Welcome to Ames
This is a small list of fun or useful things to do in Ames and surrounding areas.
Featuring some highlights from Des Moines too.
If you have some additions, let me know.
It is NOT an exhaustive list but it can get you started. Additions are welcome.
Restaurants around Ames
Restaurants/food near Campus
Coffee
- Morning Bell Best coffee, downtown
- Cafe Diem coffee in downtown
- Hub Coffee closest to Carver, also middle eastern food.
- Stomping Grounds Good campus coffee, healtier food
- Clouds Sky high coffee by campus
- Lockwood Café Hippie dippie crunchy granola crepes and coffee (kid friendly)
- Cafe Milo coffee and sandwiches
- Starbucks - several locations around town, including campus
Theater and Music
More Culture and Entertainment
Recreation
- Peterson Pits Free beach for swimming! and walking trail
- Ada Hayden Walk, bike, or run around a lake. Kayak rental possible.
- Reactor Woods Nice one hour loop on a forest trail
- Ledges Nice walk around a hill/hole. May get busy on nice days.
- Big Creek State Park Large beach, bike path along the lake all the way to Des Moines.
- Ames Outdoor Pool Nice outdoor pool but it gets crowded.
- Nevada Pool Good pool that is less busy than Ames
- Days Inn in Story city pool. For $5 (in 2022) access to the hotel pool. Great for small kids
- Trails in Ames List of other trails in Ames
- Hight Trestle Trail Bike, run, walk path with a nice bridge
- RentFun Rent a kayak on a nearby lake
Sport
- Foosball in Carver Gradualte Lounge. Ask Nate or Jay to join the grandmaster league.
- Disc golf (ISU) Wooded 18 hole course
- Disc golf (Ames) More open with elevation 18 hole course
- City leagues Many sports, leagues differ by skills
- Seven Oaks Skiing and snowtubing 20 minutes from Ames. One of my favorite. In summer kayak/canooing
- Robert Thomas Dance Studio Learn how to really dance.
- Contact Ann Russell if you are interested in ballet email list because there is a secret (and really good) ballet class.
- Perfect Games Bowling, Laser Tag, Mini Golf, Arcade, and pizza+beer
- Ice Arena Ice skating and ice hockey
- Community Center City gym. Pickup volleyball, picke ball, badminton, basketball, gym
- Spinning Wheels in Ogden. 30 minutes West of Ames, inside roller skating. They rent skates, great music and a lot of fun. Check openign hours.
- When it is freezing, City installs free outdoors ice skating
- State Gym offers many classes Yoga, Barre, Zumba, circuit training,..., and other activities
- (Ice) fishing is an option around Ames
Groceries
Beer
Ice Cream
Fun
Baby time
Random and occasional
Politics