For the most part we’ve been blessed with a very mild winter so far.  We finally saw the first major snow on the ground last week, and that already seems like it’s on the way out of the door.  However, even with the mild winter,  the golf courses have been pretty empty aside from the occasional devout golfer.  Luckily, the 27th Annual Skywalk Mini Golf event is coming up to alleviate our golf addiction.

On February 11th get ready to break out your putters and explore the 3.2 mile skywalk system that serves as a necessary transit route for many who work downtown during the winter months.  Each year the skywalk transit system gets transformed into multiple 18 hole miniature golf courses setup for singles, double, or foursomes.  Tickets are $25 a piece, and each adult ticket gets one child under the age of 12 in for free!  This family friendly event is held all day Saturday with tee times ranging from 8am-3pm so you don’t have to miss out if you’re busy in the morning and free in the afternoon or vice versa.

So grab your putters and the rest of the family and check out the event.  More information and registration information can be found on the Skywalk Golf Webpage here.  It gives you a great excuse to checkout Des Moines’ vast skywalk system and have some fun doing it!

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