Ames Travel Guide

 
by meta4r
 
  •   Ames
    by meta4r
  •   Ames
    by meta4r
  •   Ames
    by meta4r
  •   Ames
    by jpaustin
  •   Ames
    by Clyselia
 

Flights to Ames

All fares Ashburn (IAD) to Ames (DSM) found by travelers in past 48 hours*
Today's lowest fares
JunJulAug
$283 $322 $331
Search Flights

Pro

kim83_50158 profile photo

 Lots of international students/faculty in a small Iowa town... 


Con

sshay profile photo

 Lacking in options 


In a nutshell

Clyselia profile photo

 Peaceful town with budding flavor. 

 

Explore Ames

Things to Do  

BEAUTIFUL CAMPUS!

BEAUTIFUL CAMPUS!, Ames

 kim83_50158 Says:  The campus is very beautiful year round. I personally like spring the best (and early summer), because the lilac trees and flowers are blossoming & blooming all around, and it smells heavenly (if you are smelling the flowers that is..hehe). There are a lot of trees all... 

West Street and Wilmoth Block...

West Street and Wilmoth Block..., Ames

 OrdWhite Says:  West Street and Wilmoth Block PartyIt's hard to catch... the date changes yearly depending on who gets off their lazy ass to apply for a permit... but it's worth hanging around to catch a street full of hippies in all of their dirty, drunken glory. 

Hotels  

Restaurants  

Black Market Pizza: This Ain't No Ordinary Pizza (their words)

Black Market Pizza: This Ain't No Ordinary Pizza (their words), Ames

 miniwheats7 Says:  We first saw this place on Man Vs. Food (yes the show with Adam Richman!) and figured since we had lived in Ames for a few years and never heard of it, we should give it a try. Location is a little north of campus in the Somerset area. It was a nice quiet area, not highly... 

Hickory Park!!!: Hickory Park!!!

Hickory Park!!!: Hickory Park!!!, Ames

 kim83_50158 Says:  It's a very family-oriented restaurant! On birthdays (customers), some of the waiters will come and sing to the guest...they even have their own special song for the occasion.Being such a special place and all....people from all over (Iowans, students' families, etc etc)... 

Great Plains Sauce & Dough Co: Great Plains Sauce & Dough Co

Great Plains Sauce & Dough Co: Great Plains Sauce & Dough Co, Ames

 d_marquis Says:  THE BEST PIZZA IN THE WORLD. Dine in (small, not usually very crowded, honey jars on the tables), carry out, or delivery. The pizza is expensive ($8 for a small) but two slices are more than enough to satisfy ANYONE. The pizza has lots of cheese and one can choose from many... 

Nightlife  

paddys irish pub/ mickeys irish pub: mickeys > paddys

paddys irish pub/ mickeys irish pub: mickeys > paddys, Ames

 ameschick515 Says:  I think paddys is one of the worst, possibly the worst bar in campustown. The staff is very rude, especially the doorman (skinny blonde dude usually). He treats everyone like they are a drunken mess, even if you are obviously 100% sober. This includes yelling at you, rude... 

DG's Tap House: Downtown Bars

DG's Tap House: Downtown Bars, Ames

 tattulip Says:  Located above The Corner Pocket in downtown Ames, DG's all-wood interior is spacious, with booths, high tables and a three-sided bar. A stage provides room for the live local bands every Saturday night.The bar offers 56 beers on tap, and more than 100 varieties when bottled... 

Boheme Bistro: Escape the Midwest

Boheme Bistro: Escape the Midwest, Ames

 sudorandon Says:  With an atmosphere ranging from that of a candle-lit Catholic church to a pounding international disco, the Boheme is the most unique experience Ames has to offer. Until evening, it assumes the role of a funky, quiet bistro and coffee shop. In the evenings, it provides live... 

Thumbs: Thumbs

Thumbs: Thumbs, Ames

 OrdWhite Says:  It's dirty, you can bring your dog, and there will always be a drunk old man staring at you from the bar. But hey, on Thursday nights, gin & tonics are 75 cents. If you dress up, you'll look like a complete jackass. 

Ames is a college town, so...

Ames is a college town, so..., Ames

 Burgfresh Says:  Ames is a college town, so there are many bars in town too wet your whistle. The are two basic bar districts; Campustown and Downtown. Campustown is located right next to campus on Welch Ave. (this is were I usually go). Downtown is located a block off Licoln Way and there... 

Paddy's Irish pub: Paddy's Irish pub

Paddy's Irish pub: Paddy's Irish pub, Ames

 Burgfresh Says:  Paddy's is one of the most popular bars in town. It usually has the longest lines to get in but if you go early(before 9) or later(after 12) it is usually easy to get into. It is a great hang-out bar, there are plenty of pool tables and plenty of places to sit. It has a... 

I'd check out Campustown, the...

I'd check out Campustown, the..., Ames

 jpaustin Says:  I'd check out Campustown, the university district, if you're young or young at heart. It's pretty small as far as major university districts go, but still hoppin'. Try Mo Jazz, Lost and Found Lounge, Paddy's and Cafe Beaudelaire. No dress codes for these places. Think... 

Shopping  

Worldly Goods: Worldly Goods...
kim83_50158 profile photo
kim83_50158 134 reviews

Worldly Goods is a cute, quaint shop on Main Street in Ames. The shop sells crafts made in about 30 different countries. The shop follows along with the Fair Trade ideals. Everything bought here in Ames, the artist/producer will receive closer to about 10 to 30% of the profits, versus less than about 5%. So, it's a pretty worthy little shop and I highly recommend visiting Worldly Goods and just looking at what is coming out of other cultures....

What to buy: At Worldly Goods, there are several different genres of artwork, etc. There are different musical instruments from all over the world, which are fun to play with. There are kids toys and games. There are a variety of cookbooks. There are a bunch of little trinkety items. Also, there is a pretty good selection for clothing. Most of the clothing is made by women in India.

So, buying anything will help people around the world!

What to pay: Depending on what you expect to buy, you can spend a wide range. The little trinkety items could cost less than a dollar or so, but the clothing items could cost closer to about $60 or 70 dollars per piece. So, it all depends on what you want to get. There are many choices between the two extremes.

Updated Mar 24, 2005

Website: www.worldlygoods.org

Related to:
 Arts and Culture
 Budget Travel

Was this review helpful?

Local Customs  

Support the 'Clones!
kim83_50158 profile photo
kim83_50158 134 reviews
ISU Marching Band--Pregame @ ISU-Oklahoma game-03

Go to a Cyclones Sporting Event! There is something always going on in Cyclone sports. We have football, men's & women's basketball, men's & women's track/cross country, men's & women's golf (?), women's swimming, men's hockey (club sport), women's soccer, tennis, and I'm probably forgetting something. Go to www.iastate.edu to visit the athletics website and get more information there!

Written Oct 12, 2003

Related to:
 Budget Travel

Was this review helpful?

Off The Beaten Path  

VEISHEA
kim83_50158 profile photo

3.5 out of 5 starsHelpfulness

kim83_50158 134 reviews
Rice Krispie Bar--Ames

Veishea is the largest (and longest running, I do believe) student-run festival on college campuses across the campus. It first started so that the different colleges within Iowa state could show others what was happening within the college, like research, etc. (like a giant open house) Since then it has grown and become a showcase for the entire university--colleges, departments, student groups, alumni, etc etc. Alumni and their families traditionally come back every year, so Ames is packed with people for the big parade on the last weekend. It usually lasts a week, with activities and food on central campus for students and staff during the day and then activities throughout the week. Ames is quite the happening place during Veishea. This year (2005) it was cancelled, due to a riot the last night of last year's Veishea celebration. It was a pretty big deal in the ISU and Ames community, so it was cancelled this year, in order to make longer-term plans and considerations. It will happen again next year (sadly this is my senior year, and no Veishea). That's the long and the short of it. Oh there's a parade, booths all over campus, Open houses, food vendors, cherry pies (yummy) and LOTS of other stuff....:-)
The picture (while I need to replace it, but not now) is from Veishea 2001 when they made a HUGE rice krispy treat--largest in the world, in fact, in honor of the creator of the rice krispy treat--an alum of Iowa State!

Updated Mar 24, 2005

Website: www.iastate.edu

Related to:
 Family Travel
 Festivals

Was this review helpful?

Sports & Outdoors  

poor deer!

poor deer!, Ames

 ObsessedWithSalem Says:  I couldnt kill a dear but Iowa has a bad problem with over population and they cause lots of accidents. 

Not For The Faint Hearted

Not For The Faint Hearted, Ames

 ObsessedWithSalem Says:  Well I dont care much for this but this is a sport lots of people enjoy in my neck of the woods! Guns and Camo 

Favorites  

VEISHEA

VEISHEA, Ames

 kim83_50158 Says:  This is where like thousands of alumni and their families, not to mention the entire student body and some of their families, and the faculty, etc come out for a great weekend of fun...There's a parade and everything and then open houses, and like everything else..... 

VEISHEA. Sometimes there are...

VEISHEA. Sometimes there are..., Ames

 OrdWhite Says:  VEISHEA. Sometimes there are riots, once there was a murder, some years it's just too cold to go outside. But you should try it anyway. Nothing like Central Iowa in April... Seven drunken roomates, a wolf, and a blind, deaf, and retarded puppy. What do you think happened?... 

In general Ames is a college...

In general Ames is a college..., Ames

 Burgfresh Says:  In general Ames is a college town. The university is what brought me to Ames and will bring me back if I ever graduate. My first semester at ISU was a great time, I was finally on my own.(pic. is of one of the towers that I lived in my freshman year) 

Comments

* Pricing and fares have been collected during the three days prior to today's date. Actual pricing and fares are provided by air carrier and suppliers, whose prices change frequently and without notice.
Map of Ames