Labor day weekend, the time of the year more typically associated with a three day weekend than the symbolic end of summer. But that’s what it marks… a transitionary period between summer and fall. So what better way to celebrate the passing of the seasons than with one final summer hurrah?

Earlier this year we talked about Gray’s Lake in one of our blog posts. Going back to revisit that idea there is really no better way to enjoy the last days of summer than by spending time outdoors.  With fishing, swimming, and watercraft rental available (paddleboats, canoes, sailboats, kayaks and hydro bikes to name a few) if you want some fun on the lake this place just can’t be beat. More information can be found here: http://www.dmgov.org/Departments/Parks/Pages/Parks.aspx

If the beach is more your thing there are a couple of options in the area to catch some rays. Over in West Des Moines is a great park with a nice beach, Raccoon River Park. This park boasts a 700 foot beach open for swimming, but you’ll want to get there early to grab a prime spot because it is a pretty popular place. If your interested in more information, or just interested in finding a nice quieter park to do some grilling and relaxing, a list of parks with some more informatoin can be found here: http://www.wdm.iowa.gov/Index.aspx?page=198

If that seems like it might be too many people for you then you may want to check out Saylorville Lake, located just north of Johnston. Used more for boating than anything, it still has a great beach area. More information can be found here: http://www2.mvr.usace.army.mil/Saylorville/

If that’s not your thing then there are a couple of events coming into town that you might want to look into. Out at Sleepy Hollow Sports Park the Des Moines Renaissance Fair kicks off this weekend for the 6th year in a row. Glass blowers, blacksmiths, potters, wood carvers, jugglers, musicians, and comedians all overlooked by a giant castle. If your looking for the best Renaissance Fair in Iowa you’ve found it. If nothing else the giant turkey legs have me sold!

The other event coming into town is the Hy-Vee Triathalon. Do you know anyone running in it and want to help support them? For more information on watching the race check this out: http://www.hy-veetriathlon.com/spectators/spectator-info-maps.aspx

So whether you’re in the water, on the beach, in a castle or watching form the sidelines, have fun and enjoy the holiday!

One of the best things about living in Des Moines is the variety and quality of restaurant choices in the metro area. No matter what type of food you’re interested in, chances are, you’ll find something just a short drive away. However with all these fine dining choices comes the paralyzing decision making process of deciding where to eat. If you don’t make it out to eat all that often then chances are high that you tend to stick with places you know. Well, Restaurant Week is here to help you branch out.

What it is: This year marks the 4th annual Restaurant Week and goes on August 19th-28th. This time around there are 36 local Des Moines restaurants participating in the event. With that many of the cities top chefs cooking things up you’re bound to find something somewhere that you’ll like. The chefs are creating fixed price menus for this week only. Lunches for two are going to run $25 whereas a three course dinner is going to run $25 per person. Menus for the different restaurants can be found here.

Why you should check it out: With all the fine dining options in Des Moines it can be tough to justify trying out a new restaurant when going out to eat.  But that thought process gives you a blind eye to all the wonderfully talented chefs we have here in Des Moines.  Restaurant Week gives you an opportunity to try out some of these new places while still keeping it budget-friendly. This could be a great way to plan a date night with your significant other with some great food at some great places.

There’s more: Don’t forget if you plan on checking out a few different places, to hold onto your receipts. Diners can enter these receipts in a drawing to win a 3 night stay for two in Sonoma County located in the heart of California wine country. Airfare up to $400 for each person will be covered, as well as tasting passes to local wineries and gift certificate for two Sonoma County restaurants.  This is sponsored by the Greater Des Moines Convention and Visitors Bureau.

So what are you waiting for?  Great food awaits!

This past weekend we had a chance to check out the Iowa State Fair for ourselves and in addition to the AMAZING weather and awesome fried foods there were quite a few fun things that we checked out. We thought we should share our “must-do’s” with you.

ENTERTAINMENT: Don’t miss the Extreme Canines Show. As seen on Oprah and Leno these dogs do some amazing tricks that will entertain all ages. They run shows throughout the day and the best seats are either in the stands or on the hill on the north side of their setup. Parents beware that they have a lot of things for sale for the kids, but the money does go to animal shelters so at least it’s for a good cause.

FOOD: We didn’t try the deep-fried butter but we did get our calorie fix with the deep-fried Snickers and Oreo’s. They were amazing. We also had our share of corn dogs, pork chops and turkey legs!

DRINKS: The Iowa Craft Beer Tent is a great place to stop and sample some local brews. From wheat beers to root beer they have it all. If you are lucky enough to order the beer that empties a keg, they shout your name on a bullhorn for a round of applause and you score a free t-shirt!

ANIMALS: They have a mini bull, a giant bull, a ton of sheep, a HUGE elk, a big fat pig, and many other animals. If you have kids, swing by the petting zoo!

There is so much to do at the Iowa State Fair for all ages, so bring your walking shoes and appetite and get ready to have some fun!