Located in the heart of Iowa, Ames is a wonderful community to visit.
The city is best known as the home of Iowa State University, with leading and successful agriculture, design, and engineering colleges.
Ames offers four seasons of activities that you can do year-round. Ames also features over 50 miles worth of shared-use trails, sports fields, and outdoor concerts on weekends!
If you’re looking for a destination worth a visit, Ames won’t disappoint.
Keep reading to discover our list of the top things to do in Ames, Iowa
The 31 Most Popular Things To Do In Ames, Iowa
31. Ioway Creek
4.4 (5 reviews)
Credit: U.S. Fish Wildlife, License, Wikimedia commons
30. Audubon Trail
4.9 (7 reviews)
Credit: Noa Finken, Google Maps
Location: Unnamed Rd. Ames IA
29. Skunk River Bridge
4.4 (7 reviews)
Credit: photolibrarian, License, Flickr
Location: Ames IA
Tel: 641 260 1262
28. East & West Peterson Park
5.0 (8 reviews)
Credit: rando vids, Google Maps
Location: 55310 180th Street Ames IA
Tel: 515 232 2516
Web Address: https://mycountyparks.com/County/Story/Park/Peterson-Park.aspx
27. Anderson Sculpture Garden
4.6 (15 reviews)
Credit: Anderson Sculpture Garden, Google Maps
Location: hall Morrill Hall 601 Morrill Road Ames IA
Tel: 515 294 3342
Web Address: http://museums.iastate.edu/AndersonSculpture.html
26. Reiman Gardens Conservatory
5.0 (17 reviews)
Credit: GardenLover2008, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 1207 S University Blvd Ames IA
Tel: 515 294 4817
Web Address: http://fpm.iastate.edu/maps/building.asp
25. Lake LaVerne
4.6 (19 reviews)
Credit: photolibrarian, License, Flickr
24. Old Town Historic District
4.7 (19 reviews)
Credit: Jim Roberts, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 307 8th Street Ames IA
Tel: 515 239 5101
Web Address: https://cityofames.org/
23. Tedesco Environmental Learning Corridor
4.9 (36 reviews)
Credit: rando vids, Google Maps
Location: 1815 Plaza Lp Ames IA
Web Address: http://storycountyiowa.gov/index.aspx
22. Soper’s Mill
4.5 (37 reviews)
Credit: David Seiser, Google Maps
Location: 56501 170th Street Ames IA
Tel: 515 232 2516
Web Address: https://mycountyparks.com/County/Story/Park/Sopers-Mill.aspx
21. Stuart Smith Park
4.3 (49 reviews)
Credit: Justin Norman, Google Maps
Location: 1501 S 4th Street Ames IA
Tel: 515 239 5120
Web Address: http://cityofames.org/index.aspx
20. Izaak Walton League Park
4.8 (61 reviews)
Location: 2066 Streetagecoach Road Ames IA
Tel: 515 290 9745
Web Address: http://amesikes.org/
19. Veenker Memorial Golf Course
4.7 (88 reviews)
Credit: Veenker Memorial Golf Course, Google Maps
Location: Veenker Clubhouse 2916 Veenker Dr Ames IA
Tel: 515 294 6727
Web Address: http://veenkergolf.com/
18. Emma McCarthy Lee Park
4.7 (97 reviews)
Location: 3400 Ross Road Ames IA
Tel: 515 239 5350
Web Address: https://cityofames.org/Home/Components/FacilityDirectory/FacilityDirectory/44/471
17. World’s Largest Concrete Gnome
4.4 (134 reviews)
Credit: Jody Halsted, License, Flickr
Location: 1407 S University Blvd Ames IA
Tel: 515 294 2710
Web Address: http://reimangardens.com/
16. Moore Memorial Park
4.7 (230 reviews)
Credit: Lori Arends, Google Maps
Location: 3050 Northridge Pkwy Ames IA
Tel: 515 239 5350
Web Address: https://cityofames.org/Home/Components/FacilityDirectory/FacilityDirectory/76/471
15. North River Valley Park
4.6 (232 reviews)
Credit: photolibrarian, License, Flickr
Location: 725 E 13th Street Ames IA
Tel: 515 239 5350
Web Address: http://cityofames.org/index.aspx
14. McFarland Park
4.7 (329 reviews)
Credit: Scott McLeod, License, Flickr
Location: 56461 180th Street Ames IA
Tel: 515 232 2516
Web Address: https://mycountyparks.com/County/Story/Park/McFarland-Park.aspx
13. Bandshell Park
4.5 (342 reviews)
Credit: Dagwin57, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: Duff Ave & 6th Street 125 E 5th Street Ames IA
Tel: 515 239 5365
Web Address: http://cityofames.org/Home/Components/FacilityDirectory/FacilityDirectory/10/471
12. Inis Grove Park
4.7 (460 reviews)
Credit: Carl Wycoff, License, Flickr
Location: 2500 Duff Ave Ames IA
Tel: 515 239 5350
Web Address: http://cityofames.org/index.aspx
11. Ada Hayden Heritage Park
4.8 (1,059 reviews)
Credit: User:Manop, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 5205 Grand Ave Ames IA
Tel: 515 239 5360
Web Address: http://cityofames.org/index.aspx
10. Perfect Games
4.3 (1,458 reviews)
Credit: Perfect Games, Google Maps
Location: 1320 Dickinson Ave Ames IA
Tel: 515 598 2695
Web Address: http://perfectgamesinc.com/
Our Top picks
9. Brunnier Art Museum
4.7 (19 reviews)
Location: Scheman Bldg 295 1800 Center Dr Ames IA
Tel: 515 294 3342
Web Address: https://museums.iastate.edu/visit/brunnier-art-museum/
8. Christian Petersen Art Museum
4.7 (19 reviews)
Credit: Christian Petersen Art Museum, Google Maps
Location: 603 Morrill Road Ames IA
Tel: 515 294 9500
Web Address: https://museums.iastate.edu/visit/christian-petersen-art-museum/
7. Ames History Museum
4.9 (23 reviews)
Location: 416 Douglas Ave # 101 Ames IA
Tel: 515 232 2148
Web Address: http://ameshistory.org/
6. Farm House Museum
4.8 (26 reviews)
Location: 601 Farm House Ln Ames IA
Tel: 515 294 7426
Web Address: https://museums.iastate.edu/visit/farm-house-museum/
5. Ada Hayden Heritage Park Lake
4.8 (31 reviews)
Credit: User:Manop, License, Wikimedia commons
4. Octagon Center For the Arts
4.7 (82 reviews)
Location: 427 Douglas Ave Ames IA
Tel: 515 232 5331
Web Address: http://octagonarts.org/
3. Furman Aquatic Center
4.5 (331 reviews)
Credit: Carl Wycoff, License, Flickr
Location: 1635 13th Street Ames IA
Tel: 515 232 7665
Web Address: http://amesparkrec.org/
2. Brookside Park
4.7 (608 reviews)
Credit: Carl Wycoff, License, Flickr
Location: 1325 6th Street Ames IA
Tel: 515 239 5350
Web Address: http://cityofames.org/index.aspx
1. Reiman Gardens
4.8 (724 reviews)
Credit: GardenLover2008, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 1407 University Blvd Ames IA
Tel: 515 294 2710
Web Address: http://reimangardens.com/
Final Words:
Thank you for reading our list of the best things to do in Ames, Iowa! We hope it helped you plan the perfect itinerary for your next trip to this fantastic destination. Happy travels!
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