looking for a hotel in the des moines area that kids would enjoy for a few days over spring break. also is there a indoor park or indoor fun place for a 6 yr old and 10 yr old???
Though it gets bad reviews on here, adventureland inn is the place to stay, with their indoor pool.
Would not stay at the Adventureland Inn. 6 year old might like it, 10 year old will be bored. We have stayed there, not impressed with the pools or the room or the pizza!
My husband%26#39;s family lives in Waterloo/Cedar Falls and we%26#39;ll be visiting in the summer. I was attempting to make more of this trip, taking the family somewhere else in Iowa, not too far from Waterloo, that%26#39;s kind of a lake resort. Is that possible? Does something like that exist in Iowa or would you have to go to Minnestota? I invision a nice cabin rental by a lake, kids could swim and fish and boat, etc. I%26#39;d love not to stay with the in-laws the whole time (that%26#39;s why I haven%26#39;t asked my husband for suggestions. Anyways, sometimes when you grow up in a certain place you%26#39;re the last person to give out travel advice for that place.) Thanks for any input -
PS - If we were to get a hotel around there is there any really nice places in Cedar Falls?
When I was a child, we frequently stayed on Lake Okoboji and we frequently went to Clear Lake. I honestly can%26#39;t tell you what all there is to do there anymore, but I do remember that staying on West Okoboji was a blast. You might try to google these places, I know they have rentals on Okoboji...not sure about Clear Lake.
I can answer the Cedar Falls question. They have built a Wingate Inn, Americinn, and Country Inn in the last couple of years. A Comfort Suites is about to open soon. Waterloo is getting some new motels with a casino opening up (Hampton Inn, Candlewood Suites). Clear Lake and Okobji are the only two places I can think of. Also look at the Iowa State Parks, some of them offer cabins and beaches and lakes you can swim at. You may have to bring bedding, towels and a few other essentials, but the accomodations are pretty reasonable.
Across the street from the Country Inn on Main St in Cedar Falls is the new Waterpark that replaced Ray Edwards swimming pool. It has a few waterslides, is very nice and reasonably priced.
Lots of nice paved bike trails around that area and go out to George Wyth state park.
Lots of restaurants, mall near by.
Parks with nice playground equipment.
Have fun!
What are some opionions on the Quality INN in Clive?
Quality Inn/Clive?I live in Clive and don%26#39;t recall seeing a Quality Inn here, but there is a Comfort Suites (same hotel group as Quality Inn) at Living History Farms in Urbandale that is literally just across Hickmann Rd. from Clive. There also are a couple of Quality Inns in the Des Moines area. There%26#39;s one on Merle Hay Rd. that I believe is an older property and it%26#39;s in a busy area (i.e. lots of traffic coming and going from the interstate ). There may also be one in downtown Des Moines, which may be O.K. but is probably the oldest property of the bunch.
The Urbandale Comfort Suites is nice. We stayed there several times before moving here and thought that it seemed to be well-managed. It%26#39;s conveniently located next to I-80/I-35 for quick access anywhere and it%26#39;s right next to Living History Farms, which is a large historical park.
Otherwise, the mid-range or better chain hotels (Residence Inn, Hilton Garden Inn, Chase Suites, Marriott, Courtyard, etc.) should be O.K. anywhere in the western Des Moines suburbs (Clive, West Des Moines, Urbandale, Johnston). I%26#39;ve also heard good comments about the Embassy Suites in downtown Des Moines.
Enjoy your stay in the Des Moines area!
My husband and will be staying in Des Moines Easter Week end as my college age daughter will be playing in a spring volleyball tournament at Drake U. My 17 year old son will be with us also. We need a hotel that has a two bedroom suite with plenty of room for two adults and two grown children. I have made reservations at the Holiday Inn and suites on Merle Hay and the Quality Inn and suites on Merle Hay. Which is better? Holiday Inn has had bad reviews on TA. Or are there any other suggestions?
You could stay in W. Des Moines near the new Jordan Creek Mall. There is a Residence Inn on the premises. It wouldn%26#39;t take you more than 20-25 min to get to Drake from there.
Huskergal, I agree with SueA. Merle Hay Rd. is not very conveniently located for getting to Drake Univ. and the hotels along Merle Hay tend to be older and in a high traffic area.
It would probably be as fast and easier to stay either in the western suburbs (especially near the I-235/I-80/I-35 interchange in West Des Moines or Clive), Ankeny or Altoona. In addition to the Residence Inn that SueA mentioned, you may want to consider the Chase Suites, Springhill Suites or Fairfield Inn/Suites in WDM/Clive or the Embassy Suites in downtown Des Moines.
Good luck to your daughter and her team!
I ended up booking at the Country Inn and Suites in Clive. Does anyone know if the Malls are going to open Eater Sunday???
Valley West Mall in West Des Moines is close to where you%26#39;re staying. It will be closed on Easter and I suspect that the other malls will be, too. However, the mall movie theaters are typically open. Some of the grocery stores , restaurants and other businesses may open for limited hours, too.
I am a youth director at my church and I was wondering if anyone had anything in mine to do in Iowa.
In Dubuque there is a great River museum and Aquarium. Nearby there is also the Grand Harbor Water resort - indoor slides, pools, etc.
Hi
Following 6 days of ballgames from Minnisota to Milwaukee and Milwaukee to Chicago, the hubby and I have 8 free days and want to get to Mount Rushmore. Looking for thoughts on routes to take, towns to visit, restaurants that are a must, town fairs, cookoffs or any other hightlights you may have. Our trip is during the 2nd and 3rd week of May. Many thanks
If you%26#39;re willing to take the scenic route vs. the interstate, you could make your way west from Chicago to the Field of Dreams near Dyersville, IA. Dyersville is just off Highway 20. That seems like a ';must see'; for baseball fans or film buffs.
Options along I 80 in Iowa include the Herbert Hoover presidential library and museum in West Branch, IA (about 10 miles east of Iowa City, IA) and Living History Farms just west of Des Moines. IA.
Further north: I haven%26#39;t been there myself, but if you like quirky places there%26#39;s a Spam Museum (yes, celebrating the canned meat product) in Austin, MN that is close to I 90 and about 1 1/2 hrs. south of Minneapolis.
In South Dakota, the Corn Palace in Mitchell, SD and Badlands National Park are along the interstate as you drive toward Rapid City/Mt. Rushmore.
Have a great trip!
Prariedog,
Your post was exactly the stuff I was looking for. A;readu surprising my hubby with Dyersville but did not know about Austin. Can%26#39;t wait to check out the Spam museum. Any restaurants you want to recommend?
If you were already planning a stop in Dyersville, you may be interested in stopping In Dubuque first. They have ther Mississippi River Museum, Gambling boats , a cable car ride, and a great shopping area on Bluff Street.
I%26#39;m glad that the suggestions hit the spot, globaluyandgirl!
I%26#39;m afraid that the extent of my knowledge of the restaurant scene in Austin is that there is a Culver%26#39;s (a pretty good Midwestern fast food chain) there. I%26#39;m told by a friend at work who is from Dyersville that the Country Junction restaurant has good pies. Perhaps someone else who reads this board will be able to provide more help.
Take care!
Girl, Here in IOWA the best place to eat is a ';little hole in the wall diner'; off some highway that you don%26#39;t even know if you%26#39;re suppose to be on! We have every fast food place there is, but for a real good home cooked meal you need to drive through town and look for a diner or a small place that isn%26#39;t known from t.v. Good luck
Yes! country Junction! I live in Madison, WI, and my dad makes a stop at this restaurant EVERY time he comes to visit. He always brings me a slice of pie, and it is wonderful. I would also suggest, as I have before, taking a quick trip off hwy 20 to hwy 17, toward Boone. I grew up near this area, and it is beautiful. The Boone Railroad goes through here, and a passenger train (scenic only) still runs here. http://www.scenic-valleyrr.com/
You can take a quick train ride, or the dinner train, and see the river valley from the freakishly high (for Iowa) bridge. It really is beautiful. If you camp or hike, Brushy Creek and The Ledges are in the area as well. Brushy Creek is a campsite with horse trails however, so be prepared for dirty cowboys (very nice folks) everywhere. Good luck!
