Des Moines Archives - Travels With Martin

Living Elsewhere – My AirBnB Homes

Dec 6, 2022 Martin 0 Comment

One of the things I love about my travels is that I get to experience living elsewhere. Staying at an AirBnB or with friends gives me the ability to experience life as if I were living in places other than Boston. I get to shop at the local grocery stores, experience the coffee shop around the corner, see what night life is like and work remotely in different environments. It’s like I’m living somewhere else for a small amount of time. These are my ‘other homes’ from my Missoula and back trip.

Des Moines, IA

My Des Moines AirBnB home was in a great location, in a beautiful neighborhood and had some old charm. The coffee shop was just a few blocks away and downtown was a short drive. I was able to take a short Uber to the Iowa State Fair and most activities and restaurants were a quick drive. Raven, the cat, loved sitting on my lap and visiting me in my room which was very sweet. The front porch was quaint and a great place to relax or get some work done.

Omaha, NE

My Omaha AirBnB was a comfortable little place in a very cute walkable residential neighborhood which I took advantage of. There were some really nice gardens up and down the street. Both the living room and front porch were very comfortable so I ended many of my evening just sitting in the front and reflecting.

Boise, ID

I think the Boise AirBnB was my favorite ‘home’ on this trip. I had my own full apartment above the garage which made it look like it was up in the trees. It was in such a beautiful, walking, tree lined neighborhood which made it very peaceful. It was named “Pat’s Treehouse” after one of the owners, however, I called it that because I was able to watch the Pats on the big screen television!

Fargo, ND

My Fargo AirBnB kept the trend of being in a nice residential neighborhood. I was able to walk to a few restaurants as well as the Fargo Brewing Company. It had a beautiful outdoor sitting area which I took advantage of by eating some of my meals there. The weather was so nice, I was able to work outside sometimes as well. I was a little surprised that Fargo in October was that warm.

I have future AirBnBs in Raleigh, NC, Miami, FL and Birmingham, AL already reserved for my upcoming Florida family get-a-way trip.

Pappajohn Sculpture Park Des Moines To Missoula and Back Iowa

Pappajohn Sculpture Park, Des Moines – Aug 2021

Nov 21, 2021 Martin 0 Comment

I had spent the morning at the Iowa State Fair and was headed to my AirBnB. I was a bit early on check in time and had to find something to knock out a little over an hour. I thought I’d visit something from my Des Moines to-do list, the Pappajohn Sculpture Park. (Not related to the pizza guy) This sculpture park, located in downtown Des Moines, is considered one of the most significant collections of outdoor sculptures in the United States.

Some of my favorite sculptures from the park.

There was an entryway into the center of this sculpture of rainbow colored glass. I stood in the center and took a panorama shot. If you look closely…. there is a different color selfie of me in each panel.

I really enjoyed the following two sculptures, especially the one peering around from the back. I like the goofiness and emotion they have that makes me wonder what is going on in their heads. (nothing, they are sculptures!)

Ugo Rondinone sculpture in Des Moines

Ugo Rondinone sculpture that I recalled seeing in San Francisco!

Des Moines To Missoula and Back Disc Golf Iowa Food

Exploring Des Moines – Day two – Aug 2021

Nov 20, 2021 Martin 1 Comment

I spent most of the day in my AirBnB working, however, I did have two excursions.

My first outing was to Mullets Restaurant. Mullets was recommended to me as a great place to eat breakfast. This recommendation came from the bartender at the Meskwaki Casino where I stayed the night before arriving in Des Moines. I have found that most recommendations that I’ve been gotten along the way have been spot on and my breakfast didn’t disappoint.

I loved the pictures covering the walls of people with mullets! There were pictures of some of my favorite Phillies from the 80’s as well as an area for patrons to send in their own pictures. I’m thinking of pulling my old mullet picture out and sending it in!

The staff was very friendly and the food was served quickly. I had the breakfast rarebit and it was rich and delicious. I was also able to get WiFi here so enjoyed a leisurely meal and spent some time getting work done.

My other outing was after work to Pickard Disc Golf Course. I was looking forward to this course as it had recently been used on the Disc Golf Pro Tour.

An elevated tee pad platform

It was another brutally hot day and I did get a little frustrated when I arrived. Due to the recent tournament, the baskets were not in the normal positions. I found myself wandering around in the heat trying to figure things out. This is a pet peeve of mine. I hate when I get to a course and the signage is so bad that I spend half my time just trying to find the correct basket. I did, after some time, manage to figure things out using my UDisc app. Otherwise… five star.

Deer on the course.	Up the hill to an island green
From the platform over the water.	My drive rolled back into the water.

I really enjoyed this course. It was beautifully maintained and challenging with rolling hills, some wooded shots and water that was in play. Although I feel I played well, I did manage to land two disc in water but easily retrievable. I hope to play this course again some day.

This was one of my drives. I nailed the shot from here! One of my best birdies on the trip.

Shattering Silence Monument Des Moines To Missoula and Back Disc Golf Iowa Food

Exploring Des Moines – Day One – Aug 2021

Nov 20, 2021 0 Comment

I really enjoyed Des Moines, IA. There are some good disc golf courses in the area, excellent food and some fun places to walk around.

Des Mones, IA

It was my first full day in Des Moines. After working the morning at my AirBnB, I headed up to Smokey D’s BBQ for lunch. This place was recommended to my by our Des Moines MaidPro owner. Unfortunately, he was not in town while I was there.

Smokey D’s boasts being the winner of over 90 State BBQ championships and over 1000 local, regional, and national awards. I ordered my lunch to go and ate it back at my Des Moines home so I could get more work done. The MaidPro owner had specifically recommended the mac and cheese which I did include in my order and he was right. It’s hard to go wrong with mac and cheese, but this was outstanding. Along with the Texas toast that was included and the burnt ends I ordered, it was an excellent lunch. My AirBnB host said she was jealous and I believe ended up going there for dinner.

Smokey D’s BBQ

At the end of my work day, I headed out to play Ewing Park Disc Golf course located in the southern area of Des Moines. It was in the mid 90’s with full humidity, but I had to play the course. It was a very pretty course that played around a lilac arboretum. Too bad they weren’t in bloom. I enjoyed the course which had some nice challenges around trees but also some big open shots. I guess most people were staying in and out of the heat. There was no one else there. It was so quiet and peaceful

One of the tee pads

You can see the basket

between the trees at the

bottom of the hill

And I played well!

After the round I decided to head into Des Moines to see the capitol building and explore that area.

Shattering Silence Monument

Des Moines in the background of the Shattering Silence Monument

“The sculpture is adjacent to the building that houses the Iowa Supreme Court and at the top of the hill overlooking the Des Moines skyline. It is in commemoration of the 170th anniversary of the landmark 1839 Iowa Territorial Supreme Court ruling that prohibited slave Ralph Montgomery from being extradited back to Missouri after he failed to raise the $550 he promised to pay to buy his freedom. The Iowa Art Council’s newsletter describes the art as a commemoration of “those moments when Iowa has been at the forefront of breaking the silence of inequality and commemorates those Iowans who refused to stand by silently when they saw injustice.” – Greater Des Moines Public Art Foundation

I finished my day eating dinner at Jethro’s BBQ. This place was recommended to me by the bar tender at the Meskwaki Casino. I had stayed at the casino the final night before getting to Des Moines and we had a nice conversation. She enjoyed hearing about my trip and had a few places she thought I should visit while here. She said the wings at Jethro’s were her favorite. I sat outside, drank a local beer, watched football and ate the wings. It was another successful recommendation and a great day in Des Moines.

Des Moines Iowa State Fair Iowa Food

Iowa State Fair, Des Moines, IA – Aug 2021

Nov 17, 2021 Martin 0 Comment

Since I couldn’t get into my AirBnB in Des Moines until later in the afternoon, my plan was to arrive early in the day and get to the Iowa State Fair. How often would I have the opportunity to go to this fair. I arrived in time to catch the last day.

What do you do when you go to a state fair? Eat!


I ate the Bacon-wrapped Rib on-a-stick I ate the curly fries with cheese	I ate the hard boiled egg with Old Bay Seasoning on a stick I did not eat the Iowa lobster

There were fun things to see including the famous butter cow! Yes…. it is a full size sculpture made of butter which is housed behind glass in the butter room.

I was curious what they did with the cow after the fair. So I did a little digging. After the fair, they turn off the fridge and let the butter soften. They then put it into about 20 5 gallon buckets and store it until the next year. They store the butter and will use it for future butter cow sculptures…. about 4 years worth!

Just like other fairs, there were other interesting things to see.