AmericInn Ankeny Iowa Hotel and Lodging - Our Neighborhood

Two 250 foot inner tube slides lazy river zero-depth kiddie slides geysers diving board diving platform swirl bowl slide and flowrider machine.

1220 Northwest Prairie Ridge Drive

Ankeny, Iowa

50023

This outdoor amusement park featuring over 100 rides shows and attractions is a destination that’s fun for the whole family. Cruise through sections divided by theme such as Outlaw Gulch Main Street Adventure Island River City and the Space Shot Midway. Rides vary from the kid-friendly Frog Hopper and Puff the Dragon to the more adventurous Tornado rollercoaster and River Rapids Log Flume for fun-filled things to do in Iowa.

3200 Adventureland Drive

Altoona, Iowa

50009

Enjoy 1900 slot machines table games including blackjack and poker live horse racing (Apr.-Oct.) and simulcast horse racing. Triple Crown Eatery and AJ's Steakhouse live concerts and entertainment. Valet parking. Meadows Events and Conference Center. Ages 21 and older only in casino. Under 21 may attend races and dine accompanied by an adult.

1 Prairie Meadows Dr

Altoona, Iowa

50009

Museum features the largest military weapons collection in Iowa. Learn the history of the Iowa Army & Air National Guard the 113th ("Red Horse") Calvary and the 34th ("Red Bull") Infantry Division which first was organized in 1917 and still serves our Nation today.

7105 NW 70th Ave

Johnston, Iowa

50131

The Iowa State Fair may very well provide the ten most fun-filled days in the whole year. Sprawled over 400 acres including wooded campsites the fair attracts tens of thousands of visitors annually with numerous things to do in Iowa. Among the entertainment exhibits rides and music are some annual favorites including the Butter Cow and the Mighty Bluegrass Shows Midway’s double Ferris wheel.

East 30th Street & East University Avenue

Des Moines, Iowa

50317

Built between 1871 and 1886 this magnificent building is one of the nation's finest examples of 19th century architecture. Its dome constructed of steel and brick is externally gilded with 23-karat gold leaf. Tours can be scheduled between 8:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and on Saturdays from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Tours of the Capitol last about one hour to one hour and 20 minutes. Groups must schedule in advance.

E 9th St. and Grand Avenue

Des Moines, Iowa

50319

The Iowa Events Center is located in downtown Des Moines and is comprised of Hy-Vee Hall - the states largest exhibit hall, Wells Fargo Arena - a top 100 concert facility, and Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center - the states largest ballroom.

730 Third Street

Des Moines, Iowa

50309

[515] 564.8000

The moment visitors enter the building they know they have walked into an extraordinary facility.  The open design of the building provides great sight lines from every seat a view of the action from concourse areas and tremendous vistas of downtown Des Moines including the skyline Principal River Walk and Capital building. In addition to hosting large concerts and family events Wells Fargo Arena is the home to two minor league sports franchises.

703 3rd Street

Des Moines, Iowa

50309

Experience Iowa like never before! Filled with dozens of hands-on interactive exhibits the Iowa Hall of Pride tells the stories of Iowa's communities and their heroes. It's fun for kids adults and families and a great venue for group meetings and events. All Iowa students grades K-12 are admitted free.

330 Park St

Des Moines, Iowa

50309

Veterans Memorial has now been renovated into a beautiful state of the art Convention Center. Inside Veterans Memorial is now considered Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center with 27 meeting rooms and the state's largest ballroom (over 28000 sq ft). Veterans Memorial Hall located inside the west entrance is a 5000 sq ft tribute to Iowan's servicemen and women. Documents personal stories photos and more detail each conflict since Iowa's statehood in 1846.

833 5th Avenue

Des Moines, Iowa

50309

Merle Hay Mall Cinema next to Sears in Merle Hay Mall boasts Iowa's largest non-Imax screen.

3800 Merle Hay Rd

Des Moines, Iowa

50310

Enjoy the sounds of a full-service professional orchestra! The Des Moines Symphony performs six pairs of classical concerts throughout the season as well as an Opening Night Gala a New Year’s Eve pops performance and the annual Yankee Doodle Pops Concert. The current conductor Maestro Joseph Giunta has been directing the symphony for over 20 years.

221 Walnut Street

Des Moines, Iowa

50309

Principal Park continues to rate as one of the top minor league facilities in the country. The stadium which was built prior to the start of the 1992 season has seen over seven million fan passes through its gates.

1 Line Drive

Des Moines, Iowa

50309

Internationally acclaimed the Des Moines Art Center is known for its architectural design and permanent collection of contemporary work.  Programs including life music films and art classes are offered throughout the year.

4700 Grand Avenue

Des Moines, Iowa

50312

Tokens Inc. Family Fun Center Family entertainment pizza pop food miniature golf lazer tag games birthday parties family fun and team building.

313 Grand Ave

West Des Moines, Iowa

50265

Living History Farms in Urbandale Iowa tells the amazing story of how Iowans transformed the fertile prairies of the Midwest into the most productive farmland in the world. The interactive outdoor museum will bring back memories for some teach others what life was like prior to the current day and entertain those that wander through the different exhibits.  There are authentic models of historical and modern farming for you to see. The farm seeks to re-create daily life of those that worked the farms in the past.  You will see authentic simulations of typical historical farm sites and a small town from time periods that illustrate major changes in agricultural technology procedures and rural life.

11121 Hickman Rd

Urbandale, Iowa

50322

Lions and tigers and bears oh my! Opened in 1986 as an AZA accredited zoo the 49 acre Blank Park Zoo now houses over 100 species and almost 1500 animals. Hang with the King Island wallaby race with the Aldabra tortoise and roar with an African lion – it’s all in a day’s work at Blank Park Zoo. For the true animal lovers out there arrange for a behind-the-scenes tour to help train the sea lions or feed the giraffes for exciting Iowa activities!

7401 SW 9th Street

Des Moines, Iowa

50315

The Saylorville Lake Project is 26000 acres which stretches for over 50 miles up the Des Moines River Valley. A wide variety of recreational activities are available including fishing picnic areas with group shelters boat launches an accessible fishing pier river fishing hunting and a 24-mile paved multipurpose trail used for biking hiking jogging walking and in-line skating.

50226

Located along the east bank of the Des Moines River this center contains spectacular displays of plants flowers and free-flying birds. Visitors can experience spring and summer vistas year-round under one of the largest geodesic domes in the United States without worrying about the weather outside. The center houses an extensive collection (over 1750 species) of tropical sub-tropical and desert-growing plants—probably more than any other place in the Midwest. There are also extensive exterior gardens a café and a gift shop. Guided tours are available if reservations are made at least two weeks in advance.

909 Rober D Ray Dr

Des Moines, Iowa

50316

Sleepy Hollow Sports Park and Event Center is Des Moines' unique 80-acre year-round outdoor sports and family recreation complex. Sleepy Hollow emphasizes year-round activities and family fun

4501 Dean Avenue

Des Moines, Iowa

5309

This vineyard grows over six varieties of French-American grapes including Chancellor Foch St. Croix Edelweiss Seyval Blanc and La Crescent which are bred to withstand Midwestern winters.

2400 George Flagg Parkway

Des Moines, Iowa

50321

Founded in the 1890's this historic railroad district features more than 120 stops in a singular destination.  The area features antique shops art galleries boutiques and restaurants.

217 5th Street

West Des Moines, Iowa

50265

Ankeny is the host of its annual Summerfest parade and carnival and close to Saylorville Lake where you can enjoy swimming and water sports. There are several hiking and biking trails to experience in the area as well. Ankeny has several eclectic restaurants and shopping centers to enjoy. Just off Interstate 35 between Ames and Des Moines, Ankeny is a great place to stop and visit.

Altoona is home to many of Central Iowa's great attractions including Adventureland Park for some big family fun, along with Prairie Meadows Racetrack and Casino which boosts to have some of Iowa's loosest slots. There are many shopping options in Altoona as well as several dining options.

Iowa's capitol city is Des Moines. Here you will find not only numerous shopping centers such as Merle Hay Mall, Historic East Village, and Shops at Roosevelt, but also many art galleries and museums like Des Moines Art Center, Hoyt Sherman Place, Salisbury house, and the Science Center of Iowa which also features the Blank IMAX Dome Theater. Des Moines is also home to the Balnk Park Zoo and Des Moines Water Works Park and Arboretum for fun family options. Des Moines also offers many great venues such as Wells Fargo Arena, Vets Auditorium, and Des Moines Civic Center located right downtown.

Polk City offers a variety of parks such as Saylorville Lake and Big Creek Marina for great swimming, boating and other water activities. Don't forget the golf courses that reside around Polk City such as Beaver Creek Country Club, Jester Park Golf Course and Riding Stables, and the newest to the area the Tournament Club of Iowa.

In its early days Urbandale served as a streetcar suburb of Des Moines with four coal mines. Urbandale is the home of Living History Farms, where Pope John Paul II spoke to a crowd of 350,000. It is also the home to the Des Moines Buccaneers hockey team.

The West Des Moines area used to be home to the Sac and Fox Tribe. West Des Moines has Valley Junction, where the down town still looks like small town America with its variety of shops, stores and restaurants. Vally West and Jordan Creek Malls are popular destinations in the West Des Moines area.

In the early days Clive was a coal mining town and a railroad shipping point along the St. Louis-Des Moines Northern Railroad. Most of Clive's businesses are located along 86th Street, Hickman Road and University Avenue. Clive is known for the popular Clive After Five concerts that the local jaycees have held at Linnan Park since 1985. The concerts are held on Fridays during the summer months.