For more than 50 years, many of the country’s top balloon pilots have flocked to small-town Indianola for fiery competition, quirky antics and unreal summer views. Less than 30 minutes north, Des Moines delivers all the urban amenities.
On a getaway to the Motor City, we turned down our inner travel agent and tuned into the people right in front of us. The takeaway: Plan less, ask more questions and always talk to strangers.