Des Moines' Water Works park is a wonderful place to relax during a busy afternoon. Make sure to drive all the way to the back of the grounds, as the river bends and twists through the grassy fields.
Water Works Park is open to the public every day between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. except for Thanksgiving and December 24-25.
Biking, jogging, picnicking, fishing and hiking are a few of the activities that park patrons enjoy. Picnic areas, complete with tables and grills, are located in several areas of the park.
Updated Apr 4, 2011
Address: Fleur Drive directly across from Gray's lake
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.
Written Oct 30, 2010
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.
Written Jul 29, 2008
Address: 401 West Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway
Phone: 515-274-6868
Website: http://www.sciowa.org/
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.
Written Aug 19, 2006
Address: East 30th Street and East University Avenue
Phone: 800.545.FAIR
Website: http://www.iowastatefair.com/
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.
Written Sep 18, 2005
Address: 909 Robert B. Ray Drive, Des Moines, IA 50316
Phone: 515-323-6290
Website: http://www.botanicalcenter.com/
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.
Written Sep 18, 2005
Address: 4700 Grand Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50312-2099
Phone: 515.277.4405
Website: http://www.desmoinesartcenter.org/
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.
Written Aug 22, 2005
Address: East of downtown
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.
Written Aug 22, 2005
Address: 4700 Grand Avenue
Phone: 4700 Grand Avenue
Website: http://www.desmoinesartcenter.org/
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.
Updated Aug 20, 2005
Address: 4025 Tonawanda Drive
Phone: 515.274.1777
Website: http://www.salisburyhouse.org/
Iowa is one of the largest producers of pork and shares an Expo alternating years with Illinois. If you like pork take a trip to the State Fair grounds (on the east side of the city) and pay about $8 for all you can eat pork ALL DAY LONG. Normally for me its a definite once a year trip where I gorge myself on the fatted hog. If you happen to be interested in agriculture there are a large number of exhibits for pork producers.
Written Mar 16, 2005
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Reviews and photos of Des Moines attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Des Moines sightseeing.

Iowa is one of the largest producers of pork and shares an Expo alternating years with Illinois. If you like pork take a trip to the State Fair grounds (on the...
210 members live in Des Moines
Q: Are there any long distance train services available in Des Moines? What is the best mode of travel to Chicago from Des...

A: No trains from Chicago. There are numerous nature areas in Iowa. You might especially ike the Iowa River Greenbelt near Iowa Falls. E-mail if I can help. Mark
Read 5 Replies
1

I've got some interesting experiences in Des Moines. I'd love to share with you the 10 tips I've written, the 36 photos uploaded, and 3 travelogues I've created.
2

For those of you who visited this page earlier, I promised I would go out and try to capture some of the natural beauty of Iowa (see travelogue for previous material). And in this way, give you a feel...
3
Welcome to the capitol of a Purple State!

I'll redo this intro depending on what happens next. In mid-February, I flew to Des Moines to interview for the City Attorney position. I was royally entertained for a fabulous dinner on Wednesday...
4

Claus Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen have struck again, this time in Des Moines with an oversized trowel. It looks perfectly at home on the lawn in front of the Meredith Corp. headquarters downtown....
5

Des Moines has grown to a metro of nearly 500,000 people, yet it is a fairly clean pleasant city. It actually looks fairly cosmopolitan with its decent skyline and system of walkways that are...
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