7 Fall Play Date Ideas 4 Kids in Des Moines

7 Fall Play Date Ideas 4 Kids in Des Moines

You know the saying “If you don’t like the weather in Iowa, wait a day and it’ll change.”  This especially rings true in the fall, when one day it’s in the 80s and the next it’s frigid and sleeting. So it’s good to have a few indoor and outdoor play date options in your back pocket. If you’re looking to mix up your usual play date routine, read on for our seven fall play date ideas for kids in the Des Moines area.  

Join the Nature Club

Get outside and explore the natural world during Nature Club. Join friends as you enjoy a new nature topic each week through hikes, games and crafts at the Brenton Arboretum. The Club meets monthly on Fridays 9:30 to 10:30 am and is $5 for non-embers and FREE for members. Please email mail@thebrentonarboretum.org, if you would like to attend a Nature Club meeting.

Climb Iowa

Take the boring old playdate to new heights with a trip to Climb Iowa  a rock climbing gym in Grimes. Climbers (aged 4 & up) can participate in a Youth Group Belay and your little climbers and their pals can enjoy two hours of climbing with professional assistance from Climb Iowa staff. Sessions can accommodate 21+ participants at a time and can be booked in advance.

Go Geocaching

A good treasure hunt is always a blast! Geocaching would be a great fall play date adventure that can be done anywhere. Kids as young as toddlers can help find caches and older kids can also get educational value out of the finds, locations, and creating a log of where they have been.  You can purchase a GPS device or download an app to your smart phone to conduct your search. For additional information check out our Geocaching in Des Moines article or visit Geocaching.com.

Splash Around

Summer may be over, but your water enthusiasts can still keep swimming and splashing! Open Swim at Summit Pool in Johnston makes the perfect meet-up spot for a fall play date with friends. They host Open Swim on Saturday and Sunday starting in September. (Times are subject to change and will be posted on their website and at the pool.) Admission is $3 for Adults, $2 for Kids and kids under two swim FREE.

Sip a Latte

Ok, so 5 Borough Bagels, located in West Des Moines may be a surprising play date pick, but there are days when parents need a meet-up with their friends just as much as the littles. Order yourself a PSL to sip on, and grab the kiddos one of their fun smoothie or bagel creations.

Take a Hike

Hit the trails for a fall play date with Hike it Baby Des Moines. The really great thing is they do all the planning and beginner and experienced hikers alike are welcome.  Hike it Baby also lets you know ahead of time if the hike is appropriate for strollers or carriers. Hikes are FREE but a waiver must be signed online before you show up, so you’ll want to browse the website to see how it works before heading out.

Visit the Iowa Hall of Pride

Taking your kids and their pals to the Iowa Hall of Pride during the week is a real treat. Unless there are several field trips, crowds are small, giving you more room to have fun. Kiddos will love the interactive technology and testing their skills in the game room which features football, basketball, virtual soccer, and more.  The Iowa Hall of Pride is open Monday through Friday: 9:00 am to 4:00 pm.  All Iowa kids get in FREE; adult admission is $10.

 

 

What’s your favorite spot for a fall play date in Des Moines? Let us know in the comments below!