Red Cedar Lodge offers year round nature escape in Charles City, Iowa

Nestled near the banks of the Cedar River, the Red Cedar Lodge offers visitors the tranquility of nature, only a few hundred feet from the main road into Charles City, Iowa.
Built 10 years ago on 28 acres of land, the luxurious upscale Red Cedar Lodge gives guests beautiful views of the area, with trees hugging the Cedar River. Eagles, hawks and other birds of prey flying above the trees offer a picturesque setting that Norman Rockwell may have painted.
Red Cedar Lodge consists of only three cabins, a few hundred feet off the main street into town and a short walk to the Cedar River. Sunrise Ridge and Moonlight Bend can each sleep up to 10 people. Eagle’s Nest sleeps up to eight people. Lisa and I stayed in Sunrise Ridge, which, in fact, does offer a beautiful view of the sun rising above the trees hugging the river. Our cabin included a loft with a bunk bed and twin bed set-up. A bedroom with a queen bed is off the living room. The master bedroom included a king bed, as well as a private bathroom. The bedrooms feature pillow-top mattresses and soft pillows.

Each cabin features the amenities of home – a full-sized kitchen with dishes and utensils, as well as a coffeemaker and a large living room a with 37-inch high-definition television located above gas fireplaces. Each cabin has keyed entry.

We watched the sunrise each morning from the large front porch. It was a breathtaking view. Nearby, geese called out, as if they were greeting us at the start of the day. You can walk trails that will take you near the river.

Options for fun
You can spend your entire visit at your cabin, and we know people who would love doing that. You can even take part in nature-related activities, such as hiking, canoeing, kayaking and fishing, as well as enjoying an evening fire at the fireplace patio. If you want, try the hot tub.
If exploring the area is more your thing, Charles City offers a variety of activities, including whitewater kayaking near downtown. Whitewater rafting in Iowa? A three-block section of the Cedar River has the white waters beginning at a small dam.

During the winter, people can snowmobile, snowshoe, and cross-country ski. Summer brings tubing and fly fishing to the river. Land activities include golf, paint ball, bicycling and disc golfing.
You can also grab a cup of coffee at Aromas downtown and explore the area, as Charles City is pedestrian friendly. Art is available at the Art Center and don’t miss the Mooney Collection at the public library. Cross the Cedar River at the pedestrian bridge. Enjoy a look at history with a tour of the Carrie Lane Chapman Catt Home. Catt led the campaign to give women the right to vote with the 19th amendment.

As you wrap up your day’s activities, take in the moonlight view of the sky with stars sparkling on a clear night.

We enjoyed our visit to the Red Cedar Lodge and Charles City. We plan to suggest having a family reunion there soon. We recommend staying at Red Cedar Lodge. You’ll love it, and Lorraine and Tom will take good care of you.
For more information on the lodge, visit www.theredcedarlodge.com.
Disclaimer: Thank you to Red Cedar Lodge for the complimentary stay. However, all opinions and views are ours.