives (& dog). The first thing that struck me was the tranquility; quietness, solitude. A huge change from the noise of our city lives and neighborhoods. I literally could not hear a thing man-made, only nature's orchestra. Immediately my stress level dropped. My wife and I are both "clean freaks." But we were put at ease the minute we walked into the cabin; very, very clean (and spacious). There was a lot of room for all my family to spread out and enjoy themselves. With 3 (mowed) acres to relish, we played basketball, played cornhole, campfire, large (clean) indoor jacuzzi, pool table, grilled burgers & brats on the deck bbq grille. We took hikes into the main attraction; the majestic Yellow River Forest. It was only a stones throw away (next gravel road south; about a quarter mile at most). By far, the most beautiful place in all of Iowa. Saw over a dozen trout in the stream. Next time, I'm bring my fishing pole. But on a spiritual level, I especially loved the large dining room table that allowed me to sit at one end and bask in the bliss and glory of having all my family together at one time, at one table, breaking bread together for an entire 3-day weekend! Words cannot begin to describe the fulfillment I gained. I would highly recommend renting this cabin to anyone. Everyone in my family wants to spend a weekend there again next year. If a clean freak like me can enjoy Cedar Valley Lodge, then anyone can. And being on the east edge of the incredible Yellow River Forest, in a cabin on a bluff... you will not be disappointed.

From the owner: Imagine rolling hills, scenic forests, and the best view of the Mississippi River. That's what's in…read morestore for you at Cedar Valley Lodge. Our owner, Sheryl Smith, provides warm, accommodating services and comforting amenities to guests from all over, and she can't wait to make you feel at home. This cozy cottage has everything a traveler needs to escape, so from fun activities like biking, fishing, snowmobiling, and hiking to fire pits, hot tubs, and satellite TV, there's never a dull moment here. Their waterfront cabin is a great place to spend summer family reunions, and if you're dreaming of a winter wedding, their five-bedroom lodge is open year-round, so you can celebrate surrounded by natural beauty. No matter what the occasion is, Cedar Valley can give you a unique and unforgettable experience.

The 72 Annual Hesper Mabel Steam Engine Days celebration was steaming success…read more Three parades, tractor and truck pull, antique tractor parade, kids tractor pull, Queen Coronation, live music, tasty food, and steam engine demonstrations to begin with, Something for all ages.

My wife and I got married at Still Point Farm last fall. We loved the farm also but the hospitality…read moreof Penny and Phil! We wanted an outdoor wedding, with some indoor seating for dinner, that was not only beautiful but personalized. We got all of that (and then some) at Still Point Flower Farm. This place is perfect for the DIY bride, small weddings, and those wanting a laid back feel to their special day. Penny and Phil are such a wonderful couple to work with, they were available anytime we needed them and worked hard to make any request we had a reality. Given the chance we'd choose this venue again and reccomend it to anyone looking!

From the owner: Spreading Joy is at the center of everything we do at Still Point Flower Farm. Just 20 minutes…read morefrom Madison, WI and Janesville, WI, there’s a peaceful farm overflowing with flowers where the rest of the world feels a thousand miles away — Still Point Flower Farm. This beautiful setting offers the perfect palette to create your joy-filled outdoor flower farm wedding. Beautiful flowers, peaceful serenity and lots of space for families and friends to enjoy one another.

This is easily among the most unique and playful spots in Madison for a drink! But it's also so…read moremuch more than just a good aesthetic! This bar has excellent cocktails and friendly staff, featuring the kind of classy drinks I love but rarely indulge in (sidecars, manhattans, palomas, and more). Some nights they even feature a DJ! The prices are fair and the drinks are adequately strong!

After dining next door, we wanted to have a night cap nearby and Madison Local Motive, which is a…read moretrain car turned bar, was highly recommended, so we popped over. The space is two cars, with one set up as a full-time bar, and the other a mixed space that was a dance club on the night we visited. The bar car was super cute and quaint, but also tight and cramped, especially with a crowd. The car is set up with a single person bar towards the back, and lounge seating along one side leaving small space for folks to walk and wait for the bar. The other car had the bar up front and the dance floor and seating in the back. This car had a cover, so we just did cocktails and lounged a bit in the bar car. The single bartender, while he was friendly and made a good cocktail, created a backlog of folks waiting for drinks. We waited 10 minutes in a single file line for our cocktails. I went with the espresso martini, and my pal got an old fashioned. Both tasty, but the glassware was wayyyyy too small. The line never cleared, so we did one and done unfortunately. The concept is great, but execution is lacking. I know there is limited space, but the current layout and function is not the greatest, especially on the cocktail car side of things. Overall, it was cool to experience and now we can say we have done it.

Great manager. Thank you Alisha for all your help. Nice comfortable clean place to stay. Great pool…read moreand hot tub! Storage units were clean and dry!!! THANK YOU!