No matter what someone is studying or what their workload is, everybody needs a break. Sometimes you just need a day off campus to go out and have fun with your friends. Daytrips with my friends are some of my most treasured memories from college so far, but it can get tricky when the budget is brought up.
Over the last two years here in Des Moines, I have found several ways to relax and kick back without handing over my wallet. Here are my top picks for an easy, cheap day out.
Des Moines Art Center
One of my all-time favorite places to spend some quiet time is the Des Moines Art Center. They always have exciting new exhibits to go and see. Not to mention the beautiful gardens to explore with some friends. The best part: free admission. Not only is it a wonderful place to see beautiful art and wonderful gardens, but it is cost-effective as well.
They offer a venue for local artists to showcase their work, summer camps for children and interactive experiences for all ages. My favorite exhibit I ever saw there was an interactive living room scene. “Back In My Day Times Were Different” by local artist b. Robert Moore is a replica of the artist’s grandmother’s living room. There was a candy bowl at the entrance to the room and a sign that said: “Take one and eat it while you explore the room.” The goal was for the viewer to be fully immersed in the artist’s childhood.
In the room, there were family photos, home movies playing on an old school TV and a rotary phone. The phone was my favorite part because when you picked it up and put it to your ear, you’d hear a voicemail message from the artist’s family. A lot of them were from family members of his who have passed away. It was a tear-jerking experience and one I will never forget.
Pappajohn Sculpture Park
If you want to view more beautiful art, then head downtown to the Pappajohn Sculpture Park. This sculpture park is open all day, every day, for free. It’s an open park, spanning one block, for people to walk through and look at the different sculptures. There are a multitude of pieces, from colorful abstract shapes to monochrome sculptures. My favorite sculpture, “White Ghost” by Yoshitomo Nara, is on the corner of the block; it is a white statue resembling a young girl. It’s a good place to walk and talk with friends, stopping and admiring art as you go.
The first time I went was magical, and even on subsequent visits, the magic hasn’t dulled. Every time I go, I see a sculpture that I haven’t noticed before. There are several places to sit and talk or sit and eat. There are a lot of different restaurants around the park where you can grab a bite to eat before a nice stroll through the park.
The Rook Room
While you’re downtown, take a nice walk to the Rook Room. This magical spot has games, food and drinks for everyone. They are open every day of the week, but their hours vary. Monday’s are free entry all day, but on other days, after 4 p.m., there is a $5 fee at the door. This is to ensure their games are in good condition for their customers.
With over 700 games to play, the Rook Room offers a wide variety of game types from cooperative games to casual family games. They also have high-energy party games for big groups and two-player games for you and your player two.
Some of my favorite games are strategy games, so I gravitate towards those shelves every time. Games like Here to Slay or Clue are some of my favorites, but if strategy games aren’t your go-to, they have a multitude of other games. They have family classics like Scrabble, Monopoly and Jenga, and newer games like Herd Mentality and Exploding Kittens. If you aren’t in a competitive mood, don’t worry! They have a selection of puzzles to choose from as well.
They also serve food and both alcoholic and non alcoholic drinks. When I went, I ordered one of their signature pop-tails, the Mana Potion — a blueberry mocktail with Sprite and Fresca. It was so refreshing and just sweet enough.
Their food menu offers tons of options, from popcorn to flatbread pizzas, so everyone will be able to find something they like. Their food prices are also very reasonable, with a sandwich going from between $12 to $15.
The Rook Room offers a cozy place for people to go, play board games and connect with each other. My favorite part of going to the Rook Room with my friends is that we all put our phones down and spend time playing games together.
