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Winter Things to Do 

When the temperature drops, Greater Des Moines turns up the charm. From ice rinks with skyline views to ski hills with small-town hospitality, this is where cozy meets cool. Layer up, grab your mittens, and let’s make winter your favorite season (or at least your most photogenic one).

DAY 1 
 

Morning  

Start your day with a big breakfast that can stand up to big weather. HomeGrown in the heart of downtown is your local legend for hearty plates and brunch-vibes. Go for their Cinnamon Swirl French Toast or the Salsa Verde Pork & Eggs, enjoy cage-free eggs and rosemary potatoes, and soak in that buzz-of-city-mornings energy. 
 
Once you’re fueled up, glide into winter at Brenton Skating Plaza. The rink sits right on the river with skyline views and city energy that make you forget your toes are frozen. If the weather’s being extra Iowa about things, head indoors to MidAmerican Energy Company RecPlex in West Des Moines or Johnston Town Center Skating Rink for guaranteed smooth synthetic ice and hot chocolate.  
 
If you’d rather swap skates for wheels (and morning for afternoon), lean into the nostalgia at Skateland or Skate South, where the disco ball still reigns, the colors of choice are Day-Glo, and theme nights are practically mandatory. 
 
Winter Holidays Version: Before January melts away, Brenton Skating Plaza transforms into full holiday-movie mode, complete with a giant Christmas tree and twinkling lights. Pair with an evening trip to the popular East Village Holiday Promenade on Fridays in December and pretend you’re in a Hallmark movie montage. 

Afternoon  

When you’ve had your fill of fresh air, warm up in a tropical paradise at the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden. Wander among orchids, palms, and waterfalls that feel a thousand miles from the Midwest. Then grab lunch at their new restaurant Flora, where the food is just as beautiful as the scenery. 
 
Next, brush up on your Iowa trivia with a (free!) self-guided tour of the Iowa State Capitol, the only five-domed capitol in the nation and the most Instagrammed law library in the state. You’ll basically have a PhD in all things Iowa after you visit the State Historical Museum of Iowa (which is way more interesting than you’d think). Cap it off with the storybook charm of Salisbury House for a dose of Gilded Age grandeur. 
 
Winter Holidays Version: The Botanical Garden decks its dome with glowing displays and festive flora for its annual Dome for the Holidays, running from mid-November through the beginning of January. Time it right and you can catch their annual Holiday Blooms & Lights event, best enjoyed with a spiked cider from Flora.

Evening

Downtown shines brightest after dark. Grab dinner at one of these warm-you-from-the-inside-out spots: 
- Bubba — Southern comfort with a Midwest heart (and mashed potatoes that count as emotional support). 
- Judges DSM — New downtown favorite with craft cocktails, upscale comfort food, and just the right amount of buzz. 
- Tom Archer’s Poor Man’s Country Club — Retro supper-club vibes and Sinatra-approved style in the basement of the historic Val Air Ballroom. 

Bonus tip: Check out our list of Des Best Comfort Food, as voted by locals, for the stick-to-your-ribs essentials that Midwest winters demand.  
 
After dinner, see what’s playing at the Des Moines Civic Center (we were one of the first cities to get Hamilton), Des Moines Playhouse, or catch a live concert at the sleek new Vibrant Music Hall in Waukee, which still has that new venue scent to mask the smell of spilled beer.  
 
Prefer your drama on-screen? Cozy up at Cinemark Century Jordan Creek 20 and XD and test out the D-Box seats that move and shake with the action. Or check out Flix Brewhouse, where they brew their own beer and serve some of the best food in town, period (try the cheeseburger and thank us later). For award-winning or indie flicks and cinephile vibes, Varsity Cinema and Fleur Cinema & Cafe are your go-tos (the words ‘cinema’ and ‘café’ are your giveaways). 
 
Winter Holidays Version: Around December, both the Civic Center and Flix Brewhouse are all about the holiday classics, from annual performances of The Nutcracker to retro screenings of It’s a Wonderful Life and Gremlins. Cue the nostalgia.

DAY 2


Morning 

Start your morning with coffee and made-from-scratch donuts at Cha Cha’s Hiland Bakery, a Highland Park favorite known for its pink boxes, warm cinnamon rolls, and dangerously good apple fritters. It’s the kind of place where everyone leaves smiling and slightly sugar buzzed. 
 
Next, head to Climb Iowa, where you can scale, scramble, or boulder your way through winter. The East Village location focuses on bouldering, where climbers go rope-free on shorter, technique-driven walls, while the Grimes location is a larger, full-service climbing gym complete with rope walls, belay stations, and routes for every skill level. Whether you’re a first-timer or a seasoned climber, both offer lessons and gear rentals to make you feel like you were born with chalk on your hands. 

Afternoon

When the temps drop, lean into a little friendly competition that doesn’t require frostbite. Head to Topgolf in West Des Moines, where heated bays let you work on your swing without sacrificing your fingers. Whether you’re a golf pro or just there for the nachos, you’ll stay toasty while aiming for targets that light up like a pinball machine. 

If you want to mix it up nearby, Ironside Axe Club offers a satisfyingly primal alternative, no clubs required. Or check out Spare Time, a one-stop playground with bowling, arcade games, laser tag, and escape rooms, all under one roof. Either way, it’s proof that “winter sports” doesn’t always mean snow boots. 

Evening 

Speaking of winter sports, as the #1 Minor League Sports Market in the country, the action is everywhere in Des Moines. Depending on the night, Casey’s Center downtown hosts the Iowa Wild (AHL affiliate of the Minnesota Wild), delivering ice cold hits on the ice, while the Iowa Wolves (G League affiliate of the Minnesota Timberwolves) light up the basketball court. Prefer college spirit? Drake basketball at the Knapp Center brings the madness all season long.  

From there, the night is yours. You can fuel up first at Lachele’s Fine Foods in Highland Park, home to smashburgers that might just be the best in the universe, then hit up the attached bar The Fitz for cocktails in a wood-paneled, retro-modern hideaway. (Bonus Tip: this second location of Lachele’s goes beyond the burgers too, offering up comfort food classics like Beef & Noodles and Chicken Pot Pie). Or, catch the game first, then make your way back to Highland Park (basically your home base at this point) afterward and check out Highland Underground, who keeps the retro vibe rolling with dim lighting, neon energy, and fondue that was practically invented for winter nights and soaking up those hockey-fueled tallboys.

DAY 3  

Morning and Afternoon

Today’s all about embracing winter on purpose. Head north to Boone for a day at Seven Oaks Recreation, where you can ski, snowboard, or tube your way into a good mood. Whether you’re a first-timer or the friend who “totally remembers how to stop,” there’s a run for every skill level. 

Tubing is the real crowd favorite. Riders 42 inches and taller can grab a tube, race down one of several slick lanes, and then hop on the conveyor lift that hauls you right back up to the top to go down again, and again. When you need a break, head inside the lodge for pizza and piping-hot mini doughnuts that are worth every calorie. 

Once your legs (and cheeks) need a breather, take a short drive east to Ledges State Park for a slower kind of winter adventure. Strap on snowshoes and wind through sandstone bluffs and river overlooks that look extra dramatic under a blanket of snow. It’s the kind of peaceful that makes you forget how many layers you’re wearing. 

Refuel on your way back at Whatcha Smokin’ BBQ in nearby Luther, a roadside gem where the brisket and mac and cheese taste even better when your face is still wind-chapped. 

Evening

Ease back into city life with dinner at Café Madeleine, a 16-seat hidden gem serving a multi-course tasting menu that’s as intimate as it is indulgent. Or keep things cozy at Cheese Bar, where warm, gooey cheese is the ultimate comfort food after a day in the cold. Order up a bubbling skillet of mac and cheese, or one of their legendary grilled cheeses, then witness the kind of cheese pull that deserves a slow-motion replay. It’s the edible equivalent of a heated blanket. 

Winter Holidays Version: End the trip on a sparkly note by catching one last show, light display, or holiday pop up from The Nice List, your shortcut to every glowing, twinkling thing happening around town. 

Don’t Miss These Fall Things to Do:

Downtown Winter Farmers’ Market (November 21 – 23)
East Village Holiday Promenade (Friday evenings, November and December)
Jingle in the Junction (Thursday evenings, November and December)
Festival of Trees & Lights (November 28 – 30)
Christkindlmarket Des Moines (December 4 – 7, 11 – 14)
Dome for the Holidays (November 15 – January 4)
Des Moines Home + Garden Show (February 12 – 15)
Markets and Holiday Events (Ongoing)
Des Best Holiday Lights (Ongoing)

Need more travel inspiration? Check out the rest of The Catch List itineraries here. And add ideas to your Des Moines bucket list with our Des Best lists and S’s Are Silent videos!

Catch Des Moines

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Des Moines, IA 50309-2350

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