At the advice of my sister, I decided to check this place out. I went to orientation and came back…read morefor more orientation. This is a beautiful newer building (2 years old) and also beautifully landscaped. The programs here are really good ones, from different exercise classes to music to mourning meetings(for those who have lost loved ones). There's a Bistro in the middle which serves folks until 2 or 3. Each weekday. They have an adult daycare on the west end of the building. Lot parking. Great staff. Reasonable prices for different activities.

Very active senior facility offers many in-services and support. Proud to say that Ames has a…read morefacility like this to offer its citizens.

The good: Kayaking/canoeing was about $40 per person, which is a great price for entertainment…read morethese days. The river itself was stunning, we had gorgeous weather, and they had a small concession stand with necessities like bug spray available for purchase. Unfortunately, I still wouldn't recommend this experience when there are other options around Iowa for a similar price. We were told when reserving that if the river was too low, we would have the option to reschedule, which I think is a great policy. However, our reservation was on the last day of the season, so realistically rescheduling wasn't an option for us. My biggest issue wasn't even the low river level as the kayaks were doing great in the water- it was that the representative checking us in allowed us to take out a single canoe for our group knowing we would be dealing with less than a foot of water in some areas. This was our first time canoeing and kayaking, so we were relying on the staff's expertise. I really would have appreciated someone recommending that we switch from the canoe to a more maneuverable kayak given the conditions that day. Instead, we ended up having to get out and push the canoe for a large portion of the trip. It was exhausting, and for some customers, it may not even be physically possible. As a first-time floater who brought out-of-state friends specifically for this activity, I wasn't expecting the river conditions to be perfect. We were prepared to make the best of it. What I did expect was some guidance from the company about how to have the best experience possible given the conditions that day. I'd recommend choosing Seven Oaks to be more proactive about advising inexperienced customers, matching the right equipment to the river conditions, and allowing some flexibility to switch boats once you arrive.

What a great small ski hill. Excellent instructors and learning environment. Not crowded. Priced…read moreright.

Great place for kiddos. Also hosts lots of fun events in the event center. There is a lot of games…read more Staff is friendly and during the summer there's outdoor stuff as well

This review is based on a limited experience with Fort Frenzy…read more While I see from its website that there are many attractions that make up Fort Frenzy at different times, my experience is based on attending a concert here on November 6, 2024. For a concert, I highly recommend this place. I came from out of state, to start with. Venue is easy to find, easy in and easy out. Anything you could need is found about two stoplights away. Plenty of parking. Very accessible space. Clean. The sound was big! Standing room only type space but I did spot an area of what looked like built in seating along one side that seemed behind a rope but I presume was for all. I don't know who or what usually plays here but I feel like this is a space you could and should travel to for shows to say you "saw them before". I drove A LOT of hours on a weeknight for this and would do it again in a minute. Oh and the hotel is within feet of the back door of the concert hall so just plan to stay over!

Photo taken 4/24/26…read more This is such a lovely place! We have been here several times, and we love it each time we visit. We've been here twice on field trips with my child's class, and several other times outside of that. There is an information center and plenty of outdoor activities. It's very well maintained, and the staff here are all wonderful. It's definitely a fun place for fishing or just simply walking around and enjoying nature. For those that enjoy birdwatching, this is also a great location to do so. The information center has quite a few activities for anyone interested in learning about any type of nature. You can ask for kits to inspect tadpoles or water creatures as well as binoculars for birdwatching. There's also a natural play structure for kids to explore. It's so peaceful and serene; this also makes it perfect for a picnic! There is a path that goes around the water, and there are also a few gazebos and benches for you to stop at to take a break or just enjoy the day.

This is a really neat park north east of Ames. It's the home of the Story County Conservation…read moreCenter and a lot of classes and programming. There are some deceptively long hiking trails here that will let you traverse the various biomes of the state of Iowa. There are wooded, riparian and native prarire areas along trails immediately adjacent to the park and it also serves as a great launching point and connector for the Skunk River Greenbelt system of trails that continue to the north. There are primitive campsites and mutli-use hiking and biking trails. There is actually a lot to do outside in Story County, it's just not obvious & McFarland Park is a great place to get acquainted.

Great service! Our group of 5 agree. Our hamburgers, fish, pizza burgers, cheese balls and cheese…read moresticks were delicious!

This is such a lovely place to be! It's peaceful and clean. Also great for fishing. Definitely a…read moregreat place to clear your head and enjoy nature. The paved walkway is a huge plus and the map in the parking lot is quite helpful. It's very well maintained too. There are a lot of fun information boards along the path to read about the wildlife in the park as well. Ada Hayden is great for solo trips, or to bring your family and explore. All around, it's very accommodating to anyone who wants a little fresh air :)

This gem, located on the north end of Ames on Highway 69, is a sensational 137-acre mingling of…read morewildlife, water, picnics, family fun, fishing, running, walking, cycling, and birding that debuted over 20 years ago. It's named after Ada Hayden, an Ames native who graduated from Ames High and was a celebrated botanist and wildlife connoisseur who was the first woman to receive a Ph.D. from nearby Iowa State College (now Iowa State University). A City of Ames venue, with assistance from Iowa's Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Ada Hayden Heritage Park is an oasis at the top end of a growing college town. It is a wonderful place to relax and enjoy nature. Plenty of parking with lots on the north and south ends of the park, and the venue is handicap accessible. There is a walking path that cyclists also use, and it ranges from 1.2 to 3.2 miles in length. Dogs must be leashed. There is a beautiful bridge in the center of the large lake, and there were at least five bird species that day. According to a local, the lake is stocked with Rainbow Trout and Striped Bass by the Iowa DNR, and fishing is allowed, but not on the bridge. Boats without gas motors are allowed. There are many spots to sit and relax, with numerous picnic tables and a covered area available. Beer and liquor are prohibited. It is gorgeous and a wonderful tribute to an elite Ames contributor who was also a pioneer in her field. I'm looking forward to visiting again!

Best corse in Ames love the driving range lots of balls for a great price. I tip my hat to the…read moregrounds crew this place has only gotten better throughout the years. I love being my friends and family here to golf and spend the afternoon. Corse plays true, fun par 3s and long par 5's, I would say this is one of the best public courses in the area. If you love golf, golf here!!!

Golf course in terrible condition. No staff to take care of the course. Pretty sure the…read moresuperintendent is just a con artist with no actual knowledge on how to care for the course. Sad that the course is in this bad of condition. It used to be a fun course to play.

Dropped in while in town for business and was very glad I did! The staff was helpful and the…read moreathletes were very friendly. The gym was clean and well organized. I would return!