Wine, Dine & Have a Good Time

  CENTRAL IOWA - 3 days

Day 1: Des Moines - Newton

Tour Time - 8 hours

• Start the day off right by visiting a museum that dedicates itself to Iowa's best. Full of hands-on exhibits, this museum tells the stories of Iowa communities and their local sports heroes.
• A trip to Des Moines wouldn't be complete without a little Iowa history. This museum is all about the growth and development of Iowa, featuring historic artifacts and documents. Go back in time with unique exhibits that show the people, places and events that make up Iowa's past and inspire us still today. You can even take a vault tour of artifacts that didn't make the showroom floor.

• Nothing compares to the Iowa State Fair and its true. With more food vendors and food on-a-stick than you want to count and plenty of livestock and family fun activities, the Iowa State Fairgrounds is the place to be in August. If you can't make it to the fair, tour the fairgrounds, at your convenience. The grounds serve as host to hundreds of specialty shows. You can also have lunch at the world famous grounds. Contact the Greater Des Moines Convention & Visitors Bureau (GDMCVB) for more options and fair dates.
• Des Moines to Newton.
  Drive Time - 40 minutes - 33 miles.
• Make a short drive to the fastest place in Iowa - where the cars are fast, the fans are loud and the entertainment is abundant. Take a behind the scenes tour of the track, pit and club house and learn how this speedway has brought a whole new element of racing to the state of Iowa.
• Newton to Des Moines.
  Drive Time - 41 minutes - 37 miles.
• After cleaning up at the hotel and getting your fill of great food from one of Des Moines many restaurants, try your luck at the local casino. Try your hand at table games or slot machines at "Iowa's favorite place to play!"
• Stay the night in Des Moines. Contact the GDMCVB for hotel accommodations.

Day 2: Winterset - Indianola - Des Moines

Tour Time - 8 hours

• Des Moines to Winterset.
  Drive Time - 43 minutes - 37 miles.

• After breakfast at your hotel, journey to Winterset, Iowa to visit the Birthplace of John Wayne. As an American icon, John Wayne is known most for his acting, distinct voice and his walk and height. He has been named one of the Greatest Male Stars of All Time by the American Film Institute.
• Winterset to Indianola.
  Drive Time - 34 minutes - 26 miles.
• French hybrids and American varieties make the wines from this Indianola winery a hit, but the luxuriant landscape is what makes this winery beautiful and relaxing. Take a guided tour and sample some wine and cheese for a mid morning snack.
• Indianola to Des Moines.
  Drive Time - 20 minutes - 20 miles.
• For lunch today, try out a restaurant and bar that serves 42 wines by the glass and make a selection from their deli-style lunch menu that is always made from local and fresh products. Their wine shop is also home to an additional 1,000 wines. Make sure to pick up a bottle or two before you leave.
• Need a little sugar for that sweet tooth? Stop by a family-owned candy shop and take a behind-the-counter tour before shopping. See how your favorite candies and chocolates are made on a conveyor belt like in the I Love Lucy show and try some of the exceptional candies. For over half a century, the recipes used by this family have stood the test of time and have gained many awards and recognition not only from the Midwest, but from around the world.
• This afternoon, shop until you drop at one of the many shopping malls or districts in Greater Des Moines. Nothing makes life a little sweeter than some retail therapy. Contact the GDMCVB for a list of shopping malls.
• For a wine and dine experience that's convenient yet satisfying, visit a restaurant located in a West Des Moines mall for dinner and choose wine from their 400 bottle selection.
• If you want to enjoy a little nightlife, the bar and lounge scene in Court District in downtown Des Moines is the place to be. With a variety of bars and nightclubs, a good time is never hard to find.
• Make sure to stay at a hotel in the downtown area. Contact GDMCVB for hotel accommodations.

Day 3: Altoona - Des Moines

Tour Time - 8 hours

• Start the day with shopping and fun. While known for its huge selection of outdoor gear, this store is also part museum, art gallery, antique store, aquarium, education, conservation and entertainment center. Using more than 3,500 area artifacts, antiques, pictures, mounts and memorabilia, the store becomes a living museum of Iowa's hunting, fishing, camping and other outdoor legacies. Have lunch here as well.
• After lunch, visit an "estate style" winery located in the Metro. Using a variety of grapes found in the Midwest, this winery produces high quality wines that are a favorite in the Des Moines Metro. DonÕt believe it? Sample some of their hand-crafted wines yourself.
• Before you leave Des Moines, take a behind-the-scenes look of the minor league baseball field and club houses. If the timing is right, enjoy the fun atmosphere of a baseball game.

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