Everyone agrees summer is a great time to get outdoors. Our Summer Fun Guide shares many special outside events like outdoor movies and live music under the stars. But we also know Iowa summers can get pretty hot! When the weather feels stifling, you need an air-conditioned escape. We’ve rounded up a few of Des Moines’ top inside experiences to make your summer memorable.
Here’s your guide to indoor summer fun in Des Moines:
Air-Lanes Bowling Center (4200 Fleur Drive, Des Moines) and Warrior Lanes (190 Laurel Street, Waukee) both are offering FREE bowling all summer. Find out how to sign up at 2018 FREE Summer Bowling Programs 4 Kids in Des Moines.
Cinemark 20 Jordan Creek and XD (Jordan Creek Town Center) features ten weeks of family-friendly films during their Summer Movie Clubhouse. Purchase a season ticket to see up to 10 movies for just $5. Individual tickets are available the day of the show for $1 each. Movies begin at 10:00 am on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
Climb Iowa (3605 SE Miehe Drive, Grimes) is Iowa’s largest indoor climbing and training facility. Anyone can climb…kids ages 13+ can clip themselves in, kids 12 and under will need to have an adult supervise and clip them into the Auto Belays.
EC Tactical Laser Tag (338 SW 6th Street, Des Moines) Enjoy a fast-paced adventure game of high-tech hide-and-seek in an indoor cityscape. Kids 8 and up will enjoy a one-hour session time that includes check-in, a safety briefing, laser tag gearing, and mission/game explanations.
Flix Brewhouse (Merle Hay Mall) presents discounted admission during the summer with their Flix Jr Series. Kid-friendly films are shown on Wednesdays throughout the summer.
Glow Golf (6925 Mills Civic Pkwy #120, West Des Moines) is an indoor mini-golf venue perfect to entertain all ages on a hot summer day.
Hop-A-Lot Indoors (Next to the Food Court in Merle Hay Mall) offers inflatable slides, obstacle courses and bounce houses in the metro’s newest indoor inflatable play space. Open play admission is $6 Monday through Thursday and $5 for kids under 2. Everyone playing must wear socks.
Kids Warrior Gym (10141 Hickman Road, Urbandale) is a brand-new venue that offers a “ninja warrior” like indoor obstacle course for kids ages 4 to 12. Kids can conquer obstacles like swinging ropes, trampolines, and rock-climbing walls during their open gym times.
Old School Pinball and Arcade (209 SE Main Street, Grimes) is an ideal destination for spending some time indoors playing some old school video games.
Pump It Up (4069 121st Street, Urbandale) and The Play Ground For Kids (2401 SE Tones Drive #7, Ankeny) are family-oriented facilities that offer inflatable play structures.
Skate North (5621 Meredith Drive, Des Moines) offers open skate sessions, parties and skate lessons. Summer day skate hours are Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 12:30 to 3:30 pm.
Sky Zone Trampoline Park (1300 SE Gateway Drive, Suite 103, Grimes) offer wall-to-wall trampolines! While it’s very popular with teens and older kids, there’s a special toddler area that welcomes kids five and under.
Summit Indoor Pool (9500 Windsor Pkwy, Johnston) will let the littles go for a refreshing swim indoors, when it’s just too hot to be outside. They offer open swim times on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1:00 to 3:00 pm and Sundays 1:30 to 3:30 pm during the summer.
Uncle Buck’s Fish Bowl & Grill (Bass Pro Shops) is an underwater-inspired bowling alley and restaurant. Bowling is on a first come, first serve basis and starts at $19.99 an hour.
Urbandale Indoor Public Pool (7201 Aurora Avenue, Urbandale) features family swim times daily from 1:00 to 4:00 pm and Monday – Friday evening from 7:00 to 8:30 pm. For $5 per person ages 3+ (2 and under FREE), families can swim indoors in a shiver-free pool.
Looking for more family fun this summer? See all our summer resources!
Where do your kids like to go for some indoor summer fun in Des Moines? Let us know in the comments below!
