Come for This, Stay for That: Downtown Des Moines Edition

You may have a go-to list of your favorite Downtown Des Moines (DSM) things to do, and we can help you pair that with some additional finds, too. As you make your plans, let us help you take an ordinary few hours and turn it into an absolutely epic day (or night!). This is what great memories are made of in Downtown Des Moines!

Bring the Kids: Family-Friendly Downtown Des Moines

Pack up your crew! These fun things to do in Downtown Des Moines will have you winning the parent of the year award (…or something like that!).

• Come for an Iowa Wild or Iowa Cubs game, stay for the views along the Principal Riverwalk.
• Come for the many fun things to do at Des Moines' Downtown Farmers' Market or Des Moines’ Downtown Winter Farmers’ Market (depending on what season you visit), stay for an afternoon of walking around the trail at Gray’s Lake.
• Come for a morning at the Science Center of Iowa, stay for lunch at a restaurant in Downtown Des Moines' Historic Court District.
• Come for the skateboarding action at Lauridsen Skatepark (either to participate or to enjoy watching!), stay for a sweet treat from Thistle's Summit or Cinnaholic.
• Come for the natural play area at Water Works Park, stay for ice cream at Smokey Row or smoothies from Nosh Café and Eatery.

Make It a Date in Downtown Des Moines

Go beyond dinner and dessert in Downtown Des Moines! These date-night activities just might win you some brownie points with your special someone.

• Come for dinner on the patio at Downtown Des Moines' Italian restaurant, Centro, stay for drinks at Calls for Rain (the summer tropical cocktail persona of Good News, Darling) just two blocks away.
• Come for a Civic Center show, stay for dessert in Downtown Des Moines at Molly’s Cupcakes or Insomnia Cookies.
• Come for an afternoon browsing the shops in the Historic East Village (shown below), stay for a live show at Wooly’s.
• Come for skee ball and board games at Ricochet, stay for the Instagram-worthy Downtown Des Moines photo of the skyline after dark.
• Come for a Downtown Des Moines festival or major event, stay for a walk through the John and Mary Pappajohn Sculpture Park or other Downtown Des Moines art sculptures and murals.

Grab a Group for a Downtown Des Moines Outing

Your best friends will love checking out the best places to eat in Downtown Des Moines, the most fun things to do and the coolest hidden gems. And we’re here to help you find the perfect line-up for your group:

• Come for the walking trails near Water Works Park and Gray’s Lake, stay for a Downtown Des Moines brewery tour sampling ice cold, local craft beer (including stops at Big Grove, Confluence Brewing Co., Court Avenue Restaurant & Brewing Company, Exile, Lua Brewing (shown below), SingleSpeed and Twisted Vine).
• Come for a show at Wells Fargo Arena, stay for a nightcap at Hello, Marjorie or Bellhop Tiki bar.
• Come for a plant-themed class at Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden, stay for a cup of coffee at Horizon Line Coffee or Scenic Route Bakery.
• Come for the nightlife in the Historic Court District and Historic East Village, stay for a late-night slice of pizza at Des Moines' Downtown Fong’s restaurant.
• Come for an unforgettable Escape Chambers experience, stay for arcade games at UpDown.

Tell us! Do you have an epic suggestion to add to this Downtown Des Moines list of favorites and finds? Share it with us on Twitter: Hey @downtownDSMUSA, I’m in for one epic fall/winter in Downtown #DesMoines! I’ll come for the ______ and stay for the ______. #downtownDSM