The Directory
Kid friendly businesses, organizations and services in the Des Moines area.
Whether you live in Ankeny, Altoona, Clive, Des Moines, Grimes, Indianola, Johnston, Urbandale, Waukee, Windsor Heights, West Des Moines or beyond, find the local resources your family needs in in the dsm4kids Directory!
While all submissions are considered, inclusion in the Directory is based on relevance. Businesses or organizations outside of Central Iowa or primarily geared toward adults may not be listed.
The Hoover Library & Museum enables visitors to experience for themselves the many sides of Iowa's only president:
The permanent galleries begin with Hoover's boyhood in Iowa and continue on to the Waldorf Towers in New York where he spent the final years of his life.
The Quarton Gallery offers exciting temporary exhibits relating to American history.
In the Hoover Library people of all ages can learn about President Hoover's life and career. Using manuscripts, photographs and oral histories, one can learn the stories of our history.
The Hoover Museum sits on the grounds of the Herbert Hoover National Historic Site where visitors can tour:
Mr. Hoover's birthplace cottage
a blacksmith shop
Quaker Meeting house
school house
the gravesite of Mr. and Mrs. Hoover
The Library offers public computers,story times, book clubs, eBooks, and audiobooks. And books, of course! Located just off The Square, we are happy to answer your questions and provide a place for you to meet your neighbors or just sit and read for awhile.
The Cafe is located at 117 5th Street in Historic Valley Junction in West Des Moines, Iowa.
We have a complete menu of fine cafe drinks, sandwiches,pastries & more. Our venue is available for rent during or after hours for parties, luncheons, musical groups and much more!
The cafe regularly features professional and touring singer/songwriters
Inspiring Dance is a dance studio in Central Iowa teaching dance in the disciplines of ballet, pointe, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, hip hop, tap and more! The studio offers dance instruction, competition opportunities, summer camps and birthday parties.
The 378 acre Iowa Arboretum is a “Library of Living Plants”. It includes forest, prairie, and meadow areas and offers three self-guided woodland trails where you’ll discover hundreds of species of trees and shrubs, plus herbs, roses, ornamental grasses, Siberian irises, daylilies, and hostas.
Come on out to the Ankeny Regional Airport and get involved in something big!
The Iowa Aviation Heritage Museum commemorates the history of Iowa Military Aviation and General Aviation History from Pre WW II to present day.
Museum is open on Tuesdays and Thursdays 10 AM to 2 PM and on Saturdays from 10 AM to 4 PM or by Appointment
The Iowa Aviation Museum celebrates Iowa’s remarkable aviation heritage…from the state’s first recorded flight in 1910 to its native sons and daughters exploring the universe. Kids will love viewing the Museum’s vintage aircraft that are on display.
The Museum is open April to November, Monday through Saturday 10:00 am – 5:00 pm and Sundays 1:00 – 5:00 pm.
Admission is $10.00 for Adults, $9.00 Seniors and $5.00 Kids.
Capitol Tour Information
Tours are provided at no cost. Schedule a tour by calling 515-281-5591. Tour guides strive to accommodate every tour request, even those without a scheduled tour.
Tours are conducted Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
The tour guides and gift shop are located on the ground floor of the rotunda in the Iowa State Capitol.
Groups of 10 or more should schedule a tour of the Capitol online at www.legis.iowa.gov.
Self-guided tours of the Capitol and Capitol grounds are available anytime during normal business hours.
For more than 30 years, the Iowa Youth Chorus (IYC) has been providing young singers with world class choral education. Dedicated to bringing the highest level of artistic training to the youth of central Iowa, IYC provides a nurturing environment where young singers can explore the depth and beauty of choral music – AND have fun!
Java Joe's CoffeeHouse™ is the oldest coffee roaster in Des Moines, Iowa.
Java Joe’s serves up live music several nights a week. Local, independent and nationally touring performers can all be seen here. Most entertainment is FREE. Some concerts require tickets that can be purchased online. Check out their website for upcoming events.