Things to do in Des Moines

Science center of Iowa is a learning center for children of all ages, located in down town Des Moines, Iowa, the science center features interactive exhibits, live programs and demonstrations, digital planetarium

Celebrate Innovation Exhibition celebrates and displays America's innovative spirit, there are a number of exhibits, displays, diagrams, photographs, digital video, artifacts, story panels that preserve and display

Blank Park Zoo is a 25 acre zoological park located in Des Moines, Iowa near the historic Fort Des Moines. The Zoo displays a variety of wildlife exhibits, it has a discovery center, aviary, aquarium, African

Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden is a home to fascinating and beautiful plant species, where visitors come for exploration, education and entertainment. The 13.5-acre botanical garden is located in Des Moines

The Iowa State Capitol is a historic landmark and government building located in Des Moines, Iowa. This iconic building is the only five-domed capitol in the United States, and is known for its beautiful central

Dubbed "The Fastest Short Track on the Planet", the Iowa Speedway is the place to go for a fun day out with the entire family. Even if not all family members are passionate about motorsports, the Iowa Speedway

Located in Iowa's beautiful Boone County the Iowa Arboretum makes 378 acres of bushes, trees, shrubs and flowers available to the public for no entry fee. It is open from sunrise to sunset year round which means

The John and Mary Pappajohn Sculpture Park is located within Western Gateway Park in the heart of downtown Des Moines. This 4.4-acre park contains 28 fascinating sculptures that were donated to the Des Moines

Altoona Aquatic Park in Altoona, Iowa offers great water fun in the Summer. It has a public swimming pool, a lap pool, a plunge pool, with water slides and diving boards. Families can enjoy swimming, water play

The National Balloon Museum and U.S. Ballooning Hall of Fame is a museum dedicated to ballooning and its history. It is located in Indianola, a small city south of Des Moines, which is known for its annual hot

Trainland U.S.A. is a toy train museum located north of the small town of Colfax, Iowa, approximately 30 minutes away from Des Moines by car. It was created by collector Red Atwood, who had a new home built in

Clive aquatic center in Clive, Iowa, is a wonderful place for water play, swimming and Summer fun. The aquatic center features water slides, diving board, lap pool, toddler's area, lazy river and a spray deck

Cascade Falls aquatic center is located in Ankeny, Iowa, it is a leisure swimming pool that is open seasonally May through August, and only on weekends in September. Cascade falls is a great place to cool off

Adventureland amusement park is located north east of Des Moines in Altoona, Iowa, featuring over 100 rides, shows and attractions. The amusement park is popular for its thrill rides, especially roller coasters

Terrace Hill in Des Moines, Iowa is a national historic landmark, it is the official residence of the governor of Iowa. The mansion has a historic architecture, the architecture is reminiscence of the second French

Whether you are looking for the perfect place to meet with friends or to engage in various activities such as biking or simply walking, Gray's Lake in Des Moines will fit the bill. Home to a 1.9-mile trail that

Lots of farm fun and educational activiies await the entire family at the Center Grove Orchard. This beautiful farm is located in the center of Iowa and is the perfect place to experience activities such as daily

The Valley View Aquatic Center is a public recreation center maintained by the city of West Des Moines, Iowa. This popular outdoor aquatic center features a number of different water-based attractions, including

Whether you are looking for a family-friendly place where the children can learn how to swim or are more interested in trying a new kind of activity such as boat racing, the Urbandale Public Swimming Pool is the

Fun awaits at the Teachout Aquatic Center and the entire family is invited! Featuring a zero-depth entry, a water slide, a shaded swim area and a water mushroom, the Teachout Aquatic Center is suitable for all

If you think that your family weekends have become kind of boring, why not take up a new activity in the outdoors? The family-owned Seven Oaks Recreation offers a wide range of outdoor activities in central Iowa

Saylorville Lake Marina is located on Saylorville Lake, which is just north of the city of Des Moines on the Des Moines River. The 26,000-acre lake features diverse wildlife due to its wetland, woodland, and prairie

Reiman Gardens is a beautiful 17-acre public garden in the city of Ames, Iowa, just 35 miles north of Des Moines. Owned and maintained by Iowa State University, Reiman Gardens is one of the most popular attractions

Plaza Lanes Family Sports Complex is a fun family sports complex located in Des Moines, Iowa. This smoke-free facility provides visitors with 32 bowling lanes, a sports bar and grill, sand volleyball courts, an

Living History Farms is an open-air history museum located in Urbandale, Iowa, approximately 15 minutes outside of Des Moines. This popular interactive museum is designed to teach people of all ages about rural

Knoxville Raceway is a sprint car raceway in Knoxville, Iowa, approximately 40 miles southeast of Des Moines. Located at the Marion County Fairgrounds, this dirt oval raceway known as the "Sprint Car Capital of

The Heritage Carousel is a popular children's attraction in Des Moines' Union Park. It is a charmingly designed hand crafted and hand painted turn of the century replica carousel. It's a fun activity for everyone

Downtown farmer's market in Des Moines, Iowa is rated as the best farmer's market, the market is held in historic court district in Down town Des Moines, the market is open every Saturday May through October

Boone and Scenic Valley Railroad is an operating railroad museum that is meant to preserve the history of Iowa's railroad. Families enjoy riding the historic trains, steam engine trains and special trains. Take

Ashworth Swimming pool is a public swimming pool in Des Moines, Iowa, visitors frequent the pool during the Summer months to beat the heat and enjoy water play. The pool is a leisure swimming pool, and it is a

Blank Imax Dome Theater is a part of the Science center of Iowa in Des Moines, it is a fascinating six-story dome shaped theater that gives audience a larger than life movie experience. The theater is designed