Iowa with Kids

Reiman Gardens is the perfect destination for kids who love nature. The botanical gardens cover around 17 acres and have been divided into several independent themed areas, surrounding a large tropical indoor conservatory and a magical Butterfly Garden.

The various habitats in the garden provide homes for more than 6000 plants which include the Buck Rose Collection, the Viburnum Collection and the Bulb Collection. There is also a Trial and Display section where visitors can admire colorful vegetables and annual. Annual Memberships are available for those who would like to visit frequently.

Reiman Gardens, Iowa State University, 1407 University Blvd, Ames, IA 50011, 515 294 2710

The American Gothic House & Center is a tourist attraction focused around the house in the world-famous painting, American Gothic by Grant Wood. Also known as the Dibble House, the American Gothic House is a quaint house in Eldon designed in the Carpenter Gothic style with a distinctive upper window that was featured in Wood’s famous painting depicting 20th-century rural Americana life. Built by Charles Dibble in 1881, the private residence was observed and used by Wood in his painting and is now part of a museum complex that includes the original house and a modern visitors center that houses exciting information about the house, the painting, which is one of the most recognized paintings in 20th century art, and the history of rural American. The center features an exhibition gallery, a media room, a gift shop, and prop costumes for visitors to enjoy role-playing.

9654, 300 American Gothic St, Eldon, IA 52554, Phone: 641-652-3352

Nestled in the town of Arnolds Park in the center of the Iowa Great Lakes resort region, Arnolds Park is a historic amusement park, which features 30 rides, rollercoasters, attractions and shows, and a fun-filled atmosphere for visitors of all ages. The park is home to the famous wooden ‘Legend’ Roller Coaster, a 65-foot high Ferris wheel that offers spectacular views of West Lake Okoboji, a beautiful old steamer called Queen II that offers cruises on the lake, and a maritime museum that showcases rare artifacts and objects from the lake. Live music, shows, and other forms of entertainment are hosted in the Majestic Pavilion and the romantic rooftop garden throughout the week, and the raceway allows budding racecar drivers to test their skills. Arnold’s Park also offers world-class shopping, casual dining at several restaurants and bars, and a beautiful beach and lakeside boardwalk.

37 Lake Street, Arnolds Park, IA, 51331-4501

Blank Park Zoo is a 49-acre zoological park in Des Moines that is home to over 1,500 animals across 100 species and aims to inspire an appreciation of the natural world. Located near the historic Fort Des Moines, the zoo offers a variety of fun, family experiences such as feeding giraffes and watching lion cubs play. Exhibits at the zoo include the Meredith Alpine Exhibit, which his home to an alpine biome and red pandas, and the Cave, which houses nocturnal animals like Egyptian fruit bats, Cuvier's dwarf caimans, Madagascar hissing cockroaches, and boa constrictors. The Free-Range Aviary is home to a variety of tropical forest-dwelling birds, and the Aquarium of the Discovery Center features several aquatic environments such as coral reefs, rivers, waterfalls, and cold oceanic waters. Blank Park Zoo is involved in several conservation projects, such as a Species Survival Plan, the Greater Prairie-Chicken Project, the Giraffe Conservation Foundation, and The Great Ape Trust.

7401 SW 9th St, Des Moines, IA 50315, Phone: 515-285-4722

The Carl A. and Peggy J. Bluedorn Science Imaginarium in Waterloo is an interactive science center that provides a fun, hands-on experience for children and their families. The three-floor center is a playground for the imagination with over 90 immersive science-centric exhibits that aim to make scientific learning principles. Themed exhibits focus on light and electricity, momentum, liquids, gases, and sound, and include Bottled Lightning, Hot Air Balloon, a Robotix display of how to build futuristic machines, and Plant Genomics, which examines the Earth's most crucial living fauna and flora. The center can be rented for special occasions and functions and is open year-round.

322 Washington St, Waterloo, IA 50701, Phone: 319-234-6357

The Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad & Museum is a heritage railroad in Boone County that operates freight and passenger excursions for the public. The railroad winds through the spectacular natural landscapes of the picturesque Des Moines River Valley in the heart of the Midwest and visitors can enjoy one-of-a-kind excursions in 1920's era coaches and elegant climate-controlled dining cars dating back to the 1950s. The museum explores the history of the railroad, and it's steam, diesel, and electric railroad operations, and offers a selection of train rides for different occasions such as dinner, dessert, and picnic rides, as well as special events such as the Thomas The Tank Engine™ experience, and the Santa Express™. The railroad also runs a short trolley ride and from its station close to the Union Pacific Railroad mainline.

225 10th St, Boone, IA 50036, Phone: 800-626-0319

Brucemore is a pristine 26-acre estate and park in the heart of Cedar Rapids that is home to a beautifully preserved Queen Anne-style mansion, exquisitely manicured formal gardens, a night gardens, a children’s garden, a fruit orchard, and a dense woodland grove. Built between in the late 1800s by the widow of pioneer industrialist T.M. Sinclair, Caroline Sinclair, the estate is named after the second owner of the estate's ancestral home in Scotland, Brucemore. The mansion, known as the T.M. Sinclair Mansion, has three stories, 21 rooms, a steeply gabled roof with several turrets and five chimneys, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

2160 Linden Dr. SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52403

The Charles H MacNider Art Museum, also known as the MacNider Art Museum, features a collection of modern American art and an exclusive collection of Bil Baird marionettes, ephemera, and hand puppets. Established in 1964 and opened in 1966, the museum, which is named after Charles H. MacNider, the father of General Hanford MacNider, the museum boasts several excellent exhibits of paintings, drawings, sculpture, prints, ceramics, textiles, and fused and blown glass. The museum also houses an interactive playground in the Salsbury Room that provides a hands-on experience for children and families during the winter months and on the museum lawns in the summer. Several educational programs are offered such as art classes, workshops, kid’s clubs, and the annual Artoberfest.

303 2nd St SE, Mason City, IA 50401, Phone: 641-421-3666

One of Iowa’s top attractions, Crystal Lake Cave, features a spectacular array of rock formations, stalactites, stalagmites, and crystals, such as aragonite, travertine, and calcareous spar. Discovered in 1868 by a lead miner in search of ore-bearing stone, James Rice, the cave was initially called Rice’s Cave and was accessed by descending 45 feet down a shaft in a bucket. After several changes of ownership, the cave was eventually called Crystal Lake Cave by Bernard Markus and developed as a tourist attraction for the public to enjoy. Visitors can explore over three-quarters of a mile of cave tunnels on guided tours, search for fossils and gemstones in the specialized gem mining area and take away unique souvenirs from the gift shop.

6684 Crystal Lake Cave Rd, Dubuque, IA 52003, Phone: 563-556-6451

Adventureland Park is a family-owned amusement park in Altoona, Iowa, that features over 100 rides, attractions, and shows for visitors of all ages. The park features a wide variety of trips, ranging from mild to wet-and-wild, ranging from massive rollercoasters, flying red barons, space shots and sky rides to tornadoes, teacups, tilt-a-whirl, and a sky wheel. A new water park called Adventure Bay boasts a wealth of water-based fun with several different sized swimming pools, water slides and rides, a wave pool, river cruising, and splash pads. Adventureland Park also hosts several shows and other entertainment from live music, puppet shows, and stand-up comedy throughout the week, has plenty of concession stands selling a range of food and drinks, and modern restrooms.

305 34th Avenue Northwest | Altoona, IA 50009, Phone: 515-266-2121