Explore The Outdoors
Experience the awesome outdoors like never before in the heart of the Midwest.Day 1
Fourteen acres of living beauty awaits at Reiman Gardens in Ames. Reiman Gardens is open year-round, where exotic butterflies fly in their own wing and plants bloom in an indoor tropical garden. Contact (515) 294-2710 for more information.
Boone and Scenic Valley Railroad is an operating educational railroad museum offering excursion train rides, dessert, picnic and dinner train rides through the Des Moines River Valley. Contact (515) 432-4249 for more information.
Venture to the Iowa Arboretum to learn about various plants. The arboretum is 378 acres of trees and woodland trails, along with flowers and shrubbery stretched over the plains. Contact (515) 795-3216 for more information.
Finish the day at the Jon Anderson White Riverboat. This downtown attraction is a functional Sternwheeler built in 1967 by the Dubuque Boat and Boiler Company. Enjoy dinner on the boat and take in the beautiful scenery along the Des Moines River. Call (515) 883-2628 for more information.
Day 2
Experience the outdoors at the Des Moines Botanical and Environmental Center. The beautiful, exotic, blooming flowers and plants are sure be pleasing to the eye first thing in the morning. Contact (515) 323-6288 for more information.
The John and Mary Pappajohn Sculpture Park, set on 4.4 acres in the heart of Downtown Des Moines, features 27 works of art donated to the museum by John and Mary Pappajohn from their renowned collection of contemporary sculptures. Contact (515) 271-0344 for more info.
Enjoy lunch at Americana Restaurant and Lounge, Gateway Market Café or Big City Burger and Greens.
Ride B-cycle throughout downtown. Explore the city without worrying about parking while also doing something good for the environment. With over 100 miles of trails in Des Moines, you can bike around the Principal Riverwalk, Gray’s Lake and the Meredith Trail. Contact (515) 333-5590 for more information.
Experience the breathtaking beauty of more than 5,000 acres of tallgrass prairie and native Midwest wildlife at the Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge.This refuge is the largest reconstruction of the tallgrass prairie ecosystem in the entire U.S. and is home to grazing herds of buffalo, pheasants, elk and whitetail deer. Contact (515) 994-3400 for more information.
Finally, enjoy some major shopping opportunities at the newest malls in Greater Des Moines. Jordan Creek Town Center has two million square feet of pure shopping with a movie theater and fine dining restaurants. Around the Jordan Creek area, you can find many great restaurants and nightlife including Champps Restaurant and Sports Bar or Johnny’s Italian Steakhouse.
Day 3
Diverse recreational experiences await you on 1,834 acres of land, located along the west shore of Saylorville Lake. After taking a stroll through the park, put on your boots for a journey to Jester Park Equestrian Center. Take a guided trail ride or wagon ride through the beautiful scenery of Central Iowa. Contact (515) 999-2818.
Grab a bite to eat at Down Under Bar and Grill or Trostel’s Dish before your next stop.
Flying Frog Hosta Farms offers 20 wooded acres of gardens, flowers and plants. Flying Frog Farms grows over 1,000 different types of hosta plants sold all around the world. Contact (515) 208-9002 for more info.
Lace up your bowling shoes for a round at the Bass Pro Shops bowling alley featuring 12-lanes. While there, you'll find a huge selection of outdoor gear. The store has more than 3,500 artifacts, photographs and memorabilia showing off Iowa’s hunting, fishing, camping and other outdoor legacies.
Enjoy local dining favorites, such as Django or Centro.
Click here to download a PDF of this itinerary.
For more information, contact:
Katie Stien
Sales Manager
Greater Des Moines Convention and Visitors Bureau
(515) 699-3432
kstien@desmoinescvb.com
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