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Visit West Des Moines, Iowa

Discover the best activities and accommodations in West Des Moines, Iowa

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Originally home to the native Sac and Fox tribes, this community in the Raccoon River valley attracted settlers as it became an important shipping and trading juncture known as Valley Junction. The Great Depression later took its toll on the area, and as railroad activity and growth dwindled, residents decided in 1938 to identify with a neighboring city's prestige by rebranding as West Des Moines. Nowadays the city is the tenth largest in Iowa and the second largest in the Des Moines Metropolitan Area. It's still growing, as reflected by the development of the pedestrian-friendly Village of Ponderosa. Biking also is a popular pastime, with 50 miles of trails in the city.

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SpringHill Suites by Marriott West Des Moines

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Hyatt Place West Des Moines/Jordan Creek

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Hampton Inn Airport

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Element West Des Moines

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Comfort Inn & Suites Ames near ISU Campus

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Holiday Inn Express

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Radisson Hotel Ames Conference Center at ISU

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Hyatt Place-Des Moines Downtown

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Hyatt Place Des Moines / Altoona

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Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott West Des Moines

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EDITOR PICKTop 7 Places to Get Your Geek OnAAA Travel Editorial Team03/21/2024 : Searching for a fun theme for your trip? These attractions, restaurants and hotels are among the best things to do for a self-professed geek.
DESTINATIONWest Des Moines Originally home to the native Sac and Fox tribes, this community in the Raccoon River valley attracted settlers as it became an important shipping and trading juncture known as Valley Junction. The Great Depression later took its toll on the area, and as railroad activity and growth dwindled, residents decided in 1938 to identify with a neighboring city's prestige by rebranding as West Des Moines. Nowadays the city is the tenth largest in Iowa and the second largest in the Des Moines Metropolitan Area. It's still growing, as reflected by the development of the pedestrian-friendly Village of Ponderosa. Biking also is a popular pastime, with 50 miles of trails in the city.
NATIONAL PARKEffigy Mounds National Monument Three miles north of Marquette on SR 76, Effigy Mounds National Monument extends 3 miles along the bluffs of the Mississippi River and covers 2,526 acres. The Yellow River divides the tract into two sections. The 206 mounds, some built in the shape of animals and birds, contain the remains of a Native American society that lived in this region between 1,000 and 2,500 years ago. At the visitor center a video and museum explain the history of the mounds.
NATIONAL PARKHomestead National Monument Of America Four miles northwest of Beatrice on SR 4 following signs, Homestead National Monument of America was one of the first quarter sections of land to be claimed under the Homestead Act of 1862. The act provided a process by which citizens (or intended citizens) could acquire their own homestead. After filing an application, prospective landowners could claim 160 acres (a quarter of a square mile) of surveyed federal land. If the homesteader lived on the land for the next 5 years, built a dwelling and cultivated crops, he could file the necessary paperwork and be granted ownership of the land.
NATIONAL PARKPipestone National Monument Pipestone National Monument is 1 mile north of Pipestone on US 75, then half a mile west. Within its 300 acres are pipestone quarries that yielded red stone used to fashion ceremonial pipes. According to one Native American legend, the quarry site was discovered by a woman who followed a white bison to a spot where its hooves turned the rocks red.
NATIONAL PARKSt. Croix National Scenic Riverway Flowing from the highlands of northern Wisconsin and central Minnesota to the St. Croix's juncture with the Mississippi River just s.e. of Minneapolis-St. Paul, the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway is a 255-mile river reserve. The Upper St. Croix River and its tributary, the Namekagon River, were among the original eight rivers designated as National Wild and Scenic Rivers in 1968. Four years later the Lower St. Croix River from St. Croix Falls to Prescott was added to the system by Congress.
EDITOR PICKWhere to Find AAA TourBook Guides and MapsMichelle Palmer04/01/2025 : The AAA TourBook guides provide travel information and are a planning tool for destinations across the U.S., Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean.
ARTICLE51 Romantic Getaways in the U.S. to Fall in Love WithAAA Travel Editor, SMS03/25/2025 : Whether you're looking to stay local or travel the country, AAA has the perfect romantic getaway in the U.S. for you and your partner.
EDITOR PICK8 Things to Know about ETIAS, ETA and Travel to Europe in 2025AAA Travel Editor, Sherry Mims01/16/2025 : Some countries in Europe will require applying for an electronic travel authorization before you go.
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