Greater Des Moines is a destination the entire family can enjoy! Check out these ideas for a weekend packed full of fun:
Day 1:
Kick off your weekend getaway with lunch at Fong’s. Located in the heart of Des Moines, Fong’s is a great place the entire family can enjoy. Crab Rangoon pizza is a staple of Fong’s, but with their weekly specials and 22 pizzas on the menu, even the wildest taste buds will be satisfied. Start off your meal with some Chinese cheese sticks, create your own pizza or try a slice of the mac and cheese pie and finish off with raspberry cheesecake egg rolls. You can also try Fong’s in Ankeny if your travels take you north of downtown!
After lunch, head over to Principal Park and watch the Iowa Cubs. The Iowa Cubs are a Triple-A affiliate team of the Chicago Cubs and their season starts in early April. The Iowa Cubs offer giveaways throughout the whole season. Check out the schedule and look out for mini bat giveaways or a T-shirt giveaway! Catch a game on Friday night for postgame fireworks!
Crème Cupcake + Dessert
Looking for a sweet treat after the game? Head over to Crème Cupcake + Dessert. Crème is great place to grab a snack just west of downtown Des Moines. Crème is a Greater Des Moines staple for sweet treats; it was even featured on the Food Network in Cupcake Wars. Crème offers cupcakes on rotation each month. Looking for a different sweet treat? Grab a bite of their cheesecake, cinnamon rolls, cookies and more.
Day 2:
Grow your knowledge of Iowa’s history at Living History Farms. Living History Farms is an interactive outdoor history museum which educates, entertains and connects people to Midwestern rural life experiences. Touch, play and engage at several working farm sites: The 1700 Ioway Indian Farm, 1850 Pioneer Farm, 1900 Horse-Powered Farm and in their 1875 Town of Walnut Hill.
Once you’ve gained some Iowa knowledge, head next door to the Machine Shed for lunch. Honoring the American farmer, The Machine Shed is located at the entrance of Living History Farms. Try their award-winning steaks and chops; it’s farm to table food at its finest. They serve breakfast, lunch and dinner, have a full bar and a gift shop!
Celebrate! Innovation Exhibition
After lunch bring out your inner builder and enjoy the Celebrate! Innovation Exhibition at DMACC West Campus. Designed to inspire, the Celebrate! Innovation Exhibition stresses the importance of creative thinking and innovation. Through the use of exhibits and artifacts, digital video, large photos, diagrams and story panels, the DMACC West Campus has been transformed into a place that preserves, displays and celebrates America’s innovative spirit.
Great Escape
End your day with some high energy activities at Great Escape. Located minutes from downtown in Pleasant Hill, Great Escape is a great place for family fun. Great Escape offers bowling, cosmic bowling, laser tag and a game room. Social Eats & Crafts is a full restaurant inside Great Escape, allowing visitors to grab a bite to eat between all the laser tag and bowling fun. Grab the kids and make a day of all Great Escape has to offer.
Day 3:
Java Joes
Start your final day in Greater Des Moines with coffee at Java Joes. Java Joes also has a kid room, giving the kids a great place to play while the parents grab their caffeine fix. Java Joes has coffee roasted on site, premium espresso drinks, breakfast options, specialty sandwiches, premium ice cream and more!
Pappajohn Sculpture Park
Once you have your coffee in hand, head over to the John and Mary Pappajohn Sculpture Park. The 4.4-acre park, located within a major crossroads of the urban grid, creates a pedestrian-friendly entryway to downtown Des Moines. This accessible setting, coupled with the skilled landscape design and caliber of the art, makes it unlike any other sculpture park in the United States.
Finishing off your Greater Des Moines weekend by bringing out your inner kid at the Science Center of Iowa. The Science Center is great for families and individuals of all ages. One minute you’re exploring Iowa’s native habitats including prairies, marshes, forests and caves, then the next you’re a TV sensation! Stop over to the WHO-HD weather studio to live out your dreams as a newscaster and try your hand at forecasting weather in front of the green screen. You’ve also got to make sure you stop and play at the new Brick by Brick exhibit! Build and test structures to withstand earthquakes and heavy winds, explore unconventional LEGO building techniques to solve design challenges and more. You can also see 10 spectacular LEGO models constructed by LEGO Certified Professional Adam Reed Tucker. If you’re looking to take a piece of science home with you stop by the A-Ha! Store and pick up a building set, telescope, stomp rocket and more.
