We love this carousel. Unfortunately we didn't see the signs on Hwy 35 that used to advertise the…read morecarousel. We thought it had closed. It is happily still open and only $1. Stop by and help save the carousel. Only a few minutes off the freeway.

Gayle and I recently took a spin on the historical 1913 antique carousel. It was spinning during…read morethese summer months and for a $1 per ride, it's a heck-of-a deal. The merry-go-round is run by friendly volunteers and it's a time warp of the best kind.

Fun and non expensive corse, 100% walkable and should walk it. Fun corse in the middle of town…read more Still has some fun par 4's lots of walkers so take your time and enjoy the game. Would recommend and have some buddies that favor this course over some around the area. Will be back golf here 5/8 times a year. Great local corse.

Excellent 9 hold course that is well maintained and budget friendly. It isn't very long but the…read morelayout is challenging. It's a great course for couples and young golfers.

Honestly a great little place to enjoy some winter sports in Central Iowa!…read more Obviously there is no mountains here so the slopes are as to be expected. The lodge area isn't anything fancy but it was actually larger than I expected. They also offer rentals for an additional fee to your lift ticket - skis, boards, boots, helmets, poles, etc. I am extremely impressed with the staff. I had only been snowboarding once about ten years ago and my husband never had. We were extremely nervous if we were going to pick it up and debated on paying for a private lesson. I would not advise paying for a lesson...Seven Oaks has many instructors perched on the learning/bunny hill. They offer group lessons on the hour but if you can find a free instructor and ask, they will give you their own sort of private lesson. That is what we did. An awesome board instructor spent about 15-20 minutes with us one-on-one, explained the basics and did some hands on instructing. After that, we both picked it up very quickly and could make it over to the more legit, but beginner hill. As I mentioned the lodge was more than I was anticipating. They have a concession stand, bar with pizza by the slice, and coffee shop. Lots of ample seating and even a large TV in the coffee shop area, we caught some of the Iowa State game while we were eating lunch. We would go back. It is a great option for the flat plains of Iowa.k

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.

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!

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 :)

We saw a herd of deer near the main part of the park tonight grazing. Hard to see through these…read morepics, but there are at least 7 here. See pics. Marcydiner tantrum scale of 5/5-no screaming kids.

Idk if across the street is part of the park, too but my son loves the Old school excavator toy…read morethere. He enjoyed the play equipment down near the tennis courts, but his imagination is too great and he thought there were monsters in the woods. I plan to return here for the tennis practice boards. I hope to spend more time exploring this lovely park.

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

When I'm in Ames visiting my parents and Veenker is closed in the off season, you may find me…read morewalking the golf cart paths around the course. I stay off the fairways and the greens and am always on the look out for a stray golfer who can't resist the urge to play. Over many walks I've seen of couple of them, along with other walkers. I'm not sure whether these walks are officially allowed, but it's great exercise and with a variety of scenery and plenty of time to reflect. The fun parts are the hilly back side of the course and a flat area that the creek meanders through.

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!!!

Moore Memorial Park is a short walking distance from my parent's home in northern Ames. The park is…read morenamed for Fern and Bertha Moore who operated a dairy farm here and donated their 90 acres of land to the City of Ames. It is said that Bertha Moore would enjoy negotiating with developers who tried to buy her valuable land that was (and is) located next to the golf course. She would hear them out, bargain, and then decline. In her will, she was always clear that she wanted the future use of her land as a place where children could play. During our recent family trip back to Ames, my son enjoyed wandering off to this Park and I'm sure would thank Bertha Moore if he could. He admires the pond, walks the paths that loop around, sits in the grass playing his Nintendo DS, sits and talks with his Dad and Grandparents on a park bench, and climbs up the observation tower with his cousins. In his younger days, he would enjoy himself for hours at the play structure. As I walk the loop myself, I particular enjoy the old farm buildings (silo and a machine shed), the trees, the Big Bluestem Shelter, and the acres of prairie grasses and wildflowers. This place is not as big as Ada Hayden, but it is my neighbourhood park and I'm sure that I will continue to enjoy the handsome layout and its many relaxing features.