Coming to Altona

My family is coming to Altona for the first time. We are looking for things to do. We are planning a trip to Adventureland, but I was wondering if there are any other places that we should visit during our trip?

Coming to Altona

For adults who like to gamble, there is a casino/race track (Prairie Meadows) in Altoona.

More family oriented options are available in nearby Des Moines (the Science Center, Historical Society Museum, Blank Park Zoo, Des Moines Art Center) and Urbandale (Living History Farms). There%26#39;s a water park in Pleasant Hill (a DM suburb near Altoona). Depending on when you%26#39;ll be here, the Iowa State Fair (2 weeks in mid-Aug.) is a fun place to pass the time.

Altoona is also within a half an hour%26#39;s drive of Pella, a community that definitely shows its Dutch heritage, and Newton, home of a NASCAR race track.

Have a fun trip!

cream tones

treehouse

How much does it cost tour the treehouse at shadyoaks?

treehouse

I haven%26#39;t heard of the Shady Oaks treehouse, but I found this information by searching Google: http://www.bigtreehouse.net/treehouse.html.

I recommend sending your question to the e.mail address listed on the site.

Drive time CHI Midway to Waterloo, IA

Can anyone confirm the driving time (on the most direct route w/no stops), from Midway to Waterloo as being about 5 hours? The trip would begin at Midway at about 4:00 PM on a Sunday. Would the return be markedly different, if hoping to arrive at Midway at about 12:30 PM on a Tuesday? Thanks.

Drive time CHI Midway to Waterloo, IA

Five hours is probably close. You should be ok coming out of Chicago on Sunday night, but I would probably allow more itme going back in on tuesday as you will definitely hit more traffic then.

Drive time CHI Midway to Waterloo, IA

I appreciate your help.

Migas in the Des Moines area?

I used to live down in Austin, TX and fell in love with an incredible Tex-Mex dish called ';Migas';---a sort of scrambled egg concoction. Anyone ever encountered this in the Des Moines area?

Migas in the Des Moines area?

I haven%26#39;t seen it, but there is a family run Mexican restaurant in Clive called Mi Mexico that has some dishes on the menu that you don%26#39;t see at other Mexican restaurants. The people at the restaurant are very customer oriented and accommodating, so you may want to call or visit them and see if they are willing to whip up some migas for you.

Migas in the Des Moines area?

mi mexico is the best! i eat there EVERY week!

Suite-style hotel to recommend?

We%26#39;ll be in CR in August for a family wedding, and are looking for hotel suggestions. Ideally we%26#39;d like something akin to an Embassy Suites, which has a bedroom and adjoining living room with sleeper sofa and tv area.

If anyone has suggestions I%26#39;d love to hear them. Thanks.

Suite-style hotel to recommend?

Check the Marriott on Collins Road - their corner rooms are suites.

Suite-style hotel to recommend?

Cedar Rapids has a Residence Inn, Mainstay Suites, and a Hawthorn Suites. All are in the same area off of Collins Rd and 380. I

lodgings near or in Britt, IA

Hi, all -

I am going to the Britt Draft Horse Show over Labor Day Weekend.

What%26#39;s reasonable/clean/safe/nearby for a lone female, possibly traveling by motorcycle? I would like to stay somewhere near, as I prefer not to drive at night.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. I%26#39;m coming from Central IL, so the trip is about 4-5 hrs. Anywhere within 20-40 miles would be fine.

Thanks!

lodgings near or in Britt, IA

There are a lot of hotels/motels in Clear Lake, IA which is east on Hwy 18 at the jct of I-35. Forest City, IA is closer. There is a Super 8 and another called The Lodge which has dinning.

Good Luck.

lodgings near or in Britt, IA

thanks! I will check both out!

There are also a couple of motels in Algona which is a little more to the west, around 30 miles.

hotel mixup

i think tripadvisor has the quality inn and the ramada in cedar rapids, ia mixed up

hotel mixup

It is now the Quality Inn. The hotel on Werner Ave NE

hotel mixup

the photos on tripadvisor don%26#39;t match the ones on choice hotels website.

cream tones

Cedar Valley or Raccoon River Trails for Best Biking?

We are considering a trip to Iowa for biking. Any input on the Cedar Valley Trail or Raccoon River Trails as to which is more scenic, provides more services (lodging and dining), etc. Any other suggestions would also be appreciated -- we will be driving from Wisconsin.

Cedar Valley or Raccoon River Trails for Best Biking?

This might require a coin toss! Both trails are nice and fairly comparable in terms of services and scenery, so I don%26#39;t think you%26#39;ll go wrong either way. Cedar Valley is closer for you, but the Des Moines area (Raccoon Valley) probably has more pre- or post-biking activities. Des Moines also has a network of nice urban bike trails that link to the Raccoon Valley trail, so you can get a different biking perspective that way.

Enjoy!

organic restaurants or coffee houses in Coralville?

We have to eat healthy to live, so...we%26#39;re always on the lookout for a food c0-0p or any organic place to shop or eat....:)

Panera bread?

Coffee houses?

organic restaurants or coffee houses in Coralville?

There%26#39;s a Panera Bread in the Coral Ridge Mall and a good coop (New Pioneer) in Coralville. Both are located along Hwy.6. Iowa City (just east of Coralville) has several vegetarian restaurants, including the Red Avocado and another New Pioneer Coop location. Downtown Iowa City also has many restaurants that offer vegetarian options on their menus. I have a vegan friend who particularly recommends Venuto%26#39;s on the Iowa City pedestrian mall.

As for coffee houses, there are several House of Aromas (which has bubble tea in addition to coffee) and Java House locations in Iowa City/Coralville in addition to Caribou and Starbucks.

Enjoy your trip!

organic restaurants or coffee houses in Coralville?

Venuto%26#39;s isn%26#39;t around anymore. Lots of coffee places as noted. Java House (my favorite) has multiple locations-downtown IC, eastside IC, Mormen Trek IC, off of Oakdale in Coralville, even in the hospital.

There are several restaurants in town which participate in the Buy Fresh Buy Local program, purchasing most of their ingredients from local farmers, who while not always certified organic use substainable practices. Check www.edibleiowa. for links and information.

Two that you might enjoy, although they%26#39;re a a tick above casual dining, are 126 and Devotay, both in the downtown area.

Also, the Saturday farmers market provides the makings of an alfresco meal (and is quite the scene.)

.....What is there to do in Waterloo?....

So does anyone know what there is to do in Waterloo?

Because we have no idea??

does anyone have any idea????

can you tell me??!!

what is there to do in waterloo????

please tell me!!!!!

.....What is there to do in Waterloo?....

Isn%26#39;t the Cattle Congress Center in Waterloo?

.....What is there to do in Waterloo?....

I live in waterloo and the answer is nothing .

we have about 3 bowling allies

100 hole in the wall bars and 2 wal-marts

its a college town so i guess you could go down to the campus and try to meet peoples

and i think we have a golf corse

and a okay water park

we have a nice state park for camping and bike trails

There are nice city parks in adjoining Cedar Falls, which is a much more pleasant city than Waterloo. The city of Waterloo is the most depressing city in Iowa, and the downtown Waterloo area is a ghost town, day or night.

Waterloo is a nice place, and the biggest name in town is the John Deere facility, which actually produces most of the Deere large tractors. Waterloo soon is getting a casino, if that is your taste. Outside of that, it is a rather functional town that doesn%26#39;t have a whole lot to offer as far as the arts and entertainment. The Cattle Congress is really an outdated fair that does not draw well from the locals.

If you are a fan of factory tours, there is the big John Deere plant.

Other than that, Waterloo is has seen its better days. The downtown area is very rundown.

Believe it or not my husband is from Waterloo (I grew up in Ca., which is where we live now). We visit his folks back there now and then and I can%26#39;t tell you a thing to do in Waterloo except visit friends and family and go to the DQ! It%26#39;s a really sweet place but not much going on. There is a beautiful park - I think it%26#39;s called George With, and a lake which we took the kids tubing on one summer. And my kids always enjoy going fishing. Cedar Falls right next door will have some nice restaurants and night life because of the college.

Good luck!

get off of the computer and look around...there is plenty to do...go outside and play

Largely we agree with all the above.

We come to Waterloo regularly to visit our son, daughter-in-law and 2 grandchildren. The best outing for the children is the arboretum, where they can tricycle and play in the big sandpit. We enjoy walks in George Wyth park and SHOPPING - prices are far cheaper in general than in England, and there is the novelty of foreign shopping! There are nicer small shops in Cedar Falls.

There is an office located downtown Waterloo called the Waterloo Convention and Visitors Bureau and they have a very helpful website (www.waterloocvb.org). It has a list of restaurants, attractions, things to do, places to stay, etc. Also, if you call the office, they are very willing to make sure you have plenty to do.

Things to do include:

Bowling

Golfing on 4 golf courses

Unique restaurants such as Galleria de Paco (features Paco Rosic%26#39;s rendition of the Sistine Chapel on the ceiling. He used Krylon spray paint for the whole project. It is sooooo neat), Cu, Jameson%26#39;s Irish Pub, Monica%26#39;s Piano Bar, D%26amp;K Hickory House, and many more.

The Grout Museum District

Nearly 80 miles of paved trails (very nice)

Dan Gable International Wrestling Institute and Museum

Black Hawk Hockey (Young Arena)

Bucks Baseball (Riverfront Stadium)

Lost Island Water Park

Isle Casino and Hotel at Waterloo

Tours of the John Deere Facilities (Very neat, I just went on one this week)

Currently, Waterloo is in the process of building a river walk downtown and a nice amphitheater area for events. This should be completed summer 2008.

The Waterloo Convention and Visitors Bureau also publishes a quarterly calendar of events that is pretty extensive and there are events going on every weekend and some throughout the week.

Thanks for reading this long post---I just wanted to make sure that people know that there are things to do in Waterloo--please check out the website and call if you have any questions!!

1st time Hawkeye

My son is going to the University of Iowa this fall. We would like to visit him on family weekend. Unfortunately all the hotels are sold out. We%26#39;ll know better next year. Is Cedar Rapids a doable alternative to drive to and from campus for the football game and activities.

1st time Hawkeye

Cedar Rapids would work fine. It is probably half an hour up Interstate 380. I would go ahead and reserve a room in CR and just keep checking for rooms in IC.

I would look for rooms near the CR Airport - those would be just a few minutes off of 380 and on the south side of the city. Seems like there is a Country Inn %26amp; Suites and possible a Heartland Inn near the airport that would work.

1st time Hawkeye

As the previous poster mentioned, Cedar Rapids is definitely ';doable.'; However, most of the hotels near the airport are budget hotels and many have seen better days. Depending on your standards for hotels, you may want to look a little further away (like about 10 - 15 mins. further) that are a little bit nicer: The Collins Plaza Hotel and the Marriott on Collins Rd. along with the Crowne Plaza (downtown) are probably your most upscale choices.

You may also want to check for rooms at the Riverside Casino and Resort, which is about a 15 - 20 min. drive south of Iowa City. There are also some hotels near Williamsburg, IA and at Little Amana that would be within 30 mins%26#39;. drive as well. And you could even stay on the northwest side of Davenport and be within a 45 min. or so drive of the U of I.

Enjoy your trip!

Be sure to try the Bed and Breakfast places in iowa City. Very nice and close to campus.

Keep trying the Iowa City hotels in case of cancellations.

Yes, Cedar Rapids is a good alternative. Just know that football traffic on the interstate will be slow, so be sure to get an early start for the game.Plan to be in Iowa City 90 minutes before kick-off because parking will be at a premium.

Consider using the train to the game- the HAWKEYE EXPRESS - provided by the university.

Passengers on the Hawkeye Express ride in luxury train cars from parking areas conveniently located minutes off Interstate 80 near Coral Ridge Mall in nearby Coralville to the southwest corner of historic Kinnick Stadium.

Parking is free and the round-trip train services costs just $10 per person with children 12 and under riding for free.

Service to Kinnick Stadium - a 10-minute ride - begins three hours prior to kickoff pre-game. Service post-game begins at the start of the fourth quarter.

Hope your son has a great experience. As a parent, I can only speak highly of the university and town. GO HAWKS

I would like to second the advice of the previous poster who recommended B%26amp;Bs. My favorite is the Golden Haug on E. Washington Street.

It%26#39;s true that traffic into Iowa City is pretty bad on football Saturdays. So if you do come in from out of town, plan on the drive taking double what it would on a normal day.

Nightlife in Cedar Rapids

I will be in Cedar Rapids for business over the weekend, can anyone recommend anywhere to hang out at night. I am in my mid 20%26#39;s looking for that similar crowd. Thanks.

Nightlife in Cedar Rapids

My favorite place in CR is the Piano Lounge. It%26#39;s on 2nd Ave. SE downtown. Website is here: http://www.thepianolounge.com/.

Cedar Rapids is very spread out, though. What part of town will you be in?

Nightlife in Cedar Rapids

If you have a car and don%26#39;t plan to overindulge, head about 30 mins. south to Iowa City. It%26#39;s a university town and definitely caters to a college and young adult crowd. The pedestrian mall in the Old Capitol area (in the downtown, near the Univ. of Iowa) has many entertaining and eating options.

Resorts close to Des Moines

Hi,

Can any of you please suggest a resort with spa and golf course

around Des Moines to go for a weekend. I live in NY and have no idea about this place. Any suggestions will really help.

Thanks

Resorts close to Des Moines

There are a number of golf courses around Des Moines, but I don%26#39;t know of any that are exclusively affiliated with a resort. Some to consider are Glen Oaks: http://www.glenoakscc.com, Echo Valley: http://www.echovalleycc.com or Copper Creek: http://www.golfcoppercreek.com. Good day spas in the Des Moines area include Sahar%26#39;s: http://www.sahars.com/default.asp and Estilio: http://www.estilosalon.com.

If you%26#39;re willing to drive a bit, here are a few other ideas:

- Pella, Iowa (30 - 40 mins. from Des Moines): Bos Landen is a nice golf course. I%26#39;m not sure if there%26#39;s a spa, but you could call or e.mail to find out. Here%26#39;s Bos Landen%26#39;s web site: http://www.greatgolfiniowa.com/default.htm. Pella is a small but charming community that definitely celebrates its Dutch heritage. The Strawtown Inn in Pella is a recommended restaurant: http://www.strawtown.com/.

- Amana Colonies, Iowa (about 90 mins. from Des Moines): There%26#39;s a nice golf course amidst 7 quaint villages that feature shopping, communal style restaurants, and history. There also are some nice B%26amp;Bs in the area. Web sites: http://www.amanagolfcourse.com, amanacolonies.com/files_ac/pdfs_07/21_Accomm鈥?/a> Unfortunately, I don%26#39;t know of any spas in the Amanas but there are spas nearby in Iowa City and Cedar Rapids.

- Fairfield, IA (about 2 hrs. from Des Moines): If you are interested in New Age or Ayurvedic lifestyles, try the Raj spa: http://www.theraj.com/. There is a 9 hole golf course in Fairfield.

Hope this helps!

cream tones

Delta Air and Connecting Carriers

Has anyone on this forum had experience with flying to DM or to other medium-size Midwestern airports via Delta, with or without connecting to one of its regional carriers: Atlantic Southeast, Comair, or Sky West? I%26#39;m asking because:

1) No other carrier comes close to beating Delta%26#39;s low fares from LAX or the Orange County airport.

2) Several acquaintances of mine have had problems with Delta, especially when the connecting flight is made in Atlanta (and yes, because Atlanta is one of Delta%26#39;s big hubs, even some flights from the West Coast connect there to Midwest destinations, including DM). The same acquaintance complained about the age and discomfort of the plane on a direct LAX to JFK flight.

Any relevant comments about Delta or other moderately priced carriers like Midwest Airlines or US Air would be appreciated.

Delta Air and Connecting Carriers

I fly in/out of Des Moines fairly frequently and don%26#39;t find an extreme advantage among any particular airline in terms of comfort, aircraft age, etc. with the exception that Midwest Express seems to have a little more leg room and the most pleasant and helpful staff. Most of the flights you%26#39;ll take to or from Des Moines are on regional jets and they may seem a bit claustrophibic if you%26#39;re used to larger jets.

I also have driven to Kansas City, Omaha and Moline on occasion to fly Southwest and ATA, but I would only do that for a significantly lower cost. I haven%26#39;t been any more impressed by those airlines than I have been by any of the major carriers.

Delta Air and Connecting Carriers

Thanks for the superquick reply, Prairiedog.

Have you or anyone else heard about connection problems to the Midwest or elsewhere through the Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky or Atlanta-Hartsfield airports (these are Delta%26#39;s big connection hubs).

I%26#39;m aware that Delta is flying primarily the CRJ100 jets through one of its cooperating regional carriers and would use a larger plane if I made the connection in Houston--for a much higher price.

I have not personally had any problems with Delta, but I have only connected through Cincinnati and haven%26#39;t flown that airline for a few months. However, just last week a couple of my business colleagues experienced a several hour delay in Cincinnati. I%26#39;m not sure if that was an isolated instance or if that%26#39;s a frequent occurence. Perhaps another forum user who flies Delta frequently will weigh in?

And one more thought about the problems my colleagues experienced in Cincinnati: Some others at the meeting I attended had problems on other airlines in Chicago, so I believe their experience may have been due to a weather system that went through the Midwest.

I live in Des Moines, and fly about 8-10 times a year. I have had no problems with Delta that were beyond the average run of the mill problem, I have with all airlines. There service into and out of Des Moines, is via Cincy and ATL. I have never been on time out of Cincy, but always seem to make it to my destination on time, mostly because of inflated duration times.

For the most part, they get the job done. The planes are not the newest but they are in realitvely good condition.

Ed

I think I%26#39;ve probably been connected through all of the airline hubs out of DSM and don%26#39;t really see any difference between them. I%26#39;ve had good connections and bad connections out of them all. Actually of them all, I dislike Ohare the most because any type of delay there seems to magnify because it is so congested. Our last two trips to the Uk were with Delta and we had no problems.

grandview college

hi , we shall be visiting des moines sept 24th for 6 days to visit our son at grandview college , looking for a nice hotel with swimming pool also shall have my 17 year old son any ideas to keep him amused ?

thanks

grandview college

Grandview College is not too far from downtown Des Moines, which has an Embassy Suites and a Marriott that both have pools. There are also nice hotels in the suburbs of West Des Moines and Clive, if you don%26#39;t mind being about a half an hour%26#39;s drive away from Grandview.

As for your 17 year old, if he%26#39;s a sports fan he might enjoy seeing an American college football game at Drake University on Sept. 29 or to visit the Iowa Speedway about 30 minutes drive east of Des Moines near Newton, IA.

He may also want to experience the American teen scene by hanging out at Jordan Creek Mall in West Des Moines. If he%26#39;s interested in history there%26#39;s Living History Farms in Urbandale, which recreates a small American farming village in the 1800s. Jester Park, near Polk City in the northern suburbs, has a small herd of buffalo and elk. And Des Moines and its suburbs have some wonderful recreational trails that are good for walking, rollerblading or biking.

If he%26#39;s interested in politics, there are always political candidates speaking somewhere in Iowa as they prepare for the 2008 presidential campaign.

On Saturday mornings there is a wonderful farmer%26#39;s market in downtown Des Moines. You%26#39;ll find food, crafts, plants and entertainment there.

Whatever you do, I hope that you have a safe and fun trip to the States!

grandview college

thankyou very much for your reply i look folward to our visit from scotland !

Prairiedog has a lot of good suggestions. The only one other thing I might add is to check out the Des Moines Art Center, if that%26#39;s something you%26#39;re interested in. I%26#39;ve been there a few times now and always enjoy it. Hope you have a good time in Des Moines!

In addition to all of the above good suggestions, you could also considering visiting the Prairie Center down toward Pella, it%26#39;s a federal government run museum/prairieland that has a great film explaining about prairies and prairie wildlife. Also a stuffed buffalo to go along with the outdoor herd.

The attractive town of Pella, which is very Dutch can also be visited nearby, has interesting shops and restaurants.

In the Des Moines area, my Edinburgh wife finds that The Royal Mile (downtown) has decent Brit food and beer, as does Limey%26#39;s Pub in West Des Moines. That could be added to a visit to Valley Junction in West des Moines, which also has a smaller Farmer%26#39;s market on Thursdays.

(P.S. at this point of the season, Living History Farms, which relives life here from the earliest Indian village life to the early 1900%26#39;s, is only open on weekends. Unfortunately you have just missed several great events--the Latino Festival, the Renaissance festival, the Valley Junction Art Festival )

Oops--I forgot the Science Center downtown which has an Imax screen. Not sure if the Blank Park Zoo is still open on weekdays.

The zoo is open every day except Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas and New Years. I%26#39;m a member so I figure I should know, but I had to look it up to double-check. Blank Park Zoo is nice but it%26#39;s really small, only about a half day%26#39;s activity for most people.

oktoberfest

Has anyone been to Oktoberfest in Amana Colonies? Is there food venders (booths). Is food offered in the festbarn. Any other info is appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

oktoberfest

It%26#39;s been a few years since we have been to the Amana Octoberfest but I don%26#39;t recall many food venders set up around town. They have entertainment (admission charged) and serve food hall at the festhall. We always enjoyed walking the street with all the shops then ending up at the Millstream Brewery for brats from the local meat shop, beer from the brewery and entertainment. It%26#39;s not large scale entertainment like the festhall. Most times it was a fellow playing an accordian but nice none the less. They have outdoor seating set up and it was free too.

oktoberfest

My wife and I have attended every year for the last 15 years or more. It is an annual weekend getaway for us and now we even have my sister and her husband going with us. The beer flows readily from the local brewery, named Millstream, which produces a special brew named Oktoberfest for the season. Food is good and plentiful at the restaurants in town and is served family style. During Oktoberfest food is also available at the Festhalle which is where the main focus of entertainment lies, at the brewery, and outside of some of the main restaurants. We have made many friends in Amana and really look forward to seeing them all. Needless, to say, we%26#39;ll be coming again in 2007.

Stonekeeper road trip

Hi all

I am planning a road trip from Chicago to Las Vegas via Memphis then back to Chicago.

And will pass through your State.

From my research so far i believe it to be around 5000 miles the whole trip.

Am i optimistic to expect to do it in a fortnight?

Has anyone any views on the best motel chain to stop at each night or do they vary from state to state?

Any advice on places NOT to stay in would be appreciated.

Stonekeeper road trip

5000 miles in 14 days makes for an average of 360 miles per day. This distance is easy on US interstate highways. You will not be able to spend a whole lot of time at any attractions. Stringing together the sights that you want to see along the way and traveling off the interstates will make your trip more challenging.

My preferred motel chain is Comfort Inn. They are fairly modern, almost identical, most have indoor swimming pools, and they have a better than average breakfast included. Most would be under $100 per night. They are part of the Choice group, www.choicehotels.com. Choice%26#39;s other brands are: Cambria Suites, Clarion, Quality, Comfort Suites, Sleep Inn, MainStay Suites, Suburban, Econo Lodge, Rodeway Inn. All these chains are acceptable. My perception is that the latter two are less expensive and less luxurious.

My father in law will not stay at any place that has English as a second language desk clerks/owners. He feels that these are run too cheaply to be well maintained.

Avoid any place which seems to have lost its franchise. My worst experience was at the Armada Inn, where the owners had lost the Ramada Inn franchise and had rearranged the sign letters.

Stonekeeper road trip

I agree with hoogo%26#39;s advice. In addition to the Comfort Inn and related chains, I%26#39;ve had good luck at discount chains run by some of the major hotel groups: Fairfield Inn or Courtyard Inn (Marriott properties), Hampton Inn (Hilton properties) and Holiday Inn Express.

If you happen to stop for the night in the Des Moines, IA area, I recommend the Sleep Inn or Comfort Suites by Living History Farms in Urbandale (at the Hickmann Rd. exit off I-35/80). Both have been clean and good values for the money when we or our visitors have stayed there. It also is next to a restaurant (The Machine Shed) and an attraction (Living History Farms) that provide insight into rural life in the Midwestern US.

Have a wonderful, safe trip!

If you stay at Comfort Inn, Sleep Inn or Quality Inn get a choice preliege card. This way you can build points for a free night.

I try to stay at one of these motels. They are Usually clean and I get points.

Also get a book that will show you locations of the motels. I do not leave for a trip without mine.

Hi again

Thanks for all the input from all the states that have so far. Still some notable exceptions (maybe them are the ones to drive through as quickly as possible:~) )

The respondees so far seem to be getting an idea of what we intend. It is obvious that the initial trip may be significantly different than the trip we complete.

At the moment it still seems to be ;

land Chicago (looking for direct flights from Manchester possibly Glasgow)

pick up car and go to a motel reasonably quickly heading for Memphis. (Tet%26#39;s advice on not too much travel after flight noted).

We will then head for Memphis

We have now decided to use the sat nav to head for suggestions made on here E.g Rockies,grand canyon etc. Again Tets recommended trip is also printed out and ready for implementation.

Depending on how far west we have got by day 8 we will head north slightly to change interstate to start heading back to Chicago.

I believe i have to take into consideration the time zones, going west to east in USA will i not lose a couple of hours on the return trip.

If fuel is around $2.50 - $3.00 @ 30 mpg i am looking at $400.

Anyone any suggestions to the best car to hire?

Do NOT stay in Council Bluffs, Iowa!! We headed back to Chicago from Las Vegas on Sunday, and we had a wonderful experience at the Best Western in Salina, UT, but in Council Bluffs our cartop carrier with all of our camping gear was stolen in the night! I wish we would have driven straight through, or not taken the I-80 route. My sister-in-law says that the I-70 route through St. Louis is much better, and I really wish we would have taken that route. I am now $1,600 less in camping gear, and a wee bit wiser about Council Bluffs, Iowa!

Well, we are now back.

Trip Data:

Airline American Airlines

Car hire Alamo

Hotels see itinery.

Mileage covered: Odometer start 19091 finish 23529

Vehicle Chevrolet Malibu.

Average MPG according to computer in car 37.5 mpg.

Day 1 Manchester - Chicago, drive , Best western university, Traders circle Normal Illinois.

Day 2 Drove to memphis stopping at King Tuts for lunch, i would tell you where it was but for technical reasons that i will explain later i cannot.If you can find it i would well recommend. Hotel Scottish Inns near Graceland on Elvis Presley Boulevard.

Day 3 Stayed all day in the Graceland area and went to Beale Street in the evening. Absolute must for fans, too emotional for words. Ate at the Piccadilly on EPB. Stayed at Scottish Inns 2nd night.

Day 4 Headed West got as far as El Reno after many stops at Indian Trading posts hotel Mobil 8 again i did keep a record of all the eating and stopping places but more on that later.

Day 5 Drove as far as Grants i think NM.

Day 6 Grand Canyon by afternoon, South rim, awesome. Williams Hotel Best western Grants.

Day 7 Hoover dam after being wished a nice day by a policeman on the way up. Stayed Sahara Casino Hotel. After all the peace we have experienced so far Vegas is a bit busy.

Day 8 Green River Utah, Comfort inn The scenery is now indescribable.

Day 9 Fort Morgan stayed Days inn.

Day 10 Avoca Iowa Stayed Mobil 6

Between days 8 and 10 we visited Buffalo Bill memorial and John Wayne%26#39;s birthplace.

Day 11 Schiller Park Near Airport Mobil 6

Day 12 This was unexpected we decided to head to Lake Michigan stayed Kenosha on the lake in a Best Western (used to be Holiday inn.It was whilst at Kenosha on a trip out to Gurnee mills that my PDA/sat nav had a mystery illness it froze just before dark whilst i was inputting the days events into the diary.tried a soft reset,no response Unfortunately a reboot was required and guess who never backs anything up. Not only did the diary get obliterated on it%26#39;s reset to Jan 2005 but the sat nav programme was in the RAM.only the maps on the card. Luckily i was at Gurnee mills but because of my reliance on the machine i did not know where Gurnee Mills was in relation to the hotel,it was now dark and after a visit to the car park to see if i could get any form of bearings for a guess where i live drive, we nipped back in and bought a Tom Tom.Home in Half an hour.

Day 13 2nd night Kenosha, are you sure thats not the Ocean.

Day 14 Back to O%26#39;Hare for hte flight home.I had hoped to give details of every shop and eatery. We met some wonderful people, ate some very hard vegetables and had an absolute beano with camera 924 pictures now burned to cd and backed up twice.

I told you it would not be what everone considers a holiday. But it was brilliant.The driving was easy the truckers an inspiration and the views, mostly, spectacular.

Regards

Stonekeeper

Thanks for the update. I%26#39;m glad you had a good trip.

Greyhound stops between Iowa City and Chicago

I%26#39;m shooting an independent film and need to find a rural greyhound station, preferably a gas station on a two-lane highway that doubles as a bus station. Can anyone recommend one that is located between Iowa City and Chicago? It would also help to know the stops directly before and after the recommended stop, as I would ride the bus for exactly one stop in either direction. Thanks for any input.

Greyhound stops between Iowa City and Chicago

The stops I find on the Greyhound website are:

WALCOTT JCT, IA

DAVENPORT, IA

MOLINE, IL

DE KALB, IL

AURORA, IL

The stop in Davenport is downtown at:

DAVENPORT BURLINGTON STA

304 W RIVER DR

Davenport, IA 52801

This is in downtown Davenport, probably the newer Ground Transit Center, not the two lane highway you are hoping for. It is a block from the Mississippi, though.

The Moline, IL station is similarly downtown, not as close to the river, but a little more attractive buildings.

I cannot find anything about the Walcott stop. It is possible it is at the ';World%26#39;s Largest Truckstop'; just off the I-80 exit. http://www.iowa80truckstop.com/

It is also not the two lane highway that you are looking for, but would have potential for an independent movie location.

Greyhound stops between Iowa City and Chicago

Thanks for the descriptions. Do you know anything about the Ottawa, IL stop?

Sorry, I don%26#39;t know about Ottawa. It looks like the route is just I-80 to I-88. Is Greyhound any help at 1-800-231-2222?

Ottawa is more country area and would be similar to a small town stop but can%26#39;t guarantee a two lane road or gas station stop.

Quiet family restaurant needed

I need to locate a good but quiet restaurant as the one we used to visit changed. Once a year my brother drives down from NW Iowa and I drive up from SW Iowa and we eat and visit instead of buying presents. We need a place that won%26#39;t rush us out as fast a s they can. Any suggestions???

Quiet family restaurant needed

Green Gables Restaurant at 18th and Pierce Streets in Sioux City. Good food, pleasant atmostphere, they do not hurry you.

Archie%26#39;s Diner on 7th Street at Omaha Street in Sioux City. A real old-time diner! Limited menu but wonderful proprietor (Archie%26#39;s widow).

Quiet family restaurant needed

My wife and I eat scandinavian food in Story City, Ia.

There also is a Stone%26#39;s restaurant in Marshalltown, both are under $12 a person. Stone%26#39;s lemon high pie is my favorite. Story City has small town appeal. There is a ride for kids for $1. it has carved horses near the downtown. The scandinavian food is wonderful . Kumla is the speciality for Story City. Allow 30 min. to drive from Ames. Families will love Story City and it is a good meeting place.

Botecelli%26#39;s is a good place. Nebraska and Gordan Streets, behind Casey%26#39;s. Excellent Itallian food, great service, and quiet atmosphere. We go every sunday for champagne brunch. I highly recommend it.

Green Gables is wonderful...old time Sioux City still going strong! Try the Motzoball soup and Hot Fudge Sundae...wondrous!

cream tones

Hi, I'll be in Des Moines July 20,21,22

to see the Nashville Sound(Brewers AAA team) play the Iowa Cubs. I have some questions about where to stay in locale to the staduim but close to the nightlife, price really isn%26#39;t an issue but the nightlife pretty much is a must.any suggestions?

Hi, I'll be in Des Moines July 20,21,22

The Court St area has some nightlife. I%26#39;m not sure about hotels but there should be plenty downtown, albeit not within walking distance of the stadium. I lived in DSM a long time ago and have family there, and I%26#39;m just going by what I remember. I know the area around the stadium is being renovated and there are a ton of expensive warehouse lofts and condos there now. You might want to call hotels and see about shuttles to the game and see how far they are from the Court St area. I just wanted to help with a little info since I saw no one else had replied yet.

Hi, I'll be in Des Moines July 20,21,22

Thank you very much pearlbob, any and all help is really really appreciated!!!!!! I check often if anyone else has other suggestions.

You%26#39;re welcome. And it%26#39;s Court Ave, I was wrong before (I said St.). There is an area that is now like a hip arts district, with new restaurants and designer retail stores. It%26#39;s in the area around Noodle Zoo, a restaurant. That might give you a point of reference. Last time I was there, I don%26#39;t recall there being a lot nice bars in that area, but they may have added some. There were a lot of expensive condos being built. I can%26#39;t quite remember if that was near the stadium but I don%26#39;t think so. Ah...here we go...the area is called East Village. http://www.eastvillagedesmoines.com/ Keep in mind, this isn%26#39;t the Court Ave night life area, I believe Court Ave is closer to the baseball stadium. The point of reference there is the Court Ave Brewing Company and Spaghetti Works (2 restaurants that I can remember).

I%26#39;ve traveled all over, and while Des Moines is a very nice, clean, safe city, it isn%26#39;t very ';fun'; per se. It%26#39;s not a party town at all. I think there are some nice places all over, but there isn%26#39;t a really a huge night life area like you would see in other cities. However, they are doing a lot to renovate downtown Des Moines, including the riverwalk and the area around there.

If you like to walk, the stadium is within walking distance from court avenue, probably 5 or 6 blocks. THe Court Avenue area has many bars and restaurants within three block area just west of the Des Moines river running from W 1st st to W 5th St.

PearlBob referenced a new ';hip'; area. This is known as the East Village area. If you follow Court avenue East over the river, you are there. I believe the music venues are a couple blocks north of court.

The embassy Suites is just East of the River. The Hotel Savery is on W 4th about a block or two north of Court. The Civic Center has plays and concerts. It is between 2nd and 3rd a block north of Court. in the summer Court avenue has a large farmers%26#39; market on Saturdays from 6am to 1pm. The streets are closed during these hours and taken over by vendors so be forewarned if you plan to drive downtown on a Saturday morning.

Have a nice trip in.

Nicest Place to stay is the Suites of 800 Locust.

YES!!!! Thanks guys, keep it coming, i really appreciate the info.We like to have a good time.Any suggestions on the bars we should hit around Court?

Des Moines is actually a very fun place to be! The Court Ave. district has a lot of construction going on right now (new lofts and entertainment venues) but there are a ton of places to go for the nightlife. (For lots of information and links to other sites, go to www.knowdowntown.com )

A couple of bars just a few blocks away from the stadium:

El Bait Shop and The High Life Lounge - throwbacks to my parents%26#39; 1960%26#39;s/70%26#39;s basement decor and quite fun. Wide range of ages. El Bait Shop has a massive number of beers on tap all the time.

In the Court Ave area:

Buzzard Billy%26#39;s Flying Carp Cafe (cajun, etc.)

Judge Roy Bean%26#39;s (burgers)

Court Avenue Brew Pub

Johnny%26#39;s Hall of Fame (neighborhood bar ';feel';)

Spaghetti Works

The Lift (a smoke free martini bar)

The Royal Mile (English Pub)

The Trattoria (Italian fare)

Hessen Haus (German brews - be sure to ';pass the boot';)

Splash (seafood)

and more

And these are all within walking distance of the stadium! If you stay at the Hotel Savory (historic and nice) or the Embassy Suites (across the river but still close), you will be right in the middle of the action. The Suites on Locust has incredible rooms but its a few blocks further West downtown. There are some great eating and drinking establishments in that area including Centro and Raccoon River Brew Pub, to name a few.

The East Village is the up and coming spot to be, too. Neat boutiques, restaurants and bars. The Olympic Flame, which has been there for years, is on E. Grand - and the Greek food is famous. The Continental serves food tapas style and can get pricey if you are looking for a stick to your ribs dinner. I personally like the place - narrow bar/restaurant with brick walls. Nice, fun atmosphere. Lucca is a wonderful restaurant but I would recommend making a reservation for the evening. Noodle Zoo is good and the decor is very cool. The Locust Tap is a bar - and quite a dive. But it does have ';character';. It%26#39;s literally the bar on the corner. There are several gay bars, including the Blazing Saddle. And there%26#39;s live music at House of Bricks. You can try one of a huge selection of teas at Gong Fu or a cup of coffee at the Village Bean (they also sell wine by the bottle). There%26#39;s also a Thai restaurant (can%26#39;t remember the name). I have heard that a sushi bar is coming to the area soon and a few other places, so who knows what else will be there when you come! I%26#39;m sure I%26#39;ve missed a few places - but hopefully this helps. Have fun!

Downtown is a great place to hang out!! I used to work down there and my co-workers and I went out all the time. You can feel comfortable walking outside down there. Also, Saturday a.m. by 7 a.m. the Farmer%26#39;s Market will be in full swing on court ave. It%26#39;s awesome -- veggies, plants, homemade pies, crafts - you name it. All kinds of food vendors.

If you find downtown nightlife not working for you. Take a cab to 86th St in Clive/Urbandale (west on I235, exit 22nd St turns into 86th St). This is actually the popular area to hang out in --- bars all the way down the street. And you can ask people - dance clubs - Crush, Miss Kitty%26#39;s, Denny Arthurs (35+ crowd).

Or - take a cab to Jordan Creek Mall area (west on I235, exit Jordan Creek). It%26#39;s got lots of shops and restaurants - PF Chang, Joe%26#39;s Crab Shack, Flemings Steak House.

Another area not far from downtown - is Gray%26#39;s Lake. Lots of people walk there on the weekend - has a huge walking trail around it.

I have family that lives right off of 86th in Urbandale...where are all these bars and dance clubs?! I have never seen anything like that in all the years I have visited. I%26#39;ve been to Mickey%26#39;s, an Irish bar near the Krispy Kreme place, but that was just a regular sports bar. There is some building at the corner of 86th and Hickman that keeps closing as a dance club because it never gets enough business. Is there something else I am missing??

You are missing alot --- Miss Kitty%26#39;s is on the corner of Swanson and 86th - it%26#39;s a huge dance club. Mickey%26#39;s is a very popular bar, I wouldn%26#39;t call it a sports bar though, across from that is Duck Tails, 2 bldgs north is Grono%26#39;s. A block up is Crush (corner of Hickman/86th St) behind Crush is Cabaret, behind Cabaret is Drink, behind Drink is Down Under. Across the street is Garage in Cobblestone strip mall. On the NW corner is Perkins, behind that is Denny Arthurs. A block west is Bogie%26#39;s. North on 86th to Douglas - next to HyVee is Paddy%26#39;s. East on Hickman is Twisted Parrot and Shooters. East on Douglas is Victors Sports bar and on and on. During the summer in the park behind Grono%26#39;s is Clive After Five - from 5-7 pm almost every Friday. People stand around in the park and drink beer and listen to live music. 86th Street is a huge bar street!!! It%26#39;s where most of Des Moines goes to party.

November Anniversary

My husband %26amp; I are traveling to Iowa for our 7th wedding anniversary November 9-13. We are flying into Cedar Rapids and are spending a couple of nights at the Hotel Winneshiek in Decorah. Does anybody have any recommendations for things we shouldn%26#39;t miss while we%26#39;re in Iowa at that time of year? Thanks in advance!

November Anniversary

You%26#39;ll be a bit late for the fall color, which is beautiful in the hills around Decorah. And you%26#39;ll miss out on the gardens, but the Seed Savers Exchange in Decorah may be worth a stop if you have an interest in gardening or biodiversity. More information is available at http://www.seedsavers.org/default.asp.

If you like history, check out the Laura Ingalls Wilder house in Burr Oak, IA or the Norwegian Museum in Decorah:

http://www.lauraingallswilder.us/

http://vesterheim.org/index.php

Happy anniversary!

November Anniversary

Thank you so much, Prairiedog! Our returning flight leaves CR at 6 am, so we need to stay somewhere relatively near the airport the night before. Do you have any recommendations?

There are a number of hotels within a few miles of the airport. Most are off of I-380 and 33rd Ave SW and are budget type hotels: Country Inn, Comfort Inn and Heartland Inn. There%26#39;s also a Clarion in that area. If you want something a little more upscale, the Marriott and Crowne Plaza hotels are popular. They both are within 15 - 20 mins. of the airport. I haven%26#39;t stayed in any of them recently to provide a personal recommendation, so you may want to check the TripAdvisor reviews.

Enjoy your trip and travel safely!

I would recommend you check out Brucemore home of the

person who founded Quaker Oats here in Cedar Rapids where

I live. It just changed directors so I would see it before we know

what changes the director has in store. I do not hear much

about the hotels in the area but we do have a lot of problems

with our restaurants in Cedar Rapids and some in Iowa, so if it does not look clean when you walk in, I personally would go somewhere else. Also, you can check our resturant inspections

in Iowa on-line. Good luck.

Ski Resorts

Hi, my boyfriend and I are from St. Louis and are looking for a ski vacation. Does anyone have any advice, for a more upscale, romantic place to do stay? We%26#39;d love a resort/lodge that has access to the slopes and we don%26#39;t have to drive, but that is not a must. Thanks!

Ski Resorts

I do not ski not I have seem ads is various travel publications

in Iowa. Call or e-mail the Iowa toursim office for suggestions

to ski.

east village

What are some fun shops and lunch restaurants in East Village?

east village

Noodle Zoo has some great, unusual sandwiches, wraps, soups and pasta dishes and is a good option for lunch. Barratta%26#39;s in the Historical Society is another good lunch spot.

My favorite store down there is From Our Hands, which has art and home decor is always a fun stop. It%26#39;s similar to Iowa Artisans Gallery in Iowa City, if you%26#39;ve ever been there. The Historical Society also has a gift shop with some interesting things.

Enjoy your trip!

east village

And I forgot to mention Lucca for dining - it%26#39;s wonderful!

please..check on-line iowa restaurant inspections before

visiting any restuarants.

bad experience w/ hotel manager at Motel 6 in West Des...

I had a really bad experience w/ the hotel manager of Motel 6 in West Des Moines today. I have never met such a cocky, dismissive hotel manager before. I had made a telephone reservation for two nights at the same rate, and when I tried to check in, he told me a higher price for the second night. I told him that that wasn%26#39;t what I had reserved at, and that I had reserved for the same price for both nights.

Then, instead of honoring the reservation, he got cocky, and said that I could just cancel the second night. He even told me that since I had a telephone reservation, there was nothing on the computer verifying the original rate, and then he went in and typed up his own invoice on the spot, with the increased rate and tried to claim that was what I reserved at. What a fraud! This was very bad customer service, but he seemed to think that he could get away with it because it was the Iowa State Fair. He kept telling me that if I didn%26#39;t take the higher rate, I could just cancel the reservation, even as he knew full well that rooms were scarce due to the Fair and that it would be difficult for me to make a reservation at a different hotel.

Then, when I asked to speak to a superior when he wouldn%26#39;t honor the rate of my reservation, he gave me the telephone number of the national office for Motel 6. I called and spoke with their guest services, who was very helpful and wrote down my complaint. The guest service rep said that they would refund the difference of what their rogue manager was trying to overcharge me after the stay was complete. So, I thought that everything was going to be taken care of by the national guest service rep for Motel 6.

However, when I got off the cellphone and walked back into the lobby to complete the check-in, the manager suddenly %26amp; rudely told me that he had given away my non-smoking room to someone else and that there were no non-smoking rooms left. This was obviously a lie and appeared to be retaliation for me calling the national office. He was very smug about it. He knew that I had specifically requested a non-smoking room, and there was no way that they had sold out in those fifteen minutes that I was on the phone. This was pure retaliation for my complaint.

Then, he said that if I didn%26#39;t take the smoking room, he would just cancel my reservation -- this despite the fact that I had specifically reserved a non-smoking room. I protested, and he told me that he had the power to cancel my reservation and he abruptly and rudely did. I have NEVER been treated so rudely by a hotel manager before.

I felt like his behavior towards me was sexist and that he wouldn%26#39;t have treated me so rudely if it were not for the fact that I was a woman. He was very arrogant and dismissive.

All he seemed to care about was getting a higher price for the room because it was the State Fair and lodging was scarce. So, be warned, this Motel 6 manager will hike up the prices on reservations and will outright cancel reservations on you if you protest this hike. It was utterly unprofessional and rude. This is NOT how a hotel should treat its customers.

My family is from western Iowa, and our family will NEVER do business with the Motel 6 in West Des Moines again.

bad experience w/ hotel manager at Motel 6 in West Des...

As an employee of one of the hotels, I would like to tell you that I am sorry for the rudeness you felt in one of our hotels. Please dont think that all of our hotels are bad.... because ours isnt :)

bad experience w/ hotel manager at Motel 6 in West Des...

Please consider sharing your experience with the BBB. There is no reason why you should have been treated that way and future guests should be warned of this arrogant manager who doesn%26#39;t know how to deal with his customers in a professional and respectful way. I would file a complaint with the BBB regarding this hotel/motel if I were you.

wow I%26#39;m sorry you had to go through that!You should look into staying at the hilton garden inn in west des moines. it%26#39;s right across the street from the new jordan creek mall and all of the great restaraunts. their pool area is amazing! they have a large adult pool, a separate kiddy pool, and also a hot tub all in the same large area! my family and I loved the whole stay and already booked another reservation to go back!

I know my family and friends have had great things to say about the nice and friendly staff at the Country Inn %26amp; Suites in Clive/West Des Moines. It is shocking to hear that someone in the hospitality business would treat you so badly.

I%26#39;m sorry that you had a bad stay at the Motel 6. Have you checked out the new Hilton Garden Inn in West Des Moines. It%26#39;s right across from the New Jordan Creek Mall, Super Target and the New Wal-mart.

It has two pools one designed for the little kids and hot tub and great work out facility.

Plus, kids under 12 eat free. They have made to order Micky mouse pancakes as well as other great items.

You should check it out, we loved it.

I too work for a motel 6. I%26#39;m sorry that you had to deal with the attitude of a cocky manager. I have seen first hand on how managers will treat their customers. It can be pretty disgusting. I stayed at a motel 6 and the manager there treated me really bad. Her attitude was even worse when she found out I worked for a m6.

As someone who lives in Iowa and also has had problems with

motel 6, let me tell you what you need to do.

First, always book reservations on-line with motel 6, so you

have something in writing proving the rate. Then, the manager

would have to honor the rate.

Second, motel 6 normally does change your rates. For example,

you may have a Saturday weekend rate and then a Sunday

weekday rate. This is standard for motel 6.

Third, make you post a review of this web site to make sure

others avoid this manager and hotel.

Fourth, make sure you complaint to motel 6 corporate in writing.

Good luck.

Best place to stay in amana colonies

We are coming to the Amana Colonies this summer after staying in Chicago for 5 days... does anyone have a favorite B%26amp;B or lodging in the colonies? We aren%26#39;t really wanting a chain hotel -- trying to get the colony experience! We are looking at Village Guest Suites in Amana but I read about a new place: Zubers Guest House?

Any recommendations about lodging, dining and what to see in the colonies is much appreciated! Also -- any idea where to stop between Amana and Omaha for another night? Thanks!

Best place to stay in amana colonies

As far as stopping between Amana and Omaha - unless you are leaving late in the day or REALLY want to spend the night, it really wouldn%26#39;t be necessary - the Amanas and Omaha are only about 5 hours apart.

Eating in main Amana is easy - whenever you are hungry, walk into the nearest restaurant and eat, they are all good!

Best place to stay in amana colonies

I agree that the restaurants in Amana are all pretty good. The Colony Inn in Main Amana is one that has a very loyal following, as does Zuber%26#39;s in Homestead.

As for staying between Amana and Omaha, your best bet would be in the Des Moines area. And it%26#39;s perhaps 15 miles off of I 80, but it might be interesting to stop overnight and for a bit of sightseeing in Winterset, IA (about 20 miles southwest of Des Moines) in Madison Co., in the area where ';The Bridges of Madison Co.'; was set.

I have stayed at the Guest Haus Motor Inn in Amana many time and would highly recommend it. It is a locally owned hotel. They have 26 typical hotel rooms in %26#39;newer%26#39; building, and 12 rooms in the sandstone bldg. (used to be a residence years ago!) This hotel is super super clean, the staff friendly and it is right in the heart of Amana! You cannot go wrong for the price!

Highly recommend it.

facbook

West Oaks Resort

HELP !

I am coming to Arnolds Park, West Oaks Resort, around the middle of May. Can anyone tell me what its like out there. My wife and I are wondering what there is to do around there. (100 miles or so ) Or at the resort itself.

Thanks,

Dave

West Oaks Resort

I actually grew up just 20 miles from there! I have stayed at the West Oaks before and it is so much fun. They have an indoor and outdoor pool, jacuzzi, sauna and an arcade. The outdoor pool may not be open yet because it is still petty cold in May. In May there is not nearly as much to do in the area as during to summer months. There is a small amusement park called Arnolds Park but I believe they don%26#39;t open until Memorial Day. However there are many places to eat and many places for nightlife. Mrs. Lady%26#39;s is my favorite Mexican restaurant and The Dry Dock is a great steak place (my steak was so tender I could cut it with a plastic knife) if you are looking for fine dining Geppetto%26#39;s is fantastic. They have a wide selection of wine and fancy entrees, but be sure to make reservations dress up and bring a large pocket book as they are spendy, but worth it! For desert there is a great chocolate shop but I cannot remember the name of it to save my life! There is also a tiny little hut that serves the BEST snow cones ever! It is called Tropical Snow it is right by the Arnolds Park strip. The “strip” is easy to find as it is where all the teenagers like to “cruise the loop” and is within walking distance from the resort. There are many bars and dance clubs that frequently have live bands. My two favorites are Whiskey Dicks and Caption%26#39;s Getaway. Some of the more popular for the younger generation are The Regal Beagle and The Ritz. There is the beautiful West Lake Okoboji for any water sports you enjoy. Great for fishing, boating, canoeing along with many swimming beaches (but it may be pretty cold for that!) There are several golf courses in the area. My father loves the Brooks Golf Course. There is also a very fun place The Kart Ranch that has go carts, mini golf, bumper boats and an arcade, but again not sure if they open before Memorial Day. If you are looking for another information just search the Internet there are many pages on the area that can help! Search for Arnolds Park, Okoboji, and Spirit Lake. Those towns are all within about 10 miles of each other. It’s hard to tell where one ends and the other begins. A bigger city within about 30 miles from that area is Spencer. There is plenty of shopping there. Hope this helps!

White Lion Motel - 912 Capitol Landing Road

Terrible Customer Service - On 11/2 I checked into White Lion and spent the night. The rooms were very adequate for the price. On Saturday morning, I went to the front desk to say I wished to stay one more night. It was off-season and I thought it would not be a problem. I asked the front desk lady if she needed to run my credit card again.The young lady at the front desk said no, it was okay.

On Saturday night, after I had gone to sleep, there was a punding on my door. It was the night manager. He was yelling at me! ';Are you registered here, are you registered here?'; I explained to him that I had requested one more night%26#39;s stay and showed him my Friday night bill. He sulked off after mumbling ';okay';.

On Sunday morning when I went to check out the same manager was on duty. When I voiced my displeasure, he told me ';Are you checking out, I have no time for this.';

His un professional comments (twice) motivated me to have time post this comment. There are too many options on where to stay to be treatred so poorly.

DO NOT STAY AT WHITE LION MOTEL

White Lion Motel - 912 Capitol Landing Road

The White Lion you%26#39;re writing about is in Williamsburg, VIRGINIA, not IOWA.

Okoboji on Dec 1

I am from Minneapolis and am looking for a weekend(3 days) getaway from Mn. Is Okoboji a good place to visit in the first week of Dec?

Thanks

Okoboji on Dec 1

There isn%26#39;t probably a lot to do this time of the year. In the summer, most of the activities are on the water or water related. There may be a few places open but the majority of businesses are summer only. If you are looking for peace and quiet, this is probably the best time of the year.

where to stay?

Hi there!

I%26#39;m going to Des Moines for a couple of days, and have a reservation at the Quality Inn downtown - however - is there somewhere better (not necessarily more expensive!) that I can stay that will allow me to leave the car parked and walk around to shops, restaurants, bars, etc?

Thanks for any help and info!

where to stay?

Do you need to stay near downtown? The Embassy Suites is right on the edge of the East Village, which has lots of restaurants and bars. If you can go elsewhere, the Jordan Creek Towncenter in West Des Moines has lots of places to eat (all chains tho), and is near a huge mall with more restaurants and bars.

where to stay?

Thanks for the info! I%26#39;m really not a mall person so West Des Moines doesn%26#39;t interest me that much. I noticed that the Embassy is on the other side of the river - is that where the East Village is? I%26#39;m really looking for small local places to shop and fun relaxing places to hang out for a couple of hours while reading a book. Thanks for the help!

From the sound of things, I would guess that you would enjoy the East Village. It is a good spot for the smaller/local type shops you mentioned in your post. Both it and the Embassy Suites are on the East side of the river, whereas the Quality Inn and most of downtown are on the West.

I would definitely put the East Village within walking distance of the Embassy Suites. Also, right next to the Embassy is Des Moines%26#39; outdoor ice arena (if it%26#39;s a winter trip), and the Court Avenue district (restaurants and bars) is a short walk to the other side of the river. The Quality Inn is closer to the Iowa Events Center, but for shopping/restaurants, the Embassy Suites is a more centrally located choice.

Hi Travel Girl,

I wish you a good journey. I am an Indian who has a friend in Des Moines.He is a Doctor (general Surgeon and I have been trying to contact him for days.Since you would be there could you look him up and get his e-mail ID and send it.Ill be happy. His details are

Dr.Praveen C Prasad

974-73 Street South

Des Moines, Iowa (IA)

Even if you can e mail his phone numbers Ill be able to contact Him.He is of my age thats about 52. my e-mail ID is

shashidwivedi@yahoo.com

You can also tell him Im the guy he met an accident with.

Thanks

Shashi kant Dwivedi

new year

Hi all

i am driving from Chicago to be in Kansas city on new years day.

me and a freind are looking for someware to bring the new year in, we are both 23.

i stoped for a meal in iowa city in september and it seemed full of life, many students i asume? many of which i am guessing may not be there? if any body could recomend a good place to party en route or not too far off that would be brill!

new year

Hello, liquid! My own party days are well behind me, so I don%26#39;t have a specific club to recommend. However, I lived in Iowa City for many years and there is still a lot of activity there even when the students are on break. The Riverside Casino about 20 minutes south of Iowa City will certainly have entertainment on New Year%26#39;s Eve and there will be clubs open in downtown Iowa City.

Another option would be to find a club in the Des Moines area. One that seems to have good bands is House of Bricks. Other options would be in the Court Ave. area of downtown Des Moines.

Enjoy your trip!

new year

Kansas City has a lot of bars/ clubs in case the weather changes your plans and you have to go down there earlier. Eventhough the U of I will be on break from classes, a lot of people come back to party in downtown Iowa City. I know a lot of the bars will be open and will have specials for the holiday.

Another thing- the Iowa Caucus is on Jan 3rd this year- and the dorms will be open so many students will be back to participate in the caucus. Although finding a hotel room might be a little difficult with all the media and campaign workers in the state around that time.

Cabin Rentals?

Does anyone know of a good cabin rental in Boji that rents for long weekends? Everything I%26#39;ve seen on Vrbo is by the week!!!

I can%26#39;t find anything else online!

TIA for your help!

Cabin Rentals?

Sunrise Cove is a nice location on West Okoboji. We have a two bedroom, but can sleep 6. About fifty feet from a beach, shaded, with a nice baloney. May 2 through May 11 available. Love the place with many extras available on site.

CouncilBluffsAgape

facbook

Family Fun - Iowa HELP

I am traveling from Kansas City to Chicago through Iowa and I am looking for something fun to do with two kids (5,7) can someone please reccomend something like an indoor water park. Thanks

Family Fun - Iowa HELP

I%26#39;m a long time Ames resident. Sorry, no indoor water parks here. (We don%26#39;t even have an outdoor one.) I%26#39;ve racked my brain to think of something indoors and the only thing I can come up with is the butterfly house at Reiman Gardens. Check out Iowa State University on the web to make sure whether they%26#39;re open and what the hours are. If you come before Christmas, they%26#39;ll have decorations around the Gardens. There are $1 movies at the mall (5 choices). If I come up with anything else, I%26#39;ll let you know.

Family Fun - Iowa HELP

there is an indoor water park on Interstate 80 between Des Moines and Iowa City. Here is the website. http://www.wasserbahn.com/seedo/index.htm

there is an indoor water park near the Amana%26#39;s on Interstate 80 between Des Moines and Iowa City. Here is the website:

http://www.wasserbahn.com/seedo/index.htm

There is a new hotel and water park in Storm Lake. The website is http://www.kingspointeresort.com/. They opened in August. I have not been there but it sounds like a fun time especially for kids.

The one at the Amanas is right-on I-80 and there is a Tanger Outlet Center nearby. If you go east from the Amanas you will see Coralville. The CoralRidge Mall( also right on I-80) has an indoor ice rink that my kids loved! The Grand Harbour in Dubuque,IA has an indoor water park too, but it may be out of your way depending on where you are headed to in Chicago land area. If you coose to go up Highway 61 there is also a water park in Burlington, IA.

Have fun!!

Will any place be open on Christmas Day for supper?

Good Day,

We will be traveling on Christmas Day and I was wondering if anyone knows where we%26#39;ll be able to get a meal that nite?

Anything will do even fast food.

Thank you, and Merry Christmas!

Will any place be open on Christmas Day for supper?

The Des Moines Register%26#39;s Datebook entertainment guide published a story the other day that listed restaurants open on Christmas Day. Here%26#39;s a link:

desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article…

Looking at the list, Prairie Meadows (a casino) is probably the closest off of I 80 if that%26#39;s your route. It%26#39;s located just east of Des Moines in the town of Altoona.

Two other spots that are not as close to the interstate are:

- IHOP on Douglas (exit Merle Hay Rd. from I 80/35 on the north side of Des Moines, turn south then west at the intersection of Merle Hay and Douglas).

- Iowa Castle on 86th St. is a local fast food place that just opened recently. To reach it from I 80/35 on the north side of Des Moines, exit on 86th St. and drive south for approx. 2 - 3 miles.

Otherwise, there are several large truck stops along I 80/35 that will probably be open. One is east of Des Moines at Altoona and another is on the NW side of Des Moines in Urbandale at the Douglas Ave. exit.

Have safe and happy travels!

Will any place be open on Christmas Day for supper?

Thank you for the info prariedog!

The link is very helpful.

Will any place be open on Christmas Day for supper?

Good Day,

We will be traveling on Christmas Day and I was wondering if anyone knows where we%26#39;ll be able to get a meal that nite?

Anything will do even fast food.

Thank you, and Merry Christmas!

Will any place be open on Christmas Day for supper?

The Des Moines Register listed a few places in this link. http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/artikkel?NoCache=1%26amp;amp;Dato=20071220%26amp;amp;Kategori=ENT02%26amp;amp;Lopenr=712200344%26amp;amp;Ref=AR

Feb 18-19 Hotels by Jordan Creek

Which suite hotel by Jordan Creek would someone recommend? What are things we should not miss in the Des Moines area? Thanks.

Feb 18-19 Hotels by Jordan Creek

The Marriott is right next door to Jordan Creek there will be another hotel soon which is currently under construction.

Feb 18-19 Hotels by Jordan Creek

There is a brand new Residence Inn on the property of Jordan Creek Mall. It just opened fall of last year.

There is also a Springhill Suites about six blocks up the street from the mall. It is a conversion from a Quality Suites.

The Country Inn %26amp; Suites by Carlson is only 3 miles away on University Ave, off of I-80 %26amp; I-35. It has large one bedroom king suites with separate connected living rooms that also have sofa beds. If you are travelling with kids, it is close to Jordan Creek and Living History Farms and just 15 minutes from the new Science Center of Iowa with Imax and the Blank Park Zoo. The Iowa Hall of Pride interactive museum is also just 15 minutes away. Has an AWESOME breakfast and the largest pool and hot tub in the area!!

The new hotel, is the Holiday Inn and Suites. It will open in April. It is supposedly going to be amazing. Upscale!!! They are currently taking reservations for meeting space and rooms.

We%26#39;ve stayed at the Residence Inn. It is literally ';in the parking lot'; of Jordan Creek. Nice area, continental breakfast. Our room was a suite, not sure they all are......

Very convienent to shopping %26amp; dining.

What not to miss in Des Moines depends a lot on what you like to do. Some of the previous posters have provided good recommendations on attractions and hotels, but I%26#39;ll add the Des Moines Botanical Center. It%26#39;s so nice to see greenery and flowers there this time of year. Also, since you%26#39;ll be here during the week you may want to tour the state capitol or Terrace Hill (the governors mansion) if you have any interest in politics or state history.

There is a lot of interesting architecture in Des Moines. The art museum is worth a visit if that%26#39;s an interest for you. If you like to look at beautiful old houses, the ';south of Grand'; Ave. area on the west side of the city has some nice neighborhoods to drive through.

If shopping is your passion, Jordan Creek is great. West Glen Shopping Center is a mile or two east of Jordan Creek and has some interesting boutiques and restaurants. Valley Junction in West Des Moines and the East Village (in downtown Des Moines) have eclectic shopping and antiques. The other larger malls (Valley West, Merle Hay and Southridge) are all O.K., but really are a lot like your malls in Cedar Rapids.

Enjoy your visit!

Walleye fishing in May

Was wondering if there is any good walleye fishing the first two weeks in May. Can be cold then and would like to get out from winter cabin fever.

Walleye fishing in May

Walleye Fishing is always good in Okoboji area. The season is just opening in May there. Usually its around the first weekend in May and there is an annual Great Walleye Weekend. There is a two day fishing tourny and some walleye are released with tags for cash prizes if caught. You should be able to find more information on the net about the event. Otherwise fishing should be great given the season would be just opening. The lakes are big area so finding a good spot where they are biting might be a task but ask around and people will usually let you know what they have heard. A good place to check also is O%26#39;Shucks on Hwy 86 towards the southwest side of West Lake. They are a larger bait and tackle shop/gas station and would know where people are saying to go.

Need help finding Bed and Breakfast

I%26#39;m looking for a good bed and breakfast in Des Moines that has a room on the ground floor, is handicapped accessible or has a minimum of stairs. This will be our first visit to Des Moines. Thanks.

Need help finding Bed and Breakfast

There aren%26#39;t a ton of options, but here are a couple.

The Cottage - http://www.thecottagedsm.com/index.htm

it%26#39;s very..floral..haven%26#39;t stayed there, but went on a tour and seems nice. Can%26#39;t find information about handicapped access, but I think there are bedrooms on the first floor.

http://www.butlerhouseongrand.com/

Rooms start on the 2nd floor- some relatives stayed here and liked it a lot.

There%26#39;s also Gabriel%26#39;s Mansion B%26amp;B- no website, but the number is 515-262-8648.

Need help finding Bed and Breakfast

We talked to the people at the Cottage and will be staying there. They have rooms on the first floor, and the others did not. Thank you for the tip!

facbook

What to do in Des Moines?

Hi,

Some friends and I are meeting up in Des Moines the weekend of Aug. 24th for a girls weekend. We%26#39;re all from other places and Des Moines is central for us. What might be some good things to do?

We%26#39;re fans of shopping, art, theater, wine, etc. The usual girl stuff. :) Any suggestions are most welcome!

What to do in Des Moines?

The largest concentration of shopping is in the Jordan Creek Mall - West Glen area near I-35 and Mills Civic Pkwy. in West Des Moines. You%26#39;ll find a lot of familiar mall stores, along with some more unique home decor and clothing stores in West Glen. Some of the more eclectic shopping in the area is in Valley Junction in West Des Moines or downtown in the East Village area.

Here%26#39;s additional informaton:

http://www.jordancreektowncenter.com/html/

http://www.valleyjunction.com/

http://www.eastvillagedesmoines.com/

There are some good spas that I%26#39;m told are bargains compared to prices in other cities. One to check out:

http://www.sahars.com/

Des Moines has an art center and some interesting old homes that are open for tour. Check out:

http://www.desmoinesartcenter.org/

http://www.terracehill.org

http://www.salisburyhouse.org/

For gardening or botanical interests, try:

http://www.botanicalcenter.com/

www.bhg.com/bhg/category.jsp鈥?/a>

You may also want to check the calendar of events for more ideas:

seedesmoines.com/asp/visitors/calendar.asp鈥?/a>

Have a great reunion and safe travels!

What to do in Des Moines?

Thanks for all the great info, prariedog! I%26#39;m sure we will do several of the things you listed. :)

My sister and I went to Des Moines a few weeks ago, and though we didn%26#39;t get to do much during the day (we were greeted with an ice storm), we did have a great tim. Des Moines is surprisingly fun and EVERYONE is so nice. We went to some fun bars on Court St., our favorite being a bar called the Royal Mile. And we had dinner at this make-your-own-steak place in Booneville (about 10 miles west of Des Moines) that was pretty interesting. If you have time, the Bridges of Madison County are about 30 minutes southwest of Des Moines. The bridges are ok, but we LOVED the tiny town of Winterset.

Have fun!

there isnt much to do here..hope you like the cold-.

Hey- I second the vote for Salisbury House. Check out their website before you go- they sometimes have concerts or speakers (on a variety of topics) that might be of interest (or might not, in which case you can avoid them). I%26#39;m not sure what the schedule is, but Blank Park Zoo does a Zoo Brew (beer and wild animals- a good combo?) on certain evenings, so you might check that out as well.

www.blankparkzoo.com/index.cfm鈥?/a>

Good luck:)

Hi -- Here%26#39;s my .02 cents on things to do and see downtown.

The Farmer%26#39;s Market downtown is kind of a ';must see'; in the summer. It%26#39;s in the Court Avenue district and runs from 7am-Noon on Saturdays. Many, many street vendors (including some wineries) and things to see. When we have guests visiting from out of town that%26#39;s always one thing they want to do.

http://www.desmoinesfarmersmarket.com/

You%26#39;d probaly also like the East Village, which is an interesting district on the east side of the river for shopping and restaurants.

http://www.eastvillagedesmoines.com/

Speaking of restaurants, in East Village there%26#39;s Lucca%26#39;s, which features Italian. Got a good review in the NY Times.

desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article鈥?/a>

The Village Bean is a popular coffee shop nearby.

On the west side of the river there%26#39;s the Gateway Market on the west end of downtown, it%26#39;s a nice market and has a cafe attached.

http://www.gatewaymarket.com/

Also Cafe Di Scala in the Sherman Hill area -- it%26#39;s located in a Victorian house and is a unique place.

http://www.cafediscala.com/

Other restaurants to check out would be Centro, Court Avenue Brewery, Raccoon River Brewery, and the Azalea restaurants downtown. Palmer%26#39;s Deli is a good place for lunch, it%26#39;s in the Ingersoll district west of downtown.

http://www.palmersdeliandmarket.com/

A popular place to go for a walk is Gray%26#39;s Lake, which is an urban park with a two-mile paved trail around it.

www.dmgov.org/departments/PR/grayslake.htm

The Des Moines Art Center is a recommended destination also, it%26#39;s easy to find on Grand Avenue west of downtown.

http://www.desmoinesartcenter.org/

Otherwise it%26#39;s a little early to tell about what kinds of shows might be in town, but seedesmoines.com would be the place to check once you get a little closer. There will be lots of live music though, that%26#39;s for sure.

Hope this helps!

Locals w/teens

What do you do to break up the long winter with you kids??

We have teenagers and the weekends have gotten so boring. My boys aren%26#39;t in basketball and there just doesn%26#39;t seem to be anything fun for us.

What do you do??

Gina

Locals w/teens

Hi Gina,

All in doors.

Play UNO....Jengka....Chess...Monopoly...Scrabble

Movies...Movies...and Movies

Window shopping...

Locals w/teens

Hey Gina!

My family%26#39;s started doing the tourism thing, even being in Des Moines for years!

Lately, we%26#39;ve been to the zoo (yup, in the winter!) but, not all of the exhibits are open, so it was a shorter visit... we%26#39;ve been to the botanical center, which is a balmy temp, even for January! No jackets needed in there! This past weekend, we even checked out the capitol. My husband enjoyed exploring the dome, which was open %26amp; very quiet!

If your family is outdoorsy, head to boone, and go skiing/snowboarding! It%26#39;s inexpensive, %26amp; they make their own snow.

Hope this helps a bit!

Bachelorette party

Some friends and I will be in C.R. for a bachelorette party. Just wondering if anyone knows of a good ';downtown'; area to stay. Looking for something within walking distance to nightlife/fun taverns.

Bachelorette party

Best place is Crowne Plaza...

Kansan looking for 2008 vacation ideas in your state

We would like to go on vacation during spring break this year and am at a loss for what to do. Our oldest will be graduating so it may be the last time we all take a big trip together! Flying is really not an option with the size of our family (and budget). We are about equally split between liking outdoor activities and just lounging. A trip near outdoor activities but with nearby modern accomodations (from cabin up) would be ok. Trips over the years (to help with our interests) have included camping in the Black Hills of South Dakota, all things tourist in San Antonio, white water rafting in Colorado, all things tourist on the East coast from North Carolina to Massachusets, visiting family and doing tourist type things in Alabama and Minnesota. We try and do different things/places to reach all areas of the country. It has been a few years since we have been on a big trip together (too many teenagers with too many activites).

Do you have any suggestions for your state? Our kids are 12-18. Trip would be March 15 - 22, 2008

Kansan looking for 2008 vacation ideas in your state

My three favorite sights in Iowa are the National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium in Dubuque; the Herbert Hoover Library in West Branch, and Living History Farms in Urbandale (Des Moines).

Your family%26#39;s tastes will be different. The Dubuque Aquarium is amazing, with a hotel and waterpark nearby. There is lots more to see in Dubuque.

The Hoover Library is just off I-80. He gets a lot of bad press as president. He was a much better engineer and philanthropist. Stanford University owes much of its greatness to him. Tributes from the Belgians he managed to feed during the Great War are particularly moving.

Save Living History Farms for another trip; it is closed from Labor Day to May 1.

http://www.rivermuseum.com/main.cfm

http://www.nps.gov/heho/

http://www.livinghistoryfarms.org/

Kansan looking for 2008 vacation ideas in your state

Kansan,

If it was a month or two later, I would suggest the Iowa Great Lakes. It is a series of Lakes that were formed from glaciers. There is the historcal: Gardner cabin, nautical history on the lakes including a steamboat, Rock %26#39;n Roll museum, one of the few wooden rollercoasters still around. There is also the lake with boats, skiing, jet skiing or in March, ice and snow (but a beautiful quiteness surrounds the area.)

Also in the Northwest Iowa area:

The Grotto in West Bend

Wells Blue Bunny Ice Cream Parlor and Ice Cream tour

Or, for information regarding events going on in Iowa, check out the travel bureau website:

http://www.traveliowa.com

There are a lot of nice places to go in Iowa. Northeast Iowa has Pikes Peak State Park, (Very beautiful) among other nice places there. %26#39;Field of Dreams%26#39; movie site and Ertl toys in Dyersville. In central part of the state there is the Amana colonies, the bridges of Madison Co., the Boone Scenic railroad. In Des Moines, there is the Living History Farms, one of the most beautiful state capitals in the country, and a nice museum nearby. Lots more to do, but I just can%26#39;t think of anymore now.

You must try the Eagle Landing Bed and Breakfast in Marquette, Iowa. My husband and I go every year during leaf seasons (Sept. and Oct.) and hope to retire in this part of Iowa. The B%26amp;B sits right on the Mississippi River. The main house would probably accomodate your family or our love is the winery suite. We took our 2 small kids this year and it is a 2 room suite with room for a pull out downstairs. Connie and Roger and the best hosts you will every find and the breakfast around their large family table is outstanding.

After you fill your bellies, there are beautiful bluffs at Pike Peak and Effigie Mounds (Indian Burial grouds) that you must take in! Don%26#39;t be surprised to see Eagles and wildlife. Our first stop each trip is Pikes Peak were you can see miles of the Mississippi River. If you are wine lovers, Connie and Roger have their own winery and store up the street. Our favorite is the Rhode Red. Semi-Dry.

Be sure to book NOW if you are thinking about next March. There is a bridge right in Marquette that will take you to the Wisconsin side where you will find much to do in Prairie Du Chien. Our kids are begging to back to hike we will probably book a house boat next trip to take out on the river.

Best of Luck. You will not be sorry you visited Connie and Roger. We are heading there next weekend and I am so excited!

Hi: I would recommend checking into renting a canoe on our

rivers in the central east regin in the summer time. Check into

monticello and central city, iowa for some rentals,

We love the Decorah area in NE Iowa --- it has a thriving downtown, Norwegian heritage museum, and Luther College -great for fine arts! North of town is the Seed Savers foundation - savers of heirloom varieties of seeds, in an amazing setting. Continue north from there a few miles and discover the Willow Glen Nursury - one of our favorites. Keep heading north and venture about 20 miles into SE Minnesota to the villages of Harmony and Lanesboro --- fantastic bike trails, canoeing, cross country skiing, Amish businesses, b%26amp;b%26#39;s abound. We go back to this area over and over again -- you will find lots of local artists as well. Enjoy your trip!

Forget to mention, Iowa is cold in March and summer outdoors

is the best time to come.

I was raised in Kansas but now live in Iowa...Honestly, dont consider Iowa as a fun spring break spot..it is likely to be 10 degrees colder than Kansac City. Des Moines, Iowa is a ';mini'; kansas city with the same restaurants, shops, etc...Iowa is great in the summer months with Okoboji Lake and lots of outdoor activities but not much fun for teenagers during the cold months...try Nashville if you all like country music or even skiing in Colorado?? Hope you all have fun!

If you%26#39;re heading east:

• Coralville Reservoir spillway was flooded in %26#39;93 and when the water receded it took the topsoil, creating a fossil hunters paradise. Free and fun ... hiking in the area too.

• For the inner geek -- MacBride Hall at UIowa in Iowa City houses a freakish collection of stuffed and mounted animals in its natural history museum.

• I.C., Cedar Rapids and Des Moines all have worthy art museums.. DM%26#39;s Botanical Center has a biodome, if the weather turns on you.

• Kalona has its Amish population (due south of IC) although I hesitate to suggest a religion as tourist attraction.

• Southeast Iowa can be up to 15 degrees warmer. Burlington, the state%26#39;s first capitol is cute, has an indoor water park at Fun City (as well as bumper cars, lazer tag ... that kind of stuff)

• Fort Madison, south on the River Road, has Old Fort Madison, a recreated Indian Wars fort with reenactors (vastly underrated), Right across the river is Nauvoo, Ill., where the Mormons have rebuild the temple that was torched after they left for Salt Lake City. They also are rebuilding Old Nauvoo, an area of town where reenactors live as their ancestors had.

• Lake Geode, near B%26#39;ton, has a great path circling the lake (6ish miles) and camping.

• The Mississippi River. Get on it, get by it. If its cold, head down to Burlington and watch the eagles. It is pretty cool.

Have fun... Iowa really is underestimated as a vacation spot. The vistas always remind us of Ireland. And the local food scene is thriving in many towns as the state reembraces its roots.

Des Moines has added several very worthwhile attractions in recent years. The Science Center, the Iowa Hall of Pride, Living History Farms, etc. would all be doable in March. The state sports tournaments are going on at that time, though, so rooms could be at a premium. In western Iowa, there are some neat attractions in the Council Bluffs area that always seem to get overlooked, most notably the big Union Pacific railroad museum there. Just fantastic. Some of the nation%26#39;s last great hometown soda fountains are located in that area, including ones in Shenandoah and Sidney. (Your kids might get a kick out of the dirt collection at the Sidney museum, as well.) Check out www.essentialiowa.com for some ideas.