Unique & Hidden Gem Activities for Families
Explore the best unique & hidden gem activities for families options for kids and families in West Des Moines
Jordan House
Underground Railroad exhibits & history. Landmark Victorian home features guided tours, Underground Railroad history exhibits & artifacts.
Raccoon River Park
Spacious park, beach & sports complex. Large sports & recreation venue with athletic fields, a swimming beach, fishing pier & nature trail.
Des Moines Children's Museum
Visit this great place for kids and families!
Blue Zoo Aquarium Des Moines
Visit this great place for kids and families!
Brown's Woods
Forest preserve with trails on 484 acres. Wildlife preserve filled with oak & hickory trees as well as trails for hiking & geocaching.
Salisbury House & Gardens
Museum & concert venue in a 1920s manor. Furnished 1920s stone mansion housing an art museum, library, concert venue & botanical garden.
Des Moines Water Works Park
Daytime activities in open woodlands. Daytime spot with jogging & cycling trails, fishing, a picnic area with grills & sports fields.
JouJou DSM
Visit this great place for kids and families!
Playgrounds Cafe
Visit this great place for kids and families!
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.
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.
Cowles Commons
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.
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.
Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden
Horticultural exhibits & art galleries. Seasonal blooms showcased outdoors & in a geodesic dome, plus educational programs & art shows.
Fort Des Moines Park
Outdoor activity area with a lake. Community recreation space with large picnic shelters, a playground & trails, plus a fishing lake.
Ewing Park
Expansive green space with disc golf. Spacious park with playgrounds, an 18-hole disc golf course, a pond & a lilac arboretum.
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