Des Moines Travel Guide: Des Moines Is More Than Corn Fields and the State Fair — Here’s What We Love About This Midwest Capital

"Morain reveals that the history of this 110-room downtown hotel is as rich as its timeless décor. Hotel Fort Des Moines has hosted dozens of presidents and celebrities over the years and recently underwent a major makeover, restoring its two-story lobby to its original grandeur. That lobby links together the check-in desk, the upscale restaurant Proudfoot & Bird, and the airy Hobnob Coffee and Wine Bar. Psst… Bring your ID, and ask about In Confidence. It’s the Gatsby-esque speakeasy tucked accessible via a staircase behind a secret wall in Hobnob. (Your drink menu is delivered in a file folder like a dossier.)" - Karla Walsh Karla Walsh Karla Walsh is a freelance writer based in Des Moines, Iowa. She has written about travel, health, food, wine, psychology, fitness, beauty, and beyond for more than 15 years. She has visited four continents and near