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Altoona, Iowa

Take a ride to Altoona, the entertainment capital of Central Iowa, attracting more than 4 million visitors each year. Whether you’re looking for thrill rides or chill vibes, Altoona is where you’ll hit the jackpot!   

Food and Drink    

Everything about Altoona screams “go big or go home” and that includes the food, where big portions and bold flavors are the name of the game. Start off coffee at Best Day Coffee Shop and some carb loading with breakfast at Flip’n Jacks Pancake House & Eatery with an order of their delectable berry bliss pancakes. There are nine locations of Jethro’s, but Jethro’s ‘n Jakes Smokehouse Steaks in Altoona might be our favorite, pairing hearty American fare with specialties like filet mignon and a mouth-watering State Fair pork chop. Speaking of steaks, few do it better than AJ’s Steakhouse inside of Prairie Meadows where you can spend your winnings on any cut of succulent steak that your heart desires, or surf and turf if you’re feeling extra fancy. The Big Steer has old school lodge vibes and is known for slicing up Iowa’s finest prime rib and Johnny’s Italian Steakhouse serves up Rat Pack vibes with steak and a side of pasta. For something a little more casual, there is Burger Shed, offering up more than ten styles of burgers including the Mac Attack (mac and cheese and bacon jam), all served with a cool BS brand on the top of each bun. There is also Spectator’s sports bar inside of Adventureland Inn, the perfect respite after a long day of water tubin’ and roller coastin’. If patios are your thing, Guadalajara Mexican Restaurant has a groovy one, perfect for enjoying bottomless baskets of chips and cold margaritas. And Brick & Ivy is the quintessential Chicago via Altoona experience, with thin crust pizza, Italian Beef, and Chicago dogs, best enjoyed on their rooftop patio that overlooks Adventureland (if you squint hard enough it looks like Wrigley Field). 

Burger ShedJohnny's Italian SteakhousePrairie Meadows Breakfast

Parks and Outdoors    

There are plenty of ways to get outdoorsy in Altoona, starting with the miles of trails that weave through the city and link up with the popular Gay Lea Wilson Trail. Trade the bike shorts for swim trunks and make a splash at Spring Creek Park, where the south lake is home to a new boat ramp, dock and adaptive canoe and kayak launch. Enjoy Haines Park with its playground, splashpad, theater productions, and live music the last Sunday of every month. Prairie Heritage Park might be the most well-known of Altoona’s parks and for good reason. Its Civic Plaza is a spacious gathering place with a stage, splashpad, fountain, and sculpture, and it hosts free family friendly events like “Music on the Plaza”. It also features a veteran's war memorial and one of the coolest and most unique outdoor features around in the Enabling Garden – an interactive children’s garden designed to use all five senses and be accessible for everyone. Featuring public art, a meditative water feature, sandpit, and teepee alongside beautiful flowers, it’s the perfect urban oasis amidst a sea of activity. And if you find your Zen on the golf course, Terrace Hills Golf Course is a 18-hole, Par 71 Championship course that says, “bring it!”.

Arts and Culture    

Whether your idea of art is the aesthetically pleasing bright green corkscrew twists of The Monster at Adventureland or a beautiful mural that screams “selfie”, there’s something for every taste in Altoona. Start with the whimsical CORNival statues – 20 different six-foot corn statues designed by local artists celebrating Iowa’s signature harvest. Take a self-guided scavenger hunt to find them all. While you’re on the hunt for corny statues, keep your eyes peeled for the “Where the Wild Things Are”-inspired mural on the side of City Hall and the new mural in Altoona’s Olde Town neighborhood at 2nd Street that connects the neighborhood to the nearby Verne Willey II Bike Trail.

Festivals and Events    

A trip to Altoona is an event in and of itself, but there are many annual events and festivals that will make your visit even more eventful. Every September, Adventureland holds its popular 21+ over Oktoberfest event where you’ll find traditional polka music, games, costume contests, and access to the rides without the kids. And of course, giant steins of beer. Prost! Adventureland is also home to The Ruckus, a popular annual country music festival in June that has featured such artists as Lee Brice, Eric Church, Hank Williams Jr., and more. If you’re feeling sporty, head over to Sam Wise Sports Complex in August for National Night Out; a free family event with kids' activities, superheroes, train rides, a dunk tank, live music, and all the other epic things that a festival with such an epic name should have. For more lowkey vibes and lowkey great beer, the Altoona Farmers Market happens from May through August at Brightside Aleworks, where you can stock up on fresh produce and unique crafts while sipping on one of Brightside’s legendary lagers.

Attractions and Things to Do    

Altoona is the unofficial adventure capital of Central Iowa and that starts with Adventureland amusement park, with over 100 rides, Adventureland Bay water park, attached hotel, on-site campground, and more funnel cake than you can safely consume in a weekend. To keep the adrenaline rush going, make sure you hit up Prairie Meadows Casino and Hotel. Enjoy live horseracing May – September and sports betting year-round at the William Hills Sports Book. They also have live music and concerts every week and rotating family friendly events like wiener dog races and fireworks. Need retail therapy? Peruse the shops at Central Iowa’s only outdoor shopping center, the Outlets of Des Moines, featuring more than 50 premium retailers like Nike and Kate Spade along with local shops like Posey & Jets and Suzy's Kitchen & Gifts. You can combine the retail therapy with family fun at Bass Pro Shops, where you can not only stock up on outdoor gear, but also check out their 30,000-gallon aquarium and go bowling at Uncle Buck’s Fishbowl and Grill. Recap all your Altoona adventures on the patio at Brightside Aleworks, a family-owned brewery with more than a dozen beers of varying styles and a Cran-Orange Wheat that will be the ultimate hoppy ending to your day. 

Flying VikingCatch Des Moines - Outlets of Des MoinesPrairie Meadows - Start Gate

Des Best LogoDes Best of Altoona

Adventure Bay – Des Best Water Activities
Jethro’s – Des Best BBQ
Johnny’s Italian Steakhouse – Des Best Steak De Burgo
Brightside Aleworks – Des Best Breweries 
Spectator’s – Des Best Sports Bars 
Adventureland – Des Best Family Fun

“Known as one of Iowa’s best thrills, boasting high-riding drops to new spinning roller coasters, Adventureland Amusement Park contains a plethora of rides with its neighboring Adventure Bay Waterpark”.
— Hometogo.com, naming Adventureland a Top Five Theme Park in the U.S.

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Des Moines, IA 50309-2350

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