Des Moines, IA -- Surprisingly nice!
Jul 30, 23, 2:46 pm
#1
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Des Moines, IA -- Surprisingly nice!
I had a work trip to Des Moines, IA last week. Stayed downtown and walked to a downtown office for work every day.
The downtown area was surprisingly nice. Tons of great restaurants, even a really nice supermarket (Hy-Vee), some convenience stores. Yes, there are a few Starbucks, but probably more local coffee shops. There is a Skyway, but I mostly just walked along the streets.
I was lucky (or unlucky I suppose) to be there when the RAGBRAI cycling event went through town. Now I've cycled a bit (did several tours, including el Tour de Tucson), but this is on an entirely different scale. There were about 75000 cyclists who descended on Des Moines on mid-day Wednesday, and left within 24 hours. Entire streets were closed for them, with police in intersections monitoring traffic to keep some streets open.
The restaurants where I ate included:
* Fresko
* Fong's Pizza
* Zombie Burger
* el Bait Shop
* Hessen Haus
All had great food, and each was so different from the others. If I had to pick the best, it would be el Bait Shop (I had the Broasted Chicken). Fong's was good, but I'm originally from northeast PA, where people take pizza a bit too seriously...
My work wrapped up earlier than expected on Friday. Since I was already upgraded on my flights home (never look a gift horse in the mouth), I visited the Des Moines Art Center to kill a few hours and do something interesting, inside (it was a warm day). Much like the rest of town, it was a pleasant surprise. Kind of more on the modern art side, and free.
I swim and tried out the fantastic 50m pool at the Wellmark YMCA This is one of the best pools I've swum at in the entire country (the Brown University pool in Providence is very close). The daypass fee was $15, which is a bit steep, but I had my own lane all 3 times I swam there. For people who swim, you'll know that this is a rarity. The pool was at a pleasant 78F. Plus they have a modern/clean/large locker room (that is often an afterthought for these facilities).
If I had a complaint, there is a shortage of Uber / Lyft in town. Lyft seemed to be slightly better, but there were still long wait times (10-15 minutes) for rides much of the time. Lyft was also a bit less expensive. Thankfully I was able to walk most of the time, but that art center is a bit far.
Overall the town seemed to be like the stories I hear of Austin from ages ago. Or like Tempe, AZ was when I first moved to AZ back in 1995. I hope it manages to keep its character.
The DSM airport could use a bit of TLC, but it is functional.
The downtown area was surprisingly nice. Tons of great restaurants, even a really nice supermarket (Hy-Vee), some convenience stores. Yes, there are a few Starbucks, but probably more local coffee shops. There is a Skyway, but I mostly just walked along the streets.
I was lucky (or unlucky I suppose) to be there when the RAGBRAI cycling event went through town. Now I've cycled a bit (did several tours, including el Tour de Tucson), but this is on an entirely different scale. There were about 75000 cyclists who descended on Des Moines on mid-day Wednesday, and left within 24 hours. Entire streets were closed for them, with police in intersections monitoring traffic to keep some streets open.
The restaurants where I ate included:
* Fresko
* Fong's Pizza
* Zombie Burger
* el Bait Shop
* Hessen Haus
All had great food, and each was so different from the others. If I had to pick the best, it would be el Bait Shop (I had the Broasted Chicken). Fong's was good, but I'm originally from northeast PA, where people take pizza a bit too seriously...
My work wrapped up earlier than expected on Friday. Since I was already upgraded on my flights home (never look a gift horse in the mouth), I visited the Des Moines Art Center to kill a few hours and do something interesting, inside (it was a warm day). Much like the rest of town, it was a pleasant surprise. Kind of more on the modern art side, and free.
I swim and tried out the fantastic 50m pool at the Wellmark YMCA This is one of the best pools I've swum at in the entire country (the Brown University pool in Providence is very close). The daypass fee was $15, which is a bit steep, but I had my own lane all 3 times I swam there. For people who swim, you'll know that this is a rarity. The pool was at a pleasant 78F. Plus they have a modern/clean/large locker room (that is often an afterthought for these facilities).
If I had a complaint, there is a shortage of Uber / Lyft in town. Lyft seemed to be slightly better, but there were still long wait times (10-15 minutes) for rides much of the time. Lyft was also a bit less expensive. Thankfully I was able to walk most of the time, but that art center is a bit far.
Overall the town seemed to be like the stories I hear of Austin from ages ago. Or like Tempe, AZ was when I first moved to AZ back in 1995. I hope it manages to keep its character.
The DSM airport could use a bit of TLC, but it is functional.
Aug 4, 23, 1:22 pm
#2
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Thanks for the write up.
I have visited lots and lots of US cities.
DSM and GRR are currently up there as my next 2 when I have a spare weekend.
This post confirms that what I see online matches what I was thinking is there.
I have visited lots and lots of US cities.
DSM and GRR are currently up there as my next 2 when I have a spare weekend.
This post confirms that what I see online matches what I was thinking is there.
Aug 6, 23, 12:30 pm
#3
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Does Amtrak go there? I don't remember seeing a station, but I did see tracks and freight trains.
And mind you, I was there in late July. I've heard it isn't nearly as pleasant in Dec-Jan-Feb.
Aug 6, 23, 12:36 pm
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https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osceola_station
Aug 20, 23, 1:18 pm
#5
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I'm sure by Iowa standards, Des Moines is still on the pricey side, but by Austin standards, it was very reasonable. My company rate at the downtown Hampton Inn was $99. Dinner at most places downtown was no more than $25 (Fresko was a little higher).
Does Amtrak go there? I don't remember seeing a station, but I did see tracks and freight trains.
And mind you, I was there in late July. I've heard it isn't nearly as pleasant in Dec-Jan-Feb.
Does Amtrak go there? I don't remember seeing a station, but I did see tracks and freight trains.
And mind you, I was there in late July. I've heard it isn't nearly as pleasant in Dec-Jan-Feb.
RAGBRAI is a big draw every year with a different route across the state. It's actually rare that it passes through DSM, they try to spread it out to less-visited areas.
I've heard similar complaints about Uber/Lyft wait times from visiting coworkers who waited awhile at the airport. It's definitely a low-traffic, car-centric city, with rideshare capacity to match.
The new airport terminal breaks ground in October, the current one is from the 1950's and hasn't seen much in the way of updates.
Those skywalks you noticed everywhere downtown are for those "less pleasant" Dec-
