Rock Creek State Park is one of Iowa's most popular boating lakes. The lake has 15 miles of shoreline, great for fishing or an ideal spot for sunbathing and swimming at the beaches! The Park is home to picturesque picnic spots and provides beautiful campgrounds. For more information, visit the DNR site here . 

Jacob Krumm Nature Preserve is a 450-acre park and nature preserve.  Within the preserve is an extensive trail system for hiking and cross-country skiing, as well as a shelter for both summer and winter use. On the rolling terrain of the preserve are to be found prairies, savanna, woodlands, a 25-acre lake, a marsh, ponds, and wildlife plantings. There are 7 miles of hiking trails within the preserve, that offer excellent viewing of a variety of native wildlife species and habitats.

Presenting exhibitions of regional, national, and international art year-round, the Grinnell College Musuem of Art is the nucleus of Grinnell’s Bucksbaum Center for the Arts. The Grinnell College Museum of Art is free and open to the public. The Grinnell College Museum of Art is free and open to the public. The museum at Sixth Avenue and Park Street is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

Experience science in new and creative ways at the Science Center of Iowa. Located in the heart of Downtown Des Moines.  Pick and choose from many different themed exhibit spaces to visit, go watch a live program, or pay a visit to the domed digital planetarium. Make sure to stop by The Food Chain Cafe for lunch or snacks to refuel in between all your adventures. For more information about what you can do at SCI, visit their site by clicking here.

A small oasis in the middle of Downtown Des Moines, Pappajohn Sculpture Park features artwork by 22 different artists. The parks prime location combined with the beautiful structures makes it a park unlike any other. Bring your own food and a blanket to picnic under the arbor of art or choose from one of the many unique restaurants such as Malo, Fong’s Pizza, Magnolia Wine Kitchen, and many more. For more information about the Park, click here.

A small oasis in the middle of Downtown Des Moines, Pappajohn Sculpture Park features artwork by 22 different artists. The parks prime location combined with the beautiful structures makes it a park unlike any other. Bring your own food and a blanket to picnic under the arbor of art or choose from one of the many unique restaurants such as Malo, Fong’s Pizza, Magnolia Wine Kitchen, and many more. For more information about the Park, click here.

Lions, panda, monkeys, oh my! Experience the wild side of Iowa by visiting the Blank Park Zoo. The zoo can be found in the south side of Des Moines. From Tigers to Tortoises, the zoo provides visitors with 25-acres of an animal kingdom to explore. Make sure to stop by to visit the nine new babies the zoo has had this past year. For more information about the zoo and thier animal friends, visit their site by clicking here.

Stop by to see a splendid show in the elegantly designed Temple of Preforming Arts. In order to honor it’s historical significance, the Temple’s beautiful interior architecture and charming exterior design have been renovated to mimic that of its original design from it’s creation in 1913. The temple’s theater room is host to a wide range of musical and theatrical performances throughout the year. For more information about the Temple of Preforming Arts click here or click here to find out more about the shows you can go see.

Leave the city behind and immerse yourself in an sanctuary of brightly colored flowers and tropical trees. The Botanical Center has over 1,200 different flora from various parts of the world. The center is desiged so visitors can explore, learn and celebrate the grandeur of the world of plants. Take a break and enjoy the tropical and temperate gardens that make the Botanical Center a unique Des Moines Experience. For more information about the Center, click here.