Fun Things To Do In Des Moines

Des Moines, Iowa, stands as a metropolis seamlessly melding contemporary allure with a profound cultural legacy. Whether one dwells within its confines or traverses its streets as a guest, an abundance of exhilarating engagements await. From family-centric excursions to solitary escapades, Des Moines unfurls an assortment of options to captivate every soul. Let us delve into the vibrant mosaic of divertissements within the things to do in des moines bounds.

Fun Things To Do In Des Moines

Here are the best things to do in des moines this weekend. Let’s have a look at the few best destination options.

1. Downtown Farmers’ Market:

This place is the best things to do in des moines. The sojourn achieves completeness without a pilgrimage to the second-ranked Farmers’ Market in America. Every Saturday, from May to October, over 300 vendors converge to peddle an assortment ranging from fresh produce, baked goods, and prepared foods to art, wine, and flowers. Live music, vibrant murals, and adorable canines add to the ambiance, making it an ideal venue to savor the authentic essence of Des Moines.

2. Great Escape And Social Eats And Crafts:

Billing itself as “The Ultimate Experience,” The Great Escape lives up to its claim with 24 bowling lanes, laser tag, 50+ arcade games, and virtual reality adventures—a veritable playground for both youngsters and adults. Adjacent, Social Eats & Crafts offers over 30 draft beers and modern American cuisine, creating a synergy of entertainment and gastronomy.

3. Sleepy Hollow Adventure Park:

A chameleon across seasons, Sleepy Hollow transforms into a Renaissance Faire in spring, a multifaceted adventure park in summer, the Midwest’s largest Halloween theme park in fall, and a snow park with sledding and tubing in winter. Its versatility ensures year-round enjoyment with go-karts, batting cages, mini-golf, sand volleyball, inflatables, and laser tag.

4. Selfie WRLD Iowa’s Premier:

Selfie museum,” Selfie WRLD, offers an immersive encounter with 27 distinct “Instagram rooms.” Drawing inspiration from renowned establishments like the Museum of Ice Cream and The Color Factory, each room boasts a unique theme, from a 50’s diner scene to a yellow room with a bike and a red room featuring a lips-shaped couch.

Other Family-Friendly Activities

Here are the best fun things to do in Des Moines.

1. Urban Air Going beyond the typical trampoline park, Urban Air offers legendary ropes and course, a climbing wall, the warrior course, dodgeball, the battle beam, a tube indoor playground, and the Sky Rider—a zipline zigzagging over the attractions.
2. Climb Iowa With locations in Grimes and the East Village, Climb Iowa elevates the fun quotient with rock walls. First-timers receive a quick orientation, while locals can enroll in classes or climbing leagues.
3. Glazed Expressions Glazed Expressions, a premier do-it-yourself art studio with locations in Clive and Ankeny, invites patrons to choose from over 350 pottery pieces for painting or creating personalized candles.
4. Operating Room A bar arcade in West Des Moines, the Operating Room offers solace with old-school video games, pinball, skateball, craft cocktail slushies, pizza, and burgers.
5. Warrior Lanes Bowling fun at Warrior Lanes comes with automated bumpers, optional on every lane, and an epic Extreme Glow Bowling experience on Friday and Saturday nights.
6. Des Moines Playhouse As one of the oldest and largest community theaters in the country, the Des Moines Playhouse showcases musicals, classic plays, a children’s theater series, and classes and camps for kids.
7. AR Workshop A unique DIY craft studio in Ankeny, AR Workshop offers DIY to-go kits, workshops, kids’ parties and camps, and even virtual parties.
8. Reiman Gardens An enchanting 17-acre public botanical garden on the Iowa State campus, Reiman Gardens features 26 distinct garden areas, including the popular Christina Reiman Butterfly Wing, which houses 800 live butterflies.
9. Bass Pro Shops Beyond being an outdoor store, Bass Pro Shops hosts bowling alleys, an antique store, an aquarium, a restaurant, and an entertainment center.
10. Rusty Stars Alpaca Farm A delightful free hangout with alpacas, the Rusty Stars Alpaca Farm introduces visitors to the world’s cutest animals.

Seasonal Attractions And Events

1. Des Moines Arts Festival (late June) Recognized as one of the top art festivals nationwide, the Des Moines Arts Festival spans three days with offerings for all ages. The Creativity Zone welcomes youngsters to engage in painting, drawing, and various arts and crafts. Live music, the Sculpture Park, fountains, and a plethora of food and beverage vendors, including ice cream options, ensure a vibrant experience.
2. Iowa State Fair (mid-August) Revered as the best state fair in the country, the Iowa State Fair unfolds every August in Des Moines. Catering to the entire family, it features concerts, giant slides, and amusement rides. The animals, other parades, contests, livestock and competitions, and over 80 foods on a stick. A bucket list items are ranked ahead of Disneyland for summer fun by USA Weekend.
3. Center Grove Orchard (September/October) For fall festivities, Center Grove Orchard and Geisler Farms offer a plethora of activities, from potato sack slides to corn mazes. The sunflower meadows to the hayrides, the pumpkin patches, along with cider donuts—an Instagram-worthy spectacle.
4. Holiday Festivals and Lights (November and December) As temperatures drop, holiday cheer abounds with events like the East Village Promenade and Jingle in the Junction, featuring shopping, carriage rides, caroling, and Santa. Throughout the month, radiant light displays illuminate the city, with Jolly Holiday Lights at Adventureland and Santa’s Rock N’ Lights at Living History Farms being two of the largest.

Parks And Outdoor Activities

1. Jester Park Jester Park, one of Iowa’s cherished outdoor playgrounds, offers hiking, equestrian activities, the mini-golf, a nature center, a natural playscape, and herds of elk and bison.
2. Ledges State Park Renowned for its sandstone cliffs and dense forests, Ledges State Park is a popular hiking destination, providing an opportunity to soak in nature’s beauty along Canyon Drive, where kids can wade in the winding creek.
3. Seven Oaks Seven Oaks facilitates the joy of a kayak or tube float down the Des Moines River Valley. Spanning seven miles, this adventure encompasses canoe, kayak, or tube rides, offering glimpses of wildlife, wildflowers, and the world’s highest double-track railway bridge.
4. Saylorville Lake Central Iowa’s most popular lake, Saylorville Lake, spans 26,000 acres, offering boating, beaches, and lakeside bars. Whether a nautical know-it-all or novice, there’s something to float everyone’s boat.

Other Family-Friendly Outdoor Activities

Things to do in des moines all offer a variety of family-friendly attractions, including the High Trestle Trail, Sculpture Park, Walnut Woods, Walker Johnson Park, Gray’s Lake, Clive Greenbelt, and Lake Ahquabi State Park. These parks provide a variety of activities, from art and selfie opportunities to outdoor adventures. 

Visitors can enjoy the scenic views, interactive play structures, and scenic views of the skyline. The city’s vibrant atmosphere and diverse attractions make it an ideal destination for a memorable family adventure.

In Summation:

Guess you get the ideas of things to do in des moines.It stands as a city replete with exhilarating pursuits and attractions. Be it an inclination toward the arts, a communion with nature, or a culinary odyssey, Des Moines unfurls a tapestry of possibilities. Plan your visit, traverse the vivacious neighborhoods, and seize every moment in this enchanting Midwestern city.

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