<p>I will be taking my son to visit Iowa State for the first time in March. We live in NJ so it's a bit of a trip. I think we will get there on a Sunday and stay until Tuesday. I am going to sign up for a tour and also try to have him visit with the computer science dept. I should mention he has been accepted to that department. Does anyone have any suggestions on where we should stay, what we should see? I'm really excited to see the campus although I'm sure it will still be covered in snow and be cold!! I want to make the most of the time that were there. Thanks so much for any suggestions. It's a big decision to consider a school so far away. </p>
<p>The Gateway Conference Center is very nice and convenient to campus. It is reasonable too. My daughter just got back from an honor band trip to ISU and they stayed there. Very nice and comfortable. Hickory Park as a dining place is a local legend. It’s a barbeque house that service all sorts of ice cream desserts. It’s been around forever and has expanded into it’s new very large location just on Duff which is one of the main drags.
Reiman Gardens is very nice even in the winter (fabulous in the summer). They have an indoor conservatory and butterfly house. They are open everyday except Christmas I believe. Will you be flying into Des Moines?</p>
<p>I think I will stop in Chicago and fly into Des Moines. I have not booked my tickets yet because I want to contacts the school first to set up tour. Thanks for your suggestions. </p>
<p>We stayed at Iowa House and were very happy with it.</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.iowahouseames.com/”>http://www.iowahouseames.com/</a></p>
<p>Thanks for the link. It looks like a cute place. </p>
<p>We have stayed at both the Iowa House and Gateway Center. I think those are the best options when visiting Iowa State. Some of the good things happening at Iowa State…</p>
<p>New 700 bed residence hall will be built.
Possible new $40 million conference center on campus if Ames voters also approve.
Possible new $80 million biosciences research center.
New food court in Friley Hall.
$60 million in upgrades to Jack Trice football stadium and the Reiman gardens area south of the stadium.
Kingland Systems project in campus town has been approved. Will be finished in 2015. This is HUGE for Ames and especially CS majors at ISU. They will be able to walk to internships.</p>
<p>I’ll also post these link to recent news about Iowa State and future projects as an FYI.</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.iowastatedaily.com/news/article_7d734952-8f72-11e3-baa2-0019bb2963f4.html”>http://www.iowastatedaily.com/news/article_7d734952-8f72-11e3-baa2-0019bb2963f4.html</a>
<a href=“http://www.kingland.com/our-company/ames-expansion/”>http://www.kingland.com/our-company/ames-expansion/</a></p>
<p>Thank you Haystack. Great information about hotels and iowa state. Do you think I’d I stay at the iowa house I could take the shuttle from airport or I should rent a car?? Not sure if I could walk to campus in march and places to eat. </p>
<p>The airport shuttle will cost there and back for 2 people $87. It is an hour on the shuttle and probably 45 minutes driving. Parking is not too bad but both of the places are easy to get to campus without a car. Gateway I believe has a shuttle to campus and if not it is close to where the Campus shuttle picks up and the Iowa house is just a couple of blocks. Ames is not difficult to drive around in with only a handful of main streets so it would be personal preference. I think it would only be slightly more to rent a car for 2 days and you would have lots of freedom to explore.<br>
Here is a note of interest. When Friley was built it was the largest dorm in the country. My father went to college on the VA bill after WWII and even then Friley was over full and he had to room off campus.</p>