Seven Oaks Recreation, Boone

There's a lot to see and do across central Iowa's great outdoors, and the team behind Seven Oaks Recreation helps people get out and encounter as much of it as possible. In warmer months, a lot of the activity centers on their fleet of 72 canoes, 24 kayaks, and 240 river tubes—all of which float down miles of the Des Moines River, passing by woods and manmade sights such as the longest and highest double-track railway bridge in the world. Days on the water can continue with paintball and mountain biking, then end around a fire at Seven Oaks' campground.

When winter arrives, Seven Oaks opens up a snowboard park as well as 11 different ski and snowboard runs that range from beginner to expert. To make skiing and snowboarding less intimidating to newcomers, the park's instructors hold free lessons.