Plan Your Vacation as a Staycation in Downtown Des Moines

This summer, make your vacation a staycation with these fun things to do in Downtown Des Moines (DSM). These weekend itineraries are for a 48-hour getaway without the hassle of travel or long-distance driving.

Couple’s Getaway in Downtown Des Moines

Hotel Pick: The Surety
Activities in Downtown Des Moines can be romantic, adventurous, relaxing or all of the above — whatever you need for a weekend getaway with your special someone.

• Kickoff Friday evening with dinner at a Downtown Des Moines restaurant with intimate ambiance, such as RoCA or Alba Restaurant.
• End the night with skee ball and arcade games at either Ricochet (pictured below) or UpDown.
• Kick off your Saturday morning by renting a Bcycle to bike around Downtown Des Moines to explore and see the sights. Be sure to have the Women of Achievement Bridge, the Travelers Sign and the John and Mary Pappajohn Sculpture Park on your itinerary or one of these top spots to catch the views.
• Snag a quick lunch at one of several unique places for food near Downtown Des Moines, like Gateway Market & Café, Fresko or The Walnut.
• Book yourself a relaxing couple’s massage at East Village Spa.
• Enjoy sushi at Akebono 515 or at a Downtown Des Moines seafood restaurant such as Splash.
• Hit up one of Downtown Des Moines' bars, with vibrant nightlife at Historic Court District and Historic East Village.
• Sunday morning, grab a smoothie to go from Kava DSM or NOSH Café & Eatery.

Friends’ Weekend in Downtown Des Moines

Hotel Pick: The AC Hotel by Marriott
Your bestie reunion is a great chance to impress your crew with the coolest attractions and fun things to do in Downtown Des Moines. You’ll be the hero of the weekend with these places in mind:

• Friday night, take in a concert at Wooly’s or a show at the Des Moines Civic Center.
• Then sip a martini from the Stuffed Olive or a nightcap from Continental.
• Saturday morning, grab a cup of coffee at Scenic Route Bakery and then hit up Des Moines’ Downtown Farmers’ Market for breakfast, as well as farm fresh foods to take home and handcrafted art as souvenirs (photo below).
• Book appointments at the East Village Day Spa (within walking distance of The AC Hotel) for a little pampering.
• Spend the evening on a Downtown Des Moines brewery crawl visiting Confluence Brewing Co., Court Avenue Restaurant & Brewing Company, Exile Brewing, Big Grove Brewery or SingleSpeed Brewing Co. Or check out a speakeasy or super cool pop-up bar.
• Don’t forget a late-night slice of pizza at Downtown Des Moines' Fong’s or a treat from Insomnia Cookies.
• Sunday is perfect for brunch at Americana, The Breakfast Club or Railroad Bill’s Dining Car.
• With an extra hour or two, check out Gray’s Lake to rent a stand up paddle board or kayak to wrap up the weekend.

Family Thing to Do in Downtown Des Moines

Hotel Pick: The Residence Inn by Marriott
It’s not too late to squeeze in a summer vacation! These Downtown Des Moines hotspots are perfect for your family-friendly adventure.

• Start the weekend right with an epic Iowa Cubs game, where every Friday night home game ends with fireworks!
• Saturday morning, treat your family to a special vacation breakfast in Downtown Des Moines: Cinnaholic cinnamon rolls or ChuChu Donuts.
• Families also love Des Moines' Downtown Farmers’ Market, which is conveniently located steps from the Residence Inn. Pick up some snacks or treats, take in music and just enjoy the sights and sounds of The Market together.
• Spend the afternoon launching paper rockets, racing Lego cars, learning about space and seeing Iowa’s native creatures first-hand at the Science Center of Iowa (pictured below).
• Kids will love dinner at a family-friendly Downtown Des Moines restaurant like Zombie Burger or Buzzard Billy’s.
• Sunday morning, swing by Lauridsen Skatepark. Either pack your skateboards or scooters to get in on the action or sit on the sidelines as a spectator — both equally fun for kids and parents, too!
• Be sure to snag a souvenir at Raygun, and a snack for the road from Molly’s Cupcakes.

(P.S. – We have even more family-friendly adventure ideas for you! Learn more.)

Solo Trip in Downtown Des Moines

Hotel Pick: Des Lux
Spending a weekend flying solo can be incredibly invigorating and refreshing. Here’s a fun way to spend your much-needed alone time in Downtown Des Moines.

• Friday night means the Downtown Des Moines skyline views are lit up and looking lovely! Snag a photo from an iconic Downtown Des Moines viewpoint and post it on your favorite social media account. (Bonus: Use hashtag #downtownDSM when you post!)
• Saturday morning, explore something off the beaten path or an activity outside of your comfort zone: Wander through the American Dream Machines display room, try bouldering at Climb Iowa, take an art class at Mainframe Studios, attend a plant workshop at Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden or enjoy Yoga in the Park at Gray's Lake. 
• Then spend an hour or two shopping! A few favorite stores include Reclaimed DSM, AllSpice Culinarium, Kitchen Collage, Fontenelle Supply Co. and Aimee.
• Treat yo’self to dinner (and drinks!) at a nice restaurant in Downtown DSM, such as 801 Chophouse, Lucca, Tupelo Honey (photo below), Malo or Proudfoot & Bird.
• Sunday morning, wrap up your weekend with rejuvenation by participating in Yoga at Cowles Commons.

To fully enjoy your staycation in Downtown Des Moines (DSM), find additional information on hotels and places to stay, restaurants and nightlife, shops, festivals, attractions and more.