Living History Farms, (3-4 hours)
We’re not all farms, you know, but the ones we do have are pretty epic. This interactive, 500-acre outdoor museum has four different farms that tell the story of Iowa’s 300-year-old history. Tour a 1700 Ioway Indian Farm, 1850 Pioneer Farm, 1900 Horse Powered Farm, and the 1876 Town of Walnut Hill. At the farms, you’ll find everything from milking cows to a blacksmith shop to old-timey baseball games. Each site is hosted and worked by historical interpreters. It’s literally acres of fun.
Lauridsen Skate Park, (1-2 hours)
Looking for something with a bit of a WOW factor? Drop in to Lauridsen Skatepark, which has 88,000 square feet of skateable surface, making it the largest skatepark in the country! Situated along the Des Moines River on the north end of the downtown Principal Riverwalk, it includes Olympic caliber park and street courses, and features a promenade, flow bowl, amoeba pool, snake run, and even a skateable WOW sculpture. Did we mention it’s free? Home to world class events like the Dew Tour, your kids can skate where the pros skate. Or for the less coordinated, just throw down a blanket on the lawn and live vicariously through those who can really rip it.
Evening
Chances are that you’re probably pretty beat after a day like today. If you chose one or two of the activities above, here are some places we’d recommend for dinner depending on where you ended up!
After Adventureland/Adventure Bay
Not eating in the park? Head over to Jethro’s BBQ just outside in Altoona! Serving up family platters of ribs, pulled pork, and more, there’s nothing better than an end of day BBQ meal after a day in the sun. Or if classic American pub fare is more your thing, The Burger Shed has got a variety of fun burgers, chicken tender platters, and soft-serve margaritas (for mom and dad of course!).
After Smash Park or Living History Farms
Chances are you’ve ended up in the West Des Moines area, which we can’t get enough of when it comes to our food scene. If you’re not eating dinner at Smash Park, then here are some of our insider recommendations. Check out Jordan Creek Mall for a diverse selection of food court options or stop in at Giordano’s for some family-style Chicago deep dish.
After Blank Park Zoo or Lauridsen Skate Park
We’ve got a bunch of family favorites right here in the heart of Des Moines. Zombie Burger + Bird, featured on Food Network, has made itself a household name in our metro with their apocalyptic burger and chicken sandwich concepts that are sure to leave your family leaving in a food coma. Otherwise, you can’t go wrong with Fong’s Pizza, an Asian style pizzeria serving up pies like their famous crab rangoon, orange chicken, Mongolian beef, and other classic Italian flavors if you’ve got some picky eaters.
