This library is a sweet gem! I brought my granddaughter for story time and crafts one evening. And…read morethen we played in the main area. Lots of kids and families were here as well, so it seems they are used to and designed for kids because books are easy to access and there are a lot of toys. They even have multiple computers set up for kids to use.

This is a great little library very geared towards children. There is a big play area in the middle…read morewith some toys and very accessible childrens books all arranged by interest which makes picking a book out easier for little ones I think. There is a nice little park next to it to so it's great so spend some time browsing and then playing for a bit after or vice versa. The staff are pretty friendly, and there are sometimes small community events like arts and crafts or movies etc.

Clean/well organized, quiet, friendly staff…read more There is a cute infant playing area. Good place to study. I did have a difficult time figuring out which building was the library the first time I came. There was multiple large buildings in the area, none is which are clearly marked and the parking lot situation is a bit confusing. I think a secondary sigh to mark the building itself or at least it's parking lot would be very helpful.

Librarians and clerks are always helpful; facility clean and maintained…read more Collection smallish but well organized and the Library of Things can save you a lot.

Here Nice and cool…read more Quiet Easy to focus on work. Hood helpers and staff. Will be back

I went to the Johnston Public Library for the first time for a free quarterly cooking class. The…read morelibrary is newish and well maintained. They have a conference room equipped with full kitchen and a display mirror. It was the perfect location to host this class. We learned how to make 10 quick and easy holiday appetizers in less that an hour plus we were lucky enough to taste them all too. We were lucky enough to also go home with all of the recipes. The instructor was a good editor for Greydog Media. The library offers a lot of free classes for adults and children. Each class is very professional and a great use of your time. The bathrooms were exceptionally clean too.

When I first moved to the Des Moines metro I lived in the Sherman Hill area and then pretty much…read moremoved to the West side of town. But Des Moines is a pretty small city so I've spent my share of time on the North, South, and East sides too... I had a friend who needed notary services and we were trying to figure out a good place to meet up along with another party. The East Side Library came up as a possible spot. We agreed on a time. I grabbed my ledger, stamp, and a couple of pens and headed in that direction. I'd never been here before. The parking area is pretty good. It's a decent sized lot right off of Hubbell. Not near as big as West Des Moines or Urbandale... But suitable for this facility. The library itself didn't seem near as busy as some of the others in the metro. We quietly grabbed a table. I had a few minutes to look around and check things out as we were waiting for the last of our group to arrive. The East Side Library has that typical library feel to it. It reaks of organization which is unusual to me... I normally live my life in a slightly organized chaos... Lol It looked like they had a pretty good selection of books. Rosie's Ocean...their themed children's area. A fireplace nook for quiet casual reading. Computers and wifi. They appeared to have several meeting rooms available for use. After a few minutes with everyone at the table... Our business was conducted. Notarizations were completed etc. And we were on our way home. While not exactly the biggest libary in the metro... I was impressed by what I saw here! If you live in this area or are just passing through... Stop in and check the East Side Library out!

I've been going here since I've retired and it's a great place for seniors. I would recommend…read morejoining if you have interest in social activities with other adults they have some wonderful pool tables a small computer room and a large multi-purpose room which has activities like bridge in other card games plus a wonderful nutritious daily lunch. They also have a craft room and do crafts and they also have a small workout area. they also have a small TV and movie watching area. They also have some exercise classes designed for seniors and some services for Seniors like tax help. They have a really nice caring stsff and lots of choices for people who want to remain active in their senior years. The centers large multi-purpose room for some community meetings in evening I know that the Audubon society meets there the local Sierra club meets there, and several other community groups meet there. If you live in the Beaverdale area or the nearby Merle Hay area is very convenient to come to and has bus transportation in the front. It's also right next to the Franklin library which is a plus.

As an avid amateur photographer and Iowa native... How can you not make the hop, skip, and a jump…read moredown (over or up) to explore the covered bridges of Madison County...? Here's a secret. I've never seen the movie or read the book, but I did run into Clint Eastwood and his entourage back in the day (1995ish). We weren't able to get too close though. Lol The covered bridges take you back to a much simpler time. When people and cars just weren't as complicated as they are now. The construction of each one seems to be a little unique and diffent from the next. It's too bad that they have been plagued by graffiti artists, people who can't seem to leave things as they find them, and even arson over the years. If you live within a decent driving distance you can experience the bridges in all the seasons. It might sound a little silly, but as a photographer sometimes a few months can make a world of differece in your pictures...sometimes even days. While there is curb appeal to all the bridges Roseman is probably my personal favorite. The Roseman bridge location also has a nice little gift shop you can stop at to take home a momento of your visit (open May 1st through the end of October). Don't miss the shopping opportunities in downtown Winterset. Expect to get dusty, as most of the bridges are on gravel roads, and enjoy your visit!

Constructed in 1870 by Eli Cox, this 79 foot long timber town lattice truss covered bridge is the…read moresecond oldest of the six surviving in Madison County. Originally traversing the North River, in 1979 it was moved to its present location inside Winterset City Park. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. There is ample parking, and access to the park is paved. We recommend a visit at the peak of fall foliage, when the park is breathtaking.

Beautiful outdoor park that you spend a good 30+ minutes walking around to admire the art. It was a…read moregreat place to walk through between locations on a hot Saturday.

Whenever I travel I make it a habit to visit sculpture parks and public art installations…read morethroughout the area I'm in. Overall I really enjoy our local parks here in the Des Moines metro including the John and Mary Pappajohn Sculpture Park. I think it ranks right up there with parks in some of the major metropolitan areas throughout the United States. That being said... I have to take issue with one piece... Gymnast III. Can we stop pretending that it doesn't look like what it really looks like? Lol It's described as it "captures the basic strength of a bending and stretching athlete..." I was on a school trip with my young daughter when the guide steered our kids away from a nearby nude female bust that used to stand near the Gymnast III statue. We passed by that statue...and headed right over to this one. I whispered to one of the other chaperones... "Really? Away from that one to this one...?" She quietly asked me what I meant. I told her "Just wait... As we walk around it... Let me know when you see it." A few seconds later she grabbed my arm tightly... "Oh my God!" she said in a hushed voice. But with enough emphasis I knew she was seeing it too... We both had a good laugh as the tour guide went on with her explanation of the piece to the children in the group. Both hoping none of the kids would see "it"... I didn't need those questions that day. I'm all about art. And I'm a big fan of the John and Mary Pappajohn Sculpture Park. It's a bright spot in the middle of downtown! But I can't help but feel like this piece is part of a HUGE inside joke... I wonder if the sculptor (William Tucker) said... I'm going to create this huge bronze phallic piece! I'm not going to call it what it is though. I'm going to call it Gymnast III and attach a PC interpretation explaining it... And sell it for A LOT of money! Then after the money is in the account...I'm going to sit back and laugh my butt off... Because I know what it really is!" And maybe it's not. Could just be my imagination or my inner 13 year old... BUT from the side it sure looks like one... Tucker also described some of his works as a "prolonged anatomy lesson." Again...really? I think he knew what it looked like too. Lol A popular spot for tourists and photographers. A showpiece many festivals are centered around. Opened in 2009 the John and Mary Pappajohn Sculpture Park sits on 4.4 acres. It contains around 30 installations. The parking around it is metered. You will find the Gymnast III statue on the North side of the park. About halfway down right along Grand Ave. Circle around it... Look at it from every angle. Take it all in... And then you tell me what you think...!

This dam spillway is a fun destination for a picnic a short drive from Des Moines. There seems to…read morealways be someone out here fishing, including anglers using bows. Several picnic spots located here and camping sites.

Please check your surroundings before using the bathrooms. A grown man was hiding out in the…read morewomen's bathroom in the first stall on Memorial Day in 2021. I had to use the restroom, there was already someone in the first stall but I didn't know it was a man in the stall next to me until I seen the huge guy shoes and noticed the hairy legs that it was a grown man. I quickly got my knife out just in case, when another woman walked in (thank God she did.) As soon as she closed the stall door he quickly ran out of the stall and ran outside, so I ran out after him and stood there to find him stumbling over to his group of friends sitting at a picnic table right next to the bathrooms drinking beer. They were all laughing as they watched him stumble back towards their group and he was laughing as well. I couldn't understand what they were saying as they spoke in a different language and I still don't know why he was just sitting in the women's bathroom. It all happened so quick. There were people everywhere, so you wouldn't think something like this could happen, but it did. My family that was waiting outside in the parking lot didn't even know what had happened. So please be cautious, especially if you have kids!