This place is honestly magical. We've talked about going to the Des Moines Botanical Garden for…read moreyears and just never made the time. We finally went during the holidays, and I'm so glad we did. Everything was decorated beautifully, the self-guided walk was easy, and there were photo opportunities everywhere. It was busy with families, but the timed ticketing really worked -- it never felt packed or overwhelming, which I appreciated. Going on a snowy, cold night actually made it even better. It felt cozy, festive, and kind of special. They also have concessions with drinks for kids and adults (with or without alcohol), which was a nice surprise. There's a restaurant inside called Flora that's reservation-only, plus brunch options. We also saw the little igloo huts you can reserve for dinner or small groups (I think around 8 people), which looked really fun -- definitely want to look into that more. Parking was free, and if you want to make it more of an experience, you can even ride the trolley over from the East Village. Overall, this was easily a 10/10 for us. Can't believe it took us this long to go -- we'll definitely be back.

Be sure to check the days they are open. Right now they are closed on Mondays. I knew that, but I…read morethought I could walk around outside even though they were closed, but no, it is gated. I will just have to come back another warm day! For what I could see, it's going to be a beautiful year although it looks like some renovation has started outside. This is always a fun place to visit for a plant lover.

Got to check this place out during a Yelp event. Without Yelp I would never heard of this place. No…read moregeneral admission unless you want to do the maze prices are very reasonable $8 for anyone over 6, age 4-5 $1, and under is free, great for the whole. It's not a grand big pumpkin patch like the other ones around town that are pretty popular, they do have activities. They have a mini corn maze and the big one is shaped like the Super Mario characters and it's a scavenger hunt that will keep you busy. There is also a campfire. I will say this place is a little run-down, when I pulled into the parking lot I wasn't so sure, don't try to be cute or where cute shoes or dress up it's pretty muddy out there. The staff was nice and they have a kitchen where u can order snacks and some warm to drink when it's chill outside.

I love going to the Pumpkin Patch at Pumpkinville & Cornmaze in Mitchelleville, IA. It's only…read more15-20min drive outside of DSM, and the only dog friendly pumpkin patch. It's our little family tradition to go out a pick pumpkins with a snack and warm cider. This wonderful place has a cute treasure hunt in the corn maze, tractor ride to the pumpkin patch, corn kernel pit for the kiddos, and a small little snack shop. You can even have a little bonfire there while drinking warm apple cider.

I won a gift card from a local business and came here on a Sunday morning with my family. My sister…read moreand hubby had fun going through the maze, even though they were rebels and didn't go through in the correct numbered order. There was a scavenger hunt that you could do as you went along as well. There was a small shop that had cider, cocoa, popcorn, hot dogs, nachos, and sweets. It was really a nice feature because sadly I didn't get the make it through the maze due to a recent injury. We had fun watching them feed bad pumpkins to the cows, which are right by the store and we picked out a few pumpkins to take home. There are a few other activities that are scattered throughout the property to do.

Nice, family friendly museum located in downtown Des Moines, but there are way too many screaming…read morekids running around. Why do people bring children under 8 to these types of places? It's not like they will even know or comprehend any of these things, much less be able to sit still during demonstrations or when viewing exhibits. It was nice to see that all science demonstrations and shows in the planetarium are included in your ticket price. If you check out a few of those, then it is well worth the admission even as an adult!

A Full-Circle Journey at the Science Center of Iowa!…read more I used to bring my kids here when they were little, and now I've returned with one of them and her babies. What a wonderful, full-circle experience! The Science Center of Iowa does a fantastic job creating a fun and exciting environment for kids of all ages and "adult children" alike. Your senses come alive as you explore the many awesome, interactive exhibits across both levels, indoors and out. There's so much to see and do. You can navigate through tunnels made of packing tape, gaze at Cinderella's castle built entirely of LEGOs in the Brick by Brick exhibit, or launch homemade rockets and send smoke signals in the When Things Get Moving exhibit. We also watched a snake shed its skin in What on Earth, used hand tools in the Maker's Studio, and saw constellations fly through the sky in Why the Sky. They do a great job of keeping the exhibits fresh and updated, which keeps them appealing to every generation. If you haven't been to the Science Center, with or without kids, I highly recommend spending a few hours here. The building is cool to see from the outside, but the real magic happens once you enter and head inside. While they have a fantastic gift shop, a note of sadness: The Blank IMAX Dome Theater, once a prominent feature, was permanently closed following severe flood damage in 2018. This place is very socially oriented, offering live educational shows on a schedule throughout the day, as well as special events like adult-themed evenings with a mixology lab. They also partner with schools for field trips and so much more. It's a true hub for discovery and community.