Des Moines

Des Moines, Iowa offered us a nice variety of restaurant choices. We wanted to get a true sampling of the flavors of the city and try out as many cuisines as we could fit in our schedule. When we discovered St. Kilda, we couldn't remember ever dining in an Australian-style cafe and bakery. Oh, this one had to be put on the list.  Located in the downtown area, it was easily within walking distance from our East Village hotel. They specialize in healthy dishes served in manageable portions, which was exactly what we were looking for this morning. Being travelers, we don't often [...]

A visit to a botanical garden is always a new experience, since the plants change so much with each season. The spring is popular for the bright blooms, while fall brings the vivid foliage as it prepares to go dormant. Summer is the transition period, but we enjoy the textures and shades of green that dominate the landscape. Our stop at the Des Moines Botanical Gardens gave us a chance for a relaxed stroll through their lush gardens. We want to thank the Des Moines Botanical Gardens,  Travel Iowa and Catch Des Moines for their hospitality. Rest assured that all opinions are our own. Under The Dome [...]

Every once in a while we will spot a location that we know is based on a novelty idea. Some we pass up, but then there are the ones that just hook our attention and yell out for us to visit. This is exactly what happened when we spotted Zombie Burger during our preview of Des Moines, Iowa. When we put out our feelers for ideas on restaurants to visit, this one got mentioned quite a bit. While it did get mixed reviews, the theme sealed it for us. Where else could we experience flavors to wake the dead? We want to thank [...]

Sometimes even travel writers can be surprised when they stumble upon an unexpected treat. Such is the case when we visited the Wells Fargo Museum in downtown Des Moines, Iowa. This free museum is located in their bank lobby, and is the newest in a string of museums that Wells Fargo hosts. When we discovered this unique attraction, we didn't have high expectations for an interactive experience, but we soon discovered it holds more than we had hoped for. We want to thank Wells Fargo for their hospitality. Rest assured that all opinions are our own. On A Mission The main purpose of the [...]

It's not unusual to hear people talk about dinner and a movie, but how come the idea of dinner and a live show is less commonplace? We can't speak for others, but we like the idea of having entertaining activities taking place while we dine. In Des Moines, we were able to get just that when we visited Olympic Flame Restaurant in the East Village. An added bonus for us was that it was easily within walking distance of many shops and our lodging. We would appreciate this later when we were walking off our meal. We want to thank the Travel Iowa and Catch Des [...]

Visits to science centers are becoming a standard practice for us when we travel to new cities. Many times we are met with surprise, since visits to these locations usually include children in tow. Little do they realize, but we are two of the biggest kids around. This was the case when I discussed our itinerary with the staff at Catch Des Moines. With the Science Center of Iowa smack dab in the middle of our day, they wanted to make sure we understood it was designed with kids in mind. We assured them that we were well aware, and that we would [...]

During the periods we spend researching new destinations, many sites will be added to our list. From these, we can glean a finished itinerary that will allow us to showcase a variety of options for our readers to add to their own travel schedule. We are always excited when we uncover one of those places that the locals love, but is off of the beaten path. Such is the case for Black Cat Ice Cream, which is located in the Gas Lamp building near Pappajohn Sculpture Park. It's the kind of place that would be hard to distinguish from a moving vehicle, but [...]