For an A+ vacation or a trip to visit your college kids, this campus town itinerary in Ames, home of Iowa State University and Cyclones athletics, will give you some great ideas for spending quality time with your student while also supporting local businesses.
Reiman Gardens
This living and ever-changing garden evolves with the seasons and includes a large variety of plants. Get tips and inspiration for your own garden, enjoy unique art and architecture and relax in an indoor tropical oasis.
Brunnier Art Museum
This one-of-a-kind museum offers a collection that includes prints, paintings, sculptures, textiles, carpets, woods, silver and furniture. Visitors can return again and again for regularly changing exhibits, lectures, receptions, conferences, panel discussions and gallery walks.
Ames Community Theater - Actors Inc.
This theater’s seasons include a variety of acts, from light-hearted comedies and thought-provoking dramas to musicals for audiences of all ages.
Visit a Brewery/Winery
With a variety of breweries and wineries, Ames has everything to satisfy visitors’ taste buds. Alluvial Brewing offers a limited variety of craft beers focused on celebrating the community. Torrent Brewing Co. features a variety of beers and ciders, sodas and merchandise. Prairie Moon Winery and Vineyard produces high quality hybrid wines made from their very own grapes.
The Café
The Café invites diners to enjoy a warm farm-to-table experience and comfortable service. Taste the flavors of Iowa with The Café’s homemade breads, natural ingredients and meals made with love.
Café Beaudelaire
For another uniquely Ames dining experience, stop by Café Beaudelaire, affectionately known by locals as "Café B." This eatery introduces visitors to Brazilian flavors with its eclectic menu, which features stars like the Brazilian Burger and yuca fries, empanadas, gyros and other international dishes.
Ames Main Street
Downtown Ames boasts an abundance of boutiques, specialty retailers and eateries all within walkable blocks. Pop into Chocolaterie Stam for European style treats, find a unique gift or home decor at Nook & Nest, find your next read at Dog-Eared Books, discover ethically sourced and fair-trade items from around the globe at Worldly Goods, sample endless wines at Della Viti and more.
Onion Creek Farm
For a refreshing escape just minutes away from campus and downtown, book a stay at Onion Creek Farm, which features a strong focus on sustainability and simplicity. The farm's guest house is complete with a cozy bedroom, kitchenette and full bathroom with a composting toilet, plus a whole-house fan that keeps the space cool in the summer and passive solar to heat it in the winter. During your stay, enjoy the lovely gardens, bird song, walks in the woods and rocking on the porch. Or find other Ames lodging options.
