4 Inexpensive Things to Do In Ames

If you’re like me, you love anything that involves fun on a weekend in Ames.

No, not that kind of fun.

I’m talking about the kind of fun you actually remember. Coffee with friends or a walk around the city. The kind of fun that creates a plethora of memories with very little effort. Those are my favorite kinds of weekends. But the only roadblock that lies between an ambitious college student and a mild, enjoyable weekend is money, right?

Wrong.

I haven’t gotten to my senior year of college debt-free without compiling a lengthy list of money-saving tips for your college journey. The problem with capping off your spending completely is that it can get in the way of enjoying your college experience. This was an issue for me my freshman year- I was so tight with my spending that I didn’t take any opportunities to get out and explore Ames. Now, with less than 32 weeks left in my college journey, I have finally found the perfect balance between saving and spending. In that process, I’ve also found some inexpensive things to do in the Ames area!

Ames’ Historic Downtown District. If you are from a small midwest town you will especially appreciate this one. In contrast to the hustle and bustle (and intoxication) of Campustown, Downtown Ames is a cute and quaint district that is perfect for a girl’s weekend or mother-daughter outing. Hit a yoga class or grab a pedicure, do some shopping in the district’s nearly 40 storefronts, enjoy lunch at Aunt Maude’s, or just take a stroll down Main Street! While you’re downtown, it would be a sin if you didn’t visit Cafe Diem, my all-time favorite local coffee shop in Ames! Cafe Diem is the birthplace of some of our first posts on Joy in the Journey + Co., and is also home to many productive study sessions, so it only feels right to highlight them in this post!

Ada Hayden Heritage Park. This is one that was brought to my attention by my freshman year NREM 130 professor, Dr. Tom Isenhardt. Ada Hayden Park lies just north of Ames on Grand Avenue. A U-shaped lake divided by a walking bridge, Ada Hayden features paved trails, gravel trails, and plenty of shoreline for fishing. The best thing about this lake is that it’s not overrun with college kids, so it’s a great place to take a walk or bike ride, or even just sit on a bench and unwind.

Cyclone Cinema. Don’t you hate spending $10 on a movie ticket, $6 for popcorn, and then not enjoying the movie anyways? Cyclone Cinema is a project that is led by the Iowa State University Student Union Board (SUB). Every Thursday-Sunday, a different recent movie is shown at 7 PM and 10 PM in Carver 101. The best part? They are free and open to the public! Cyclone Cinema was a staple of my freshman year of college and is something I need to hit up again before I graduate!

Farm House Museum. Yes, you ready that right: museum. You’re probably thinking “I can’t believe she would put a museum on a list of fun things to do,” but hear me out on this one. The Farm House is the oldest building on Iowa State’s campus and holds a vital part in the university’s history. Inside has been completely renovated to the victorian style that the Deans who lived there once enjoyed. The best part about this museum is that they hold some items that are original to the home or to Iowa State’s campus. Plus, admission is free and did I mention it’s recognized as the second most haunted place in Iowa?...

These are some of my favorite things to do in Ames! Have you done any of them? Comment below!