ULM fan travelling to Iowa St
- Thread starter NHWarhawk
- Start date
Great Plains pizza is worth a mention here. I haven’t seen it mentioned yet. Way less controversial than hickory park but I’m sure there are still people that will sh*t on it.
Don't listen to your hawk friends. We don't allow this type of stuff. If you want to sneak stuff in just put a small bottle of liquor in a coat pocket and you will be find. Don't try to "impress" the ladies at the same time.
In a thread for visiting fan bases with no indication of being a joke = bad joke.
Last edited:
Unfortunately, they are closed.....damn owner owed years of back taxes. The state and feds finally wanted what's due.
https://www.amestrib.com/news/20190503/olde-main-closes-doors-following-liquor-license-suspension
If you want to experience great, friendly tailgating show up early, you can arrive up to 6 hrs before kickoff. The earlier you arrive, the better the travel time from the Ankeny, Des Moines area, which has more options and probably better prices, the home game weekend prices always getted jacked up in Ames. Ankeny is about 10-15 miles closer than DM.
Ames is a beautiful small city with multiple eating options, they've even added a few more high end eateries if that's what you're looking for. Hickory Park is definitely one of the favorites and most talked about. It's a better option if you're here for a couple days or more. If you go on game day it's always packed, but worth the wait!
Bottom line, no matter where you stay, I'm pretty sure you'll have a great time!! Iowans are all about showing people a good time!! Hope you enjoy your trip!!
If you can, I would stay in Ames. The atmosphere in Ames on game day is great and if you stay in Des Moines you lose some of that.
No matter where you stay, try to get to the stadium early. The tailgating is great and there are activities going on around the stadium. You will find people are very friendly.
If you need a place to eat in Ames, I would eat at Hickory Park. They seat a large number of people and it is hopping on a game weekend. The food in very consistent and it is very affordable. It is the restaurant most often associated with Ames and Iowa State.
Take a drive through central campus. The roads in and around campus are open to the public on the weekends. It is beautiful. Reiman Gardens just south of the Stadium are also very pretty and can be toured on game day.
If you do stay in Des Moines and the game is in the late afternoon or night game, I would recommend the Des Moines Farmers Market on Saturday morning. It is huge and lots of fun. Vendors have all kinds of prepared food, baked goods, produce, wine, home goods, .... I've attached a photo below. It only shows part of the Market.
Have fun at the game and I hope you enjoy your visit.
No matter where you stay, try to get to the stadium early. The tailgating is great and there are activities going on around the stadium. You will find people are very friendly.
If you need a place to eat in Ames, I would eat at Hickory Park. They seat a large number of people and it is hopping on a game weekend. The food in very consistent and it is very affordable. It is the restaurant most often associated with Ames and Iowa State.
Take a drive through central campus. The roads in and around campus are open to the public on the weekends. It is beautiful. Reiman Gardens just south of the Stadium are also very pretty and can be toured on game day.
If you do stay in Des Moines and the game is in the late afternoon or night game, I would recommend the Des Moines Farmers Market on Saturday morning. It is huge and lots of fun. Vendors have all kinds of prepared food, baked goods, produce, wine, home goods, .... I've attached a photo below. It only shows part of the Market.
Have fun at the game and I hope you enjoy your visit.
For someone coming from out of state and out of the region, I say stay in Des Moines and get to Ames as early as you can on gameday. It's an easy drive. It will take a little longer than usual with gameday traffic, but not something I would worry about.
Ames is a nice college town, but outside of gamedays and the campus, it can be a little underwhelming. Drive/walk around campus, hit a couple bars on Welch, but mostly get to the lots for tailgating. It's the best thing we offer.
Des Moines is a growing city with a lot of momentum culturally and commercially. It will give you a much better experience than Ames.
Ames is a nice college town, but outside of gamedays and the campus, it can be a little underwhelming. Drive/walk around campus, hit a couple bars on Welch, but mostly get to the lots for tailgating. It's the best thing we offer.
Des Moines is a growing city with a lot of momentum culturally and commercially. It will give you a much better experience than Ames.
Why not both? Throw in some dirty rice & beans, maybe some jambalaya, and I'd be in NOLA heaven.
All I need is the jambalaya and some ice cold Dixie Light!
Stay in Des Moines Area. Cheaper than Ames. May take 30-60 minutes to get to Ames though. A lot of great places to eat in Des Moines. Hickory Park in Ames may be packed with a really long wait, but it's really good. Machine Shed in Urbandale is also a good one.
Yes, Smokey D's is awesome. Easy to get to. If it were any closer to I-80 it would be in the middle of the road.
