Put down your phone and step outside, summer is calling! From teeing off at your favorite local course to casting a line at the best fishing spots in town, the community around you is buzzing with life this summer, and it’s worth every minute away from your screen.
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Get competitive
Grab your crew and get out on the greens at Homewood Golf Course, Veenker Memorial Golf Course, or Coldwater Golf Links. Warm up at the driving range, sharpen your short game on the putting green, or go all in with a full 18 holes. It’s the perfect way to soak up the summer sun with no phone in sight.
More of a disc golf fan? Ames has you covered. Pick up your gear at Dunham’s Sports in North Grand Mall, then hit one of the local courses: Carroll Marty, ISU’s Stable Run, or Gateway Park. The fairways are waiting!
Head over to Lloyd Kurtz Park and try out the new Friedrich Pitch, a hard-surfaced court built for futsal, a fast-paced, small-sided version of soccer played with a heavier ball. Round up your friends and compete all summer long!
The fun never stops at Inside Golf & Games! Take a swing in the batting cages, try your hand at duck pin bowling, step up to the golf simulators, or channel your inner lumberjack at the axe throwing lanes. Trust us, you won’t even miss your phone.
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Enjoy the outdoors
Get some air with a bike ride around Ada Hayden Heritage Park! Enjoy a peaceful ride around the Ada Hayden Lake on several different trails with loops as long as 3.2 miles!
Grab a book and pack a picnic to take to Brookside Park. The kids can enjoy the brand new firefighter playground structure and you can enjoy the great outdoors. And everyone can enjoy a phone free day.
Nothing says summer like a dip in the pool at Furman Aquatic Center. When the heat hits, cool off in the shallow end, take the plunge off the high dive, or simply soak up the sun and enjoy your summer glow.
Swap your screen for a fishing pole and spend your free time by the water at places like McFarland Park, Moore Memorial Park, and Ledges State Park. Ames and the surrounding area have plenty of great spots to cast a line and unwind.
Unique experiences
Wander through beautiful blooms at Reiman Gardens, an award-winning 17-acre botanical garden featuring a tropical indoor conservatory and a butterfly wing with up to 800 exotic butterflies in flight. This summer, don’t miss the Big & Small exhibit running through September 30, where towering blooms, oversized botanicals, and tiny details come to life in unexpected ways.
Pedal a railbike 156 feet over the Des Moines River Valley for a one-of-a-kind adventure at Rail Explorers in Boone. Choose from The Scenic Valley Trail, The Evening Lantern Ride, or The Scenic Valley Fireside Ride, each with their own unique perks. The only time you’ll need your phone is to capture the view!
And if outdoor adventure is your thing, Seven Oaks Recreation is your summer destination. Kayak, tube the river, or battle it out in paintball with friends and family, all in the great outdoors.
