Des Moines Tourist Attractions and Sightseeing

(Des Moines, Iowa - IA, USA)



All ages are certainly well catered for in Des Moines when it comes to attractions, although tourists with young children will be particularly pleased with what is on offer. However, with predictably harsh winter weather, many places of interest are seasonal, or best visited during the summer months, unless you fancy having a go at winter skiing at the nearby Seven Oaks Recreation Area, within the Des Moines River Valley.

Highly suitable for all the family, the animal-themed attractions and activities at the Blank Park Zoo certainly come recommended, being all the better on a sunny day. The zoo was founded in the 1960s and resides on the southern side of Des Moines. It is easy to reach via either Southwest 9th Street or South Union Street.

Families may also like to plan a visit to the Adventureland Amusement Park and Adventure Bay Water Park. This theme park opened in the mid-1970s and covers an area of approximately 75 hectares / 180 acres, which makes it the biggest of its kind in the whole of Iowa state.

For a taster of horticultural excellence, the Greater Des Moines Botanical Center is on hand. Alternatively, tourists can monkey around at the Iowa Primate Learning Sanctuary, catch a game of college football at the Drake Stadium, or enjoy a concert at either the Simon Estes Riverfront Amphitheater or the Wells Fargo Arena. You may even like to pack yourself a picnic and head off for a day at the nearby Big Creek State Park or the beach at Gray's Lake.


Brenton Skating Plaza

Address: 520 Robert D. Ray Drive, Des Moines, Iowa (IA), 50309, USA
Tel: +1 515 284 1000
Located close to Des Moines City Hall and the riverfront, the open-air Brenton Skating Plaza stands on the corner of East Grand Avenue and the Robert D. Ray Drive, where it edges the John Pat Dorrian Trail. This giant rink is capable of holding over 200 ice skaters and its 8,000 gallons of water take more than 3 miles / 5 km of refrigerated pipes to freeze. The plaza itself is often used for seasonal events, such as concerts and local ceremonies, with standing room for more than 1,000 people ensuring large crowds. Of note, municipal parking lots are conveniently available nearby.
Open hours: April to October, Monday - 11:00 to 18:00, 20:00 to 22:00, Tuesday to Thursday - 11:00 to 21:00, Friday - 11:00 to 23:00, Saturday - 10:00 to 23:00, Sunday - 12:00 to 20:00
Admission: charge, discounts available for children and seniors, children five years old and under are free, skate rental

Blank Park Zoo

Address: 7401 Southwest 9th Street, Des Moines, Iowa (IA), 50315, USA
Tel: +1 515 285 4722
In total there are more than 1,500 animals living at the Blank Park Zoo, in naturally landscaped enclosures, comprising some 200 different species and attracting close to 500,000 visitors each year. The various exhibits are grouped into themed areas, such as the Discovery Center, which is where you will find the red pandas, fruit bats and a free-range aviary. Underwater attractions reside within the Aquarium of the Discovery Center, while the African Boardwalk takes its visitors on a trip through the African Savannah, where you can observe giraffes and ostriches. Lions, tigers and snow leopards live in the Tom and Jo Ghrist Big Cat Complex, sea lions in the Miscellaneous Animal Exhibits, and wallabies in the David Kruidenier Australia Adventure. Younger children will no doubt enjoy playing in the Kids' Kingdom, where mazes, slides, sand pits and more await, along with a small petting zoo with some very friendly creatures. Worth looking out for are the Gouldian finches from Australia, which are amongst the most colorful birds on the planet.
Open hours: October to April, daily - 10:00 to 16:00; May to September, daily - 09:00 to 17:00
Admission: charge, discounts available for children and seniors, children two years old and under are free

Iowa Primate Learning Sanctuary / Bonobo Hope Sanctuary (Great Ape Trust)

Address: 4200 Southeast 44th Avenue, Des Moines, Iowa (IA), 50320, USA
Tel: +1 515 243 3580
A combination of ape sanctuary, research facility and tourist attraction, the Iowa Primate Learning Sanctuary was established in the summer of 2004 and operates on a not-for-profit basis. The site covers an area of more than 80 hectares / 200 acres and is called home by a group of pygmy chimpanzees (bonobos) and orangutans. These apes have made numerous appearances on television programs and in scientific papers, since their communication skills are so advanced. Guided tours for small groups can be arranged, but you will first need to telephone in advance to secure your place.
Open hours: seasonal tour by reservation only
Admission: charge, discounts available for children 12 years old and under

Drake Stadium

Address: 2719 Forest Avenue, Des Moines, Iowa (IA), 50311, USA
Lying on Forest Avenue and within the campus of the Drake University is the huge Drake Stadium, which dates all the way back to 1925 and has a seating capacity of almost 15,000 cheering spectators. This stadium attraction is mainly used to host the Drake Relays, which is a hugely popular local track and field athletics event held since the year 1910 and regularly attracting medalists from Olympic Games. University teams (Bulldogs) often compete here in a range of sporting events, such as college football (American football played by students).
Open hours: hours vary according to event
Admission: charge

Principal Park Stadium

Address: 1 Line Drive, Des Moines, Iowa (IA), 50309, USA
Previously named the Sec Taylor Stadium and built between 1991 and 1992, the riverside Principal Park is a sizeable stadium used by minor-league baseball teams. More than 11,000 people can watch the Iowa Cubs in action here whilst enjoying distant views of the Iowa State Capitol.
Open hours: hours vary according to event
Admission: charge

Des Moines Botanical Center

Address: 909 Robert D. Ray Drive, Des Moines, Iowa (IA), 50316, USA
Tel: +1 515 323 6290
This well-liked horticultural attraction is completely undercover, meaning that you can check out its extensive collection of tropical plants whatever the weather and season. The Des Moines Botanical Center began its life in the latter years of the 1920s, with the following decade seeing the erection of a display glasshouse. However, it was not until the late 1970s that the giant geodesic domed conservatory that stands today was built. Inside are large collections of cacti, orchids, succulents and other exotics, and there are also koi carp, catfish and turtles swimming in a pond, together with some colourful birds that fly freely around the dome. Nearby is the landscaped Asian-style Robert D. Ray Asian Garden, which comes complete with a Chinese pavilion and clipped bonsai-style trees.
Open hours: daily - 09:00 to 17:00
Admission: charge, discounts available for children and seniors, children three years old and under are free

Adventureland Amusement Park and Adventure Bay Water Park

Address: 305 34th Avenue Northwest, Altoona, Iowa (IA), 50009, USA
Tel: +1 515 266 2121
Adventureland is a hugely popular family owned attraction situated just outside of Des Moines, roughly a 15-minute drive to the northeast via both Interstate I-235 and Interstate I-80 (off junction 142A). The park is divided into a series of themed areas, such as Adventure Bay (including the water play area of Kokomo Kove and more than a dozen water slides), Bavaria (with a noticeable German character), the Boulevard (home of North America's biggest open-gondola Ferris wheel), and County Fair (where you will find the giant wooden roller coaster named the Tornado). At the rear of Adventureland, Dragon Island is best known for its Dragon roller coaster, while Main Street is designed to look like a town square from the early 1900s, being surrounded by attractions, such as a vintage-style carousel and arcade amusements.
Open hours:
Adventureland Park: late April to early May, Saturday - 10:00 to 18:00, Sunday - 10:00 to 17:00; late May, Monday to Friday - 10:00 to 18:00, Saturday and Sunday - 10:00 to 21:00; early June, Monday to Friday - 10:00 to 18:00, Saturday - 10:00 to 21:00, Sunday - 10:00 to 20:00; late June, Sunday to Thursday - 10:00 to 20:00, Friday - 10:00 to 21:00, Saturday - 10:00 to 22:00; July to early August, Sunday to Friday - 10:00 to 21:00, Saturday - 10:00 to 22:00; late August, Saturday - 10:00 to 22:00, Sunday - 10:00 to 20:00; September, Saturday - 10:00 to 19:00, Sunday - 10:00 to 18:00
Adventure Bay: late May to early June, Monday to Friday - 10:00 to 17:00, Saturday and Sunday - 10:00 to 19:00; mid-June, Monday to Friday - 10:00 to 18:00, Saturday and Sunday - 10:00 to 19:00; late June, daily - 10:00 to 19:00; July to early August, Sunday to Friday - 10:00 to 19:00, Saturday - 10:00 to 20:00; mid-August, daily - 10:00 to 17:00; late August, Saturday and Sunday - 10:00 to 17:00
Admission: charge, discounts available for children and seniors, season tickets and two-day passes available

Lakes

The various lakes around the state capital add a further dimension to the recreational attractions and activities available for tourists to enjoy. The Big Creek State Lake and Park lies roughly 20 minutes to the north, where it offers a chance to fish, sail and swim, while relatively close by, the considerably larger Saylorville Lake features additional draws, such as nature trails, golfing and camping. Head to the southwest of downtown Des Moines and you will soon encounter Gray's Lake, which is often extremely busy, due to its small beach and good facilities, such as canoe and bike rental.

Open hours: daily - 24 hours
Admission: free

Theaters and Entertainment Venues

If you are looking for something to do in the evening, then make sure that you check to see if there are any concerts, shows or sporting events being held during your time in the Iowa capital. The Wells Fargo Arena is particularly large and stages concerts, basketball games and hockey matches to audiences of up to 17,000 people. Concerts are often held at the Simon Estes Riverfront Amphitheater during the summer months, while the Des Moines Symphony Orchestra performs at a number of venues around the city.

Open hours: hours vary according to performance
Admission: charge

Des Moines Metro Opera

Address: 106 West Boston Avenue, Indianola, Iowa (IA), 50125, USA
Tel: +1 515 961 6221
Close to the nearby Simpson College and the Bill Buxton Stadium, the Des Moines Metro Opera resides within the neighboring suburb town of Indianola, being roughly 15 miles / 24 km to the south of the city center. This operatic society was established in 1973 and regularly plays host to an operatic festival each summer, in the months of June and July. Ballet and other live performances are also often staged here during the course of the year.
Open hours: hours vary according to performance
Admission: charge

Sleepy Hollow Sports Park

Address: 4051 Dean Avenue, Des Moines, Iowa (IA), 50317, USA
Tel: +1 515 262 4100
Located on the far eastern side of Des Moines, close to the suburb town of Pleasant Hill, the Sleepy Hollow Sports Park covers an area of approximately 60 acres / 24 hectares and makes for an enjoyable afternoon out if you have children with you. The activities on offer here are very much based around the season, with the summer months seeing baseball batting cages, disc golf (with Frisbees), volleyball, rock climbing and go-karting, while when the snow reliably arrives in the winter, expect to find skiing, snow-tubing, sledding and snowboarding. If you are here for the snow, then be sure that there is a decent covering before you part with your money.
Open hours: hours vary according to the season
Admission: charge









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Des Moines, USA - Tourist Attractions - Last updated 7/9/2019 - gprofile - Google+

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