Indoor water parks offer summertime-style family thrills year-round and many are just a car ride away from Des Moines. With winter’s icy chill upon us, many families start looking for ways to escape to a warmer locale. Jet-setting to a tropical…
Read MoreCategory: Travel
Travel opportunities for Des Moines families.
Family Day Trip to Winterset
Small-town charm and low-key adventures make Winterset a great day trip for Des Moines families. It’s an easy, scenic 45 minute drive from Des Moines, especially if you take Highway 169 into town vs. taking I-35 south. This quaint community…
Read More
5 Reasons You Don’t Want to Miss the Iowa State Fair
Animals! Concerts! Thrill rides! Funnel cakes! Corn dogs! You know what that means!? It’s almost time for the Iowa State Fair! The very first Iowa State Fair was held in 1854 and it remains THE best state fair to this…
Read More
7 Tips for Camping with Kids
In the mood to get away and enjoy the great outdoors? Camping can be a fun inexpensive summer getaway, but if you’re not exactly the outdoorsy type (ahem, me), the very idea of going off the grid for the weekend…
Read More
Iconic Movie Landmarks You Can Visit IRL in Iowa
Looking for a unique day trip this summer? Des Moines may not be anywhere near Hollywood, but Iowa has played host to a variety of movies. Summer is the perfect time to visit some of these legendary movie sites, that…
Read More
9 Kid-Friendly Spring Day Trip Ideas for DSM Families
By the time it’s spring, my family has reached its limits of winter-induced stir-craziness, especially after this winter. Despite all that our fair city has to offer, we feel the need to get away from Des Moines, even if it’s just…
Read More
25 Perfect Fall Family Day Trips from Des Moines
With fall upon us, we’re craving more than just a change of seasons. Sometimes, fresh scenery—even just for a day—can do wonders to reboot and re-energize the whole family. Whether fall in your house means an afternoon harvesting nature’s bounty at…
Read More
Summer 2018: Can’t Miss County Fairs in Central Iowa
Fair season in Iowa allows the perfect opportunity for FREE family fun. Whether you choose to attend the iconic Iowa State Fair or you opt for one of the smaller county fairs in the area, here are some of our top…
Read More
Lost Island: Family-Friendly Water Park in Waterloo
A water park is hard to beat on a hot summer day! With summer’s heat on the horizon, I’m re-living the fun my family had at Lost Island Water Park in Waterloo last summer. We hardly noticed the blazing July temps…
Read More
Maquoketa Caves: Iowa’s Best Kept Secret
By Natalie Maughan Maquoketa Caves is a vast cavern of nature’s best playground found 40 minutes from Dubuque in eastern Iowa. This place is perfect for young toddlers as well as high school kids. My husband and I recently took…
Read More
Family Fun at the County Fair in Central Iowa
As we reach mid-summer, county fairs across Central Iowa will be taking place. Most people know county fairs have livestock like cows, pigs, horses, chickens and turkeys. But they also have carnival rides, concessions, games and entertainment…packing a whole lot…
Read More
American Gothic House and Visitor Center
By Natalie Maughan The American Gothic painting by Grant Wood is an American icon when it comes to artistic paintings. The world famous portrait of a farmer holding a pitchfork and his daughter looking sullen behind him as they stand…
Read More
2016 Pumpkin Patches & Corn Mazes Near Des Moines
Find an updated list for 2019 pumpkin patches here. Pumpkin picking season is here which means it’s time to start mapping out which pumpkin patches you’re going to hit this year. And, since most of our area’s pumpkin patches also offer…
Read More
12 Tips for Tackling the Iowa State Fair with Kids
Updated July 7, 2019 The Iowa State Fair runs August 8 through 18, 2019. If you have never been it’s definitely an experience you should not miss! Tackling the fair with little kids can be intimidating. Whether you’ve got toddlers…
Read More