Things To Do
Des Moines' Downtown Farmers’ Market Saturday Morning
This farmer's market is a must visit if you have time. It runs from 7am-12pm on Saturday morning. It is very large and it gets VERY crowded quickly, so we recommend going as early as possible. Parking is on the streets around the market.
Black Cat Ice Cream Downtown
Black Cat Ice Cream makes their ice cream in-house and the flavors change weekly. Check out their website or instagram to get a preview of the flavors.
Iowa State Capitol
You can walk around the outside and the inside of the Iowa State Capitol building. The hours are listed in the website below and entry is free. From the Capitol, you can walk around Des Moines' East Village area.
East Village
Stroll around the East Village neighborhood of Des Moines. It's a short walk from the Capitol building. There are shops and restaurants, one of our favorites being Zombie Burger. Walk along the river to the Robert D. Ray Asian Garden (seen in the picture) to learn about the history of when Des Moines became a safe haven for Tai Dam refugees and other asian immigrants. You can cross the river to get to the other side of downtown (this is where the farmer's market is held). Downtown Des Moines is small and walkable, so have fun exploring!
Jordan Creek Town Center
Head to the mall for shopping and a movie.