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.

Prairie Flower Children's Center is a wonderful, Waldorf-based preschool that emphasizes time in…read morenature and imaginative play. All four of my children have attended Prairie Flower, and I am so grateful they were able to have non-traditional preschool experiences that do not focus so heavily on learning letters and numbers but rather focus on educating the whole child and nurturing the magic and wonder of childhood. I can't imagine a better experience for little ones.

When my daughter went here, she was relatively happy with it (although frequently confused by the…read morerules). As a parent, though, I was not happy. It felt very judgmental and clique-y. We got in trouble for dressing our daughter in tshirts with cartoons on them, for bringing non-homemade snacks, because she watched a video while at her grandparent's house (gasp!), and we were admonished for not showing up to things like the Harvest Forest Walk (or whatever they called it) because we had to work. This place feels like it's for parents with more time on their hands than the rest of us can reasonably hope to have. We believed in the philosophies of Waldorf, but needed something that worked in real life. Real life... where sometimes you set your kids in front of the TV. Real life... where you don't have time to make organic homemade gluten-free sugar-free cupcakes because you have to WORK. Real life... where you have to make compromises. When compared to other childcare places, I really appreciate that they have a philosophy that gives the kids the chance to connect to the seasons and the outdoors. But, ick. They give the idea a bad name, and our time there felt like a visit to Guilt City.

We had a fun time walking through the creek and enjoying the scenery. We had adults and kids…read more Really enjoyed seeing how much fun all the kids were having. They loved when the cars drove by and splashed them. Beautiful area. We considered hiking, but just too hot today. The creek walk was perfect. Definitely wear water shoes if you plan to walk the creek, and bring sunscreen and bug spray.

This place is awesome and always a destination when we need to touch Ledges State Park is one of…read moreour favorite places to take visitors when we want to show off just how beautiful this part of Iowa really is. It never disappoints. We've spent so much time here exploring, hiking, and driving through the water crossings -- which is always a blast, especially when you accidentally (on purpose) splash water all over the kids waiting nearby. So much fun. I have way too many pictures from this place, and somehow it still feels different every time we go. On our most recent visit, we brought Kim's parents to see the fall colors. We missed peak color by a bit, but honestly, it was still beautiful. Even when it's not at its "perfect" moment, Ledges is still worth the trip. If you want nature, scenery, and a spot that never gets old, this is it

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.

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!

The machines and workout space is nice and accommodating to all. The reason why I put 3 stars is…read morebecause I feel like the sauna and the showers do not get maintained and cleaned enough and the manager there is very stand-off and does not care about you. I actually went to the North Ames location to sign on with the manager there, she was much more approachable and helpful, I'd recommend signing up with her and not this South Ames guy, there's just something off with this guy. And the showers would have the same dirt from a week prior, same with the sauna. I recently had to cancel my membership and he said maybe ten words in all to me and did not care about the cancellation. From my previous experiences with gyms I've never dealt with such a manager. All are usually very kind and helpful and want to know how they can improve the gym and how my experience was. Not sure I'll be back. The rest of the employees there are wonderful however!

Looking for the best massage ever? We recomment Colette Friest at AFC South. She is amazing. The…read moremassage room is very comfortable. She does a great job of making her clients feel comfortable with a massage. I promise you will leave feeling so much better than when you came in.

Short on time but need to get back to nature? The Skunk River Green Belt is one of the best hidden…read moresecrets in the Ames area. Located just south of Story City this trail is a great place to take your dogs for a brisk hike. Although you can hear the traffic of the Interstate located less than a mile away you will see a lot of amazing wildlife and immerse yourself in dense, old growth forest that follows the Skunk River. There's an active beaver pond on one of the trail loops. There are large patches of native prairie that have a small maintained grass trail that meanders through it. I can personally verify that I have seen turkeys, coyotes and deer along with a great variety of winged creatures. This trail is best in the spring and fall, as the mosquitoes can get downright nasty in the summer months. The trail is a public-private partnership with easements. You'll walk through gated areas and may encounter a gregarious herd of cattle. It is possible to take a fortified 10-mile hike all the way to the Story County Conservation center if you're willing to walk considerable distances on rural gravel roads. The middle section of the trail "Bear Creek" is accessible from the southbound I-35 rest stop and has a scenic suspended bridge that crosses the namesake creek. Take a wonderful hike, then take a short drive north to Story City to grab a bite at the wonderful local restaurants.

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.