Grinnell Games, Grinnell

For three days each year, the Grinnell Games takes over the central Iowa college town with a gauntlet of fun-focused, family-friendly sporting events and games. Many of the town's 15 miles of bicycle trails and more than 70 acres of public parks become the stage for races, bike races, and sports such as basketball and dodgeball. 5K runs, for instance, follow a gently looping path through this natural setting and historical downtown, while a 10K run at sunset circles around the lake at Rock Creek State Park. The difficult Warrior Run event challenges runners with mud pits and towering obstacles, but rewards them with a live music and beer party. Meanwhile, a scavenger hunt sends participants off on a wild chase throughout the town, where challenges range from solving puzzles and finding landmarks to memorizing the first three paragraphs of the 1976 zoning codes.