Ames is a city in Story County, Iowa located approximately 30 miles north of the state’s capital Des Moines. The city is also home to Iowa State University as well as 36 parks, 55 miles of bike trails, golf courses, and much more. With that being said, it’s clear that there are many things to do in Ames, Iowa. However, deciding on which things to do can be stressful given the overwhelming amount of options, and that is why we wrote this post. Read below to discover our picks for the best things to do in Ames, Iowa!
Spend a Day at Brookside Park
Brookside Park is located at 1325 6th St, and offers a wide variety of amenities for visitors such as basketball courts, tennis courts, grill spots, picnic tables, and even a playground for children. In addition to these park amenities, the park itself also contains a lot of open green space full of trees and flowers and even has a creek that runs through the park, and a walking trail. No matter what you are in the mood for, there is always something for everyone at Brookside Park, and because of that, we highly recommend visiting!
Visit Stephens Auditorium
Stephens Auditorium is located at 1900 Center Dr, and was built in 1969 on Iowa State University’s campus. The auditorium hosts a variety of performing arts acts such as dances, musicals, concerts, and plays. The auditorium is also home to Iowa State University’s theatre and music departments. If you are looking to attend an event at the auditorium, tickets can be purchased on their website or at their ticket office. If you’re into the performing arts, definitely catch a show at Stephens Auditorium!
Check Out The Brunnier Art Museum
The Brunnier Art Museum is located inside the Iowa State Center on ISU’s campus and contains the largest collection of public art on any campus in the United States as well as four campus art museums. It was founded in 1975 by Henry J. and Ann Brunnier, which is where it gets its name. The museum contains a wide variety of different art objects such as paintings, sculptures, textiles, and more. If you enjoy the arts, the Brunnier Art Museum would definitely be worth checking out!
Visit Reiman Gardens
Reiman Gardens spans across 17 acres, and is primarily dedicated to the education of plants and butterflies. The garden itself contains a wide variety of plants and flowers that are native to the state of Iowa, as well as plants and flowers that were imported from various different parts of the world. The site also has a butterfly exhibit called the Christina Reiman Butterfly Wing, which contains over 500 species of different butterflies. The site also offers guided tours for adults and children as well. If you are interested in nature, we highly recommended paying the Reiman Gardens a visit!
