AREA ATTRACTIONS

Des Moines
Iowa’s capital city is in the center of the state at the convergence of the Raccoon and Des Moines rivers. Des Moines got its start in the mid-1800s as a military post and today, the city and its surrounding suburbs have a population of about 500,000. The city is recognized as a center for government, education, business, culture and the arts. Des Moines also has gained national recognition as a major insurance center, with nearly 60 life, health and casualty companies.
Weather
Fall officially arrives in Iowa in September, so the leaves will be turning and the weather will be getting cooler. We’ll still enjoy comfortable temperatures during the day, but bring a jacket for any evening or nighttime activities. Be prepared to enjoy the beautiful fall foliage in our state!

Des Moines Area Attractions

Iowa Capitol
The Iowa State Capitol signifies the prodigious spirit of the state. Built between 1871 and 1886, this magnificent building represents one of the nation's finest examples of 19th century architecture. You may contact the Capitol Tour Department at 515-281-5591. More information is available at http://www.legis.state.ia.us/Pubinfo/Tour/.

Living History Farms
Living History Farms is a 600-acre, open-air museum that tells the story of how Iowans transformed the prairies into the most productive farmland in the world. Visitors tour a 1700 Ioway Indian Village, 1850 Pioneer Farm, 1875 town of Walnut Hill, and 1900 Farm. Living History Farms is open May 1 through late October, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Phone: 515-278-5286 (office). More information is available at www.lhf.org.

Valley Junction
The Valley Junction shopping and dining area on the western edge of Des Moines features more than 120 antique stores, clothing boutiques, restaurants and specialty shops. More information is available at www.valleyjunction.com.

Terrace Hill
Iowa’s first millionaire built Terrace Hill in the late 1860s. The 18,000-square-foot mansion was once known as “The Palace of the Prairie” and today, it is home to Iowa’s governor and his family. Terrace Hill is open for tours March through December, Tuesday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. For group tours of 10 or more people, call 515-281-3604. More information is available at www.terracehill.org.

Fort Des Moines
Construction is underway in south Des Moines on a memorial park to honor the U.S. Army's first officer candidate class open to African-American men in 1917 and the establishment of the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) in 1942. The 4.6-acre Fort Des Moines Memorial Park & Education Center is scheduled for dedication in fall 2003, but some artifacts are already on display. More information is available online at www.fortdesmoines.org.

Saylorville Lake
Just north of Des Moines, Saylorville Lake covers 5,400 surface acres and offers boating and fishing opportunities along with camping areas, biking and hiking trails and nature areas. For more information, call the lake’s visitor’s center at 515-964-0672 or visit www.mvr.usace.army.mil/saylor.

Iowa Attractions

Bridges of Madison County
About 30 minutes south of Des Moines are the historic covered bridges of Madison County, made famous in the best-selling novel “The Bridges of Madison County” by Robert James Waller and the motion picture starring Clint Eastwood and Meryl Streep. For more information, contact the Madison County Chamber of Commerce at 515-462-1185 or by e-mail at chamber@dwx.com. The home page for the bridges is at www.madisoncounty.com.

Neal Smith Wildlife Refuge
Elk and buffalo roam at the Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge near Prairie City. The goal of the 5,000-acre refuge with its tallgrass prairie is to encourage public involvement in prairie restoration and preservation. You can tour the refuge from dawn until dusk, seven days a week. The Prairie Learning Center at the refuge also has set hours. Staffers can be reached at 515-994-3400. More information is available at www.tallgrass.org.


Boone and Scenic Valley Railroad
Hop aboard an electric trolley or Chinese steam engine at the Boone and Scenic Valley railroad in Boone. The trains run seven days a week from Memorial Day weekend through October 31. Your ride takes you over two great bridges and through the Des Moines river valley. Call 1-800-626-0319 for departure times and fares. More information is available at www.scenic-valleyrr.com.


Pella
The community of Pella offers visitors the experience of life as it was in the Netherlands. Everything about Pella is Dutch -- from its canal, Dutch architecture and 1850's windmill to its museums and sites dedicated to the people of Pella. You can contact the Pella Chamber of Commerce at 641-628-2626. More information is available at www.pella.org.

The Mississippi River
The mighty Mississippi River forms the eastern border of Iowa and draws thousands of tourists each year for festivals, riverboat excursions and many other activities. A popular stop along the Mississippi is the Quad Cities area. Visit www.quadcities.com for more information about Bettendorf and Davenport on the Iowa side of the river and Moline and Rock Island on the Illinois side.

The Amana Colonies
Seven authentic German villages founded the Amana Colonies as a religious commune in the mid-1800s. This preserved culture is a National Historic Landmark and one of Iowa's most famous travel attractions. You can visit craft shops, wineries, bakeries and woolen mills during a stop in the Amanas. Contact the Amana Colonies Convention & Visitors Bureau at 1-800-579-2294 or visit www.jeonet.com/amanas for more information.

Herbert Hoover Memorial Site
The life and career of the nation’s 31st president is on display at the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum in West Branch. You can tour Hoover’s birthplace cottage, Friends meeting house, reconstructed blacksmith shop, one-room schoolhouse, and grave site. The library and museum are open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call 319-643-5301 for more information or visit www.hoover.nara.gov.

Field of Dreams
First, watch the movie starring Kevin Costner, then visit the original baseball field and house where “Field of Dreams” was filmed near Dyersville. Bring your bat, ball and glove because you can play catch and run the bases on the field, then sit and dream on the bleachers. The movie site is open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day, April through November. Call 1-888-875-8404 for more information or visit www.fieldofdreamsmoviesite.com.

Lake Okoboji
Iowa's Great Lakes region is one of the state’s most popular vacation destinations, with 50 resorts, motels, inns and campgrounds; three amusement parks; seven golf courses; more 14 miles of recreational trails and horseback riding; fishing; and unique gift and antique shops. The city of Okoboji is at the center of it all, along with its fictitious University of Okoboji. Visit www.okoboji.com to learn more.

Missouri River
The Missouri River forms the western border of Iowa and was traveled by explorers Lewis and Clark during their expedition in 1804. Displays about that expedition and transportation along the Missouri River are found at the Sergeant Floyd Riverboat Museum in Sioux City. The museum is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily from May to September. Call 712-279-0198 for more information or visit www.siouxland.com.

The Loess Hills
The rare, natural landscape of the Loess Hills in western Iowa will entice you to explore the area’s rugged windblown hills. The only other natural formation of windblown hills with these depths exists in China. Scenic byway signs guide you through the area. Find out about tours by calling the Loess Hills Hospitality Association at 712-886-5441 or visiting http://www.loesshillstours.com/.