Food Scene
At Saylorville Marina. Close, can walk from cottage, nice place to have a beer & burger, watch boats in the marina, right off bike trail.
Latitude 41 Bar and Grill
6170 NW Polk City DrAt Saylorville Marina. Close, can walk from cottage, nice place to have a beer & burger, watch boats in the marina, right off bike trail.
Family run-Breakfast, lunch, dinner, sandwiches, soup, ice cream, coffees
Very good
Close, on Polk City square
The Reising Sun Cafe
107 N 2nd StFamily run-Breakfast, lunch, dinner, sandwiches, soup, ice cream, coffees
Very good
Close, on Polk City square
Leaning Tower of Pizza - Uptown Ankeny
512 SW 3rd StFamily run over 50 yrs., area icon.
Jethro’s BBQ n’ LakeHouse
1425 SW Vintage PkwyVery good, large menu. Is N. of HyVee in Ankeny. Close.
Bandana's Bar-B-Q
301 E 1st StGood, basic BBQ fare, quality meats
China Moon Restaurant
225 SE Oralabor RdGood, reasonable prices, nice surroundings, carry out
Tasty Tacos
2401 SE Delaware AveAwesome flour tacos, a Des Moines area landmark. Unique.
Very good seafood/sushi, great clam chowder & cat fish. A DM area local favorite.
Waterfront Seafood Market Restaurant
2414 SE Tones DrVery good seafood/sushi, great clam chowder & cat fish. A DM area local favorite.
Very popular bar & grill, good food, large biking community, right on the Trestle Trail
Flat Tire Lounge
304 S Madison StVery popular bar & grill, good food, large biking community, right on the Trestle Trail
Very great deli, great salads, hot dishes, sandwiches, eat-in or take-out
Lots of choices, a little pricey but worth it. close to cottage.
Palmer's Deli & Market
110 North Ankeny BoulevardVery great deli, great salads, hot dishes, sandwiches, eat-in or take-out
Lots of choices, a little pricey but worth it. close to cottage.
In Ames. Huge, huge fun place, BBQ & ice cream sundaes are their specialty, very reasonable.
Hugely popular!! Can be hard to get it.
25 locals recommend
Hickory Park
1404 S Duff AveIn Ames. Huge, huge fun place, BBQ & ice cream sundaes are their specialty, very reasonable.
Hugely popular!! Can be hard to get it.
Very good, coldest drafts I've ever had, pizza, cavatelli, sandwiches.
On the old Polk City square
Papa's Pizzeria
214 Van Dorn StVery good, coldest drafts I've ever had, pizza, cavatelli, sandwiches.
On the old Polk City square
Great, great place, soups, salads, sandwiches, breakfast, pasteries. Very habit forming. Has drive thru.
8 locals recommend
Main Street Cafe & Bakery
2510 SW White Birch DrGreat, great place, soups, salads, sandwiches, breakfast, pasteries. Very habit forming. Has drive thru.
Really good, open for breakfast, good scrambled egg tacos/burritos. Very good value. Habit forming.
6 locals recommend
Fuzzy's Taco Shop
300 W Martin Luther King Jr PkwyReally good, open for breakfast, good scrambled egg tacos/burritos. Very good value. Habit forming.
Fong's Pizza Ankeny
1450 SW Vintage PkwyUnique asian fusion inspired pizza. Has huge following.
Closest place to cottage. Right at Saylorville Marina. If you are a walker, you can walk there on bike path. Open year round. Closed Mon.
Sand Bar Grill
6170 NW Polk City DrClosest place to cottage. Right at Saylorville Marina. If you are a walker, you can walk there on bike path. Open year round. Closed Mon.
District 36 Wine Bar & Grille
1375 SW Vintage PkwyHip new restaurant in happening area
The Fletcher Full Service Kitchen + Bar
1802 N Ankeny BlvdNew good varied menu, nice bar area
Benchwarmers
705 S Ankeny BlvdSports bar, varied menu, landmark in area for decades
Great burgers, shakes, new to Ankeny...very good
In new area with lots of other food choices.
Zombie Burger + Shake Lab
Great burgers, shakes, new to Ankeny...very good
In new area with lots of other food choices.
Many specialty items pancakes, waffles, crepes, souffles, huge omelets. Very pricey but great for special occasions breakfasty tastes. Same menu all day long.
The Original Pancake House
1810 SW White Birch CirMany specialty items pancakes, waffles, crepes, souffles, huge omelets. Very pricey but great for special occasions breakfasty tastes. Same menu all day long.
Parks & Nature
Saylorville Lake Marina
6170 NW Polk City DrHub of lake, can rent pontoon boats. Can walk to from cottage.
Jester Park
11121 NW Jester Park DrBeautiful lodge , golf course
High Trestle Trail Bridge
2335 Qf Lnbiking destination-very popular
High Trestle Trail
Popular bike trail to Bridge
Wonderful prairie restoration habitat area, canoe, kayak, dog trials area, wildlife, whooping cranes, wood duck nesting areas, bike trails. Awesome.
Chichaqua Bottoms Greenbelt
8700 NE 126th AveWonderful prairie restoration habitat area, canoe, kayak, dog trials area, wildlife, whooping cranes, wood duck nesting areas, bike trails. Awesome.
Offer wide variety of outdoor recreation activities: kayak, canoe, river tubing, paintball; in winter, skiing, snowboarding & snow tubing. Do groups & parties.
9 locals recommend
Seven Oaks
1086 222nd DrOffer wide variety of outdoor recreation activities: kayak, canoe, river tubing, paintball; in winter, skiing, snowboarding & snow tubing. Do groups & parties.
Beautiful state park, hiking trails, creeks, picnic areas.
One of our guests got married there then came to stay first 2 nights, Fun!!
31 locals recommend
Ledges State Park
1515 P AveBeautiful state park, hiking trails, creeks, picnic areas.
One of our guests got married there then came to stay first 2 nights, Fun!!
Entertainment & Activities
Very nice golf venue, great place for lunch, drinks, eat outside if can. They do a lot of special events so not always open to general public, but worth a look. Check their web-site for hours.
Tournament Club of Iowa
1000 Tradition DrVery nice golf venue, great place for lunch, drinks, eat outside if can. They do a lot of special events so not always open to general public, but worth a look. Check their web-site for hours.
Jester Park Golf Course
Very nice course & nature area
Jester Park Equestrian Center
11171 NW 103rd CtVarious horse activities, riding
Held every Sat. A.M., May-Oct. Runs along Court Ave from Courthouse to river. Great fun, great food, great produce. Place to be seen!! Do this Sat mornings then head to East Village....great day!!!
41 locals recommend
Des Moines' Downtown Farmers’ Market
300 Court AveHeld every Sat. A.M., May-Oct. Runs along Court Ave from Courthouse to river. Great fun, great food, great produce. Place to be seen!! Do this Sat mornings then head to East Village....great day!!!
Offer train rides, dinner & lunch trains
9 locals recommend
Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad | James H. Andrew Railroad Museum
225 10th StOffer train rides, dinner & lunch trains
Blank Park Zoo
7401 SW 9th StDes Moines Zoo, great fun, many activities
Everything Else
Mercy North Family Practice
Largest walk-in in area if you need help.
UnityPoint Clinic Family Medicine | Urgent Care at Ankeny
Another choice if you need help.
Casey's General Store
2905 W 1st StClose, gas, good pizza, bakery, sandwiches, great soft serve ice cream
Big Creek Marina
8550 NW 142nd AveSmaller lake, boat rental, beach, picnic grounds
Mercy Des Moines Medical Center
1111 6th AveMajor Hospital
Des Moines International Airport
5800 Fleur DrLargest area airport
Ankeny Campus College Library
2006 S Ankeny BlvdLargest area community college
Essentials
HyVee
410 N Ankeny BlvdLarge full serve grocery
Close, gas, pizza slices or whole pies for take-out, great pastries, sandwiches
Faraway Grocery right behind it to W.
Casey's
1100 S 3rd StClose, gas, pizza slices or whole pies for take-out, great pastries, sandwiches
Faraway Grocery right behind it to W.
Fareway Grocery
3205 N Ankeny BlvdGeneral groceries-good meat
Closed Sundays
Iowa Methodist Medical Center
1212 Pleasant StDM's largest Hospital
Hy-Vee Market Grille
2510 SW State StLargest, nicest grocery, deli, bakery, restaurant & close to cottage.
Fitness World Clubs
1450 SW Vintage PkwyLargest, closest new workout facility & pool
The Laundry Place
308 S Ankeny Blvd24 hour laundry, same day drop off service
Shopping
Menards
2505 SE Delaware AveBig box hardware store
This whole area full of shopping/restaurants
The Home Depot
2335 SE Delaware AveBig box hardware
Fleet Farm
3875 SE Delaware AveHuge, huge farm/home store--great fun to look around in-clothing, pet care, everything
Merle Hay Mall, DSM station
Closest large mall
CVS
104 E 1st Stdrug store
Walgreens
901 N Ankeny BlvdDrug store
Target
5901 Douglas AveGeneral/Super store/grocery
Bass Pro Shops
1000 Bass Pro Dr NWLarge sporting store/restaurant/bowling alley
Sam's Club
4625 SE Delaware AveNew, warehouse shopping, pharmacy, eye glasses, cheapest gas in area
Costco Wholesale
7205 Mills Civic PkwyWarehouse shopping in Jordan Creek area. Love their selection
Brass Armadillo Antique Mall
701 NE 50th AveLarge antique vendor outlet..fun
The Picker Knows Antiques & Collectibles
1208 Grand AveMany Antique vendors, estate sales
Fun shopping district with restaurants, antiques, boutiques' nice area
46 locals recommend
Valley Junction
Fun shopping district with restaurants, antiques, boutiques' nice area
Neat area by Capital with many varied shops & restaurants, night spots
64 locals recommend
East Village
Neat area by Capital with many varied shops & restaurants, night spots
Sightseeing
Iowa Arboretum
1875 Peach AveVery nice -, classes, great to bike around, gift shop, bathrooms
Reiman Gardens
1407 University BlvdBeautiful grounds adjacent to ISU, worth a visit
Iowa State Fairgrounds
3000 E Grand AveMany, many events held on the grounds year round.
John Deere Des Moines Works
825 SW Irvinedale DrArea's largest employer/plant
Saylorville Lake
Recreational hub
Military Entrance Processing Station
7105 NW 70th AveHome Of Iowa Military Museum, very nice
Winterset
Home of the Bridges of Madison County & home of John Wayne Home & Museum
Large settlement with shops, restaurants, museums, woolen mills, very quaint, fun
38 locals recommend
Amana Colonies
622 46th AveLarge settlement with shops, restaurants, museums, woolen mills, very quaint, fun