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Iowa State Fair Bucket List

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Summertime in Iowa is synonymous with the Iowa State Fair! As excitement builds for the upcoming Fair, we asked fellow Waukee-residents what’s on their Iowa State Fair Bucket List.

Here is the Ultimate Crowd-Sourced Iowa State Fair Bucket List:

  1. Take a ride on the Sky Glider.
  2. Visit Little Hands on the Farm with the kids, where they can become farmers.
  3. Check out local artistic talent at the Fine Art and Photography contest entries.
  4. Visit the Horse Barn and catch a horse show.
  5. Take a spin on the Giant Slide.
  6. See the World-Famous Butter Cow.
  7. Grab a brew at the craft beer tent.
  8. See the giant bull up-close and in person.
  9. Get a thrill and ride the grav-a-tron.
  10. Eat something on a stick such as cheese, a pork chop, peanut butter and jelly, pickle, tater tot, you name it, it’s likely on a stick!
  11. Check out the Tractor and Truck Pull.
  12. Listen to Iowa-based band, The Nadas jam out on stage.

What’s your favorite attraction, show or food item at the Iowa State Fair?

2017 Guide To Local Farmers Markets

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Check out this list of markets in the Des Moines / Waukee area. Many offer much more than just fresh produce, but entertainment, baked goods and flowers!

TUESDAYS

Beaverdale Farmers Market
When: Tuesdays, 4:00 – 7:30 p.m., June 6 – September 12
Where: 4100-4200 Urbandale Ave. (between Beaver Ave. & 42nd St.)
About: Features vendors, entertainment, hand-crafted items and prepared meals.

Johnston Farmers’ Market
When: Tuesdays, 3:30-6:30 p.m., May – Oct. 6
Where: Johnston City Hall parking lot, 6221 Merle Hay Road, Johnston
About: 50+ vendors featuring produce, flowers, baked goods and crafts, along with music.

WEDNESDAYS

Waukee Farmers’ Market
When: Wednesdays, 4:00 – 7:00 p.m., June 1 – End of September
Where: Triangle Park on 6th Street and Ashworth Drive, Waukee
About: 27 weekly vendors and live music. There is also an assortment of dinner options including BBQ, Jamaican and Cajun food as well as burgers and hot dogs.
Grimes Farmers’ Market
When: Wednesdays, 4:00 – 7:00 p.m., May 17 – August 30
Where: Grimes Public Library (Waterworks Park at 200 N. James Street) Parking Lot Area along the north side
About: 15 vendors and music, plus fun for the kids including a magician and face painting. Also, Italian ice for dessert.

THURSDAYS

Valley Junction Farmers’ Market
When: Thursdays 4:00 – 8:30 p.m., May – September
Where: 5th Street, Valley Junction, West Des Moines
About: The second-largest market in the metro area with 100 vendors. Offerings range from fresh produce to hand-crafted items and prepared food to enjoy at the market.

SATURDAYS

Ankeny Farmers’ Market
When: Saturdays, 8:00 a.m.- NOON, May 20 – September 30
Where: Ankeny Market & Pavilion Park, 715 W 1st Street in Uptown Ankeny
About: 35 vendors each week, music, a balloon artist, kids’ activities, and two or three options for breakfast or lunch.
Downtown Des Moines Farmers’ Market
Where: Court Avenue District, Des Moines
When: Saturdays, 7:00 a.m. – NOON, May 6 – October 28
About: The largest market in the metro-area, with 275 vendors providing an assortment of fresh produce, art, music and food vendors.

So tell us, what is your favorite part about Farmers Market season?

Ultimate Summer Grilling Guide

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Closeup of two children eating sandwich in nature together, healthy food, care and love

Hooray!! It’s grilling season! Firing up the grill is loved by many for a variety of reasons, primarily because nothing says Summer quite like a juicy burger or steak with those beautiful grill marks! Up your grilling game this year, with an arsenal of new gadgets and a few new recipes to test out!

Grilling Gadgets >>

quesadilla-grill-basket-oQuesadilla Grill Basket from Williams-Sonoma

Who doesn’t love a grilled quesadilla, however it would be virtually impossible to do that mess free. Here enters this grill basket to save the day!

 

 

 

img23oMonogrammed Steak Brand from Williams-Sonoma

For most men (or women) grilling meat in an art form. One that they may want to brand their own. This monogrammed BBQ brand would make the perfect Father’s Day gift!

 

 

 

71bBca844ML._SX522_Stuff A Burger Press from Amazon

Stuffed burgers are all the rage in the burger world and if you’ve ever tried to manually stuff a burger, it’s truly not as easy as The Food Network makes it look. This little burger press is sure to keep tears out of your burger.

 

 

 

main_variation_Default_view_1_425x425.Ceramic Shrimp and Scallop Pan from Sur La Table

There are SO many mouth-watering recipes out there that feature shrimp and scallops, however handling either on the grill is no easy feat. Luckily, Sur la Table has just the solution with a pan perfect for grilling delicate seafood!

 

 

 

Vegetable Clip from WalMart

As a former vegetarian, I mostly appreciate the grilled veggies, so I’m always looking for easy ways to grill some of my favorites! Since asparagus is one of my favorites, this would be perfect!

Grilling Recipes >>

11227651_1635391180046858_5972099095252577378_oGrilled Cinnamon Peaches with Pecans and Ice Cream from Tasty

Dessert is often forgotten when it comes to grilling, until now! These simple and delicious peaches are sure to put any brownie to shame!

 

 

Grilled-Salmon-Skewers-with-Garlic-and-Dijon-10Grilled Salmon Skewers with Garlic and Dijon from Natasha’s Kitchen

Don’t be afraid to add some seafood to your kabobs this year! Salmon is a great hardy fish that holds up to the head of grilling.

 

 

southwest-chicken-foil-packet-everydaydishes_com-HSouthwest Chicken Foil Packs form Everyday Dishes

Foil packs are AH-MAZING! Easy assembly, easy cooking and easy clean-up. Now that’s winning!

 

 

2298187Grilled Baked Potatoes from AllRecipes

Nothing pairs better to a nice steak or burger than a potato. Kick up any baked potato a notch with this recipe.

 

 

 

IMG_1245-682x10241-2-682x1024Cheddar Stuffed BBQ Turkey Burger from Baker By Nature

Couldn’t be a list of grilling recipes without a stuffed burger! Try out these stuffed turkey burgers at your next BBQ!

 

 

Do you have any grilling gadgets you can’t live without? What’s your favorite grilling recipe that’s sure to be a crowd pleaser? Let us know in the comments below!

10 Des Moines Activities To Add To Your Summer Bucket List

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Believe it or not, school’s out in a few short weeks and it’s time to start working on that Summer Bucket List! Here is a list of our top 10 things to do in the Waukee / Des Moines area this Summer!

1. Celebrate Waukee: Unlock Yours

The second annual Celebrate Waukee festival is a family-friendly event perfect to get the Summer started right! With a movie, 5K run, inflatables, live music and fireworks, the festival is sure to please everyone in the family!

Date: June 3 – 4, 2016

2. Dallas County Fair

The Dallas County Fair is another fantastic taste of an Iowa-Summer. With 4-H shows, races, games and SO much more, the Dallas County Fair will quickly become an annual Summer-tradition!

Date: July 6 – 10, 2016

3. Living History Farms

Not just for school field trips, Living History Farms makes the perfect destination for some definite fun mixed with a little educational enrichment. The 500-acre outdoor museum tells an amazing story of how Iowans transformed the land over 300 years ago to the most productive farmland.

Hours:
Open Daily: May 1 – August 28, 2016
Monday-Saturday, 9:00am-4:00pm
Sunday, Noon-4:00pm

4. Saylorville Lake

Who doesn’t dream of playing on the water in a boat during those hot summer months!? Luckily, Saylorville Lake Marina makes dreams come true. Saylorville Lake Marina is Iowa’s premier boating and recreation spot, with a full-service marina dedicated to providing safe, fun, memorable experiences on our beautiful lake.

Store Hours:
Monday – Thursday, 8:00am-7:00pm
Friday – Sunday, 8:00am-8:00pm

Shuttle Boat Service:
Monday – Thursday, 9:00am-9:00pm
Friday, 9:00am-12:00am
Saturday, 8:00am-12:00am
Sunday, 8:00am-10:00pm

5. Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden

Explore tropical gardens and breathtaking flowers in the Greater Des Moines Botanical Gardens. Explore the world of plants, learn a few gardening skills and take in the beauty.

Hours:
Daily 10:00am — 5:00pm
Trellis Cafe 11:00am — 2:00pm (Tue-Sun)

6. Science Center of Iowa

More than just your run-of-the-mill science museum, The Science Center of Iowa brings learning to life through hands-on learning and exploration! There is also an IMAX theater for a truly one-of-a-kind moving going experience!

Summer Hours (Memorial Day – Labor Day):
Monday – Saturday, 9:00am – 5:00pm
Sunday, 12:00pm – 5:00pm

7. Clive Aquatics Center

It’s not “officially” Summer until you’ve splished and splashed in a pool. The Clive Aquatic Center has something for everyone including a kiddie pool, lazy river, lap pool, splash pad and water slide!

Hours:
Monday – Friday, 11:30am – 7:00pm
Saturday & Sunday, 11:30am – 6:00pm

8. Holiday Park Aquatics Center

No Summer Bucket List includes only ONE way to get wet! The Holiday Park Aquatics Center offers another perfect place to dip your toes with three different kinds of slides!

Regular Hours (Starting June 2nd):
Weekdays, 11:30am-7:00pm ** Holiday closes at 5:30pm due to evening swim lessons during the following date ranges: 6/13-24, 7/5-29**
Saturdays, 11:30am-6:00pm
Sundays, Noon-5:45pm

9. Brown’s Woods Forest Preserve

Perfect for the nature lovers out there, Brown’s Woods Forest Preserve Brown’s Woods, Iowa’s largest urban forest preserve, offers more than four miles of trails to explore. This 486-acre forest provides a canopy of oak and hickory trees that stretch from Brown’s Woods Drive to the Raccoon River.

Summer Hours:
Monday – Sunday, 6:30am-10:30pm

10. Adventureland

With dozens of rides, including live shows and roller coasters, Adventureland is an obvious Summer Bucket List choice. With Adventure Bay waterpark included in your price of admission and the much anticipated debut of The Monster roller coaster this June, who wouldn’t be first in line?

Visit the website for full list of hours!

Is your favorite fun-in-the-sun activity not listed? Please comment below and share what’s on your “Des Moines Summer Bucket List”!

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