31. HERITAGE CAROUSEL
City: Des Moines, IA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (515) 323-8200
Address: 725 Thompson Ave.
Insider Pick:
Description: Located in Union Park on the north side of Des Moines, this wonderful old-fashioned carousel is great even for younger kids—it moves at a fairly slow pace, and there are lots of animals to choose from. It’s a replica wooden carousel that turns to the sounds of a traditional carousel organ. The cost to ride is only 50 cents for a child and $1 for an adult, with no charge for an adult who stands next to a child. The park is also one of the better-equipped in the city, and features a wading pool and a large playground with a huge rocket slide as its centerpiece. The carousel is open from May until around Labor Day, when Des Moines schools open for the fall.
32. BACKYARD ADVENTURES
City: Des Moines, IA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (515) 270-2433
Description: Open play is available at this suburban showroom of outdoor play equipment. Some impressive climbing, sliding, and swinging equipment is found out on the showroom floor, including large, fortlike structures and big tire swings. A few basketball hoops are in the back of the room. Parents must supervise their children. Food and drinks may be brought in from outside, and utensils and napkins are available. Not open for open play on the weekends due to birthday parties. Cost is $5 per child.
33. CLIMB IOWA
City: Des Moines, IA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (515) 986-2565
Address: 3605 SE Miehe Dr.
Description: Iowa’s largest indoor climbing gym offers climbing opportunities to children ages 4 and up, who must climb with an adult if they are under 13. There’s over 10,000 square feet of climbing space, with lots of challenging routes and hazards. Climbers 13 and under are restricted in their routes, and every climber under 18 must have a waiver signed by their parent and not any other adult—waivers can be printed out from the gym’s website. Orientation is provided to adults who are climbing for the first time. Cost for a day pass is around $15 for adults, a little less for kids. Gear and safety equipment can be rented for modest prices. Open 7 days a week.
34. THE PLAYGROUND FOR KIDS
City: Des Moines, IA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (515) 965-9899
Address: 2401 SE Tones Dr., Suite 7
Description: An indoor play area north of Des Moines that gives kids ages 2 to 12 plenty of opportunities to bounce around on inflatables, including large slides, and play on other equipment like climbing units. Open to the public all day Mon through Fri and on Mon, Wed, and Fri evenings as well. It may also be available on Sat—check with the facility. Food is not allowed except for scheduled parties.
35. SAYLOR SKATE PARK
City: Des Moines, IA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (515) 289-0303
Address: 6359 NE 14th St.
Description: An indoor skate park with multiple ramps spread out over 15,000 square feet for boards, blades, and bikes, including some challenging half-pipes, quarter-pipes, and jump ramps. Skate sessions cost $8, with all-day passes available. Helmets are required and available for rent. Bikes are not allowed during some sessions. There’s a fully stocked skate shop and snacks and sodas for sale. Lessons are available as well. Closed Monday.
36. SKATE NORTH INCREDIROLL
City: Des Moines, IA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (515) 251-7655
Address: 5621 Meredith Dr.
Description: This rink accommodates both in-line and roller skaters on a large skate floor. Music from a disc jockey accompanies the skating (of course) and there’s a game arcade, snack bar, and pro shop. Parents who don’t skate may watch from the seats that surround the rink. Admission is around $5 a night, with dollar night on Wed. Skate rentals are available. Closed Monday and Tuesday.
37. DRAKE MUNICIPAL OBSERVATORY
City: Des Moines, IA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (515) 248-6302
Address: 4908 University Ave.
Description: The night sky opens up to visitors at this large telescope located on a city golf course a few miles west of the Drake University campus, with free astronomy programs on Fri nights in spring, summer, and fall, including an opportunity to scan the heavens for stars, planets, and other celestial phenomena. Smaller telescopes are also set up outside around the observatory.
City: Des Moines, IA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Address: 401 West M. L. King Jr. Pkwy.
City: Des Moines, IA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Address: 5251 NE 94th Ave.
40. HOWELL’S PUMPKIN PATCH
City: Des Moines, IA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (515) 981-0863 or (800) 210-14
Address: 3145 Howell Court
Description: Located about 25 miles south of Des Moines off I-35, this farm has a corn maze and pumpkin patch with tractor rides shuttling visitors around, as well as a barnyard with animals including goats, sheep, pigs, and chickens. Kids may also enjoy petting the rabbits on the bunny farm as well as playing on pedal tractors and a giant slide and climbing on the large haystacks. Open Sept and Oct. Admission is around $6. Food is available.
41. PATCH’S PUMPKINs AND HONEY FARM
City: Des Moines, IA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (515) 834-9092
Address: 35588 L Lane
Description: A large “pumpkin cannon” that hurls pumpkins into the sky differentiates this pumpkin patch from others in the Des Moines area. Located about 20 minutes west of Des Moines, it also has a petting zoo with horses, goats, and pigs, tractor rides, and numerous inflatables for kids to bounce on and inside. There’s no corn maze, but there is a hay maze for younger kids. Admission is under $5 and includes all activities. Open weekends from late Sept through Oct.
42. PUMPKINVILLE & CORN MAZE
City: Des Moines, IA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (515) 967-0972
Address: 618 Center Ave. S
Description: This large pumpkin patch has over 10 acres of pumpkins, as well as a large “straw jump” and a play area for smaller children. The corn maze is one of the more challenging ones in the area, and there is also a mini maze that younger ones may enjoy. The corn maze opens in early Aug and the pumpkin patch in mid-Sept. Maze admission is around $5. Campfires are available as well.
City: Des Moines, IA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Address: 11121 Hickman Rd.
44. BRENTON SKATING PLAZA
City: Des Moines, IA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (515) 284-1000
Address: 520 Robert D. Ray Dr.
Description: This is probably one of many parents’ favorite spots to take kids in Des Moines for a taste of some good all-American fun: A small outdoor skating rink right by City Hall, it fills up on winter evenings with families, including kids of all ages, swishing around the rink. When the crowd thins a bit, there’s more room for kids to practice their skating technique. Public skating is available 7 days a week, usually all day and into the evening. Admission is no more than $5, and season passes are available. Skate rentals are available in one of the two sheds at the south end of the rink. Definitely check this place out if you can—it’s a fun experience for both kids and parents. There’s free parking evenings and weekends in the City Hall parking lot.
City: Des Moines, IA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Address: 4051 Dean Ave.