At the intersection of 5th Street and Railroad Avenue in West Des Moines, this street is full of awesome activities! From brunch to boutiques to drinks, there’s something for everyone!

If you're in the mood for some shopping....

Check out the Jordan Creek Town Center. It's an upmarket indoor mall with 150+ shops on 2 floors, a cinema & a plaza with a man-made lake!

If you like sports...

Come join the Iowa Cubs play at Principal Park if you're in the mood for some baseball!

Principal Park is a minor league baseball stadium. It is the home of the Triple-A East’s Iowa Cubs, the affiliate team with the Chicago Cubs. The ballpark has a great view of downtown Des Moines and is a great spring/summer evening activity. Grab a snack and beer from local vendors and sing along with “Take Me Out to the Ballgame.”

2024 season dates are subject to change. They are currently scheduled to be in town all weekend playing the Omaha Royals (Friday at 7pm or Sunday at 1pm).

Parks. Fun.

If you like the idea of a scenic run / walk in around a gorgeous lake...

Check out Grey's Lake!

One of the most popular parks in the Des Moines metro area is Gray’s Lake Park. It takes up 166 acres and has great views of the skyline. You can walk or bike the Loop Trail (2.1 mile loop) or check out the Kruidenier Trail Pedestrian Bridge which lights up beautifully at night. On the lake, there are also rentals for canoes, kayaks, paddleboards, and pedal boats.

If you want to explore downtown Des Moines and enjoy some (hopefully!) nice weather the morning of the wedding.

Every Saturday 7 AM–12 PM

400 Court Ave, Des Moines, IA 50309

If you like gardens....

The Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden is a vibrant, twelve-acre public garden in the heart of downtown Des Moines, providing an enduring guest experience through progressive design, innovative programming and dynamic exhibits.

Price & Hours:

Open Tuesday-Sunday 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Closed Mondays.

Museum Members: Free

Adults: $12

Seniors 65+: $11

Active Military: $11

Children 2-12: $9

Children 1 and under: Free

If you like animals...

Grrrrr... A hit with locals and visiting families! Nearly 1,500 animals, among the zoo's residents are red pandas, African lions, giraffes and Magellanic penguins. In addition to the animals, the zoo offers a variety of kid-friendly experiences, including train, carousel and camel rides, as well as animal feedings with parakeets and giraffes.

Price & Hours:

Open Daily, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

$18 adults, $12 children

If you like to learn...

The Science Center of Iowa is a great science museum with lots of hands-on exhibits and different programming. Younger children can experiment and play at the Small Discoveries so it’s a great place for some family fun. The “What’s On Earth?” exhibit looks like zoology, meteorology, and geology to learn more about the earth. There is even a section that focuses on physical science, a Lego building area, and an exhibit about space. The Star Theater Planetarium has daily shows that explore the sky as well as some of the most important places on earth. Visit the IMAX theater while you’re there as well.

Price & Hours:

The Science Center is open from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm Thursday - Sunday.

General admission tickets are...

Adults and children ages 2-12: $15

Seniors ages 70 and over: $13;

Children under 2 years: Free

If you like history and the inner workings of government...

Check out the golden dome from all over the city!

Prices & Hours:

Capitol Building & Tour Hours,

Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (building locks at 4:45 p.m.)

Saturday 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Free to tour!

Brunch near the hotel block... delicious!

Open daily: 6:00am-2:30pm

Reservations recommended.

If you like brunch...

Get your JAM! on with some delicious food, coffee, and mimosas!

Reservations recommended.

If you love food and like to be healthy...

Eat at one of Katherine's favorite Des Moines places for lunch!

CAFÉ HOURS:

Mon - Thurs: 10:30 a.m. – 9 p.m.

Fri - Sun: 8 a.m. – 9 p.m.

Smokey D's BBQ Winner of over 90 State BBQ championships and over 1000 local, regional, and national awards.

Bit further from the hotel blocks, but worth the drive.

If you're extra hungry...

Check out one of the multiple locations of some of Iowa's "World Famous" BBQ!

Jethro's BBQ Drake - BBQ Slow Smoked MEAT, pork, chicken, brisket (bluefrogwebsites.com)

It’s not Yuengling. But it’ll do.

A horror-themed restaurant, the Zombie Burger and Drink Lab serves burgers that are famous among locals and anyone lucky enough to try it. There are 20 different burgers. The “Juan of the Dead” features green chile and cheese croquette, Monterey Jack, caramelized onion, and chipotle mayo. Another favorite is the “Undead Elvis” which has peanut butter, fried bananas, bacon, American cheese, a fried egg, and mayo.

For your sweet tooth!

Hours

M-F: 6:30am – 3:00pm

Sat: 7:00am – 2:00pm

Sun: 8:00am – 12:00pm

Also a location in Norwalk, Iowa. Potentially a great pitstop on the way to the wedding... very fitting for Kat's addiction to coffee and Ryan's addiction to donuts

If you want to make a family vacation out of our wedding weekend...

Adventureland Park is an amusement park in nearby Altoona, IA with more than 100 different rides, shows, and attractions. There are different themed sections throughout the park. The Alpine Village/Bavaria section is German-themed and has a biergarten and different rides. You can also explore the western sections called Outlaw Gulch and Last Frontier. There are sections perfect for younger children as well, so visitors of all ages will have a blast. If it’s a hot day, don’t miss the water park which is one of the top attractions in the summertime.

If you want to make an additional trip out of our wedding weekend...

PELLA TULIP FESTIVAL 2024

Thursday, May 2 - Saturday, May 4

Located about 1 hour from Des Moines.

Join for the 89th annual Tulip Time! Enjoy delicious Dutch foods, performances, museum tours, and of course, hundreds of thousands of beautiful tulips.

There's gnome place like Iowa ;)

Located about 1 hour from Des Moines.

Lovely garden in Ames, Iowa with the world's largest gnome statue