Everyone has heard of the Tour De France, the world famous bike ride across France. But did you know RAGBRAI, Iowa’s own great bike ride has its own claim to fame?
RAGBRAI, or the “Register’s Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa” is not only the oldest, but also the longest and largest bicycle touring event in the world!
RAGBRAI was started in 1973, by two columnists at the Des Moines Register who challenged each other to ride across Iowa and write about what they saw. The very first year 300 people showed up and pitched tents on yards along the way, thus beginning a great tradition.
This year, RAGBRAI will see about 10,000 riders make there way from Sioux City to Dubuque, making it the 3rd easiest ride in RAGBRAI’s history. This year riders will get to ride past the Grotto in West Bend, people boating on Clear Lake and the Field of Dreams in Dyersville.
Along the way riders will be greeted by townsfolk happy to lend a hand. Whether it’s a day stop, where riders can relax for a few hours and enjoy homemade lemonade and some entertainment. Or a night stop where riders are welcomed into the homes of Iowans for a home cooked meal and a place to rest their head and feet for the night.
Along the journey you’ll see thousands of bikes, traveling bike shops offering repairs, vans of team members offering refreshments and encouragement to their teams and plenty of crazy outfits and possibly crazy people.
By the end of the journey, when the riders make the annual dip of the tire into the Missippi river, riders will have traveled 442 miles and climbed 14,527 feet ( a wimp in comparison to last years 22,000 feet).
For more information on how to join next year, where else RAGBRAI stops this year or more history check out their website: www.ragbrai.com.

When people think about the landscape of Iowa they tend to think about farms, corn, pigs and cows. Although there are plenty of those things in the state there are also a number of places that visitors and residents alike can explore to give them a taste of nature from around the world. In this post we would like to share with you three of our favorite places in Central Iowa that will make you feel like you are on a wild safari.
The Blank Park Zoo
Each year, over 300,000 people visit this amazing venue. With over 1,500 animals to view it’s almost impossible to see everything in just one visit. Education, conservation, and recreation are the cornerstones of this staple of the Des Moines area.

The Des Moines Botanical Center
The Botanical Center is another must see for residents and visitors. Even when it’s 20 below zero outside the weather is always great inside. Built in 1979 the Botanical Center is not only a great place to bring kids to learn about nature and see some beautiful plants and butterflies, but it’s also a great place to hold special events. There is always something going on and you can find a list of events HERE.
The Great Ape Trust of Iowa

Photo Courtesy of Great Ape Trust of Iowa

The Great Ape Trust, committed to conservation and education, provides a rare look into the habits and intelligence of Apes. Although not generally open to public viewing, there are a great number of ways to get involved with the Great Ape Trust of Iowa and if you are one of the lucky few to be allowed to visit, I am sure you will not be disappointed.
@dsmhomes

When people think of the state of Iowa they think of pigs, cows and corn fields. Although we do have our fair share of those things, there is a lot more beauty to the landscape of Iowa that can simply take your breath away. From the bluff-lined rivers to the rolling prairies, the variety of typography in our state parks offers a lot to the recreational person.

One state park in particular, Ledges State Park, just about an hour drive from Des Moines, is a haven for bikers and hikers. Boasting thirteen miles of trails, Ledges surprises even the most seasoned of hikers with steep inclines, winding paths and majestic views like the one here, courtesy of Gary D. Tonhouse of Reflective Images.

Photo by Gary D. Tonhouse

Although we are quite proud of our farming heritage in Iowa the Department of Natural Resources works hard to care for and develop our state parks so that the millions of people that enjoy visiting our parks remember our state as having more beauty than just the Midwest farm view that you see from the highways.

@dsmhomes