If you don’t pay much attention to politics (or don’t live someplace where the 2016 presidential race has been impossible to ignore for the last six months), you might not be as aware of Iowa’s campaign season craziness. Since the spring of 2015, Iowa has been a hub for every presidential hopeful as well as the onslaught of staff, media, and national attention that comes with them.

Sure, it can be annoying to be wanded by security while trying to pick up a salad over lunch because a candidate happens to be dining at the same eatery. But the Iowa Caucuses are also an amazing time to show my out-of-state friends (and everyone else) all our state has to offer and why I’m so happy to call Des Moines my home. Plus, it doesn’t hurt that we get cool write-ups in publications like POLITICO, or that Ben and Jerry hung out at a coffee shop a few blocks from my house yesterday.

So with the big day less than a week away, I’ve decided to share some of my favorite places to eat, shop, and spend time in Des Moines if you happen to be passing through during caucus season.Continue Reading…