Ames Travel Guide

Oozing small town charm and packed with all of the amenities of larger cities, Ames offers dozens of great educational, recreational, business, and cultural opportunities for both visitors and residents. Ames has won a number of awards and recognition, and is largely known for its popularity among STEM graduates.

Things to Do in Ames

Visitors who enjoy spending time with nature can start their Ames exploration with an hour or two at Reiman Gardens, where flowers and butterflies are abundant and gardens that change with the seasons are manicured and well taken care of. They can also make their way to Brookside Park where they can play volleyball, tennis, and field sports, as well as go wading in the park’s wade pool. Or, they can go biking and have a cookout with the on-site grills at Moore Memorial Park, and fishing, hiking, and birding at Ada Hayden Heritage Park.

The Textile and Clothing Museum offers pieces of Ames’ unique heritage, showcasing educational exhibits based around the concepts of visual learning and creativity, while the Brunnier Art Museum offers features hundreds of rotating, original art works to be inspired by. For an adult-orientated activity, guests over the age of 21 can try the local beers at Torrent Brewing Company

Best Places to Stay in Ames

There is an extensive array of rentals in Ames, many of which are pet friendly and have fenced yards. Others, however, are more modest and offer quiet convenience and charm, making them better suited for singles. All of the rentals, however, have modern amenities such as full kitchens and wireless internet.

Best Time to Visit Ames

Guests and their families can spend a Saturday at Perfect Games, where they have the option to go bowling, play laser tag and video games, munch on pizza, and for adults, have a drink at the on-site sports bar.The Furman Aquatic Center provides another level of family-friendly entertainment, featuring water slides, a lazy river, a wade pool, swimming lanes, and diving boards that are monitored by lifeguards and require children of 12 years or younger to take a swimming test before use.

Best Events in Ames

Ames’ residents look forward to a number of great events each year. These events include but aren’t limited to the Beat the Blues Winter Marathon, Oktoberfest, Music Walk, and DIY Downtown. DIY Downtown, perhaps one of the most unique events in Iowa, means that a variety of downtown Ames businesses offer a number of fun DIY activities, some of which are practical and others which are purely for entertainment purposes.

Things to Do for Families in Ames

The best time to visit Ames is June to September, as these are the peak summer months with the least chance of rain.