outdoor recreation

Just two months after a tornado devastated parts of Greenfield, thousands of RAGBRAI riders stopped in the southwest Iowa town. On the way in, cyclists rode past homes destroyed by the May 21 tornado that killed four people and injured dozens.

Cyclists from across the county — and the world — are converging on Iowa this weekend for the Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa, commonly known as RAGBRAI.

Tourism officials and businesses in the Iowa Great Lakes region are seeing lower crowds and revenues this season due to flooding that hit the area at end of June and into early July.

A book by a former solicitor under President Bill Clinton tells the story of how the U.S. government came to own a third of the nation's land — areas like Yosemite and Yellowstone that are maintained for recreation, education and conservation.

Whether you dread winter or love the cold, we explore the indoor and outdoor activities that make the most out of the coldest months of the year.

A plan to make whitewater trails on the rivers in downtown Des Moines is about more than tourism. Supporters of the project say they also have water quality in mind.

Blair Braverman's experience on the reality show Naked and Afraid sparked the idea for her debut novel Small Game.

Award-winning author Alexander Maksik discusses his latest novel and guests from Good Neighbor Iowa discuss the pros of chemical-free lawn care.

The Des Moines Register documentary Shift: The RAGBRAI Documentary premieres this weekend, sharing the stories of riders ahead of the ride's 50th anniversary.

The spring bird migration is well underway. Expert birders return to the show to discuss the species that are returning to Iowa and others that are passing through.