Essentials
Currency, language, transit & safety — tap to expand.
Currency — US Dollar (USD, $). 1 USD ≈ 0.92 EUR [ASSUMPTION: rate fluctuates]
Cash vs card — Card-dominant city — tap-to-pay, Apple/Google Pay accepted almost everywhere. Carry $20-40 cash for farmers markets, food trucks, and tipping valets. ATMs widely available at banks and gas stations; bank ATMs are fee-free if you use your own network. Tipping: 18-22% at sit-down restaurants, $1-2 per drink at bars, 15-20% for rideshare/taxi, $1-2 per bag for hotel porters.
Budget — Budget: $90-130/day (motel, fast-casual, walking + bus). Mid-range: $180-280/day (downtown hotel, sit-down meals, rideshare). Luxury: $400+/day (Surety/Hotel Fort Des Moines tier, fine dining, drinks).
Language — English — universally spoken. Significant Spanish-speaking population on the east side and around the International District; some Vietnamese, Lao, and Bosnian heritage communities reflected in restaurants and markets.
Language barrier — Zero barrier for English speakers. Iowans are friendly and chatty — expect strangers to start conversations in coffee shops and at the bar.
Getting around — Honest take: Des Moines is a driving city. Renting a car is the most practical choice — parking is cheap and plentiful compared to coastal US cities. Downtown and East Village are walkable, and the skywalk system connects most of downtown indoors (a lifesaver in winter). Transit exists but is limited; rideshare fills the gaps.
Safety — Very safe for visitors overall. Downtown and East Village feel calm even late at night. Court Avenue gets rowdy on weekend nights (bar district — typical drunk crowd behaviour, not violent). Avoid wandering into industrial areas south of MLK Jr Pkwy after dark with camera gear visible. Tornado season runs roughly April-June — if sirens sound, get to an interior room or basement immediately; hotels have protocols. Winter (Dec-Feb) brings real cold (-15°C nights possible) and ice — proper layers and boots with grip are non-negotiable for photographers standing still. Summer humidity is brutal; hydrate. Drivers here are generally polite but distracted — look twice at crosswalks.
Highlights
Des Moines is the rare Midwestern capital that punches above its weight — a walkable downtown wrapped in skywalks, a genuinely excellent farmers' market, and a sculpture park that would headline a bigger city. It's flat, friendly, affordable, and refreshingly free of the velvet-rope energy you get in coastal hubs.
Insurance capital identity
Des Moines is a finance and insurance hub (Principal, Nationwide, EMC), which is why downtown has glassy towers but empties out on weekends. Plan downtown sightseeing for weekday lunch hours when restaurants are open and East Village shops are buzzing.
TRANSIT-FRIENDLY
The Skywalk system
Over 4 miles of climate-controlled second-floor walkways connect 50+ downtown buildings. Essential in January (often below 20°F) and August humidity. Open weekdays roughly 6am–10pm; many segments close or have limited access on weekends — verify before relying on it.
RAINY DAY · HIDDEN GEM
Entry and ID reality
Standard US entry applies: ESTA for Visa Waiver Program countries (Canada exempt, apply online before flying), or B1/B2 visa otherwise. Des Moines International (DSM) is small and easy — most international visitors connect through Chicago, Minneapolis, or Dallas. Domestic travellers need REAL ID-compliant license or passport starting May 2025.
BOOK AHEAD
Connectivity and payments
T-Mobile and Verizon have the strongest coverage; AT&T fine downtown. Visitors can grab a US prepaid SIM from T-Mobile Tourist Plan ($30, 3 weeks) or use Airalo eSIM before arrival. Apple Pay and Google Pay accepted nearly everywhere including the Downtown Farmers' Market. Tap-to-pay on DART buses via the MyDART app.
PLUGIN TIP
Tipping and Midwestern manners
Tip 18–20% at sit-down restaurants, $1–2 per drink at bars, 15–20% for rideshare. Locals make eye contact and say hi on the trail — it's not flirting, it's Iowa. Don't honk in traffic; it reads as aggressive. 'Ope' is a real word meaning 'excuse me' when squeezing past someone.
Downtown Farmers' Market unlock
Saturdays May–October, 7am–noon, 300+ vendors across 9 blocks of Court Avenue. Arrive by 7:30am for parking and to actually move — by 10am it's shoulder-to-shoulder. Bring cash for some Amish vendors though most take Venmo/cards. This is the single best photo opportunity in the city.
NEXTPIC · PHOTO · SEASONAL · FREE · CROWD WARNING
The RAGBRAI factor
Late July, the Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa often starts or ends near Des Moines, flooding hotels for one week. If you're not riding, avoid those dates — rates triple. If you are, book lodging 6+ months out. [ASSUMPTION] Exact route changes yearly; check ragbrai.com for current dates.
BOOK AHEAD · SEASONAL · CROWD WARNING
When to Go
Late September through mid-October is the clear winner — mild days in the 18–24°C (65–75°F) range, low humidity, fall color, and the Farmers' Market still running. May is a strong runner-up for greenery and patio season, with the caveat of storm risk. Skip January unless you're getting a deep hotel discount or specifically want winter cityscape shots.
Top Attractions
№ 1 · Essential
Iowa State Capitol
★ ICONIC · PHOTO · GOLDEN HOUR · FREE · BLUE HOUR
The golden-domed Capitol is genuinely stunning, one of the most photogenic statehouses in the country. Free self-guided or guided tours let you climb toward the dome interior. Worth the visit even if you skip every other government building on your travels.
Tip: Park at the East 9th Street lot below the Capitol and shoot back uphill for the classic dome-and-stairs composition. For interiors, weekday mornings have the best light through the rotunda.
Best: Golden hour from the west lawn — the dome's 23-karat gold leaf glows. Blue hour also works when exterior lights kick on.
Fees: Free
Pappajohn Sculpture Park
An open-air park with 30+ major works from Plensa, Kapoor, Bourgeois, di Suvero, and more. Free, walkable, and surprisingly uncrowded for the caliber of art. Easily Des Moines' best photo location after the Capitol.
ICONICDes Moines Art Center
Three wings designed by Eliel Saarinen, I.M. Pei, and Richard Meier — the architecture is arguably more impressive than parts of the collection, though there are real Hoppers, O'Keeffes, and a Bacon. Free admission is a gift.
PHOTOEast Village
Walkable historic district between downtown and the Capitol packed with indie shops, coffee, and restaurants. Not a single attraction so much as a half-day of wandering. Best neighborhood vibe in the city.
EASY WALKNeighbourhoods
East Village
A walkable, art-forward stretch east of the Capitol where indie boutiques, coffee bars, and tattoo studios share blocks with restored brick warehouses. It's the most visually interesting pocket of Des Moines and the easiest neighbourhood to spend a half day in without a plan.
Must do: Browse Domestica and Eden for local design, grab coffee at Horizon Line, and shoot the gold-domed Iowa State Capitol from East Locust Street at golden hour.
ICONIC · PHOTO · EASY WALK · GOLDEN HOUR
Downtown / Western Gateway
The civic and cultural core, anchored by the free Pappajohn Sculpture Park and the Des Moines Central Library. Skywalk-connected and quiet on weekends, which is either eerie or wonderful depending on your mood.
Must do: Photograph the Pappajohn sculptures (the Borofsky 'Nomade' head is the money shot), tour the free Des Moines Art Center (Saarinen/Meier/Pei architecture), and walk the skywalk system on a cold day.
ICONIC · FREE · PHOTO · RAINY DAY · EASY WALK
Court Avenue District
Historic brick district that flips between quiet daytime lunch spot and loud weekend bar crawl. Beautiful 19th-century facades, but the vibe leans bachelorette-party after dark.
Must do: Lunch at Centro or Django, shoot the brick-and-iron architecture in morning light, and cross the Court Avenue bridge for skyline views over the Des Moines River.
PHOTO · CROWD WARNING · NIGHT SHOOT
Sherman Hill
Des Moines' oldest residential historic district, full of restored Victorian and Queen Anne homes on tree-lined streets just west of downtown. Quietly one of the most photogenic neighbourhoods in the Midwest.
Must do: Walk the loop bounded by 15th, 19th, Woodland, and Center streets for architecture, stop at Scenic Route Bakery, and shoot the gingerbread detailing in late-afternoon side light.
HIDDEN GEM · PHOTO · GOLDEN HOUR · EASY WALK
Drake Neighborhood
University district around Drake University with a mix of collegiate Gothic architecture, cheap eats, and a steady student energy. Feels younger and scrappier than the rest of the city.
Must do: Walk the Drake campus (the Eliel Saarinen-designed buildings are the highlight), eat at a Bosnian or Vietnamese spot along University Avenue, and grab coffee at Mars Cafe.
BUDGET · TRANSIT-FRIENDLY · PHOTO
Highland Park / Oak Park
Working-class north-side neighbourhood undergoing a slow, genuine revival — old main-street storefronts on 6th Avenue are filling back in with bakeries, taprooms, and vintage shops. No polish yet, which is the appeal.
Must do: Coffee and a pastry at Slow Down Coffee Co., browse the vintage shops along 6th, and shoot the faded ghost signs on brick walls.
HIDDEN GEM · BUDGET · PHOTO · TRANSIT-FRIENDLY
Beaverdale
Leafy residential pocket northwest of downtown famous for its 'Beaverdale brick' bungalows — a tan-and-red brick style you won't see anywhere else. Genuinely charming but mostly residential, so manage expectations.
Must do: Drive or cycle the streets around Beaver Avenue to see the brick bungalows, eat at Christopher's (an old-school supper club), and time a visit for the Beaverdale Fall Festival if you're in town in September.
HIDDEN GEM · SEASONAL · PHOTO
Day Trips
Madison County Covered Bridges (Winterset)
Travel: 55 km / 45 min by car
Iowa State Capitol & East Village (in-city escape)
Travel: 5 km / 15 min from downtown
Amana Colonies
Travel: 170 km / 2 hr by car
Pella
Travel: 65 km / 50 min by car
Ledges State Park & Boone Scenic Valley Railroad
Travel: 65 km / 1 hr by car
Maquoketa Caves State Park
Travel: 280 km / 3 hr by car
Field of Dreams Movie Site (Dyersville)
Travel: 320 km / 3.25 hr by car
Scenic Routes
Principal Riverwalk Loop
Walking
Route: Iowa Women of Achievement Bridge to Robert D. Ray Asian Gardens loop
PHOTO · BLUE HOUR · EASY WALK · FREE · TRANSIT-FRIENDLY
John Pat Dorrian Trail through Gray's Lake
Walking
Route: Gray's Lake Park lot to Kruidenier Trail loop
PHOTO · SUNSET · ICONIC · EASY WALK · FAMILY · FREE
Western Gateway and Pappajohn Sculpture Park Walk
Walking
Route: Pappajohn Sculpture Park to Cowles Commons
PHOTO · EASY WALK · RAINY DAY · FREE · ICONIC
High Trestle Trail Bridge Ride
Cycling
Route: Woodward trailhead to Madrid trailhead (round trip)
PHOTO · BLUE HOUR · NIGHT SHOOT · ICONIC · FREE · NEXTPIC
East Village to State Capitol Stroll
Walking
Route: East Locust Street shops to Iowa State Capitol grounds
PHOTO · GOLDEN HOUR · ICONIC · EASY WALK · FREE
Mullets to Madison County Covered Bridges Drive
Driving
Route: Downtown Des Moines to Winterset loop
PHOTO · SEASONAL · GOLDEN HOUR · FREE
Street Art
Des Moines punches above its weight for street art, thanks largely to the Greater Des Moines Public Art Foundation and the annual Des Moines Mural Festival (started 2021), which has imported heavy-hitter muralists alongside local talent. The scene clusters in the East Village, downtown skywalk corridor edges, and the Market District, with newer work pushing into the Drake neighborhood and Highland Park.
East Village
Densest concentration of murals in the city. Alley walls, parking-lot-facing facades, and side streets between E 4th and E 6th carry a rotating lineup from the Mural Festival. Expect large-format figurative work and bold typography pieces.
E 4th St to E 6th St between Walnut and Grand Ave
PHOTO · ICONIC · EASY WALK · GOLDEN HOUR
Market District / Court Avenue underpasses
Newer development zone south of Court Ave with massive wall-sized murals on parking garages and warehouse conversions. Bigger canvases than East Village, fewer crowds, better for wide shots.
SW 1st St & Market St area, extending toward the river
PHOTO · HIDDEN GEM · GOLDEN HOUR
Western Gateway Park edges
Not street art in the gritty sense — this is the sanctioned sculpture-and-mural corridor connecting the Pappajohn Sculpture Park to nearby commissioned walls. Good for mixing 3D public art with 2D mural shots in one walk.
Grand Ave between 10th and 15th
PHOTO · BLUE HOUR · FREE · FAMILY
Highland Park business district
Small-scale neighborhood murals along 6th Ave north of I-235. Less polished, more community-driven, and the pieces feel local rather than festival-imported. Quick stop if you have a car.
6th Ave between Euclid and Madison
HIDDEN GEM · PHOTO
Drake University neighborhood
Dogtown district along University Ave has a handful of student-leaning murals and a few commissioned pieces near the Drake campus. Worth it if you're already there for the architecture; not a destination on its own.
University Ave between 24th and 28th St
EASY WALK · TRANSIT-FRIENDLY
Culture & History
Des Moines sits at the confluence of two rivers and two American identities — agricultural heartland and unexpectedly progressive insurance-and-arts capital. It's a city that quietly punches above its weight in sculpture, literature, and political theater, shaped by Scandinavian and German settlers, a strong African American community on the near north and east sides, and waves of refugee resettlement that have reshaped its food and faith landscape since the 1970s.
Eat & Drink
Des Moines punches well above its weight for a Midwest capital of its size. The food scene leans on Iowa's agricultural strengths: pasture-raised pork, sweet corn, heirloom tomatoes, and craft dairy. You'll find serious chef-driven restaurants downtown and in the East Village, plus a deep bench of immigrant cuisines, especially Vietnamese, Bosnian, and Mexican, that reflect decades of refugee resettlement. The Downtown Farmers' Market (May–October, Saturdays) is the single best food event in the city and arguably the best in the Midwest. Outside that, expect generous portions, fair prices, and a casual dress code almost everywhere. The 'Iowa chop' (a thick bone-in pork chop) and loose-meat sandwiches are the regional signatures worth trying once.
Harbinger ★★★★★
shareable Asian-influenced small plates, wood-fired vegetables, handmade noodles
Ingersoll, 2724 Ingersoll Ave
Restaurant
Tacopocalypse ★★★★★
Korean short rib tacos, banh mi tacos, fusion street food
East Village, 410 E 5th St
Restaurant
HoQ Restaurant ★★★★
farm-to-table seasonal menu, strong vegetarian section, local pork
East Village, 303 E 5th St
Restaurant · vegetarian_restaurant
Fong's Pizza ★★★★
crab rangoon pizza, tiki cocktails, Asian-American mashup
Downtown, 223 4th St
Restaurant
Trellis ★★★
vegetable-forward menu inside the Botanical Garden, weekend brunch
Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden, 909 Robert D Ray Dr
Restaurant · vegan_restaurant · vegetarian_restaurant
Horizon Line Coffee
single-origin pour-overs, in-house roasting, minimalist space
East Village
Coffee · cafe
Mars Cafe
neighborhood coffee bar, strong wifi, local art
Drake Neighborhood, 2318 University Ave
Coffee · cafe
Smokey Row Coffee
big sandwiches, baked goods, sprawling vintage-feel room
South of Grand, 1910 Cottage Grove Ave
Coffee · cafe
Friedrichs Coffee
Des Moines original roaster, reliable drip and espresso
Multiple locations; flagship in Beaverdale
Coffee · cafe
La Mie Bakery
French-style croissants, country loaves, quiche, breakfast pastries
South of Grand, 841 42nd St
Bakery · bakery
Scenic Route Bakery
scratch breakfast sandwiches, scones, locally roasted coffee
East Village, 350 E Locust St
Bakery · bakery · breakfast_restaurant
Crème Cupcake + Dessert
cupcakes, layer cakes, cocktail program
Ingersoll, 543 28th St
Bakery · bakery
Open Sesame
Lebanese mezze, falafel, baba ghanoush, tabbouleh
East Village, 313 E Locust St
Vegetarian · vegetarian_restaurant
Aposto
Mediterranean small plates with strong meatless options
Sherman Hill, 644 18th St
Vegetarian · vegetarian_restaurant
Fresh Mediterranean Express
build-your-own bowls, falafel, hummus plates
West Des Moines, 1255 Jordan Creek Pkwy
Vegetarian · vegetarian_restaurant · vegan_restaurant
Shopping
Des Moines shopping leans practical Midwestern with strong pockets of independent retail, vintage, and farm-adjacent goods. Shoppers who like browsing restored warehouse districts and hunting for Iowa-made craft will find more here than the skyline suggests.
Downtown Farmers' Market
Mixed
Iowa-made soaps, candles, ceramics, prairie-themed prints, and small-batch goods from regional artisans alongside the produce. One of the largest open-air markets in the Midwest with 300+ vendors.
Market · ICONIC · PHOTO · SEASONAL · CROWD WARNING
West End Architectural Salvage
Antiques
Reclaimed Midwest farmhouse fixtures, vintage signage, industrial lighting, old Iowa barn wood, and oddities. Four floors of legitimately curated salvage, not junk.
Market · HIDDEN GEM · PHOTO · RAINY DAY
Valley Junction Farmers Market
Mixed
Smaller-scale crafts, live music, and a more relaxed browse than the downtown market. Better for handmade jewelry and prairie-style art.
Market · GOLDEN HOUR · SEASONAL · EASY WALK
East Village
The most interesting independent retail strip in the city — boutiques, design shops, and locally-owned stores in restored brick buildings between the Capitol and the river.
Domestica for design objects, Eden for plants and home goods, Raygun for sharp Midwest-themed apparel and prints, and AfterWords Books for used and indie titles. Walkable in an afternoon.
District · LOCAL · TRANSIT-FRIENDLY · EASY WALK
Historic Valley Junction (5th Street)
Antiques, vintage, and crafts along a preserved railroad-era main street in West Des Moines. Heavier on antique malls than boutiques.
A.O.K. Antiques, Valley Junction Antiques Mall, and a string of consignment and craft shops. Best for serious antique hunters willing to dig.
District · VINTAGE · LOCAL
Jordan Creek Town Center
Standard upscale suburban mall in West Des Moines — Apple, Pottery Barn, Sephora, the usual lineup.
Skip unless you specifically need a chain store or it's pouring rain. Nothing here you can't get in any US metro. [ASSUMPTION] Tenant mix shifts year to year.
District · RAINY DAY
Photo Spots
Seasonal light in Des Moines swings hard with the 41.6°N latitude. June gives you a 5:45am sunrise and a 8:50pm sunset with a long, soft golden hour and a 30+ minute blue hour — plan two distinct shoots per day. December collapses that window: sunrise around 7:35am, sunset by 4:55pm, with a brittle, low-angle light that wraps the Capitol dome beautifully but punishes any plan that doesn't account for the 4pm rush to position. Spring (April–May) brings dramatic storm light and thunderhead skies that work brilliantly over the prairie-flat skyline; fall (mid-Oct) gives you warm side-light on brick in the East Village and yellow cottonwoods at Gray's Lake. Winter after a fresh snow is the secret season — the Capitol grounds and Pappajohn sculptures against white ground are uncrowded and high-contrast.
Iowa State Capitol
The 23-karat gold-leafed central dome flanked by four copper domes — the most photogenic state capitol in the US. Shoot from the west steps for a head-on symmetrical composition with the long reflecting walkway leading in. For dramatic angles, work the south lawn with the dome stacked behind the Soldiers and Sailors Monument.
Pappajohn Sculpture Park
Twenty-nine large-scale sculptures (Plensa's 'Nomade', Kapoor, Borofsky's 'Man with Briefcase') set against the downtown skyline. The white open-mesh 'Nomade' head frames skyscrapers through its letterforms — the signature Des Moines photo.
Principal Riverwalk & Iowa Women of Achievement Bridge
The illuminated white cable-stayed pedestrian bridge curving across the Des Moines River with the downtown skyline behind. Best long-exposure subject in the city. Shoot from the east bank south of the bridge for the classic curve-plus-skyline composition.
Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden Dome
Geodesic glass dome from the exterior with the river and downtown beyond; inside, tropical foliage and orchids under diffused dome light. The exterior at dusk with interior glow showing through is the underused shot.
East Village rooftops & Locust Street
Brick storefronts, neon signage (Smokey Row, Eden, Lucca), and the Capitol dome rising at the east end of Locust Street — a classic 'main street looking at landmark' compression shot with a 70–200mm.
Gray's Lake Park
Downtown skyline reflected across the lake with the illuminated pedestrian bridge (Kruidenier Trail) cutting through the foreground. The northeast shore gives the cleanest skyline reflection.
High Trestle Trail Bridge (Madrid, ~30 min north)
Half-mile former rail bridge with 43 steel cribbings forming a tunnel of geometric frames over the Des Moines River valley. At night the cribbings light up cobalt blue — one of the most photographed pieces of trail infrastructure in the Midwest.
Salisbury House & Gardens
1920s Tudor/Gothic/Carolean manor modeled on King's House in Salisbury, England — half-timbered facade, stone courtyards, and ivy-covered walls feel transplanted from the Cotswolds. Underrated and uncrowded.
Suggested Itinerary
Nightlife
Des Moines nightlife centers on three corridors: the East Village for cocktails and queer-friendly spots, the Court Avenue district downtown for rowdy bar-crawling, and the West End/Western Gateway for craft beer and lounges. Things start around 8pm, last call is 2am statewide, and the crowd is overwhelmingly local — insurance workers loosening their ties, Drake students, and a steady live-music underground that punches above the city's size.
El Bait Shop
A barn-sized beer hall with over 200 taps, fishing-lure kitsch on the walls, and a crowd that takes its IPAs seriously without being precious about it.
No cover, no dress code. Get the tater tots. Connected to High Life Lounge next door — easy to bar-hop between the two. Busiest Thursday through Saturday.
Hello, Marjorie
A dim, plant-filled cocktail room with a stamped-tin ceiling where bartenders actually want to talk about what you're drinking.
Cocktails $13–16. No reservations, but worth waiting at the bar. Closes earlier than the rowdier spots — usually midnight. Smart casual; nobody's checking but flip-flops feel wrong.
Wooly's
Mid-size general-admission room that pulls touring indie, hip-hop, and country acts; sticky floors, good sightlines, no seats.
Ticket prices vary by show ($15–40 typical). Doors usually 7pm, openers 8pm. Cash bar is faster than card. Check the calendar before your trip and BOOK AHEAD for anything bigger.
Vaudeville Mews
Narrow brick-walled room where local bands, touring underground acts, and the occasional poetry slam pack a 200-capacity space.
Covers $5–15. 21+ most nights. Best for discovering Iowa bands you'd never hear otherwise. [ASSUMPTION] Schedule shifts week to week — check their social before going.
Hessen Haus
A converted Rock Island Railroad depot serving liter boots of German beer to bachelorette parties and middle-aged guys reliving Oktoberfest.
No cover. Order the boot if you're a group — there's a tradition about who has to drink the toe. Loud and touristy by Court Avenue standards, but unapologetic about it.
The Lift
Basement speakeasy-adjacent spot with red leather booths, a serious whiskey list, and conversations you can actually hear.
No cover, no dress code enforced. Cocktails $11–14. Good first-stop or last-stop bar — quieter than Court Avenue, more interesting than a hotel lobby.
The Blazing Saddle
Iowa's oldest gay bar — a no-frills, all-welcome dive with drag shows, leather nights, and a patio that becomes the neighborhood living room in summer.
Cash-friendly, cheap pours, no cover most nights. Drag shows draw crowds — get there early on weekends. Genuinely mixed crowd by midnight.
Royal Mile
British-style pub with dark wood, dart boards, and the closest thing downtown has to a proper post-work pint culture.
Trivia nights pack the place. Good whiskey selection. Kitchen open late — fish and chips after 11pm is a legitimate Des Moines move.
Beechwood Lounge
Two-level dance club with DJs spinning Top 40 and Latin nights; the crowd is younger, dressier, and unapologetically there to be seen.
Cover $5–10 on weekends, often free before 10pm. Dress code is loosely enforced — no athletic wear, no ball caps. Latin Saturdays are the strongest night.
Exile Brewing
Big industrial brewery with a fenced patio, communal tables, and a crowd that skews 30-something professional rather than college.
No cover. Closes around 11pm weeknights, midnight weekends — earlier than most. Their Ruthie Vienna lager is the local default order.
Up-Down DSM
Arcade bar with 80s and 90s games at a quarter a play, skee-ball leagues, and a pizza window that stays open later than your judgment.
21+ after 8pm. No cover. Bring quarters or use their tokens. Crowded Friday/Saturday — go Tuesday or Wednesday for actual game access.
Build your own Itinerary from this guide
Pick the places you care about — attractions, photo spots, map markers — and we'll lay out a day-by-day starting point. Yours to edit; guide updates never touch it.