Des Moines, IA: A Vibrant Capital with Culture, Food & Outdoor Fun

The Des Moines Art Center, founded in 1948, houses a large collection of modern art, paintings, and sculptures in its facilities located on Grand Avenue in downtown Des Moines. The building was designed by Eliel Saarinen and combines the Art Deco style with the Art Nouveau style.

The center’s permanent collection includes works of art by well-known artists such as Matisse, Monet, O’Keefe, Rodin, and many more. The main gallery is used to display temporary exhibits that usually last from one to three months. In addition to the main building, there is a rose garden as well as various outdoor sculptures.

4700 Grand Avenue, Des Moines, Iowa, Phone: 515-277-4405

The Capitol Tour is a free tour of the Capitol building and the Capital grounds, and you can take self-guided tours as well as formal guided tours of the Iowa State Capitol.

These tours, lasting about one hour, begin on the ground floor of the rotunda where there is a gift shop that offers items related to Iowa and to the Iowa State Capitol.

The building dates from between 1871 and 1886 and is an excellent example of 19th century architecture with carvings, marble, and fine works of art.

The dome is covered in beautiful 23-carat gold leaf.

1007 East Grand Avenue, Des Moines, Iowa, Phone: 515-281-5591

The Downtown Farmers' Market is held along Court Avenue in the Downtown Historic Court District of Des Moines. Supporting 300 artists, bakers, crafts people, and farmers, it has been connecting rural and urban communities for forty years.

Farmers from 58 counties in Iowa are represented at the market, and some of the produce offered includes fresh fruit and vegetables, eggs and cheese, flowers and herbs, and much more. If you are wondering what to do in Des Moines on a sunny day, this is a great stop. Beef, chicken, goat, lamb, pork, and turkey are some of the meats that are sold at the market. The market also hosts special events like entertainers and festivals.

300 Court Avenue, Des Moines, Iowa, Phone: 515-286-4928

Located on Grand Avenue in downtown Des Moines, the John and Mary Pappajohn Sculpture Park is a 4.4-acre park that opened in 2009. The park is home to over 20 sculptures by well-known artists.

The Pappajohns donated these works of art and represent the largest donation of art made to Des Moines Art Center.

Although guided tours are offered from April to October, anyone can visit the park and view the sculptures while the park is open. School tours are welcome and it is possible to rent the park for special events.

1330 Grand Avenue, Des Moines, Iowa, Phone: 515-237-1386

The Des Moines Performing Arts is a non-profit arts organization that owns and operates the 2,735-seat Des Moines Civic Center located on Walnut Street. Established by local business leaders in 1979, the organization presents the Willis Broadway Series and other world-class productions such as The Dance Series and the Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield Family Series.

The Des Moines Civic Center was a part of the revitalization of the downtown area of the city, and past performers include Victor Borge, the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Sarah Vaughan, and many more. In addition to the Des Moines Civic Center, the organization also operates Cowles Commons, the Stoner Theater, and the Temple Theater. If you are looking for date night ideas in Des Moines, watch a performance at this unique venue.

221 Walnut Street, Des Moines, Iowa, Phone: 515-246-2300

Located on Tonawanda Drive, the Salisbury House & Gardens is a furnished 1920s mansion and botanical garden. The historic stone mansion contains an art museum, a concert venue, and a library. It is one of the top romantic attractions in Des Moines, Iowa. Carl and Edith Weeks built the Salisbury House after a visit to the 15th century Kings House in Salisbury, England.

The art museum houses the Weeks’ collections of books, decorative art, and fine art, as well as musical instruments. The Salisbury House also hosts special events such as yoga in the gardens, book clubs, concerts, and dinners. The house and gardens can be rented for private functions like weddings and parties.

4025 Tonawanda Drive, Des Moines, Iowa, Phone: 515-274-1777

Located in the former Des Moines Public Library Building on Locust Street, the World Food Prize Hall of Laureates is a museum and educational center dedicated to Nobel Peace Prize winner Dr. Norman Borlaug and the programs he established to fight hunger and achieve global food security.

The facility consists of several spaces including a ballroom, a gallery, educational exhibit areas, gardens, and more. The rooms and the garden can be rented for special occasions such as board meetings, conferences, parties, and weddings. The organization offers public tours and school tours as well as holiday open houses that feature live performances.

100 Locust Street, Des Moines, Iowa, Phone: 515-245-3735

The Blank Park Zoo is a zoological park located on 9th Street south of downtown Des Moines close to historic Fort Des Moines. Consisting of 25 acres, the zoo originally opened as the Des Moines Children’s Zoo in 1966. Today, it is dedicated to conservation and education.

The only accredited zoo in the state, the Blank Park Zoo features several large exhibits such as the Discovery Center, which consists of several sections like the Cave, the Free Range Aviary, and the Meredith Alpine Exhibit. Other exhibits include the African Boardwalk, the Aquarium of the Discovery Center, and the David Kruidenier Australia Adventure. If you are wondering what to see in Des Moines with kids, the Blank Park Zoo is a fun place to visit on a family vacation.

7401 SW 9th Street, Des Moines, Iowa, Phone: 515-285-4722

Bounded on the north by Interstate 235, East 14th Street on the east, and the Des Moines River on the south and the west, the East Village is a downtown residential and commercial district in Des Moines. It is a historic area where you can find the State of Iowa Historical Museum, the Iowa State Capitol, and numerous buildings that are listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places such as the Hohberger Building, the Municipal Building, the Northwestern Hotel, and more.

When several buildings were scheduled to be demolished, citizens stepped in, and today many of the buildings are used as restaurants, shops, and housing. The East Village hosts many events and is a dynamic and popular neighborhood.

The Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden is a 14-acre botanical garden located on Robert D. Ray Drive on the east bank of the Des Moines River. The garden began in 1939 as a city greenhouse, and today’s Botanical Garden facility opened in 1979. The Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden is one of the must-see attractions in the city. More than 1,200 different kinds of plants are on display, and the mission of the conservatory is to celebrate and explain the world of plants.

Collections include Amaryllis, Bonsai, and Orchid, among others. The garden hosts events such as Fall Gardening, Garden Growers - An Apple a Day, Story Sprouts, and Yoga at the Garden.

909 Robert D. Ray Drive, Des Moines, Iowa, Phone: 515-323-6290