by Donna Seliger
The ACB travel agency this year is Carrano Travel, Inc., 1450 NE 123rd Street, Suite 107, N. Miami, FL 33161. For travel reservations call 1-800-327-3736 ext. 129; local (305) 893-8771 ext. 129. Our travel agent is Donna Balaban. Please note that the shared telephone is answered by the operator as CSM, The Super Show, Medical Business; however, ask for Carrano Travel or Donna.
While you are attending the American Council of the Blind convention in Des Moines this summer, you might consider some fun things to do on your own. In addition to the planned tours, I suggest the following activities. The dates for the convention are June 30 through July 7, but you can come early and stay late to take advantage of all that Des Moines has to offer.
Perhaps you have a few hours and you and a few friends want to try your luck at Prairie Meadows Race Track and Casino. You will find over one thousand slot machines as well as live horse racing Thursday through Tuesday. Call for race times. From any “Five Star” hotel, simply call 967-1000, ask for valet parking. Then indicate your hotel and how many people in your party (minimum of four). A van will pick up your group and deliver you back to the hotel later. Since the racetrack is located approximately 20 miles from downtown Des Moines, a tip for the driver is much less expensive than cab fare.
The Science Center of Iowa is located at 4500 Grand Avenue. There are some hands-on activities as well as a planetarium for those interested in our universe. Traveling exhibits as well as permanent ones are available. For information about times and tickets, call 274-4138.
One event which may be of interest to sports fans is the Iowa Barnstormers Arena Football Team. There are two games during convention week. The first is June 30 versus the Norfolk Nighthawks and the second on July 7 versus the Louisville Fire. Call 282-3596 for times and tickets. The games are held at Veterans Memorial Auditorium, which is accessible via the skywalk from the convention complex.
The Des Moines Civic Center will host the 6th Annual Des Moines International Children’s Choir Festival on Monday, July 2nd. These choirs come from the United States as well as several foreign countries. For information call 262-5812.
Now for some outdoor fun! During the time the convention is in town, the Iowa Cubs baseball team will be hosting the Colorado Rockies team. Games will run July 4 through July 8 at 7 p.m. Fireworks will follow the game on July 4. Call 243-6111 for ticket information. The Sec Taylor Stadium is just a few blocks south of the Court Avenue District so cab fare will cost around $5.
From June 29 through July 1, the Des Moines Arts Festival will be held in downtown Des Moines. Most of the displays and concessions will be on the Court Avenue and the Walnut and Locust Street Bridges over the Des Moines River. The Festival features 150 top-notch artists from around the country and is ranked as the 10th best arts festival. Call 282-8236 for more information. There is no charge for this event.
One of the best activities is the Downtown Farmers Market held each Saturday morning from 7 a.m. to noon from early May through October. There is a great variety of fresh home grown produce, homemade pies, bread, and pastries, as well as crafts, flowers, clothing, and much more. Take a stroll down Fourth Street from the Kirkwood Hotel to Court Avenue and Court Avenue from 5th to First Street and let your nose do the walking. Fourth Street and Court Avenue are closed to vehicular traffic. Arrive early for best selections come rain or shine.
A very popular event of the summer is the Yankee Doodle Pops Concert (similar to the Boston Pops) held on the west lawn and steps of the State Capitol Building at East 9th and Grand Avenue. This year the concert will be held at 8 p.m. on July 3rd, with a finale of fireworks set to music. There is no charge for this concert. There is no formal seating.
Another musical event is called Nitefall on the River, held at the Simon Estes Amphitheatre on the Des Moines River each Thursday evening during the summer at 7 p.m. This concert series features live local musicians and bands. Call 237-1386 for tickets.