Weather in Iowa
- Ames, Iowa enjoyes all four season and therefore the weather might be different from the weather where you are coming from. Appropriate clothing will be necessary.
- In winter, Iowa has snow and temperatures are often below 32° F / 0° C.
- In the summer, Iowa temperatures can reach as high as 100° F / 40° C.
Housing
Temporary Housing
- ISU Guest Housing: affordable, usually cheaper than other hotels.
- ISU Memorial Union Hotel
- Days Inn Ames
- Holiday Inn Ames Conference Center At ISU
- Best Western Plus University Park Inn & Suites
- Hilton Garden Inn Ames Hotel
Apartments/Homes for Lease
Note 1: You should expect to sign a contract, which is a legally binding document. Be sure to read it carefully and agree to all terms before you sign it. Some of the terms used might be difficult to understand. Don’t be afraid to ask questions to a prospective landlord. You may consider taking with you a friend who is fluent in English to help you.
Note 2: In the US, it is common practice for landlords to ask for a security deposit prior to moving into an apartment/house. A deposit is money aside from the payment of rent that the landlord requires a tenant (you) to pay separately in case you should cause damage to the apartment or violate other terms of the lease. It is usually one or two months’ rent. When your lease is over, the landlord must return you the security deposit if no violations of the lease have occurred, or a portion of that deposit for the amount of the damages you caused in the rental unit. Furthermore, some utility companies (electricity, gas, phone) will charge deposits as well depending on your credit history. Thus you need to bring with you enough money prior to moving to a new city/state in the US. Beware of exchange rates between the US dollar and your country’s currency.
Transportation Alternatives
Many people choose to not use cars for transportation either regularly or occasionally, and depending on your lifestyle and where you live in the city, you may not need one. The following resources provide details for transportation alternatives to cars.
Bicycle
Many people choose to use bicycles in Ames for transportation as well as recreation. There are many routes and trails around the city that are safe for bikes. Here are some resources to help you navigate and stay safe:
- This 2-page PDF provided by the city provides guidance for riding, safety tips, and a street and trail map.
- Local bike shop Skunk River Cycles provides local cycling info on their web page.
- TrailLink is a good resource with maps of routes beyond Ames, and also provides tools to record and save your favorite routes with their app.
Bus
CyRide is the local bus service which covers most the city. Most, though not all, lines come to the ISU campus. Note that there are different schedules for weekdays vs. weekends, and for the school year vs. summertime.
Things to do in Ames
- Visit the Ames Convention and Visitors Bureau website to find out about events/activities happening every day.
- Have your spouse join Engaging International Spouses (EIS) to help them integrate into the ISU community.
- Join International Friendship Fairs to gain intercultural understanding and to meet other international students/postdocs.
- Fitness: your ISU ID will give you access to the university’s recreation and fitness center. However, you need to pay joining fees. Visit ISU Recreation Services for more information
- There are also many parks and recreational facilities in Ames for hiking, swimming, ice skating, and more.
- Ames Main Street Farmer’s Market (Facebook)
- Ames Neighbors Helping Neighbors
- International Spouses of Ames, Iowa
- Check out free books and media at the Ames Public Library
Children's Education
- Visit the Ames Community School District for more information.