FREE....Made possible by a Guggenheim donation The main gallery features changing exhibitions throughout the year, while the rest of the museum highlights a permanent collection that includes works from world-famous artists like Claude Monet, Georgia O’Keeffe and Andy Warhol. The collections consist of photography shows and video galleries, while the outdoor grounds are comprised of several sculptures, a rose garden and a reflecting pool.
The Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden opened in 1979 and since then has grown tremendously to become a sprawling indoor and outdoor facility that’s home to thousands of regional and global plant species. A climate-controlled, 80-fooot-tall geodesic-domed conservatory maintains a warm, humid tropical atmosphere year-round and is home to tropical plants, a desert garden and decorative sculptures. The recently expanded outdoor gardens change with the seasons but include a permanent water feature and green space for concerts and exhibitions during warm weather months. The on-site Trellis Café lets visitors break for a meal before resuming their garden visit. Admission is $8 or less, depending your age.
FREE...Nestled beneath high rises, shops and restaurants in downtown Des Moines, the four-acre Pappajohn Sculpture Park is an outdoor display of 28 contemporary pieces from some of the world’s most revered artists. Wander the park by foot, or rent a bike from the Des Moines bike share program, B-Cycle. Or view it from your favorite asana when the park hosts summer yoga classes.
A few minutes south of downtown ... a nice place to take a walk or kids to the park ... has a great view of the Des Moines skyline and is pretty at night.
Park, splash pad...minute or two from downtown...good place to let the kids run off steam!
FREE.....The Iowa State Capitol is an architectural masterpiece. Constructed in 1871, it is the only five-domed capitol in the United States. A commanding central dome is coated in 23-carat gold leafing and includes a lookout lantern that rises 275 feet above the ground floor. Take a tour of the building’s beautiful law library, see a built-to-scale model of Battleship Iowa and enjoy a collection of porcelain dolls representing 41 Iowa first ladies and replicas of their inaugural gowns.
FREE...learn about the history of Iowa
FREE....check out the long list of athletes that have made a lasting impact!
Fun, unique shops...some of our favorites are RAYGUN, Porch Light, Preservation, Zombie Burger, Tacopacalypse, and Up/Down Arcade bar.
Step into the pages of Des Moines-based Better Homes and Gardens magazine in their downtown test garden where hundreds of trees, shrubs, perennials and annuals create a colorful and ever-changing outdoor experience. The garden is designed to resemble a backyard, or several backyards, with 22 distinct sections, each completely different from the next. The garden was created to function as an outdoor photography studio for the magazine but now doubles as employee meeting space and is open for public tours on Fridays from 12 to 2 p.m., May through September.
http://www.madisoncounty.com/the-covered-bridges/ Less than an hour from Des Moines...go see the historic covered bridges featured in the movie, Bridges of Madison County.
Be a pioneer for a day at Living History Farms where a series of authentic, working farms show Iowa’s progression from a prairie grassland to a modern day agricultural powerhouse. Located in the Des Moines suburb of Urbandale, this family-friendly and interactive outdoor museum lets travelers explore an Ioway Indian Farm, 1850 Pioneer Farm, 1900 Horse-Powered Farm and the 1875 town of Walnut Hill. Admission is $15 for adults and $9 for children.
Can't go wrong with the Duke.
More than 100 diverse species call the Blank Park Zoo home. Among the zoo family are three newcomers, each born in 2016 or 2017: a black rhino, a giraffe and, most recently, a camel named Sunny. The zoo is part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums that works to save animals from extinction by focusing efforts to protect animals from being poached or harmed. Adults can “do the zoo” for $14, while admission for children is $8.
A 5 min drive from downtown. Has lots of fun small town like shops!
222 beers on tap from classic to craft...AMAZING!!!
Throw back dive bar...think shag carpet and the champagne of beers/PBR/Hamms ... connected to El Bait Shop .... LOVE!
Our favorite local brewery!
Our favorite LOCAL BBQ joint...unbeatable (Linnea's obsession)!!!
Our neighborhood greasy spoon...Neil Diamond visited the last time he was in town...service is questionable...food is great!
Another local favorite.....50s style diner...menu is long...the pickiest eater will find something to eat!
Several locations...good for a quick soup, sandwich, etc!
Crab Rangoon pizza!
Interesting menu...reasonably priced...some unique choices! Pizza's are good!
A good ol' British Pub!
100+ beers on tap.
Best unique cocktails!
Awesome coffees from around the world!
Local Brewery.
Coal fired pizza in an art deco building by the Pappajohn sculpture park.