Anything to do in Iowa?

[Gavin Allan]

My stepson is competing on the state basketball team at National Special Olympics next week at Ames, Iowa. I'll be in Iowa all week, with lots of time for side trips, etc. Can anyone recommend anything worth doing in Iowa, southern Wisconsin, Western Illinois, Eastern South Dakota, or Eastern Nebraska that we could do/visit next week?



Thanks

 

[Terry Schultz]

Pick Corn

 

[EddieS'04]

I think, Lawrence Welk is in South Dokota...:lol::lol:

 

[Gavin Allan]

Not too interested in Lawrence Welk!



Q- Capitol and Imax sound OK. Zoo sounds kind of fun too. Will do some more digging on the web.



Wife wants to see the Amana colonies. Don't know if I care that much about microwave ovens...

 

[Glenn Brown]

Hope you like to gamble! Lots of casinos here! Des Moines, Tama, Oseola and on the river there are river boats for cruises and gambling!

Bass Pro opened in November in Council Bluffs, IA.

Ames is a fun college town also! Des moines is great downtown also, like Q mentioned!

On saturday hit the downtown farmers market!!

Later!

GB

 

[R 2]

Drum corps! America's best-kept secret. Check out these 2 shows:



1) Cedarburg, IA, Mon 7/3 (north of Milwaukee)

http://dci.org/events/view_event.cfm?event_id=2f31ba73-801d-4c82-a622-1a258e7b6956



Cedarburg Music Festival

July 3, 2006

Cedarburg, WI



Ticket line: 262.376.6161 Tickets on sale NOW!

Official show Web site:

http://www.cedarburgpac.com

Stadium information

Grafton High School Athletic Field

Grafton, WI

Ticket line: 262.376.6161 Tickets on sale NOW!



Performing corps

Bluecoats

Madison Scouts

Pioneer

Colts

Blue Stars

Colt Cadets

Capital Sound

Racine Scouts



2) Dubuque, IA Fri 7/7 (NE of Cedar Rapids, where IL/IA/WI meet)

http://dci.org/events/view_event.cfm?event_id=d025f1de-368f-4407-91ae-54e6bd9dac62



Music on the March

July 7, 2006

Dubuque, IA



Ticket line: 563.582.4872 Tickets on sale NOW!

Official show Web site:

http://www.colts.org

Stadium information

Dalzell Field - Dubuque Senior H.S..

1800 Clarke Drive

Dubuque, IA

Ticket line: 563.582.4872 Tickets on sale NOW!



Performing corps

Colts

Blue Devils

Madison Scouts

Blue Stars

Colt Cadets

Racine Scouts



Sorry, couldn't paste two into the HTML field...cut & paste the above addresses.



SUTA,

R

 

[Mark K 2]

Stop at the Rochelle Railroad Park in Rochelle, IL. Two Union Pacific main lines cross two BNSF main lines there. You'll see 120 or more trains a day. The railroads have built a nice park and museum at the crossing.



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[Glenn Brown]

Check out Newton on your way to the Amana Colonies! That's where Rusty Wallace is building his new race track, the Iowa Speedway. Going to be complete by this fall for racing. Also Knoxville has Sprint Car Races!

Amana Colonies is fun to visit! Good food and drinks!

Check out the new library downtown des moines, make of copper screen with a grass roof! You can see thru it!!:wacko:

 

[Glenn Brown]

Seen this limo in town tonight at Ankeny, found the website if interested!!

:unsure:

 

[Ray McIntireJr]

You can go cow-tipping.

 

[Marsha Walker]

There is an excellent brewery on "OLD MAIN" street downtown Ames. If your into that type of stuff. Excellent food and brew! Colorado Feed and Grain in Ames for Pizza and Hickory Park is excellent as well, usually packed though, but worth it. Try the "Grotto" in West bend, interesting. If you make it to Des Moines, all of your shopping needs are at Jordan Creek in West Des Moines. And the "East Village" near the state capital has some neat shops and bars (Blues on Grand). Dont let the "Corn" stereo type sway you until you have been here. People leave this state but they always come back to raise their families. Marsha

 

[Marsha Walker]

Almost forgot.... GOOD LUCK to your stepson during the games!! Its such a neat event and its great that we could hold it here. Marsha

 

[Glenn Brown]

Marsha, never tried the Colorado place, but I've been to the Great Plains Pizza place! How do they differ?

Gavin, don't forget about the Iowa Cubs games this week in Des Moines and Principal Park!

 

[Todd Cloutier]

I'll second Hickory Park in Ames. I ate there quite a few times while I was at Iowa State.

 

[Marsha Walker]

Glenn, you got me! Had another resturant on the brain. It is Great Plains Pizza. What can I say I must have been drunk while attending ISU oh so long ago.

Go Cyclones!!

 

[ShelbyChip Melton]

If you get over in Wisconsin go see the House on the Rock in Spring Green WS.

www.houseontherock.com Chip

 

[Gavin Allan]

HICKORY PARK is the bomb!!! Ribs are GREAT!!! I had them for lunch both yesterday and today!!!



Having a good time. Gonna check out the Amana colonies tomorrow.



Thanks for the good advice. IOWA is pretty dang nice!

 

[Thomas Rogers]

Go to Riverside, Iowa, future birthplace of James T. Kirk...

 

[Marsha Walker]

Gavin, glad to hear you liked Hickory Park. How did your stepson do?? Marsha

 

[Gavin Allan]

Last game is today. They are playing for the bronze or for a crappy ribbon. However, they have had a whole lot of fun and are playing much better than the beginning of the week.



Amana colonies were kind of disappointing--not what we expected. (too much commercial stuff selling Home Interiors from China instead of authentic crafts, etc.).



I am somewhat ashamed to say that I have eaten one meal a day at Hickory Park this week. Finished a whole slap of baby backs last night!



pictures and info at:

http://www.2006nationalgames.org/



Jo Dee Messinna will perform tonight at the closing ceremony. There are rumors of Arnold Schwartzeneggar appearance also (mother-in-law Eunice Schirver started Special Olympics).