Unique & Hidden Gem Activities for Families
Explore the best unique & hidden gem activities for families options for kids and families in Ames
Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden
Horticultural exhibits & art galleries. Seasonal blooms showcased outdoors & in a geodesic dome, plus educational programs & art shows.
Robert D. Ray Asian Garden
Garden park with pagodas, a pond & more. Garden park featuring an Asian pavilion, stone pagodas, a pond, a series of waterfalls & more.
JouJou DSM
Visit this great place for kids and families!
Cowles Commons
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Des Moines Children's Museum
Visit this great place for kids and families!
Pappajohn Sculpture Park
Pedestrian space with public attractions. Park housing a sculpture garden, dedicated chess & picnic tables, the Central Library & more.
Science Center of Iowa
Hands-on exhibits, IMAX theater & more. Science-focused interactive galleries & learning labs plus a planetarium & IMAX cinema.
Salisbury House & Gardens
Museum & concert venue in a 1920s manor. Furnished 1920s stone mansion housing an art museum, library, concert venue & botanical garden.
Gray's Lake Park
Park with a lakeside walking loop. 167-acre park featuring a 1.9-mi. lighted walking path around a lake with small boat rentals.
Des Moines Water Works Park
Daytime activities in open woodlands. Daytime spot with jogging & cycling trails, fishing, a picnic area with grills & sports fields.
Jordan House
Underground Railroad exhibits & history. Landmark Victorian home features guided tours, Underground Railroad history exhibits & artifacts.
Playgrounds Cafe
Visit this great place for kids and families!
Raccoon River Park
Spacious park, beach & sports complex. Large sports & recreation venue with athletic fields, a swimming beach, fishing pier & nature trail.
Blue Zoo Aquarium Des Moines
Visit this great place for kids and families!
South Des Moines Sculpture Park
Quaint park featuring quirky sculptures. Small, offbeat attraction showcasing a jumbo archery target, an egg-shaped UFO & a giant clothespin.
Ewing Park
Expansive green space with disc golf. Spacious park with playgrounds, an 18-hole disc golf course, a pond & a lilac arboretum.
Brown's Woods
Forest preserve with trails on 484 acres. Wildlife preserve filled with oak & hickory trees as well as trails for hiking & geocaching.
Fort Des Moines Park
Outdoor activity area with a lake. Community recreation space with large picnic shelters, a playground & trails, plus a fishing lake.
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