Anything to see in Iowa? (Des Moines, West Des Moines: food, best, buildings)

[duster1979]

Originally Posted by capitalcityguy

IMO, visiting and touring the Iowa State Capitol Building would be well worth your time (if you like that type of thing) . Often recognized as one of the most beautiful state capitol buildings in the country.

Originally Posted by ElleTea

What do you expect in Utopia?

I've never toured the Capitol, but my daughter took the tour on a preschool field trip and still talks about it years later. Maybe I'll check it out next time I go to the store.

[smpliving]

Agree ... the State Capitol is a great suggestion

[Tek_Freek]

I love a good sense of humor. There's a lot of it in this thread.

I also recommend the capital. It is a beautiful building.

[lurtsman]

Originally Posted by duster1979

That makes sense. I generally stopped in Kearney for the same reason, starting the trip from farther east.

Iowa is a nice state, and much more scenic than the sample you get from passing through on I-80. But other than maybe the Amanas I really don't think there's much worth pulling off for on a trip through if you don't have a lot of time to spend. Iowa City is a nice college town, but not unlike every other similarly-sized college town. Des Moines is a nice smaller metro area, but if you don't have time to spend at least a day exploring you're not going to see anything that you won't see in other similarly-sized metro areas.

Here's my recommendation as someone who lives in Iowa and has made the trip many times: If you want something that is fairly unique to Iowa, swing off at some little town and stop at a mom-and-pop cafe or bar and grill for a breaded pork tenderloin. I'm sure there are lots of places in and around the Amana Colonies where you can get one, so if you want to check out the Amanas you could kill two birds with one stone. Otherwise buzz through Iowa quickly and save your sightseeing for Nebraska. In my opinion, The Omaha Zoo (Omaha), Pioneer Village (Minden), Archway Monument (Kearney), Buffalo Bill's Ranch (North Platte), and Cabela's world headquarters and flagship store (Sidney) are more interesting than anything along the I-80 corridor in Iowa, at least given a limited viewing while passing through. Save Iowa for a trip where you have more time to get off the interstate so you can really get a feel for what makes it unique.

Excellent suggestions.

[ElleTea]

Originally Posted by duster1979

I've never toured the Capitol, but my daughter took the tour on a preschool field trip and still talks about it years later. Maybe I'll check it out next time I go to the store.

Yeah, I've gone to the store several times and the state capitol building is always worth that trip to the store. They might sell locals bumper stickers in the gift shop!

[duster1979]

Originally Posted by ElleTea

Yeah, I've gone to the store several times and the state capitol building is always worth that trip to the store. They might sell locals bumper stickers in the gift shop!

[ElleTea]

I like that sticker! I've never seen one before. Where did you find that? I might have to get one when I go to the store.

[duster1979]

Originally Posted by ElleTea

I like that sticker! I've never seen one before. Where did you find that? I might have to get one when I go to the store.

That's what you get for living on the east side, they're all over the place in West Des Moines. Or so I've heard.

[ElleTea]

Originally Posted by duster1979

That's what you get for living on the east side, they're all over the place in West Des Moines. Or so I've heard.

Guess I must have missed them with all the meth labs and abandoned buildings everywhere.

[duster1979]

Originally Posted by ElleTea

Guess I must have missed them with all the meth labs and abandoned buildings everywhere.

By "meth labs" and "abandoned buildings" I assume you mean stores?