“Iowa?” my friends exclaimed when I told them I’d be heading to Des Moines for two days this summer.
As a hardcore New Yorker, my travels usually consist of urban adventures and bougie outdoorsy spots where I hike, bike, and attend festivals, but I rest my head in 4-star hotels.
But I was more than pleasantly surprised by the “vibe” of Des Moines. A highlight was my stay at the Hotel Fort Des Moines. It’s part of Hilton’s Curio collection (so I got points)!
The elevators and long hallways give a slight “The Shining” vibe. But that’s all part of the hotel’s historical appeal. (Plus, visiting my social media sidekick Kelli — a true crime podcaster — put dark thoughts in my head.)
The hotel has an incredible history, dating back to 1919. Among those who walked those halls were Mae West, Elizabeth Taylor, and pilot Charles Lindbergh. And now it can add Nancy & Kelli to its roster 🙂
Some of the hotel’s and area’s cool features:
- Enough outlets in the right places and reliable wi-fi to get work done (which is a Bleisure Living must)
- There is a speakeasy in the basement and great restaurants within walking or a brief Uber distance. When I heard David Letterman dined at Bubba, I had to check it out! We also had meals at Django, The Breakfast Club, Centro, Splash, and Smokey D’s BBQ (where I consumed the mandatory BPT (breaded pork tenderloin)
- A funky hook in the bathroom that was made from antique keys
- Views of downtown (which is like a mini version of Chicago and the skyways remind me of the year I spent in Minnesota)
Blackout shades in the room would have been a nice touch, but that just meant I had to get up early to explore the city. The pillows were a little mushy for my tastes, and my Oura ring’s sleep score suffered as a result. Had I asked, I’m sure the attentive hotel manager would have found me better ones. The people in Iowa are generally really polite and accommodating.
So, if you find yourself at an Iowa business meeting, crave a bacon cheeseburger eggroll at the Iowa State Fair, or simply want to see a cool little slice of the Midwest, two days in Des Moines is a cool little (historical) adventure!
