A Surprisng Place

“I ate apple pie and ice cream—it was getting better as I got deeper into Iowa, the pie bigger, the ice cream richer. There were the most beautiful bevies of girls everywhere I looked in Des Moines that afternoon—they were coming home from high school—but I had no time for thoughts like that…So I rushed past the pretty girls, and the prettiest girls in the world live in Des Moines.” - Jack Kerouac, "On The Road"

 

When my wife first came to Des Moines there was a long line of people asking her, "Why Des Moines?"  There are many people across the country who ask that question, or at least among those who don't get Iowa confused with Idaho or Ohio.

 

So why Des Moines, why Iowa?  What does Iowa have that's worth the trip, and worth putting up with the insane mid-west weather?

 

For starters Des Moines is home to the Iowa State Fair.  This annual 11 day event regularly attracts over 1 million visitors despite the August heat.  Fair goers expect and find the best food (on a stick), thrilling rides, and world class entertainment.  

 

Entertainers such as Olivia Newton-John, Chicago, and Lady Antebellum have all appeared on the stage.  And if the entertainment and food aren't enough you can check out the life size cow made from butter!

 

Of course the fair is only one attraction that central Iowa has to offer.  Are you into sports?  How about the Drake Relays, a world class track and field competition with national media coverage.  The Relays have hosted such Olympic greats as Bruce Jenner, Carl Lewis, and Jesse Owens.

 

The HyVee Triathlon is another event that attracts athletes from all over the globe to compete.  Des Moines is one of only four U.S. cities to hold such an event, which attracts 2,000 athletes from 25 countries, 10,000 spectators, and raises $250,000 for charity.

 

If the Arts are more your style Des Moines and central Iowa are still the place for you.  The Des Moines Arts Festival began in the 1970s as a small "Art in the Park" event hosted by the Des Moines Art Center, which attracted only a few hundred visitors, almost all local residents. 

 

By 2013 the Des Moines Arts Festival had grown to cover more than 3 city blocks in the downtown Western Gateway area.  The Festival boasts corporate sponsors such as the Meredith Corporation, and a wide range of attractions.  The full spectrum of art from around the world is represented, including painting, sculpture, photography, mixed media, film, and even craft beers!

 

If history is more your thing Des Moines certainly has what you're looking for.  Living History Farms offers you the chance to step back in time.  The town of Walnut Hill takes you to 1875, the pioneer farm shows you life in 1850, while the Ioway Indian Farm takes you to the time of the Native Americans in 1700.

 

The town is also the location of the Church of the Land, marking the spot where Pope John Paul II visited Des Moines in 1979.  The small country church is a beautiful spot for quiet reflection and a popular place for weddings.

 

Looking for something a little further back in time?  The Des Moines Renaissance Fair is probably more your speed.  Spanning 3 weekends in September the fair transports you to the age of kings and queens, knights and ladies, and even the occasional mermaid. 

 

Dress up like a pirate or wear your grand kilt to truly get in the mood.  Watch demonstrations on various crafts, take belly dancing lessons, or watch a jousting competition. 

 

And when you've worked up an appetite feed your hungry belly with turkey legs, beer, and hot dogs!

 

Des Moines has undergone many changes over the years.  Today it's a place where you can enjoy fine art and fine dining, then get a pork chop on a stick.  It's a place for shopping for the latest fashion, and shopping for the latest work boots.  It's a place for those who work in the insurance industry, in manufacturing, in the arts, or even at your neighborhood pub.

 

It's a suprising place, and my home.