Des Moines Things to Do

A walk around Grays lake especially at night is a relaxing activity. The lake is a former quarry that has been turned into a hub for bicyclists and walkers. It also has a wonderful bridge that is lit up at night. The path is about 1.2 miles mostly flat, and provides a nice view of downtown. The lake is located southwest of downtown just off of Fluer Drive.

The Science Center in downtown Des Moines was kind of neat. My favorite parts were the dinosaur model on display (although I hear it's a traveling exhibit), the weather room, and the planetarium room. This place was a lot more centered for kids than we had expected, and seeing as we don't have kids, it wasn't as great of an experience for us as a family may have.

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The internationally-acclaimed Iowa State Fair is the single largest event in the state of Iowa and one of the oldest and largest agricultural and industrial expositions in the country. Annually attracting hundreds of thousands of people from all over the world, it is a "celebration of excellence," the real heartbeat of the Midwest, unequaled and unduplicated.

Although it seems that we're more "world known" for our butter cow and variety of fried foods, let me just say that if you're in the area during the fair, then by all means - GO!!

In 1881 historian James Wilson noted that, "One of the most valuable effects of the State Fair is the fraternizing, humanizing consequences of bringing our people together. . . .No one meets and mingles with 20,000 Iowa men, women and children on the Fairgrounds - the only place they can be brought together - without growth of sympathy." Certainly this is even more relevant today, when the pace of modern life tends to isolate individuals even more from their neighbors. The Fair continues to draw nearly one million Iowans together each year.

Here is a nice little outing for anyone who has some time to spend in Des Moines. This place has an interesting collection of plants from around the world. Most are enclosed in a huge glass dome, due to the harsh Iowa winters.

Nothing to do in Des Moines? Well, that's not quite accurate. This museum has a good set of collections for a city this size. If you're passing through this way, and have a little extra time, check it out.

The East Village, Des Moines' edgiest neighborhood, boasts an eclectic mix of businesses, including a high-end cookware shop, a record store, an upscale cafe and artisanal cheese shop and an Asian antique/vintage metal furniture store.

The Des Moines Art Center is well worth a stop if you're traveling through Iowa. Centralized in Des Moines, just East of downtown, the museum holds Iowa's largest collection of "art of our times."

The museum has a 5 star restaurant and a really wonderful gift shop with tons of stuff for kids as well as adults.

The museum has a beautiful rose garden just to the north of the main buildings that is in full bloom all summer long.

The building itself is a creation found no where else on earth. Three world famous architects designed the structure that graces the city scape.

Salisbury House is a museum in the middle of Des Moines that is a replica of the Salisbury House in England. It is chock full of intersting artifacts from across the globe that are showcased through daily tours and special events.