I've stayed in one of the cabins at red Cedar Lodge and was blown away by the view and the beauty…read moreof the cabin as well

From the owner: Lodging for family and friend getawaysread more

We found Windy Goat Acres a refreshing getaway for the weekend. What you should expect is a large…read moreacreage with quaint, cozy, humble cabins, yurts, and a unique hobbit house. They are decorated modestly with basic essentials (hot plate and a few pots). I stayed in Lady Morphia Castle and would describe it as a glamping experience; running cold and hot water, comfortable bed with linens, simple, minimalist with a bath house and portable toilets within walking distance. Enjoy llama and goat socials peacocks ducks, sheep, and horses around the property. Explore the countryside with a picnic during the day, fire side vibes, and star gazing on clear nights.

My friend and I had been wanting to visit this place for over a year! It's a 3.5 hour drive. We…read morefinally found time and got tickets for Pride and Prejudice and picnics at a cost of $144 per ticket. On social media we always saw beautiful pictures of a whimsical farm complete with all the animals! The invitation was enticing with lovely teas and tasty scones along with scenes and costumes from the musical! Yard games, dance lessons, crafts and more as you strolled the "lovely" grounds! We arrived at 10:45 and parked. A few other guests were still inside their cars as no one knew quite where to go. We were not greeted by a host and there was no signage so we just started walking. We happened upon the animals that we heard about. The peacocks were lovely! We saw horses and ponies, long horned sheep and a dog. We spoke softly and kindly to the dog locked up in a cage. He was growling and barking aggressively. We were sad for him as it was a hot day and there was no water in the enclosure. We continued to find the rabbits. Some were in a separate hutch, also no water. The bigger hutch was filled with droppings very deep containing more rabbits. Llamas, goats, ducks and chickens. We never saw fresh water or feed for these animals. We were told later there was water in the barn for them by another guest. After walking some more we found our host. The grounds are not lovely as described but covered in weeds and mowed thistles. We sat down at one of the tables adorned with lovely dishes. There were umbrellas over a couple tables, however the sun was blazing and shade was needed. There was no ice and the food quickly melted. There were no napkins! The skits were a minute or two long. It was too hot to play yard games as each activity was an hour long. Many of the guests left early as we did. The melting food was never cleared from the tables. We never learned where the bathroom was until hours later when another guest told us. Needless to say we were disappointed by the entire experience. It was not portrayed truthfully in social media posts in my opinion. I love the idea of what the owners are trying to do. The comfort of the guest is the most important and we were very uncomfortable. Bottles of water in ice would have been great and announce to guests immediately where bathroom facilities can be found!

I will start by saying I do not review businesses - unless the experience was exceptionally great…read moreor unreasonably disappointing. That being said, this place falls in the later category. I had an extremely frustrating experience with this park. We originally booked an RV site directly through their website and later called to cancel, at which point we were told we could avoid cancellation fees by simply rescheduling our stay. We relied on that representation and moved our reservation to a later date. When our plans changed again and we needed to cancel, the park suddenly refused to provide any refund at all, despite their published cancellation policy and despite the fact that we were prepared to pay the stated cancellation fee. At no point when we rescheduled were we told that doing so would supposedly eliminate our right to a refund later. If we had, I guarantee we would have opted to pay the $50+ cancellation fee rather than risk the $300 full price. What made this even worse was the way the situation was handled and the "reasons" behind their decision. We were told the reservation had not even been properly updated in their system and had only been written on a calendar, and they used their own internal decision/mistake as justification for denying a refund. Also, due to them "holding a spot for us for almost a year" even though their website showed multiple RV sites still available for the dates in question (which I looked up while I was on the phone with her,) they insisted that didn't matter..."they held a spot"...which is the entire point of a reservation. I often have hotels and other reservations that are booked months in advance without issue as long as the published policies are abided by. The conversation was dismissive, unhelpful, and ended with us being told there was no one else to speak with before she hung up on me. Based on this experience, I would strongly caution others before booking here, especially if there is any chance your plans might change. We have also filed a complaint with the BBB.

Beautiful place nice people the negative was no one was in the office when we arrived. We called…read moretwice cause it says to call no answers and we finally found someone and confirmed. It was a 2 mile drive on well maintained gravel roads from the Hwy, the water pressure was very low, The site was not level, the site fire pit/ring was mangled up, but it was quiet there with all the other campers. The sites are a little tight. I have a 34 foot fifth wheel and anything longer might be difficult to maneuver. it appeared to have great play equipment for kids and tent sites but we're retired. it was very clean and green.

Whenever my business travel brings me to Des Moines, Butler House on Grand is my first choice of…read moreaccommodation. The owners are more than welcoming, ready to help in any way. The rooms are spacious and charming; the fridge and pantry are generously well-stocked; the living room and game room are large and make the stay unique and special. It is a mansion home away from home. Across the street is a three mile hilly woodland trail (behind the Art Museum and rose garden). The neighborhood us safe and beautiful. Highly recommend for both business and leisure travel. Seven large bedrooms can accommodate a group. Please note: The only negative reviews that keep this from being five star was many years ago under prior owners. I was here at that time and had a very positive experience during my stay, though the family/owners were dealing with very difficult health challenges. The atmosphere in the home is five star now.

Sheryl and Jeremiah are incredible hosts that thought of every detail to make our stay away from…read morehome wonderful! The guest rooms are beautiful! Beds are very comfortable, linens wonderful, and plush towels and robes in each room. There is access to snacks and drinks 24/7 and the refrigerator is well-stocked to make yourself an amazing breakfast. The shared spaces are comfortable and inviting and the game room in the basement is a fun addition! We were there to bike the area trails with friends and the location is just perfect. One of the trailheads is right down the hill and we biked downtown to the Des Moines Farmers Market and beyond and got an easy 20 mile ride in on beautiful trails. We highly recommend the Butler House on Grand for a getaway for two or for a group of friends!

Holly was terrific at walking me through the process of buying a house. I felt like I was a…read morepriority and made the entire experience great!

As a first time homebuyer, I had so many questions and a little skeptical about the process of…read morelooking during my busy schedule having to utilize off peak hours to look at properties. What a blessing it was to have worked with Holly, she was patient and very thorough from start to finish. When we found MY new home she negotiated against CASH offers and got the deal done!!! Holly has excellent communication skills even answering my questions during evening hours and taking the time to make sure all my needs were met and questions answered. Thanks Holly and I look forward to seeing you at my house warming party!!!