IOWA: THE HAWKEYE STATE
BY CLAY LARROY
Traveling has great educational value and increases of our
knowledge. While travelling, a person comes across people of different races,
religions, regions, etc. and also
visits different places. Each place has a historical importance of its own.
Traveling is also a source of great pleasure. It gives us respite from our dull
and dreary routine. It relieves us of our worries. It enables us to meet new people and know
their customs, habits and traditions. We can also know the different kinds of
food eaten by people belonging to different regions. When you want to plan a vacation contact
me!
Des
Moines
An oasis of modernity amidst miles of rolling
farmland, Des Moines is the biggest city in Iowa and its cultural capital. The
city's skyline houses a major business center for the Midwest, and visitors
expecting a 'hick town' will come away with a vastly different impression of
their holiday in Des Moines.
Located at the intersection of the Des Moines and
Raccoon Rivers, the city was formed in 1843 when settlers built a fort for
trading with the local Sauk and Meskwaki Indians. The city grew rapidly, and
today is home to more than 200,000 people. It has a number of historic
buildings, including the gold-domed Capitol Building, the Tudor-style Salisbury
House, and the Governor's residence at Terrace Hill. Other Des Moines
attractions include the Des Moines Art Center, the State Historical Society,
and Hoyt Sherman Place.
Children will have plenty to see and do in Des
Moines as well, like feeding the giraffes at the Blank Park Zoo, playing in
Bubble Bay at the Science Center of Iowa, and riding the roller coasters at
Adventureland Park.
Des Moines has a busy and eclectic arts community,
with many theatres and live music venues; the city boasts its own symphony,
ballet, and opera. The East Village has a broad range of buildings, shops,
restaurants, and art
galleries, and is a pleasant neighborhood to
explore. The Court Avenue Entertainment District is the heart of Des Moines'
nightlife, with a number of restaurants and nightclubs. The city hosts several
festivals over the summer,
including the Des Moines Arts Festival and the
World Food and Music Festival, among many others dedicated to food, wine, film,
music, and more.
Getting around in Des Moines
Getting around in Des Moines is simple thanks to
the Des Moines River, which flows through the center of town and acts as an
orienting landmark. Streets east of the river are prefixed with 'East', and
those west of it have 'West' or no prefix at all. The streets are easy to
navigate. However, driving in winter is not something to be attempted lightly,
as snow and ice make conditions difficult for inexperienced winter drivers. The
Des Moines Area Regional Transit (DART) system has a network of buses covering
most of the city, and service that runs into the evening. There are several
taxi companies available 24 hours, but cabs must be called in advance.
Climate in Des Moines
Iowa lies in the humid continental zone and
generally has hot summers, cold winters, and a wet springtime. Des Moines is
located far from any large bodies of water and has warm and humid summers, with
daytime high
temperatures averaging 86°F (30°C) in July.
Tropical air masses from the Gulf of Mexico bring frequent thunderstorms, with
persistent rain in June. Winters are cold, with January temperatures averaging
between 14°F
(-10°C) and 31°F (-1°C). Snowfall is light compared
to other states. Autumn (late September to early November) is a pleasant time
to visit Des Moines, as the colorful fall foliage can be spectacular.
REFERENCE
SITES:
I started out
as a farm girl in Iowa, and I dreamed of being an astronaut
and an
explorer. And I made it.
Peggy Whitson
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