Worried that moving to Des Moines is going to put a damper on your list of fun things to do. Or, do you already live in Des Moines and think nothing’s going on?

Well thanks to our friends at seedesmoines.com, we’ve come up with a few things to get you out of the house and out and about in Des Moines.

Des Moines has plenty of family fun options that will keep mom and dad as well as the little ones entertained.

Our top 3 for the family  include :

1) Adventureland Park and Adventure Bay. Iowa’s favorite amusement park, Adventureland boasts over 100 rides, shows and attractions to choose from. Ranging from Ben Ulin’s magic show in Sherriff Sam’s Saloon, to the Outlaw rollercoaster and the Frog Hopper; Adventureland has a ride for every member of the family. Combine that with the brand new waterpark “Adventureland Bay” featuring 13 water slides, Iowa’s largest lazy river, a pool and swim up bar; Adventureland is a great way for the family to spend a day in the sun. For park hours and ticket prices check out their website: www.adventureland-usa.com

2) Make your own chocolate at Suzette Candies. With a 50 year tradition and 3 locations in the metro area, Suzette Candies continues to please anyone’s sweet tooth. And we’ve all wanted to have our own “Willy Wonka Experience” and here you can. Just ask. For location information go to: http://www.suzettecandies.com

3) LazerX at All Play . Located in Downtown right near the Iowa Events Center, siblings can settle their rivalry in All Play’s 5,000 square foot Lazer arena for just $7. Mom and dad are also allowed to join in the fun.

For the inviduals looking for more “grown up” options, Des Moines still has plenty to offer.

1) John & Mary Pappajohn Sculpture Park . This 4.4 arcre park is nestled right on the western edge of Downtown Des Moines and features over 24 works from 19 international artists. Visitors can take a leisurely stroll through the park’s specially designed walkways and artwork, while also getting a view of downtown Des Moines. After their visit, guests can stop by the Des Moines Social Club, located right across the street to grab refreshment in the SideShow Lounge.

2)80/35. This music festival taking place July 3 & 4 this year, features non stop music from local,regional and national artists. This year’s bands include: Modest Mouse, Christopher the Conquered and Modern Day Satire. For the full line up and tickets, check out: www.80-35.com

3)Downtown Des Moines bars . Downtown Des Moines is home to over 60 bars, from trendy nightclubs to casual brew pubs, with many featuring nightly entertainment.

All these are just a tip of the iceburg of what Des Moines has to offer. For a complete list of the 100 things to do, as well as the other great things that  didn’t make the list, check out www.seedesmoines.com/100 where you can choose your own top Des Moines “to-do’s”.

This entry was posted on Thursday, May 20th, 2010 at 12:13 PM and is filed under Arts & Culture, Outdoor Activities. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.