Urbandale

Nestled in the heart of Greater Des Moines, Urbandale is home to outrageous indoor soccer, a history making farm, and slam dunk sports bars. So head west, where it’s all fun and games!

Food and Drink

Urbandale's food scene is an urban adventure, offering a mix of classic comfort food alongside sports bars that are in a league of their own. Are you craving a hearty, homestyle meal? The Machine Shed is a local institution, serving up farm-to-table dishes, including their famous cinnamon rolls and hash brown casserole. For a more lowkey breakfast, try the award-winning cream cheese and authentic kettle-boiled bagels at 5 Borough Bagels, where the New York born owners know a thing or two about bagels and coffee. Pair dinner time with tee time at Range Restaurant & Cocktail Bar, where you can play on six PGA-endorsed golf simulators and fuel up with elevated fare like bison steak tacos and lobster rolls. If you're looking for a casual spot with a great patio, head to The Beerhouse, where you can enjoy pizza, patty melts, and one of their 16 beers on tap. Don’t balk at going to Chicken Coop, where you'll find a lively atmosphere courtesy of wall-to-wall TVs tuned to any and every sport, along with some of the best wings in town (pro tip: ask for them ‘extra crispy’). Tito’s Lounge is an underrated local spot with an interesting mix of Mediterranean and American cuisine, so whether you’re in the mood for gyros and cevapi or pizza and smash burgers, they’re got you covered. Finally, I hope you saved room for dessert, because you’re going to want to try Coaches Kolaches. These “Texas-style” Czech pastries from former Iowa State football player Brent Curvey come in savory and sweet flavors, ranging from strawberry, cherry, and cream cheese to smoked brisket and jalapeno sausage.

Range Grill and Golf Machine Shed Coaches Kolaches

Arts and Culture

Get artsy with Art on the Trail at Lakeview Park, where locals paint themed 2’x2’ boards to be displayed around the pond, one of Urbandale’s most popular walking and biking trails. If performing arts are more your style, then Urbandale Community Theater offers seasonal productions like “The Wizard of Oz” to wow the whole family. Or you can take art into your own hands, literally, at Painting with a Twist. Perfect for date night, girls night, and everything in between, you can do pop in DIY painting or schedule something around one of their themed events, where you can paint everything from your pet to pop stars.

Parks and Outdoors

Walker Johnson Park is a local favorite, offering a mix of outdoor activities and family-friendly spaces. There you will find tennis and pickleball courts, four separate kid’s play areas, an observation deck, a storywalk around a small pond, and even a skatepark with two escalated quarter pipes and rails. Likewise, Walnut Creek Regional Park is a sprawling green space offering scenic trails, sports fields, picnic areas, and a playground. For a taste of Iowa's agricultural bounty, visit Iowa Orchard, a family-owned orchard offering fresh produce, homemade pies, and seasonal activities like apple and peach picking. Come fall, throw on your coziest flannel and add their pumpkin patch to your fall bucket list. It includes a hay ride through the apple orchard to a kid’s play area with a giant corn box, jumping pillow, hay slides, and giant LEGOs.

Walker Johnston Park Walnut Creek Regional Park Mayor's Bike Ride

Festivals and Events

Urbandale knows how to celebrate! Start things off with a bang at the annual Fourth of July Celebration at Lions Park. This is one of the largest and most popular in the Des Moines area, featuring a two-mile parade, a carnival, live music, and a breathtaking fireworks display. When winter arrives, Miracle on 86th Street transforms Charles Gabus Memorial Tree Park into a magical winter wonderland with over 50,000-holiday lights, larger-than-life displays, a custom-built train, ice skating, and festive events.

Attractions and Things to Do

From old-timey baseball and breakneck soccer action to relaxing retail therapy, if your goal is to have fun in Urbandale, we’ve got the hat trick for you. Step back in time at Living History Farms, a 500-acre outdoor museum that tells the story of Iowa using three different historical farms spanning 300 years, alongside the 1876 town of Walnut Hill; complete with a blacksmith, broomaker and historical interpreters, and seasonal events for the whole family. If you’re a sports nut, you’ll want to check out the Iowa Demon Hawks. From December through March, this indoor soccer club (part of the MASL2) entertains fans at Buccaneers Arena with a fast paced style of play and wallet-friendly beer specials. For a break in the action, stop at Homemakers Furniture store. The largest furniture store in the state offers home furnishings and decor for every style and price point and even free cookies and lemonade. Even if you’re not in the market for a new sofa, you’ll bring home plenty of inspiration. Need to score more points with the kids? Head to Breakout Games for an escape room experience or Get Air trampoline park for high flying fun.

Living History Farms Homemakers Get Air