Des Moines, Iowa

Des Moines, located in south central Iowa, is the state capital and the county seat of Polk County. The city was founded in 1843 and incorporated in 1851, and its name is French, and means "Of the Monks." Des Moines, a city of 198,682 is an affordable, family-friendly community with something for everyone – including an average commute time of 19.2 minutes!

Got kids? You'll have plenty to do with them in and around Des Moines, including making visits to the Adventureland (known as "Iowa's Largest And Most Complete Family Resort Complex"), the Science Center of Iowa, and the Blank Park Zoo, which is set on 49 acres (20 hectares), and is home to 104 species. And if you're an overgrown kid like me, you'll love taking summer spins on the Heritage Carousel, with a variety of hand-carved animals including, of all things, a sea urchin!

For exciting big-kid fun, head out for a day at the Prairie Meadows Racetrack and Casino, with slots, table gaming, Thoroughbred, quarter horse, and harness racing, and live stage entertainment. And speaking of (clean) fun adult entertainment, the Des Moines area is home to some major malls, including Jordan Creek Town Center, the largest in central Iowa.

When the outdoors call, there's something for everyone. Gardeners can enjoy strolling the Des Moines Botanical Gardens, set on 14 acres (six hectares) along the east bank of the Des Moines River. Golfers can enjoy all of the 15+ area golf courses. Hikers can explore trails like the 18-mile (29-kilometer) Great Western Trail or the 20-mile (32-kilometer) Chichaqua Valley Trail, or hike through the 484-acre (196-hectare) Brown's Woods. When you want more outdoorsy outdoors, Big Creek State Park 11 miles (18 kilometers) north.

When you want to watch other people work out, either head to a local gym, or watch home games of the Des Moines Buccaneers of the United States Hockey League, or the Iowa Stars of the American Hockey League, or the Des Moines Menace of soccer's Premier Development League.

And when your heart and mind are yearning for some culture, book your tickets for the Des Moines Symphony, the Des Moines Metro Opera, the Civic Music Association, The Playhouse, or StageWest. And there are plenty of restaurants and nightclubs to try for pre- or post-show entertainment.

See? We said there was something for everyone in Des Moines!

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