I have been on nearly a dozen food tours in large cities across the Midwest, which is why I thought…read morethe idea of one in small town Oskaloosa was crazy. It isn't! The town has a rich history and what better way to experience it than on a food tour where you get to sample you way through local bites while learning about the town's history and architecture. If you're looking for a fun way to spend a few hours you should book yourself a spot!

I visited Hansen's a couple of weeks ago with my boyfriend and his family. His parents said that we…read morewere going to a farm to milk a cow, so I decided to join them. When we got there, I wasn't sure what to expect. Everything looked okay, and we were lured by all the ice cream flavors, so I was not prepared for what was to come. We jumped on an open air vehicle to begin our tour. We stopped at the place where they have the cows all separated by age: calves, younger ones, and adults. We were first given the opportunity to feed the babies, which is when my horror began. I had the chance to feed a five-day old calf that was HORRIFIED. I didn't want to play into this game at first, but I overheard that the calf was being a brat; rather than allowing others to make it more scared, I decided to step in to bottle feed it. I learned that the cows are taken from their mothers at birth so they don't attach, and the tour guide had the nerve to tell is that their moms don't care. I get that this is standard practice at milk factories, but please don't insult our intelligence. Then we move on to the factory part, where we see the cows lined up and attached to the devices that are milking them. My horror grew. We learned there about the artificial insemination, got to see some cows not wanting to be herded in, and our tour guide saying they "should get over it," as it will be over in a few minutes. And of course, this is where the tour group is invited to milk one of the cows. I couldn't do it, but the rest of my group was happy to do so. I know that what I saw isn't likely even close to the horrors of the milking practices of most milk factories, but this was enough to make me want to cry. Then we moved on to another part of the farm, where the cows are kept in filthy and crowded conditions. We were told that they prefer to be in there and not roam because they don't feel safe roaming in pastures... what?! I couldn't do it anymore; I had to step away. Then they showed us their kangaroo collection. I don't know much about kangaroos, so nothing to say here about whether or not this was a happy situation. The kangaroos were just lying there looking bored or hot. The tour ended by us trying their ice cream, cheese curds, and butter (which they had us make). This part would have been fun, had I not been traumatized already. Again, I can imagine that this is the "nice" version of what happens in most milk factories, so thank you, Hansen's for giving me a glimpse.

We took our two grandchildren, aged 3 and 5. They absolutely loved the kangaroos, chocolate milk…read moreand the ice cream that was included in the ticket price. They also enjoyed bottle feeding the calves, the cheese curds and wagyu beef sticks. The 5 year old even milked a cow! It was a very well run tour! They had tables set up with our names ready to wait for everyone to arrive. They also gave out crayons and sheets for the children to color. We then loaded up on a tractor drawn trolley to take us to the farm. Our large group was divided into two groups. 1/2 went to the kangaroos and the other 1/2 to the calves. We were given slices of bread to feed the kangaroos. It was fun for the adults too, lol! When then moved on to bottle feed the calves, then visit the heifers and then the milking room. We were provided with some very interesting facts as we went along. We then visited with their 2 one year old female kangaroos. Super cute! We loaded up on the trolley to return to the main building. There they provided us with a choice of whole milk or chocolate milk, plates of curds and beef sticks. They also had jars of heavy cream for us to make butter. 5-6 minutes of shaking and we had butter! We then were able choose from around 20 flavors of ice cream. Very delicious! We watched a video on the making of their products and had the chance to purchase items. This was the second time we had visited the dairy in the last 2 years. This was just as enjoyable as the first time. I highly recommend this for anyone with young children! Or even adults! We'll take the grands again in a couple of years. Thank you for a wonderful time Hansen family!

This place is extremely beautiful. The biggest downside to here is the hours on their website are…read morenot accurate. I came here to visit the inside and the arrive to a locked door. On the door was a note saying they are only open 1 day a week. I was able to peak in the window and see all the beautiful architecture. I was also able to explore the outside grounds too. However it can be slightly frustrating if your website says it will be open but you're not actually open. Overall this place is not huge and is a walkable distance to several other things. So I recommend walk past it to see if it's open. If it's closed, visit somewhere else.

This place is absolutely stunning inside. So clean, well kept. It was our first time & we attended…read moreCandlelight The Beatles. The staff were so pleasant, & helpful. I got a small sprite for $1. They had cocktails available. The bathroom immaculate. I would definitely recommend checking this beautiful building out given the chance! The symphony played for an hour & did an amazing job. I heard there is a beautiful garden outside however we rushed to our cars because of the cold temps.

This couple offers one far more than visits to quilt stores, although those are gems in and of…read morethemselves. Besides meeting the interesting people on the tour, guests are entertained with historical highlights of many sites along the way and are treated to the food of many high quality restaurants the price of which is included with the cost of the tour. Letty L.

Great trips, good buses and drivers, good hotels and great restaurants suggestions. Nancy and Denny…read moretake care of anything that comes up.

The EMC Overlook at MacRae Park is a beautiful little spot right in the heart of the metro…read more Constructed as a picturesque spot looking out on downtown. It's a heckuva view! We really do have a nice downtown skyline...! Take the time to explore the adjacent MacRae Park itself too. This spacious park is one of the prettiest parks in the metro with rolling hills, mature trees, and a pond. I moved to Des Moines in 1992 and it's funny how much we take the spots we see every day for granted. I still do now and then too. We look for something more spectacular and exciting... And further away. I think it's really important to recognize the beauty we have right here in our own backyard. Take some time... Look around... Enjoy the mundane. Stop and smell the roses...so to speak.

MacRae Park is a memorable one, I know I've only been there twice now. I decided to stop by on a…read morenice winter day and go up to see the EMC Overlook that was added last fall. The EMC Overlook has fantastic views of Downtown Des Moines, the Capitol building and the Racoon River. It is a must see and would be a great thing to show out of town visitors or add to a tour of downtown. Very nice place to snap some pics with a gorgeous background. The overlook faces to the North and East and I'd love to see it at sunrise. I believe it is also lit at night. One thing to be aware of, the road up the overlook is UP! Steep and curved, I would be very cautious about going there in icy weather. The bike/pedestrian trail goes up there as well, but it's also not an easy ride. Believe me, my first trip up into the park was on a bike.

Super fun, different activity to do with friends or family. My particular group was 4, but you can…read morealso do a 2 person rail car. We selected the latest 8pm ride to enjoy the summer sunset. I do recommend bringing a sweatshirt for the trip back. The trip is 12 miles out to a quaint little spot along the Des Moines River & 12 miles back. I will say although it's a pedal yourself type activity- there is one main "captains seat" which keeps tension on the chain and the rail car moving without everyone else pedaling. This makes the activity doable for almost anyone. Tip: bring a little cooler with snacks and drinks to hang out at the outdoor lighted area's. Trust me you won't regret it! Pro tip: Bug spray, as the ride is through heavily wooded areas.

We had been wanting to do this forever, but the timing finally worked out! Make sure to book early…read more(especially weekends) because they fill up fast. We did the 7:00 sunset ride and it was beautiful out! The check in and set up was smooth and efficient. Staff was friendly and informative throughout the whole process. The ride was a total of 12.2 miles but I didn't even sweat because the rail car does most of the work for you. They give you a break at the landing halfway (bring drinks or snacks) and then you ride back. Beautiful views of Iowa!

Seth was awesome! Group had great time and we would do it again! Pizza at Truman's was yummy and…read moreservice was excellent given the group size.

Our tour guide, Katie was awesome! She took us to some great breweries and is very knowledgeable…read moreabout each location. Her recommendations at each stop were spot on. We will be back to DesMoines to try more brews! Mistress and Fire Trucker were our favorites.

Great Wine! Good Food! Amazing friendly service! I try to stop passing thru Iowa every chance I get.read more

A beautiful setting with nice trees for lovely days outside. Plenty of friendly faces to help while…read moreyou're there. It would be good if they had more organization to help speed the process of sampling and ordering. There are many wine choices especially if you prefer sweeter varieties. Hopefully they get more dry and less sweet varieties.

We have always had a good experience with Royal Rides, our most recent experience was my daughter…read more6th birthday party over the weekend. My daughter had a blast, they filled the limo with balloons at our request and the driver played hip songs for them! Would definitely recommend them and can't wait for Christmas to go on their Jolly Holiday light tour with them!

From the owner: Royalrides specializes in chauffeured services in Des Moines and the surrounding areas. We are…read moreexperts in airport transfers and corporate transfers. Royalrides will make that final touch on your wedding,prom,bachelor/bachelorette party, or friends night out to ensure you have the perfect experience. During the summer, Royalrides enjoys providing cooled accomodations for winery and brewery tours or heated rides for Christmas light tours during the winter. No matter the reason, no matter the cause, Royalrides will get you there in style. It doesn't matter where you are going, it's how you get there.