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Des Moines, IA |
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| Hotel: - Your choice of hotel | ||||||
| View baggage fees Flights : - Your choice of roundtrip flight from Chicago |
| Package prices include all tax recovery charge & service fees | |
| Leaving Fri, Dec 4 | |
| Returning Sun, Dec 6 | from $173 per person |
| Returning Mon, Dec 7 | from $190 per person |
| Returning Tue, Dec 8 | from $212 per person |
| Leaving Sat, Dec 5 | |
| Returning Mon, Dec 7 | from $173 per person |
| Returning Tue, Dec 8 | from $190 per person |
| Leaving Thu, Dec 10 | |
| Returning Sun, Dec 13 | from $254 per person |
| Returning Mon, Dec 14 | from $275 per person |
| Returning Tue, Dec 15 | from $307 per person |
| Leaving Fri, Dec 11 | |
| Returning Sun, Dec 13 | from $167 per person |
| Returning Mon, Dec 14 | from $183 per person |
| Returning Tue, Dec 15 | from $204 per person |
| Leaving Sat, Dec 12 | |
| Returning Mon, Dec 14 | from $161 per person |
| Returning Tue, Dec 15 | from $177 per person |
| Leaving Thu, Dec 17 | |
| Returning Sun, Dec 20 | from $356 per person |
| Returning Mon, Dec 21 | from $376 per person |
| Returning Tue, Dec 22 | from $406 per person |
| Leaving Fri, Dec 18 | |
| Returning Sun, Dec 20 | from $340 per person |
| Returning Mon, Dec 21 | from $356 per person |
| Returning Tue, Dec 22 | from $376 per person |
Des Moines, IA: Why Go
This small town turned big city has blossomed into a versatile destination with enough charm to attract country bumpkins and urban hipsters alike.
Bring the kids: The brand-new Science Center of Iowa, the interactive Blank Park Zoo, Adventureland, and the Iowa State Fairgrounds should be on every family's itinerary.
Where to blow a paycheck: The East Village is home to hip stores and funky nightlife. Check out local, handmade arts and crafts at From Our Hands, tap your toes to live music at the House of Bricks, or slurp soba at Noodle Zoo.
History lesson: The Living History Farms is a 600-acre open-air museum that showcases the evolution of Iowa farming over the past 300 years. There are three authentic farms connected by a trail and hosted by staff dressed in period costumes.
Get out of Dodge: Lush golf courses lull golfers to spend their vacations teeing up at any of the area's fine championship courses like Waveland Municipal Golf Course, which was founded in 1894.
Chill-out spot: Blossoming blooms at the Better Homes and Garden's test gardens make it the ideal backdrop for photo shoots and an oasis for professional and amateur gardeners alike.
Local secret: From T-bone to rib-eye, steak is the meat of choice here. Personally select your cut of meat at Rube's Steakhouse, where if you dare, you can even order a 54-ounce steak!
Did we mention it's free? The Des Moines Art Center, designed by I.M. Pei, Eliel Saarinen, and Richard Meier, features work by Georgia O'Keefe, Edward Hopper, Henri Matisse, and other 19th and 20th-century artists.
Recommendations & Suggestions
Fort Des Moines Memorial Park
Fort Des Moines
Fort Des Moines Memorial Park commemorates the country's first black and female officer corps, who were trained onsite. The National Historic Site was originally built in 1901 and included barracks and a chapel. The rennovated site includes the names and hometowns of the 639 graduate captains and lieutenants from 1917 and the first Women's Auxiliary Corps officers from 1942, as well as artifacts, archival photographs, period art, library, interactive video/film displays and a cafe. Tours by appointment only.
Iowa State Capitol
State Capitol
Phone: 515.281.5591
Built between 1871 and 1886, the Iowa State Capitol is a fine example of 19th century architecture. It's most distinctive feature is the towering gold-gilded dome, which can be seen for miles and is lit dramtically by golden lanterns. There are a number of sculptures and memorials on the grounds surrounding the capitol.
Inside, the building features 24 fireplaces, many types and colors of marble, works of art including mosiacs, statues and murals and ornate fixtures and carvings.
The two legislative bodies, the House of Representatives and the Senate have assembly sessions open to the public from January-April.
Capitol Building Hours are 8:00am-4:30pm, Monday -Friday; and 9am-4pm, Saturdays.
Living History Farms
2600 111th Street
Phone: 515.278.5286
Living History Farms in Urbandale, Iowa, tells the story of how Iowans transformed the prairies of the Midwest into the most productive farmland in the world. Visitors to the 600-acre open-air museum will travel through five historical time periods spanning 300 years--from an Indian village from 1700, to an early 20th Century farm. On-site interpreters provide a hands-on learning environment with activities and demonstrations.
Contact the LHF website for information on the seasonal activities happening at the farms: www.lhf.org.
Complete visits to the farms will last about three to four hours.