Check Out Simon Estes Amphitheater
Still trying to figure out where to take your family this summer? Consider planning a trip to Des Moines this year. From romantic dinners for two to family picnics at the lake, the city is bustling with activities for the whole family to enjoy. Continue Reading...
Do Not Miss Cirque du Soleil: Algria at the Drake Knapp Center
Make sure you do not miss what is sure to result in the most entertaining performance of the year when Cirque du Soleil comes to town to perform its new hit show, Alegria. The exciting show is set to take place at the Drake Knapp Center on the campus of Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, on Saturday, April 28, 2012, at 8:00 p.m.. The performance runs until midnight, so ensure you are ready for an eventful evening. Tickets range from 70 to 200 dollars and are accessible on a will call basis. Street parking is available nearby the venue. Continue Reading...
Get Lucky at Prairie Meadows Racetrack and Casino
Test your luck at the Prairie Meadows Racetrack and Casino, located near Des Moines, Iowa. This full-service casino offers you a state-of-the-art racetrack and a thrilling casino that features 2,000 of your favorite slot machines. If your idea of an adventurous night at the casino includes cards and dice, this is the place for you. The casino offers card tables, roulette, craps tables and even a smoke-free poker room. Continue Reading...
Best Bowling Aisles in Des Moines
Des Moines offers a wide variety of attractions for visitors, including a top-notch slate of bowling alleys for enthusiasts. Cap off a visit to Iowa’s capital city by bowling a few frames at one of the city’s locally-owned alleys. Continue Reading...
Try Cold Water Kayaking on the Des Moines River
Join the craze that is sweeping the Midwest, and get out and enjoy the great outdoors by going cold water kayaking on the scenic Des Moines River. Kayaking offers a great means to stay in fantastic shape and allows you view to some of the most beautiful scenery around. Cold water kayaking is taking off as a popular activity option during the fall and winter months. It offers a great way to exercise and get outdoors during these down times, and you are sure to stay warm as you paddle and ramp up your body heat. Simply bundle up accordingly, grab your paddles, and you are ready to hit the water. Continue Reading...
See the Historic Valley Junction
After getting settled in your room at the Valley West Inn, it is time to take to the town. A very good reason to see this historic city in Valley Junction, Iowa, is to educate the children. One of them may someday work as a historian or writer of historic places. The many ways people live are learned from viewing such a location. The ways people dress, eat and communicate are all cultural ways of life in this town. It is a small, quiet town where trains pass through, and fun rides on carriages with Clydesdale horses with a loved one can turn a regular day into a special occasion. Perhaps you would just like to relax and think about nothing while taking a carriage ride by yourself and enjoying the scenery. The weather is very lovely in spring. Continue Reading...
5th Annual Blue Ribbon Bacon Festival
If you are a big fan of bacon, then you do not want to miss the 5th Annual Blue Ribbon Bacon Festival. Since Iowa is America’s number-one producer of pork products, it is no surprise that Iowans take bacon seriously; the state House of Representatives even declared February 26 “National Bacon Day” to honor “nature’s perfect food.” There are several events you can take advantage of during Bacon Week even without tickets to the festival itself. Continue Reading...
Review of Caucus! The Musical
As the beginning of the 2012 presidential election season draws near, it is the perfect time for you to visit one of the most important states in any presidential hopeful’s campaign! Iowa is the first state to hold a caucus, a political meeting in which one candidate running for public office is selected and endorsed by the state’s voters. What better way to learn about the importance of the state of Iowa to modern politics than to attend an entertaining musical enactment of it? Caucus! The Musical (Episode 2012: The GOP Strikes Back) is currently showing at the Des Moines Civic Center, just minutes away from the Valley West Inn.
The Civic Center of Greater Des Moines
The Civic Center of Greater Des Moines is conveniently located in the heart of downtown at Third and Locust Streets, easily reached from Valley West Inn Hotel as well as other hotels in the immediate area. It has three theaters designed for specific performances. The Main Hall is the largest, with a seating capacity of nearly 2800 for concerts, Broadway plays and other major cultural events. The Civic Center has excellent acoustics and special accommodations for the hearing impaired.
Ice Skating at Brenton Skating Plaza
If you happen to find yourself with some free time over the holidays and are looking to take your family to a new destination, consider coming to the Des Moines area in Iowa. Des Moines prides itself on having a never-ending list of fun activities that your whole family can participate in and enjoy. While in town, get into the true holiday spirit by spending a day ice skating or getting your Christmas shopping finished.