Depending on where you’re coming from, Ames might seem like anything from a one-horse town to a booming metropolis.

Regardless of what you may be used to in your hometown, this city of around 50,000 has opportunities for all types of students outside of university borders.

When the weather is nice, Ames offers an abundance of outdoor activities and outstanding city parks.

Throughout the city you can find three different public golf courses, two disc golf courses, tennis courts, softball fields, a skate park and a large network of public parks suitable for any kind of picnic or gathering.

The more nature-oriented students can take advantage of the Skunk and Des Moines Rivers by renting canoes from ISU Rec Services, or you could even hike at nearby Ledges State Park by Boone.

If you’re looking to shop, the city has three distinct shopping districts scattered throughout its borders. North Grand Mall, near 30th Street and Grand Avenue, may not look like much from the outside but has many of the typical mall stores you find in other towns.

Downtown you can find the Main Street shopping area, which contains many smaller, unique stores you may find familiar if you’re coming from a small town.

The most recent shopping project is in the Somerset area, just north of campus at 24th Street and Stange Road.

Shopping supercenters Wal-mart and Target are located north of U.S. Highway 30 on South Duff Avenue, where you can also find Best Buy.

If you’ve worked up an appetite while shopping or through recreational activities, Ames also contains several unique restaurants to go along with the many chain eateries you may be used to. Applebee’s, Old Chicago, Village Inn and Perkins are present, as in any city, but it would be a good idea to check some of the other interesting places to eat.

Ames has several opportunities to try a variety of ethnic food, whether Chinese, Japanese, Indian, Thai or, especially, Mexican. Restaurants such as Cazador, La Fuente and El Azteca each have their own unique menus to give a try, all of which are different from chain restaurants such as Carlos O’Kelly’s – also found in Ames.

The Main Street shopping district contains many unique places: Olde Main, Great Plains Sauce and Dough and the Grove Cafe offer original dining experiences.

Ames is also home to several music and theater venues, whether they are at a bar – Headliner’s, Paddy’s, Capone’s – a cozy local venue – Ames Progressive, Zeke’s – a large theater – Stephens and Hilton Auditoriums – or a public outdoor setting – the Ames Bandshell.

Whatever type of music fits your style, there is a place in Ames for you to enjoy live tunes from small local bands or performers on nationwide tours.

With all of this and more, don’t be quick to judge Ames as small or boring – there’s definitely more out there for you to experience. So get out on the town and give some of these places a try.