Adventureland of America

Summer is fast approaching it's end and we're trying to fit in all of the fun, summery things to do in Iowa while we can.  We always try to hit Adventurland in Altoona at least once per summer.  While it's not Disney World, it's still awesome that Des Moines has an amusement park to call it's own.  It's fun to ride a few roller coasters, play some fair games and eat some amusement park food.

There is a significant amount of kid-friendly rides so young kids enjoy the park as well us old kids.

The fairly new Kokomo Cove water park is really nice and a great spot for a hot summer day.  They have a kids water play area as well as a giant older kids play area with dump bucket.  They have some big slides and a lazy river.  The water park is my kid's favorite part.  My only complaint would be that to get to the water park you have to walk through the whole amusement park to get there.  Hopefully they'll at some point make an entrance near the water park so you can enter and exit closer to it.

They also have a good selection of park food to choose from. From corn dogs and funnel cakes to pizza and tacos and dippin dots, you'll get a mini-taste of the State Fair here.  Some heartier items like Philly cheese steaks and fried chicken are available too.

 I think a good amusement park experience includes a little bit of unhealthy food.  Though we see a lot of people packing coolers and leaving them in their cars to exit the park for snack breaks and re-enter since outside food isn't allowed in the park.

While, like every amusement park, things are overpriced, games are almost impossible to win and someone always throws up on the tilt-a-whirl.  But that's all part of the memories and what summer is complete without that?!