Guidebook for Polk City

Julie
Guidebook for Polk City

Food Scene

At Saylorville Marina. Close, can walk from cottage, nice place to have a beer & burger, watch boats in the marina, right off bike trail.
Latitude 41 Bar and Grill
6170 NW Polk City Dr
At Saylorville Marina. Close, can walk from cottage, nice place to have a beer & burger, watch boats in the marina, right off bike trail.
Family run-Breakfast, lunch, dinner, sandwiches, soup, ice cream, coffees Very good Close, on Polk City square
The Reising Sun Cafe
107 N 2nd St
Family run-Breakfast, lunch, dinner, sandwiches, soup, ice cream, coffees Very good Close, on Polk City square
Family run over 50 yrs., area icon.
Leaning Tower of Pizza - Uptown Ankeny
512 SW 3rd St
Family run over 50 yrs., area icon.
Very good, large menu. Is N. of HyVee in Ankeny. Close.
9 locals recommend
Jethro’s BBQ n’ LakeHouse
1425 SW Vintage Pkwy
9 locals recommend
Very good, large menu. Is N. of HyVee in Ankeny. Close.
Good, basic BBQ fare, quality meats
Bandana's Bar-B-Q
301 E 1st St
Good, basic BBQ fare, quality meats
Good, reasonable prices, nice surroundings, carry out
China Moon Restaurant
225 SE Oralabor Rd
Good, reasonable prices, nice surroundings, carry out
Awesome flour tacos, a Des Moines area landmark. Unique.
9 locals recommend
Tasty Tacos
2401 SE Delaware Ave
9 locals recommend
Awesome flour tacos, a Des Moines area landmark. Unique.
Very good seafood/sushi, great clam chowder & cat fish. A DM area local favorite.
Waterfront Seafood Market Restaurant
2414 SE Tones Dr
Very good seafood/sushi, great clam chowder & cat fish. A DM area local favorite.
Very popular bar & grill, good food, large biking community, right on the Trestle Trail
Flat Tire Lounge
304 S Madison St
Very popular bar & grill, good food, large biking community, right on the Trestle Trail
Very great deli, great salads, hot dishes, sandwiches, eat-in or take-out Lots of choices, a little pricey but worth it. close to cottage.
Palmer's Deli & Market
110 North Ankeny Boulevard
Very great deli, great salads, hot dishes, sandwiches, eat-in or take-out Lots of choices, a little pricey but worth it. close to cottage.
In Ames. Huge, huge fun place, BBQ & ice cream sundaes are their specialty, very reasonable. Hugely popular!! Can be hard to get it.
25 locals recommend
Hickory Park
1404 S Duff Ave
25 locals recommend
In Ames. Huge, huge fun place, BBQ & ice cream sundaes are their specialty, very reasonable. Hugely popular!! Can be hard to get it.
Very good, coldest drafts I've ever had, pizza, cavatelli, sandwiches. On the old Polk City square
Papa's Pizzeria
214 Van Dorn St
Very good, coldest drafts I've ever had, pizza, cavatelli, sandwiches. On the old Polk City square
Great, great place, soups, salads, sandwiches, breakfast, pasteries. Very habit forming. Has drive thru.
8 locals recommend
Main Street Cafe & Bakery
2510 SW White Birch Dr
8 locals recommend
Great, great place, soups, salads, sandwiches, breakfast, pasteries. Very habit forming. Has drive thru.
Really good, open for breakfast, good scrambled egg tacos/burritos. Very good value. Habit forming.
6 locals recommend
Fuzzy's Taco Shop
300 W Martin Luther King Jr Pkwy
6 locals recommend
Really good, open for breakfast, good scrambled egg tacos/burritos. Very good value. Habit forming.
Unique asian fusion inspired pizza. Has huge following.
8 locals recommend
Fong's Pizza Ankeny
1450 SW Vintage Pkwy
8 locals recommend
Unique asian fusion inspired pizza. Has huge following.
Closest place to cottage. Right at Saylorville Marina. If you are a walker, you can walk there on bike path. Open year round. Closed Mon.
Sand Bar Grill
6170 NW Polk City Dr
Closest place to cottage. Right at Saylorville Marina. If you are a walker, you can walk there on bike path. Open year round. Closed Mon.
Hip new restaurant in happening area
District 36 Wine Bar & Grille
1375 SW Vintage Pkwy
Hip new restaurant in happening area
New good varied menu, nice bar area
The Fletcher Full Service Kitchen + Bar
1802 N Ankeny Blvd
New good varied menu, nice bar area
Sports bar, varied menu, landmark in area for decades
Benchwarmers
705 S Ankeny Blvd
Sports bar, varied menu, landmark in area for decades
Great burgers, shakes, new to Ankeny...very good In new area with lots of other food choices.
Zombie Burger + Shake Lab
Great burgers, shakes, new to Ankeny...very good In new area with lots of other food choices.
Many specialty items pancakes, waffles, crepes, souffles, huge omelets. Very pricey but great for special occasions breakfasty tastes. Same menu all day long.
The Original Pancake House
1810 SW White Birch Cir
Many specialty items pancakes, waffles, crepes, souffles, huge omelets. Very pricey but great for special occasions breakfasty tastes. Same menu all day long.

Parks & Nature

Hub of lake, can rent pontoon boats. Can walk to from cottage.
6 locals recommend
Saylorville Lake Marina
6170 NW Polk City Dr
6 locals recommend
Hub of lake, can rent pontoon boats. Can walk to from cottage.
Beautiful lodge , golf course
7 locals recommend
Jester Park
11121 NW Jester Park Dr
7 locals recommend
Beautiful lodge , golf course
biking destination-very popular
16 locals recommend
High Trestle Trail Bridge
2335 Qf Ln
16 locals recommend
biking destination-very popular
Popular bike trail to Bridge
12 locals recommend
High Trestle Trail
12 locals recommend
Popular bike trail to Bridge
Wonderful prairie restoration habitat area, canoe, kayak, dog trials area, wildlife, whooping cranes, wood duck nesting areas, bike trails. Awesome.
Chichaqua Bottoms Greenbelt
8700 NE 126th Ave
Wonderful prairie restoration habitat area, canoe, kayak, dog trials area, wildlife, whooping cranes, wood duck nesting areas, bike trails. Awesome.
Offer wide variety of outdoor recreation activities: kayak, canoe, river tubing, paintball; in winter, skiing, snowboarding & snow tubing. Do groups & parties.
9 locals recommend
Seven Oaks
1086 222nd Dr
9 locals recommend
Offer wide variety of outdoor recreation activities: kayak, canoe, river tubing, paintball; in winter, skiing, snowboarding & snow tubing. Do groups & parties.
Beautiful state park, hiking trails, creeks, picnic areas. One of our guests got married there then came to stay first 2 nights, Fun!!
31 locals recommend
Ledges State Park
1515 P Ave
31 locals recommend
Beautiful state park, hiking trails, creeks, picnic areas. One of our guests got married there then came to stay first 2 nights, Fun!!

Entertainment & Activities

Very nice golf venue, great place for lunch, drinks, eat outside if can. They do a lot of special events so not always open to general public, but worth a look. Check their web-site for hours.
Tournament Club of Iowa
1000 Tradition Dr
Very nice golf venue, great place for lunch, drinks, eat outside if can. They do a lot of special events so not always open to general public, but worth a look. Check their web-site for hours.
Very nice course & nature area
Jester Park Golf Course
Very nice course & nature area
Various horse activities, riding
Jester Park Equestrian Center
11171 NW 103rd Ct
Various horse activities, riding
Held every Sat. A.M., May-Oct. Runs along Court Ave from Courthouse to river. Great fun, great food, great produce. Place to be seen!! Do this Sat mornings then head to East Village....great day!!!
41 locals recommend
Des Moines' Downtown Farmers’ Market
300 Court Ave
41 locals recommend
Held every Sat. A.M., May-Oct. Runs along Court Ave from Courthouse to river. Great fun, great food, great produce. Place to be seen!! Do this Sat mornings then head to East Village....great day!!!
Offer train rides, dinner & lunch trains
9 locals recommend
Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad | James H. Andrew Railroad Museum
225 10th St
9 locals recommend
Offer train rides, dinner & lunch trains
Des Moines Zoo, great fun, many activities
47 locals recommend
Blank Park Zoo
7401 SW 9th St
47 locals recommend
Des Moines Zoo, great fun, many activities

Everything Else

Largest walk-in in area if you need help.
Mercy North Family Practice
Largest walk-in in area if you need help.
Another choice if you need help.
UnityPoint Clinic Family Medicine | Urgent Care at Ankeny
Another choice if you need help.
Close, gas, good pizza, bakery, sandwiches, great soft serve ice cream
Casey's General Store
2905 W 1st St
Close, gas, good pizza, bakery, sandwiches, great soft serve ice cream
Smaller lake, boat rental, beach, picnic grounds
Big Creek Marina
8550 NW 142nd Ave
Smaller lake, boat rental, beach, picnic grounds
Major Hospital
Mercy Des Moines Medical Center
1111 6th Ave
Major Hospital
Largest area airport
13 locals recommend
Des Moines International Airport
5800 Fleur Dr
13 locals recommend
Largest area airport
Largest area community college
Ankeny Campus College Library
2006 S Ankeny Blvd
Largest area community college

Essentials

Large full serve grocery
HyVee
410 N Ankeny Blvd
Large full serve grocery
Close, gas, pizza slices or whole pies for take-out, great pastries, sandwiches Faraway Grocery right behind it to W.
Casey's
1100 S 3rd St
Close, gas, pizza slices or whole pies for take-out, great pastries, sandwiches Faraway Grocery right behind it to W.
General groceries-good meat Closed Sundays
7 locals recommend
Fareway Grocery
3205 N Ankeny Blvd
7 locals recommend
General groceries-good meat Closed Sundays
DM's largest Hospital
Iowa Methodist Medical Center
1212 Pleasant St
DM's largest Hospital
Largest, nicest grocery, deli, bakery, restaurant & close to cottage.
Hy-Vee Market Grille
2510 SW State St
Largest, nicest grocery, deli, bakery, restaurant & close to cottage.
Largest, closest new workout facility & pool
Fitness World Clubs
1450 SW Vintage Pkwy
Largest, closest new workout facility & pool
24 hour laundry, same day drop off service
The Laundry Place
308 S Ankeny Blvd
24 hour laundry, same day drop off service

Shopping

Big box hardware store This whole area full of shopping/restaurants
Menards
2505 SE Delaware Ave
Big box hardware store This whole area full of shopping/restaurants
Big box hardware
The Home Depot
2335 SE Delaware Ave
Big box hardware
Huge, huge farm/home store--great fun to look around in-clothing, pet care, everything
Fleet Farm
3875 SE Delaware Ave
Huge, huge farm/home store--great fun to look around in-clothing, pet care, everything
Closest large mall
Merle Hay Mall, DSM station
Closest large mall
drug store
CVS
104 E 1st St
drug store
Drug store
7 locals recommend
Walgreens
901 N Ankeny Blvd
7 locals recommend
Drug store
General/Super store/grocery
19 locals recommend
Target
5901 Douglas Ave
19 locals recommend
General/Super store/grocery
Large sporting store/restaurant/bowling alley
6 locals recommend
Bass Pro Shops
1000 Bass Pro Dr NW
6 locals recommend
Large sporting store/restaurant/bowling alley
New, warehouse shopping, pharmacy, eye glasses, cheapest gas in area
Sam's Club
4625 SE Delaware Ave
New, warehouse shopping, pharmacy, eye glasses, cheapest gas in area
Warehouse shopping in Jordan Creek area. Love their selection
Costco Wholesale
7205 Mills Civic Pkwy
Warehouse shopping in Jordan Creek area. Love their selection
Large antique vendor outlet..fun
Brass Armadillo Antique Mall
701 NE 50th Ave
Large antique vendor outlet..fun
Many Antique vendors, estate sales
The Picker Knows​ Antiques & Collectibles
1208 Grand Ave
Many Antique vendors, estate sales
Fun shopping district with restaurants, antiques, boutiques' nice area
46 locals recommend
Valley Junction
46 locals recommend
Fun shopping district with restaurants, antiques, boutiques' nice area
Neat area by Capital with many varied shops & restaurants, night spots
64 locals recommend
East Village
64 locals recommend
Neat area by Capital with many varied shops & restaurants, night spots

Sightseeing

Very nice -, classes, great to bike around, gift shop, bathrooms
Iowa Arboretum
1875 Peach Ave
Very nice -, classes, great to bike around, gift shop, bathrooms
Beautiful grounds adjacent to ISU, worth a visit
38 locals recommend
Reiman Gardens
1407 University Blvd
38 locals recommend
Beautiful grounds adjacent to ISU, worth a visit
Many, many events held on the grounds year round.
27 locals recommend
Iowa State Fairgrounds
3000 E Grand Ave
27 locals recommend
Many, many events held on the grounds year round.
Area's largest employer/plant
John Deere Des Moines Works
825 SW Irvinedale Dr
Area's largest employer/plant
Recreational hub
7 locals recommend
Saylorville Lake
7 locals recommend
Recreational hub
Home Of Iowa Military Museum, very nice
Military Entrance Processing Station
7105 NW 70th Ave
Home Of Iowa Military Museum, very nice
Home of the Bridges of Madison County & home of John Wayne Home & Museum
7 locals recommend
Winterset
7 locals recommend
Home of the Bridges of Madison County & home of John Wayne Home & Museum
Large settlement with shops, restaurants, museums, woolen mills, very quaint, fun
38 locals recommend
Amana Colonies
622 46th Ave
38 locals recommend
Large settlement with shops, restaurants, museums, woolen mills, very quaint, fun