There are dozens of ways to have fun this winter in Des Moines. Below you’ll find 50 fabulous ways to spend quality time at home with your family, as well as ways to mix it up with adventures on the go.
Looking for more family fun? Be sure to check out our Events Calendar and sign up for our Weekend Fun Guide to get inspiration sent straight to your inbox.
Editor’s Note: This list is updated throughout the season. Due to COVID-19 precautions, some of the following events and venues may have adjusted their hours or programming. Please check with each venue directly to verify.
Here’s the dsm4kids BIG list of events and activities to get you through this quarantined Des Moines winter:
1. Plan out your 2021. With all of the chaos that 2020 brought, we’re all looking forward to a new year. Make a list of things to look forward to in 2021! We have this fun Post Corona Wish Jar activity to help you out.
2. Grab your skates (and cocoa for afterwards) and head out for a family skate at an Indoor or Outdoor Ice Skating Rink.
3. There are bound to be some boxes left over from the holidays, gather them together to create a box village. Let your kids color them and see what they can create.
4. Get crafty. Check out dsm4kids’ Pinterest page for cool creative ideas.
5. The Blank Park Zoo is open year-round. Enjoy an afternoon visiting your favorite animals.
6. Get out your family’s favorite games for an indoor Family Game Day marathon.
7. If there’s snow on the ground, sledding is always the perfect activity to burn off some energy and make memories!
8. Connect with family and friends and plan a virtual game night.
9. Pack up the family and hit the slopes or trail for a winter adventure skiing, snowboarding, tubing or snowshoeing.
10. Practice positivity and gratitude with a fun art activity.
11. Build something. A fort? A LEGO town? Grab your supplies and get to work.
12. Indoor play spaces are a great place to get the wiggles out on a cold winter’s day.
13. Try out this winter’s “it” food – hot chocolate bombs!
14. Grab a book and enjoy an afternoon at home. Local libraries are offering curbside pick-up and are offering winter reading programs to incentivize reading fun.
15. Enjoy a live theater performance from home.
16. Shop local. Get lost in the aisles of a locally owned toy store, book shop, art center, etc. Get ideas from staff or find inspiration for your next family activity.
17. Give Pickleball a try this winter! It’s easy to learn, low impact and a fun way to stay active.
18. Teach your kids how to save money and budget for things they want.
19. Swimming isn’t out of the question just because it’s cold outside. Goldfish Swim School offers Family Swim time.
20. Try a new restaurant to-go. Many local restaurants are offering family meals to go. Take a break from cooking and support small businesses. It’s a win-win!
21. Download your favorite Coloring Pages & Other FREE Printables by Des Moines Designers, Businesses & Organizations and get creative.
22. Get out! Escape Rooms like Breakout and Escape Chambers are a fun way to bond and work together as a family.
23. Go on a hike. Get some fresh air and enjoy the sights at a new (to you) park or nature preserve.
24. Roll through winter! Go roller skating at a local roller rink.
25. Pretend like it’s a snow day and come up with creative ideas for fun all over the house – or check out our ideas here.
26. Discover a museum you wouldn’t normally visit and explore something new.
27. Check out the open pottery times at a studio near you and create something beautiful together. Many locations are offering kits to-go if you’d prefer that option.
28. Get out of town and take a break at an indoor water park. Even a night or two away from home can be a nice reset.
29. Kids ages 8 -12 can solve a History Mystery virtually hosted by the State Historical Museum of Iowa.
30. Take a break from the winter cold and warm up in the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden’s tropical conservatory while enjoying some of the best blues music in the Midwest during Botanical Blues.
31. Build a blanket fort and turn the day into a movie day. Lay some pillows and blankets on the floor of your fort, pop some popcorn and enjoy cuddling as a family.
32. Is your tween or teen meant for the stage? Check out virtual MadCAP Improv hosted by CAP Theatre in Altoona.
33. Show your kids that you still have skills at a local arcade.
34. Winter is a great time to go to the movies. Watch for family-friendly films on the schedule at local movie theaters.
35. Get creative with the help from these local businesses AR Workshop – Ankeny, Boards & Brush – Clive, Artfull – West Des Moines and Painting with a Twist – Urbandale.
36. Make family time a little more meaningful.
37. In Des Moines, the ice is nice! Take the kids to a family-friendly hockey game. The Des Moines Buccaneers have already started their season and the Iowa Wild will take the ice in February.
38. Lace up your bowling shoes and throw some strikes and spares, (maybe a few gutter balls) at your local bowling alley.
39. Savor a scrumptious bowl of Des Moines’ best soup.
40. Embrace the great outdoors with a cozy cabin getaway. You can find local rentals available throughout the winter months.
41. Have a dance party with your kids. Nothing is more fun than seeing mom and dad bust a move! Or, extremely cringe worthy if you have tweens or teens.
42. Visit the Des Moines Children’s Museum, the Science Center of Iowa or make it an adventure and travel to other children’s museums in Iowa.
43. Bundle up and go geocaching.
44. Beat the winter blahs with an ever-changing kaleidoscope of color in the Butterfly Wing at Reiman Gardens.
45. Grab a blanket, make lunch or some snacks and have a picnic. Indoors in the family room or outside in the backyard, something about eating on a blanket is always fun for kids!
46. Warm up with a cup of hot chocolate from a local coffee or candy shop.
47. Spend time stargazing. While a telescope can add to the fun, it costs nothing to explore the night sky.
48. Take in some public art! These must-see murals are scattered throughout the Metro and are great ways to inspire creativity and expose kids to art without spending a dime.
49. Keep your kids connected this winter by writing to a pen pal. We’ve got some great tips and activities to get you started.
50. There really is no shortage of places you can go or things you can do. For more ideas, look through the dsm4kids Event Calendar for local happenings. There is always something to discover!
What’s on your bucket list this winter? Let us know in the Comments below!
