Tell me about Des Moines, Iowa
- Thread starter 12Nole
- Start date
Didn't we use to have some fine folks from Iowa posting on the LR? Too bad they aren't around anymore-- they would have told you straight...
Best thing about Des Moines is I-80 east or I-80 west. Either option will get you out of there within 10-15 mins.
People talking bad about des Moines have never been there. I don't know why people on this board do that. It's pretty ridiculous sometimes actually. But you can really tell who doesn't get out much. Anyway spent two nights there and had a great time. Hung around some bars they have on some Rd a little south of the DT area. It's a solid city with a fair amount of not stuck up talent. Sorry I can't provide names or streets man. But trust me it's not some tumble weeds rolling down the street type of city.
I've actually been there several times. The fact you call it a "city" tells me all I need to know about who gets out and who doesn't. It's a decent little college town, but being blunt in answering the OP's question- no. There is nothing really worth going out of his/her way to check out.
I've passed through a few times on long vacation drives. We stay in West Des Moines, which looks like a very nice place to raise a family. Not sure about anything worth a special trip though.
I lived in Ankeny (the next town North on 35) for a while... Des Moines is a very cool town. The downtown area has several very good restaurants and breweries. Centro is one of my favorite places to eat in the whole country.
Haters gonna hate, I guess.
Haters gonna hate, I guess.
Calling Des Moines a college town is much like calling Tallahassee's airport International... there might be (MIGHT) 12,000 students if you added them all up.
I've never been to Des Moines, but have always thought of it as a much glitzier version of Cedar Rapids.
The google claims there are 31k at Iowa alone. Total pop of Des Moines is a shade over 200k. That's a town
Did Google also tell you that the University of Iowa is in Iowa City?
I think you may have your Iowa cities mixed up?? That's cool it happens. But Des Moines is almost 2hrs away from Iowa City. And dude please trust me and I'm not trying to sound high and mighty but I get around the US. To the tune of over 200k delta sky miles a yr. That's would be right around 325 to 350 take offs and landings a yr
Yeah...University of Iowa is in Iowa City (-1.75 hours east of DM). ISU is in Ames (30-45 minutes north of DM). Des Moines has DMACC, Des Moines University (which is a really great school), Grandview, and a couple others. Des Moines population is over 200,000. Greater metro area population is over 600,000.
The East Village/Court Ave is a good area. Like I said, for specifics, head over to HROT.
And be sure to go to El Bait Shop. Get the bacon wrapped cheesy tots. And be sure to order a pork tenderloin...everybody has a favorite spot.
Stay downtown if you can, there's quite a few hotels and many bars/restaurants. Go to El Bait Shop if you are into craft brews and get some late night pizza at Fong's. And I second the Centro recommendation if you are looking for a nice dinner spot.
Haha! Ok, I failed on that one. I own it. But to insinuate DM is anything other than a "town" is laughable. College or no college
Des Moines is a city. There's no arguing that.
I think sometimes people forget that the major cities in less populated states are the culture and entertainment hub for a large area. Minneapolis or Denver for example. I imagine Des Moines is the same way.
I think sometimes people forget that the major cities in less populated states are the culture and entertainment hub for a large area. Minneapolis or Denver for example. I imagine Des Moines is the same way.
I have family that lives in Iowa and I always tell them it stands for
Idiots
Out
Walking/Wandering
Around
Idiots
Out
Walking/Wandering
Around
In-laws live in Des Moines. I did laugh with the college town comment. Drake, I believe, is the biggest university in Des Moines.
It is a standard Midwest city. Tons of Casey's everywhere, which has surprising decent pizza. Iowa Cubs are there, and the Iowa Wild. East is Newton, which has a racetrack.
There are pretty decent golf courses there, and inexpensive compared to the east coast.
It is a standard Midwest city. Tons of Casey's everywhere, which has surprising decent pizza. Iowa Cubs are there, and the Iowa Wild. East is Newton, which has a racetrack.
There are pretty decent golf courses there, and inexpensive compared to the east coast.
Make sure you go to Casey's and get a breakfast or taco pizza.
Fong's Pizza, El Bait Shop (180 taps, I think) and the High Life Lounge are connected, Zombie Burger, numerous other downtown restaurants are nice. I think Smitty's has a really good tenderloin. It's down on Army Post Road on the south side. Jethro's BBQ has a good one, too. I dare you to order the Emenecker. Tasty Tacos is pretty popular for, well, tacos. But not good, classy tacos. For that, go to Tacopocalypse. 515, Confluence, and Exile are good breweries. There's a ton of chain crap out in West Des Moines if you're interested in that. Ankeny, too.
I Yahooed it and it seems that about 100k is the number between town and city.
The snobs will disagree...
Lived in Iowa until recently. I can't tell you a lot about DSM, but I'm told Zombie Burger is a cool place to go and I've heard of Fongs.
Downtown had some fun bars, but I don't recall the names (those were fuzzy nights).
Downtown had some fun bars, but I don't recall the names (those were fuzzy nights).
All that somewhat fizzled after the Iowa board had to make all their boards premium do to some of their locals intentionally posting porn and stuff to piss off the mods.
You have got to try Zombie Burger in downtown. that place is whacked and the burgers are really good. I got some strange burger last time I was there the patty was fat and the buns were actually mac and cheese in a fried breading shaped like a bun. Then they drizzled Mac and Cheese on top of that . It was HUGE.
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