Des Moines Vacation June 18-22 2009

My wife %26amp; I are visiting Des Moines in June. My best friend is getting married!!!

What should all out-of-towner%26#39;s experience in DSM? We are thinking of driving to Chicago Maybe KC...

Any suggestions?

WE like museums and like to eat good food!

Des Moines Vacation June 18-22 2009

Congratulations to your friends! Some ideas for what to visit/see/do (in no particular order):

- Tour Living History Farms in Urbandale

- See the covered bridges of Madison Co. (some are about a 1/2 hour drive from Des Moines)

- Go to the downtown Des Moines farmer%26#39;s market on Sat. morning

- Walk around Gray%26#39;s Lake (south of downtown Des Moines)

- Look for the roaming buffalo herd and learn about the prairie that%26#39;s under restoration at the Neal Smith Nat%26#39;l. Wildlife Refuge

Here are a few museums in or near Des Moines:

http://www.desmoinesartcenter.org/

http://www.iowahistory.org/museum/index.html

www.johnwaynebirthplace.org/index2.html

http://www.bobfellermuseum.org/

There are plenty of good restaurants, depending on your preferences. One that is very ';Midwest'; and provides a unique experience is Rube%26#39;s in Waukee, which specializes in grill-your-own steaks.

Kansas City is an easy 3 - 4 hour drive from Des Moines, as is Minneapolis. Chicago is a 5 - 6 hour drive. If you go to Chicago, you could stop at the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library in West Branch, IA and the Buffalo Bill Cody Museum in LeClaire, IA.

If you find that you don%26#39;t have time to travel that far, you could take day trips from Des Moines to the Amana Colonies (http://www.amanacolonies.com/), Pella (a picturesque Dutch village about a 30 min. drive from Des Moines) or Kalona (in an area filled with Amish and Mennonite residents).

Enjoy your trip!

Des Moines Vacation June 18-22 2009

I cannot stress the Farmer%26#39;s Market enough. It is a great experience.

http://www.desmoinesfarmersmarket.com/

The Des Moines Art Center isn%26#39;t that bad either. Well known artists, but their less popular pieces.

On Thursday nights, there is live music outside downtown. It is called Nitefall on the River. The schedule is not out yet, but you can check back later in the spring. It makes for a relaxing evening.

鈥es-moines.ia.us/departments/PR/nitefall200鈥?/a>

For trips around Des Moines, also consider the Twin Cities. It is closer than Chicago (~4 hrs vs ~6 hrs)

A new $30 million sculpture park is under construction just west of downtown and is supposed to be completed in time for the Des Moines Arts Festival in late June. (The festival is actually the week after your visit, but the park should be near completion while you%26#39;re visiting.)

The East Village (located just west of the State Capital) boasts several fine eateries including the Grand Piano Bistro Bar and Lucca%26#39;s.

Two good sources for events:

- The Greater Des Moines Convention and Visitors Bureau (www.seedesmoines.com)

- The Iowa Tourism Office (www.traveliowa.com)

Haven%26#39;t seen it posted yet, so I%26#39;ll throw in my 2 cents:

If they are in town - there are few better ways to spend a summer night in Des Moines than watching an Iowa Cubs baseball game at Principal Park.

Beautiful minor league ballpark with a great view of the downtown skyline - within walking distance of all the bars/restaurants in downtown DSM.

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