Visiting Central & Western Iowa

It’s the Hawkeye State, however in Ames it’s all about Iowa State University and the Cyclones. Enjoy the men’s and women’s 2013 basketball season at the Sukup Basketball Complex into March. The Des Moines suburb of Urbandale, five miles east of Clive off Interstate 35, is home to Buccaneers Arena and the USHL Des Moines Buccaneers hockey team. Fans cheer on the tier 1 junior ice hockey team at home matches through the 2013 season ending on April 13th when the Buccaneers face off with Dubuque. After winter’s deep freeze, snow fun at Seven Oaks Recreation, and watching hockey and basketball Iowans are ready for outdoor adventure.

Fort Dodge celebrates spring and launches the running season with the Hy-Vee Half and 5k. The 2013 running events are March 31st and benefit JDRF. The half marathon starts at the Hy-Vee store with the 5k and kids fun starting at Kennedy Park. Get out and get your training in gear, swimsuit season is around the corner.

Welcome spring at Boonecrusher II, an Iowa adventure race through the Des Moines River Valley. Hosted at Seven Oaks Recreation in Boone, 15-miles east of Ames, the Boonecrusher features 8 or 12-hour courses that challenge participants with orienteering, mountain biking, trekking and paddling. As they say, Go for Broke or be Broken at the 2013 Boonecrusher II April 27th.

Something more relaxing? The Iowa Arboretum hosts its Spring Fever Symposium, April 13th. A 25-minute drive from Ames, the Arboretum hosts author Debra Lee Baldwin and a day of demonstration planting, lunch and door prizes. Give into your spring fever and make a visit to the Iowa Arboretum.

For more extreme competition check out Iowa’s 2013 Gladiator Assault challenge May 18th or 19th at Seven Oaks. Choose your day and get ready for the 5 to 7 mile race featuring up to 30 obstacles taking participants through the mud, over hills and under fences. The race is running, jumping, crawling and climbing – as always, a great party follows the Gladiator Assault competition.

Council Bluffs hosts The 2013 Gambler Half Marathon and 5k April 21st. The start of the Gambler is the Mid American Center with a course that takes runners to the shores of Lake Manawa and back.

Located an hour east of Des Moines on Interstate 80 is the town of Grinnell is home to Iowa’s Family Sports Festival, the Grinnell Games. The 2013 games are June 7th through the 9th featuring a family triathlon, disc golf tournament, and warrior run. It’s a full season of events and challenges in central and western Iowa.

Central & Western Iowa Hotel Map