Free things to do in Ames

Arts & Culture

Dahlberg Portraits

Arts & Culture

Iowa State Center

Outdoors

Bandshell Park

Long-running city park with a large bandstand, picnic area, playground & public restrooms.

Arts & Culture

Stephens Auditorium

Large, multilevel theater at Iowa State University featuring concerts, plays & other events.

Outdoors

Moore Memorial Park

Large city park with big shelters with electrical outlets for private events, grills & a bike path.

Outdoors

Brookside Park

Recreational green space featuring volleyball & tennis courts, ball fields & a wading pool.

Outdoors

Iowa Arboretum & Gardens

This 348-acre reserve has self-guided woodland trails with scenic overlooks, deep ravines & streams.

Outdoors

Reiman Gardens

14-acre park featuring seasonal flowerbeds, a butterfly exhibit, sculptures, tours, lectures & more.

Outdoors

North River Valley Park

Public park offering rental picnic pavilions, BBQ grills, horseshoes pits & sand volleyball courts.

Outdoors

Ada Hayden Heritage Park

Park with a fishing lake, hiking & biking trails, picnic shelter & wetlands for bird-watching.

Outdoors

McFarland Park

Outdoors

Inis Grove Park

Large recreation area with basketball & tennis courts, picnic pavilions, playgrounds & trails.

Outdoors

Brookside Park

Recreational green space featuring volleyball & tennis courts, ball fields & a wading pool.

Sports & Recreation

Perfect Games

Bowling alley, 2-story laser-tag arena & video arcade with a pizza parlor & a sports bar.

Family

Urban Air Trampoline and Adventure Park

Large-scale indoor trampoline center hosting open jump, fitness classes, dodgeball & parties.