14 Best Things To Do in Des Moines

Discover an affordable city with family-friendly attractions like the Science Center of Iowa and Adventureland Resort.

All Things To Do

principal-park

Principal Park

#0 in Best Things To Do in Des Moines

1 Line Dr.
2 hours to Half Day
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better-homes-gardens-test-garden

Better Homes & Gardens Test Garden

#0 in Best Things To Do in Des Moines

1716 Locust St.
Less than 1 hour
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state-historical-museum-of-iowa

State Historical Museum of Iowa

#0 in Best Things To Do in Des Moines

600 E Locust St.
1 to 2 hours
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6 a.m.-10 p.m. daily
gray-s-lake-park

Gray's Lake Park

#11 in Best Things To Do in Des Moines

2101 Fleur Dr.
1 to 2 hours
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$48 for adults 10-64; $43 for kids 4-9 and seniors 65 and older; free for children 3 and younger
adventureland-resort

Adventureland Resort

#10 in Best Things To Do in Des Moines

3200 Adventureland Dr.
Half Day to Full Day
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Tues-Wed, Fri 11 a.m.-7 p.m. | Thurs 11 a.m.-7 p.m. | Sat-Sun 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
des-moines-art-center

Des Moines Art Center

#9 in Best Things To Do in Des Moines

4700 Grand Ave.
1 to 2 hours
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Hours vary seasonally
des-moines-downtown-farmers-market

Des Moines' Downtown Farmers' Market

#8 in Best Things To Do in Des Moines

1007 E Grand Ave.
1 to 2 hours
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$16 for adults; $9.50 for children 2-12; free for infants 1 and younger
living-history-farms

Living History Farms

#7 in Best Things To Do in Des Moines

11121 Hickman Rd.
2 hours to Half Day
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$7 per person
science-center-of-iowa

Science Center of Iowa

#6 in Best Things To Do in Des Moines

401 W Martin Luther King Jr Pkwy.
1 to 2 hours
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$14 for adults; $8 for kids ages 2-12; free for children 1 and younger
blank-park-zoo

Blank Park Zoo

#5 in Best Things To Do in Des Moines

7401 SW 9th St.
1 to 2 hours
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Mon-Fri 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sat 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
iowa-state-capitol

Iowa State Capitol

#4 in Best Things To Do in Des Moines

1007 E Grand Ave.
1 to 2 hours
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24/7 daily
high-trestle-trail

High Trestle Trail

#3 in Best Things To Do in Des Moines

-
2 hours to Half Day
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Sunrise-midnight daily
john-and-mary-pappajohn-sculpture-park

John and Mary Pappajohn Sculpture Park

#2 in Best Things To Do in Des Moines

1330 Grand Ave.
1 to 2 hours
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$10 for adults; $7 for youths ages 4 to 17; free for children 3 and younger
greater-des-moines-botanical-garden

Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden

#1 in Best Things To Do in Des Moines

909 Robert D. Ray Dr.
1 to 2 hours
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