A- A+

Plan Your Vacation as a Staycation in Downtown Des Moines

Downtown DSM Staycation

This summer, make your vacation a staycation with these fun things to do in Downtown Des Moines (DSM). These weekend itineraries are for a 48-hour getaway without the hassle of travel or long-distance driving.

Couple’s Getaway in Downtown Des Moines

Hotel Pick: The Surety
Activities in Downtown Des Moines can be romantic, adventurous, relaxing or all of the above — whatever you need for a weekend getaway with your special someone.

Ricochet

Friends’ Weekend in Downtown Des Moines

Hotel Pick: The AC Hotel by Marriott
Your bestie reunion is a great chance to impress your crew with the coolest attractions and fun things to do in Downtown Des Moines. You’ll be the hero of the weekend with these places in mind:

Downtown Farmers' Market

Family Thing to Do in Downtown Des Moines

Hotel Pick: The Residence Inn by Marriott
It’s not too late to squeeze in a summer vacation! These Downtown Des Moines hotspots are perfect for your family-friendly adventure.

  • Start the weekend right with an epic Iowa Cubs game, where every Friday night home game ends with fireworks!
  • Saturday morning, treat your family to a special vacation breakfast in Downtown Des Moines: Cinnaholic cinnamon rolls or ChuChu Donuts.
  • Families also love Des Moines' Downtown Farmers’ Market, which is conveniently located steps from the Residence Inn. Pick up some snacks or treats, take in music and just enjoy the sights and sounds of The Market together.
  • Spend the afternoon launching paper rockets, racing Lego cars, learning about space and seeing Iowa’s native creatures first-hand at the Science Center of Iowa (pictured below).
  • Kids will love dinner at a family-friendly Downtown Des Moines restaurant like Zombie Burger or Buzzard Billy’s.
  • Sunday morning, swing by Lauridsen Skatepark. Either pack your skateboards or scooters to get in on the action or sit on the sidelines as a spectator — both equally fun for kids and parents, too!
  • Be sure to snag a souvenir at Raygun, and a snack for the road from Molly’s Cupcakes.

(P.S. – We have even more family-friendly adventure ideas for you! Learn more.)

Science Center of Iowa

Solo Trip in Downtown Des Moines

Hotel Pick: Des Lux
Spending a weekend flying solo can be incredibly invigorating and refreshing. Here’s a fun way to spend your much-needed alone time in Downtown Des Moines.

Tupelo Honey

To fully enjoy your staycation in Downtown Des Moines (DSM), find additional information on hotels and places to stay, restaurants and nightlife, shops, festivals, attractions and more.

Greater Des Moines Partnership

DSM USA is the regional identifier for Greater Des Moines (DSM). DSM USA is a bold statement to the world: This is a welcoming, diverse and vibrant community with affordable and accessible amenities for residents and businesses. This regional identifier is the result of significant quantitative and qualitative research. The Partnership will champion the DSM USA message, and encourages its Investors, its more than 6,500 Regional Business Members and DSM USA Ambassadors to help share the region's story with One Voice.