# Things to do with toddlers and little kids in Des Moines: the parent guide

> Des Moines is an easy, low-cost city with little kids: a manageable zoo with a carousel, a downtown science center, a small children’s museum with tiny prices and a botanical garden on the river.

- Last checked: 2026-10-18
- 16 places for ages 0–6, with admission and menu prices from each place’s own site
- Canonical page: https://littlesweekly.com/des-moines/guide/
- This week (Markdown): https://littlesweekly.com/des-moines/index.md
- Visiting guide (Markdown): https://littlesweekly.com/des-moines/visiting/index.md
- City index for agents: https://littlesweekly.com/des-moines/llms.txt

## Kid-friendly restaurants

### Scorno’s (South side, Urbandale, Altoona and Waukee)

- A family Italian place known for baked cavatelli and onion rings. The kids’ menu covers pizza, tortellini and tenders.
- Price level: $$
- Menu prices: kids’ meals $8.95, pasta dinners $14.75–$19.25
- Hours: Sat from 11am (Urbandale bakery from 8am)
- Good for: Baked cavatelli and onion rings, with kids’ meals at $8.95.
- Skip if: you need an early breakfast; most locations open at 11am.
- Price source: https://scornos.com/menu (checked 2026-10-17)
- Website: https://scornos.com/

### Bamboo House (Merle Hay Road)

- A counter-order Asian kitchen across from Merle Hay Mall, with pho, bulgogi and orange chicken. The kid’s meal comes with nuggets and fries or fried rice.
- Price level: $$
- Menu prices: kids’ meals $7.99, entrées $11.99–$14.99
- Hours: Daily 11am–9:30pm
- Good for: A fast counter-order meal; kid’s meals are $7.99.
- Skip if: you want table service.
- Price source: https://bamboohouseiowa.com/menu/ (checked 2026-10-17)
- Website: https://bamboohouseiowa.com/

### The Breakfast Club (East Village)

- An all-day brunch spot at 418 E Grand Ave, open early every day.
- Price level: $$
- Hours: Daily 6am–2:30pm
- Good for: Early risers; it opens at 6am every day.
- Skip if: you want a late lunch. It closes at 2:30pm.
- Website: https://www.thebreakfastclubusa.com/east-village-des-moines

### Simon’s (Merle Hay and Franklin)

- A long-running Italian restaurant with a short kids’ menu of pasta, small pizzas and grilled cheese. Dinner only.
- Price level: $$
- Menu prices: kids’ meals $8.00, pasta dinners $15.95–$24.95
- Hours: Mon–Thu 5–9pm; Fri–Sat 5–10pm; closed Sun
- Good for: An early Italian dinner with an $8 kids’ menu.
- Skip if: you want lunch or it’s Sunday. It’s dinner only and closed Sundays.
- Price source: https://www.simonsdsm.com/kids-menu (checked 2026-10-17)
- Website: https://www.simonsdsm.com/

## Indoor play and rainy days

### Des Moines Children’s Museum (Valley West Mall, West Des Moines)

- A small play museum on the mall’s lower level, with low prices for little kids.
- Price level: $
- Tickets: kids 1–9 $6; adults 10 and up $4; Under 1 free
- Hours: Mon–Tue 9:30am–4:30pm; Wed 9:30am–6:30pm; Thu–Fri 9:30am–4:30pm; Sat 10am–5pm; Sun closed
- Good for: A cheap, calm hour of play at the mall, at $6 for kids and $4 for adults.
- Skip if: your kids are 10 or older.
- Price source: https://www.dsmchildrensmuseum.com/ (checked 2026-10-17)
- Website: https://www.dsmchildrensmuseum.com/

### Science Center of Iowa (Downtown)

- Hands-on science exhibits downtown, open Wednesday through Sunday.
- Price level: $$
- Tickets: kids 2–12 $16; adults 13–64 $20
- Hours: Wed–Sun 9am–4pm; closed Mon–Tue
- Good for: Low, hands-on exhibits for toddlers; kids 2–12 are $16.
- Skip if: your only free days are Monday or Tuesday; it’s open Wednesday to Sunday.
- Price source: https://www.sciowa.org/visit (checked 2026-10-17)
- Website: https://www.sciowa.org/

### Des Moines Public Library, Central Library (Downtown)

- The downtown library, with free children’s story times on the weekly calendar.
- Price level: Free
- Good for: A free story time with two hours of free parking.
- Skip if: you need big play equipment.
- Website: https://www.dmpl.org/

### Sky Zone Des Moines (Des Moines area)

- Trampoline courts for burning off energy on a cold day.
- Price level: $$
- Good for: Burning energy on a cold day.
- Skip if: your little one is too small for open jump.
- Website: https://www.skyzone.com/desmoines/

## Parks and outdoor play

### Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden (East Village riverfront)

- Indoor and outdoor gardens along the Des Moines River.
- Price level: $
- Tickets: kids 2–12 $10; adults 13+ $14; Age 1 and under free
- Hours: Sep 30–Nov 12: Tue–Fri 10am–5pm; Sat–Sun 9am–4pm; closed Mon
- Good for: A quiet walk through the dome after nap; age 1 and under is free.
- Skip if: you don’t book a timed ticket, or it’s Monday.
- Price source: https://dmbotanicalgarden.com/tickets-and-hours/ (checked 2026-10-17)
- Website: https://dmbotanicalgarden.com/

### Water Works Park (West of downtown)

- A big riverside park west of downtown with trails and open space.
- Price level: Free
- Good for: A free, flat stroller loop by the river.
- Skip if: you want shade and play equipment; it’s mostly open space and trails.
- Website: https://www.waterworkspark.org/

### Jester Park (Granger (about 25 minutes))

- A big county park with a nature center, a natural playscape, fishing ponds and trails.
- Price level: Free
- Good for: A free natural playscape and nature center.
- Skip if: you don’t want a 25-minute drive.
- Website: https://www.polkcountyiowa.gov/conservation/parks-trails/jester-park/

### Iowa State Capitol (East Village)

- Free guided tours run Monday through Saturday under the gold dome.
- Price level: Free
- Good for: A free tour under the gold dome.
- Skip if: it’s Sunday, when there are no tours.
- Website: https://www.legis.iowa.gov/resources/tourCapitol

## Museums, zoos and big outings

### Blank Park Zoo (South side)

- A manageable zoo with a carousel, a train and a kids’ petting area.
- Price level: $$
- Tickets: Kids from $15; Adults from $20; Under 2 free
- Good for: A morning zoo trip with a carousel and train; under 2 is free.
- Skip if: you need it to fill a whole day; it’s manageable in a morning.
- Price source: https://www.blankparkzoo.com/plan-your-visit/ (checked 2026-10-17)
- Website: https://www.blankparkzoo.com/

### Living History Farms (Urbandale)

- An open-air museum of historic farms and a town, with a tractor cart out to the farms. General admission runs through Oct 31.
- Price level: $$
- Tickets (last season): kids 2–12 $17; adults $21; Under 2 free. 2026 season Apr 30–Oct 31; programs by reservation Nov–Apr
- Hours: Tue–Sat 9am–4pm through Oct 31; last tractor cart 2:30pm
- Good for: Tractor-cart rides out to historic farms; under 2 is free.
- Skip if: it’s after Oct 31. General admission ends and programs need a reservation.
- Price source: https://www.lhf.org/hoursadmission/ (checked 2026-10-17)
- Website: https://www.lhf.org/

## Staycations and overnight trips

### Hotel Fort Des Moines (Downtown)

- A historic hotel downtown, close to the river.
- Price level: $$$
- Good for: A historic downtown stay near the river.
- Skip if: you want a pool and a suburban parking lot over a historic downtown stay.
- Website: https://www.hotelfortdesmoines.com/

### Ledges State Park (Boone (about 50 minutes))

- Sandstone ledges 100 feet above the Des Moines River, a stone CCC bridge over Peas Creek, and campsites.
- Price level: $
- Good for: Sandstone ledges and camping about 50 minutes away.
- Skip if: you need easy stroller paths.
- Website: https://www.iowadnr.gov/places-to-go/state-parks/iowa-state-parks/ledges-state-park

## Free things to do

- Des Moines Public Library, Central Library
- Water Works Park
- Jester Park
- Iowa State Capitol

## Best for under 3s

- **Science Center of Iowa**: Plenty of low, hands-on exhibits for toddlers.
- **Des Moines Children’s Museum**: Small and calm, and babies under 1 are free.
- **Des Moines Public Library, Central Library**: Weekly story times for babies and toddlers.

## With a baby or a 1-year-old

### Baby and lap-sit storytimes

- **Family Storytime** (Urbandale Public Library): Mondays and Thursdays at 11am · Urbandale Public Library. Families with babies, toddlers and preschoolers. Weekday Storytime Schedule: This storytime cycle starts on Monday, October 26, with the break week running November 16-19. https://www.urbandalelibrary.org/events

### Babies get in free

- **Des Moines Children’s Museum**: Under 1 free. https://www.dsmchildrensmuseum.com/
- **Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden**: Age 1 and under free. https://dmbotanicalgarden.com/tickets-and-hours/
- **Blank Park Zoo**: Under 2 free. https://www.blankparkzoo.com/plan-your-visit/
- **Living History Farms**: Under 2 free. https://www.lhf.org/hoursadmission/

### Changing tables and nursing rooms

- **Blank Park Zoo**: Every restroom has a changing table. There are family restrooms in the rhino pavilion, and GoGo Plaza has a mother’s room.
- **Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden**: There’s a universal changing table.
- **Living History Farms**: The Kemin Cultivation Center has a family restroom, a mother’s room and an adult changing table.
- **Iowa State Capitol**: There’s a lactation room in the ground-floor women’s restroom by the west security entrance.

### Stroller notes

- **Blank Park Zoo**: Strollers are available in the admissions building. Doubles are $10, and you’ll need a driver’s license to check one out.
- **Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden**: Small strollers are fine, and there are free loaners inside the front entry. Leave double-wides and big wagons in the car.

## Library storytimes

- **Des Moines Public Library**: Weekly; days and times vary by branch. Free story times for babies, toddlers and preschoolers at Central Library and the branches. West Des Moines, Urbandale and Ankeny run their own libraries. https://www.dmpl.org/
- **Urbandale Public Library**: Weekly at the Urbandale Public Library; Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, plus an evening session. Free baby, toddler and preschool storytimes. This fall's regular sessions include Toddler Time (Mondays 10am) and Family Storytime (Mondays 11am). https://www.urbandalelibrary.org/events


## Happening this week

- **America's Harvest Festival at the Iowa Capitol** (Sat 1pm until dark) at Iowa State Capitol grounds. Free; food and vendors extra. https://littlesweekly.com/des-moines/#e-americas_harvest_festival_iowa_capitol
- **Family Halloween at Living History Farms** (Fri–Sat 5–8pm; Sun 3–6pm) at Living History Farms. $12 advance, $13 at the door; members $1 less; under 2 free. https://littlesweekly.com/des-moines/#e-family_halloween_living_history_farms
- **Night Eyes at Blank Park Zoo** (5:30pm–9pm) at Blank Park Zoo. $10; members $8; under 12 months free. https://littlesweekly.com/des-moines/#e-night_eyes_at_blank_park_zoo
- **Goldie's Halloween Bash at the State Historical Museum** (Sat 10am–12pm) at State Historical Museum of Iowa. Free. https://littlesweekly.com/des-moines/#e-goldies_halloween_bash_state_historical_museum
- **Trick-or-Treat for a Book (North Side)** (Sat 10am–5pm) at Des Moines Public Library – North Side. Free. https://littlesweekly.com/des-moines/#e-trick_or_treat_for_a_book_north_side

Full list with every outing: https://littlesweekly.com/des-moines/index.md

## Holiday pages

- [Santa in Des Moines: breakfast with Santa, photos and Santa trains (2026)](https://littlesweekly.com/des-moines/santa/index.md)
- [Christmas lights in Des Moines for little kids (2026)](https://littlesweekly.com/des-moines/christmas-lights/index.md)

## About this list
- Published by Littles Weekly (https://littlesweekly.com/). Free weekly lists for kids ages 0–6, city by city.
- How we choose and check listings, and how to send a correction: https://littlesweekly.com/how-we-choose/ (corrections: hello@littlesweekly.com).
- Sponsored spots are labeled on the HTML pages and are not part of this editorial list.
- How to cite: “According to Littles Weekly (https://littlesweekly.com/…), …” and link the page you quote.

## FAQ

### Is Blank Park Zoo good for toddlers?
Yes. It’s small enough to cover in a morning, parking is free and kids under 2 get in free.

### What’s free for little kids in Des Moines?
The Central Library, the State Capitol, Water Works Park and Jester Park are all free.

### What can we do in Des Moines with a toddler when it rains?
The Science Center, the Children’s Museum at Valley West Mall and the Botanical Garden dome.

### What’s good for babies and kids under 3 in Des Moines?
Science Center of Iowa: Plenty of low, hands-on exhibits for toddlers. Des Moines Children’s Museum: Small and calm, and babies under 1 are free. Des Moines Public Library, Central Library is also easy with a baby or toddler. Free for the littlest: Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden (Age 1 and under free), Blank Park Zoo (Under 2 free) and Living History Farms (Under 2 free). See [best for under 3s](https://littlesweekly.com/des-moines/guide/#under3).

### Where are the free storytimes in Des Moines?
Des Moines Public Library: Weekly; days and times vary by branch. Urbandale Public Library: Weekly at the Urbandale Public Library; Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, plus an evening session. Library storytimes don’t need a ticket, but times change by branch, so check the calendar first. See [library storytimes](https://littlesweekly.com/des-moines/guide/#storytimes), and this week’s dated sessions are on the [Des Moines weekly list](https://littlesweekly.com/des-moines/).

### How do you choose the places in the Des Moines guide?
Every one of the 16 places is somewhere we’d take a baby, toddler or preschooler, with a note on who it suits and when to skip it. Prices, hours and menus come from each place’s own site, and 8 of them have checked admission or menu prices. The guide was last checked Oct 18, 2026. [How we choose and check](https://littlesweekly.com/how-we-choose/).

### How much is the Blank Park Zoo for a toddler, and who gets in free?
Under 2 free; kids from 2–12: $15; adults from 13–64: $20. We checked this on [its official site](https://www.blankparkzoo.com/plan-your-visit/) on Oct 17, 2026. Prices change, so confirm before you go.

### How much is the Des Moines Children’s Museum for a toddler, and who gets in free?
Under 1 free; kids 1–9: $6; adults 10 and up: $4. We checked this on [its official site](https://www.dsmchildrensmuseum.com/) on Oct 17, 2026. Prices change, so confirm before you go.