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City in Iowa, US
Photo: User:Raivena, CC BY 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Ames is a pleasant college town in Central Iowa, sitting astride the Skunk River roughly 30 miles north of Des Moines. Life in Ames follows the ebb and flow of the academic year at Iowa State University, which is the city's primary draw.
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A small museum run by the local historical society with exhibits and displays on Ames history. Books, historic postcards, and self-guided walking tour brochures are available for purchase here.
Holding fine and decorative art items from around the world, including European decorative arts and American prints, paintings and sculpture, with an emphasis on Iowan artists.
Overlooking the central lawn is this classically-designed clock and bell tower, frequently used as an icon for the university.
Located in one of the oldest buildings on campus, this museum holds a series of changing contemporary art exhibitions. A small sculpture garden with changing exhibits is located behind the building.
The oldest building on campus, the Farm House was the center of life for the model farm that was the entirety of the university during its founding years. Today it is operated as a historical museum with period furnishings.
It was created to provide staff and students of the university a place to relax and enjoy nature. It is a large botanical garden with indoor and outdoor displays. Among the highlights are a lovely rose garden, a conservatory, and a popular butterfly garden.
Just north of town is this small lake that makes for a pleasant fishing and picnicking spot. A biking/hiking trail circles the lake, and a ramp for small boats is also available.
Pricey but popular steakhouse with semi-formal atmosphere, which has made it something of an Ames standby with so few formal restaurants to go around. Patio and bar.
Very popular restaurant with farm-to-table cuisine, vegetarian options, casual but chic atmosphere. Great desserts and wine list.
Very bare-bones, but a nice local choice for sandwiches.
Pizza is hearty, but popular because of the crust. Has honey as a dipping sauce.
A huge and very popular Western-themed restaurant that has long been an Ames staple and is great for kids, parties, and large groups. American and Iowan fare, featuring pulled pork/beef sandwiches and a dessert menu boasting over 50 selections. Huge seating area, though there is often a wait to get a table on the weekends; however, the wait passes quickly and the waiting area has enough interesting decor and distractions like a TV and cheap candy to keep you occupied. Very popular with families. Diabetics beware.
Pizza place offering some unusual toppings, Iowa State student favorite. Eat in or delivery.
Thai cuisine with a nice ambiance.
A coffee shop/art gallery that is a popular student hangout and serves good cappuccinos and mochas, along with decent sandwiches and teas. Service takes a while, though.
A small Thai restaurant with friendly atmosphere.
A pleasant and rather unassuming deli on a quiet side of campus. Excellent sandwiches.
Sports bar.
Frat-bar with dance floor in the basement but not considered a club.
Relaxed dive bar with mostly standing room only (on the weekends) and overly loud music for dancing. Two-Fer-Tuesdays and dollar burgers on Wednesdays.
Dance club.
One of the longest-standing bars in town. The atmosphere is more traditional than the more "hip" and "modern" bars around town. Has regular bar food as well as pizza from the Pizza Pit upstairs.
Dive bar on Main Street in downtown, three miles from campus.
One of the more reputed hotels in Ames. Heated indoor pool, fitness center, whirlpool and sauna, free parking, free wireless internet, room service, on-site restaurant, meeting/conference space.
A small bed and breakfast in an old fraternity house that's well furnished with friendly service. In a nice neighborhood and very convenient to Campustown.
By bus
Burlington Trailways and Jefferson Lines both serve the Ames Intermodal Facility, +1 515 232-2404, at 129 Hayward Avenue, a block south of the Iowa State University campus in the Campustown…
By plane
There are no scheduled passenger flights to Ames; the nearest major airport is located in Des Moines.
Lincoln Way is the main east-west thoroughfare of the city, passing just south of Downtown (the historic center of town, north of the train tracks between Grand and Duff Avenues) and continuing west to Campustown (the…
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Des Moines · International · DSM
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