The Ames center is about the area of Octagon Center For the Arts and the area of Story Center Historical Museum.
Ames' climate is known as humid continental, which means that it experiences hot summers and very cold winters. If you are visiting on business, any time is a good time to come. If you are planning to spend any time in the city's many parks and outdoor spaces, schedule your visit from spring through fall to avoid Ames' occasional snowfall or icy conditions.
Ames supports the beautification of its community by hosting community events that celebrate artistic expression. Plan an art-centric trip to Ames in late September and you can experience the Octagon Arts Festival; a National Juried Exhibition of Clay, Paper, Glass, Metal, and Wood; and the Ames Annual Outdoor Sculpture Exhibition in the Ames Main Street Cultural District.
If you are a military and government service member, you will find excellent discounted hotel rates at Hampton Inn & Suites Ames. This hotel lies just 5 minutes from the Ames Main Street Cultural District and the Octagon Center for the Arts as well as Iowa State University. Guest rooms are outfitted with all you'll need for a comfortable stay, from fridges to LCD televisions, laptop-compatible safes, and microwaves. You'll also enjoy complimentary buffet breakfast daily and free housekeeping daily.
Country Inn & Suites is the perfect place to stay if you'd like to be close to Iowa State University and the Ames Main Street Cultural District. This hotel offers incredible value thanks to upscale amenities like pillowtop beds, premium bedding, and 32-inch flat-screen televisions. Wireless internet access is free, as is access to the hotel's indoor pool, spa tub, and fitness center. You can also tuck into a complimentary hot and cold breakfast buffet.
The Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Ames also puts you within this prime location, close to Iowa State and the Cultural District, and also offers comparable amenities. Guest rooms come with fridges and microwaves, so you can stow snacks and light meals to stretch your budget. Satellite programming and complimentary internet access will keep you entertained and informed throughout your stay. You can stay fit with visits to the indoor pool and 24-hour fitness center. Fill up with snacks from the snack bar and deli, grill out at the picnic area, and be sure to come down in the morning for the complimentary full breakfast each day.
Many Ames travelers come to town on business, but there are also plenty of entertainments to enjoy during your stay in the city, enough to rival cities more than twice its size.
Check out the exhibits at The Brunnier Art Museum or head to The Octagon Center for the Arts to see gallery exhibits, take art classes, visit art studios, or explore the retail shop. Head to Prairie Moon Winery to sip locally made meads, hard apple ciders, and wines. Plan a visit on a weekend to sip while enjoying live music.
If you enjoy sports, you can catch The Iowa State University Cyclones in action during a football game at Jack Trice Stadium, an NCAA Division I-A basketball game at Hilton Coliseum. You can even try something new with the Ames Figure Skating Club's Learn to Skate Program. Plan to visit Ames in the spring, and you're in for a treat. You can catch the annual Spring Ice Show.
Ames has such a wealth of public parks and facilities that you're sure to find the perfect park for your needs. If you are traveling with a pet, you can stop into Ames Dog Park. Skaters like to perfect their moves at Georgie Tsushima Memorial Skate Park, while golfers head to Homewood Golf Course and swimmers love Furman Aquatic Center. Peterson Pits and Sopers Mill are favorite spots for boaters and fishers. Bandshell Park is the place to catch some live music. Come to the bandshell on a summer Saturday, and you can take part in free yoga classes.
Wander the serene community gardens at Squaw Creek if you need some peace and quiet, or head to the butterfly pavilions and lush flower beds of Reiman Gardens. Plan a date at Lake LaVerne, where you can row a boat and drift across a still pond, surrounded by swans.
If you would like to walk, host a picnic, relax with family, or find a playground, check out Brookside Park, Daley Park and Greenbelt, Emma McCarthy Lee Park, Inis Grove Park, Moore Memorial Park, and River Valley Park. There are even more small neighborhood parks like Christofferson Park, Moore Park, and many more. Almost everywhere you turn in Ames, you'll find green space and a place to relax, work out, and interact with the local community.
Come for work but save ample time for play in Ames, Iowa, one of the nation's biggest small towns. Here, you'll find the best of small-town hospitality balanced with big-city amenities and entertainment.
Below are reviews of the city of Ames, IA from an actual visitor's perspective.
Overnight stay. Left motel on to eat dinner.
Nice and cozy lived here and attended college in the mid 80's
Great city. We will visit there again.
We love Ames and will continue to get hotel rooms for other special occasions.
Friendly
We enjoy the dining options (especially Aunt Maude's) as well as the shops on Main Street.
I love Ames. I grew up here.
I graduated from ISU so was good to see the town again.
Restaurants
City of Ames is a pleasant city we found a wonderful wheatsfield coop and the cafe
Loved farmers market, Fabulous Spirit Garden walk w fabulous carved pumpkins, Cornbread restaurant was wonderful. Of course ISU is beautiful and very interesting. Toured First farmhouse in Iowa on campus which was very interesting and informative. People were nice and helpful. Plan to return. Family weekend was really fun at ISU!
Ames is a great city. One of our children went to Iowa State. We always enjoy coming back.
We were there for a funeral so we didn't really get to see a lot, however, I did like the choice of the different breweries
Iowa State University, Hickory Park were both awesome.
Many good eats. Really liked Flipping Jacks. We drove the campus and enjoyed that.
It is a central location in the state of Iowa with great food options and a range of options for a place to stay.
Reiman Gardens on campus was beautiful.
Nice town, lots of restaurants and very clean.
Nice
Ames s beautiful, everything looks new and not over crowded. Iowa State is a great campus!
Plenty of restaurants near hotel!
Plenty of restaurants near hotel!
Plenty of restaurants near hotel
Excellent! Worth the cost!
The college is beautiful all lit up at night!
We went to a wedding in Madrid, so only experienced the hotel and Mullets for breakfast which was great!
Great city, great campus. Shortbread BBQ is tops. Many great golf courses in area. We played 4 in 3 days.
Very clean. Many good restaurants.
Very clean. Many good restaurants.
ISU, downtown, restaurants, parks, museums.
Aunt Maude's restaurant was excellent!
I have heart issues along with mobility. They generously brought an electric cart to my vehicle without hesitation. Great example of caring for your customer!
Family lives here and we don't get to visit very often. Hotel location made it so much easier to see more of them.
Waterpark!
Ames is a great town to live in. College town with excellent schools.
There for a wedding in Cambridge so didn't do tourist stuff.
Iowa State
The restaurants! Fuji, Texas Roadhouse, Hickory Park!
Good!
Good!
Good shopping and excellent choice of great eating places.
ISU
Great shopping. Good choice of restaurants!
Seems like a nice friendly town with good food and good accommodations!
Lots of restaurants!
The people are nice and the Mexican restaurants are amazing!
I enjoyed my time at Iowa State University's Meat Laboratory. I learned quite a lot at the short course for sausages and processed meats.
Plenty of shopping, and spirits in and around Ames.
It was easy to get around to the places of interest.
Ames is as cosmopolitan as a major city but much more friendly, safe and clean. Very much a university town. Businesses are booming which gives the place an upbeat feel!
No shortage of great places to eat!!
The room was very nice and clean. The personnel were helpful and friendly. Everything was conveniently located including the motel.
We were there for a college visit and ISU is amazing!
ISU
ISU
The venue was beautiful
I was there with the University.
It was nice
Hickory Park Restaurant was amazing food!
We were in town for a wedding at Gatherings and the location was great. The town is super cute!
Ames was a great place to visit, good places to eat out!
Friendly people and lots to do!
Nice.
Ames seemed like a great city. ISU was nice.
We did not do much in Ames, but we had a staff retreat at the Pine Grove Retreat Center. It was beautiful and just what we needed for our meetings
Nice college town.
Visiting the university was great.
Lots to do!
When in Ames, The Great Plains Sauce & Dough Co is a must for great pizza!