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 Park and Recreation department is responsible for the management of 76 parks across Des Moines. Besides the special features found in some of the signature parks (Ewing, Union, Greenwood, Gray’s Lake and Pappajohn Sculpture Park) patrons can enjoy a variety of amenities such as, basketball courts, BMX track, boat and bicycle rentals, disc golf, enclosed and open-air shelters, equipment rental and concessions, horseshoe, ice skating, nature trails, picnic areas with tables and grills, playgrounds, ponds and fishing, sledding hills, soap box derby track, soccer fields, softball fields, tennis courts, volleyball courts, wading pools, skateboarding, dog parks and more.
The Des Moines Civic Center is a 2,744-seat performing arts center belonging to Des Moines Performing Arts. It has been Iowa's largest theater since it opened and is used for concerts, Broadway shows, ballets and other special events. The Civic Center building is also home to the 200-seat Stoner Theater, used for smaller theatrical shows and lectures, located on street level. Cowles Commons, formerly Nollen Plaza, is the one square block space located west of the Civic Center. Cowles Commons is currently under renovation and is slated to open late 2014.
This turn-of-the-century replica carousel is hand carved from basswood, hand painted and ridden to the sound of an old-fashioned band organ. Through this the Heritage Carousel supports a nostalgic and unique aspect of the past whose availability dwindled during the depression. The carousel itself is a beautiful work of art displaying the heritage of Des Moines and surrounding communities through painted portrayals of buildings and sites of significance to these communities.
The main goal of the foundation is to offer a magical and simple bit of fun to a child for the very affordable price of just fifty cents. Providing affordable family activities is an important element of a community.
We are a family-owned and operated pumpkin and honey farm that specializes in fall family FUN! Our idea of fun includes zip lines, giant slides, corn maze, horse rides, tractor rides to the patch & more!
We can’t wait to see you this fall!
General admission to The Pumpkin Ranch on Saturdays and Sundays is $8.50/person. New in 2015 is Discount Fridays when general admission is only $6.50/person. Admission prices include all activities and events offered on the day you attend. Children 2 years old and younger are ALWAYS free. Pumpkins are .46/pound and gourds are $1-$3 each, depending on size.
The State Historical Museum is an exciting adventure: its exhibits tell the stories of Iowa’s growth and development through the exhibition of a rich collection of historic artifacts and documents. Central to the history of Iowa are its people. Some found fame here. Others grew rich, some achieved notoriety. Iowa’s rich heritage is found not only in the stories of the rich, but also in the lives of ordinary people remembered only by family and friends. The State Historical Museum celebrates Iowans, their ambitions, accomplishments, disappointments, and their contributions – often unrecognized and unrecorded- creating a state-wide ethos that Iowans come to share.
State Historical Museum
9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Monday - Saturday
Noon - 4:30 p.m. Sunday
Closed official state holidays
Admission is FREE
Every day is the best day of the week to take in this amazing collection of model trains and railways in Colfax. The train enthusiasts who designed the set-ups have recreated the development of the railroad across the United States. This exhibit represents three eras of time; frontier, steam, and diesel in incredible detail. In addition to the model railroads, Trainland U.S.A. also features original railroad memorabilia and old toy trains dating from 1916 to 1976.
The Uptown Ankeny Association is an active organization of business and property owners in the Uptown Ankeny area whose goal is to continue to create and improve the Uptown Ankeny business district. We organize and participate in many key events annually to promote the interest and development of the Uptown area.
The Uptown Ankeny Farmer's Market vendors provide a wide variety of products to the public. In the past, the market has seen everything from fresh seasonal produce, home-made baked goods, specialty food items, BBQ cooked on-site, perennial plants, hand-made items, and much more.
Urbandale Parks and Recreation comprise 48 local parks and 38 miles of trails, so citizens always have a way to take in nature's kaleidoscope. Decorate flowerpots during Arts in the Park, jump into the areas only indoor pool, go to roller-derby camp, take a fitness class like Zumba, or learn a new skill like stop-motion animation.
Indoor public swimming pool managed by Urbandale Parks and Recreation. Offers swim lessons, open lap swim, water aerobics and other aquatic activities.
Pool Hours
Note: Times may vary due to special events. Please check UrbandalePool.org for more information.
PUBLIC RECREATIONAL SWIMMING
Mon – Thurs, 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM
Sat & Sun, 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
CARDIO / LAP SWIM
Mon – Fri, 5:45 AM – 7:45 AM
Mon – Thurs, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Daily, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
SENIOR LAP SWIM
Mon – Thurs, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Fees are $4 per person entering the pool area. Debit/credit cards are accepted for all fees/charges. Or SAVE with an Annual Pass!