Family Fun in Des Moines Area

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Top picks across Des Moines Area

Highly rated across categories

Des Moines The Slime Kitchen Des Moines

★★★★★ 5 (546)

Family Fun Centers

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Clive The White Rabbit VR Arcade

★★★★★ 5 (53)

VR Experiences

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Ames North River Seasonal Ice Skating Rink

Ames Ames History Museum

★★★★☆ 4.9 (44)

Children's Museums

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Des Moines Columbus Park Sprayground

★★★★★ 5 (1)

Water Parks

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11 city pages

Show all Des Moines Area city pages

Des Moines 16 activities West Des Moines 7 activities Urbandale 5 activities Ames 4 activities Grimes 3 activities Ankeny 3 activities Clive 3 activities Waukee 2 activities Adel 2 activities Altoona 2 activities Boone 2 activities

Planning notes

Des Moines Area has 49 family activities across 10 categories and 11 cities. Pick an activity to see top picks, or jump to a city.

Venue notes from Des Moines Area tracks

K1 Speed Des Moines

Features electric-powered go-karts rather than gas-powered, making it an eco-friendly indoor racing venue
The venue operates monthly race leagues, offering competitive racing opportunities beyond casual visits

Urban Air Trampoline and Adventure Park

Requires purchase of specialized Urban Air socks ($3.99) to participate, which is a mandatory proprietary requirement mentioned across 18 customer reviews
The facility offers an Unlimited Play Summer Pass with a unique expiration structure that varies between 90-120 days depending on purchase date within the April 8-June 4 window, then auto-converts to month-to-month membership

The Operating Room West Des Moines

Room features a unique 'drink flight' concept with slushies offered in curated selections, mentioned as a signature offering that draws customers even during hot weather
Pinball is a dominant attraction at this venue with 38 mentions in reviews, significantly outpacing other games and suggesting it may be a specialty focus compared to typical family entertainment centers

Perfect Games

Features a 2-story laser tag arena, which is a notable multi-level setup for a family entertainment center
The venue allows customers to bring their own birthday cakes to parties, offering flexibility uncommon in many entertainment centers

Spare Time Des Moines

Features an 'Elite Room' specifically designed as a sensory-friendly bowling experience, making it one of the few family entertainment centers with dedicated accessibility accommodations for children with sensory sensitivities
Laser tag requires a minimum of 10 people to play, which is notably higher than typical laser tag venues and positions it specifically for group events and parties rather than individual or small group play

More venue notes

RezBlue Virtual Reality Des Moines

RezBlue offers untethered room-scale VR experiences, allowing players freedom of movement without being tethered to equipment
The venue features large screens available for spectators to watch VR battles in real-time from outside the play area

Monsterama Pubcade

Features a distinctive monster/horror theme throughout the venue, creating a dark and atmospheric setting that complements the retro arcade experience from the 80s and 90s
The venue hosts organized pinball tournaments and pool leagues, indicating a competitive gaming community and structured event programming beyond casual play

Breakout Games

Urbandale maintains an exceptional 4.9-star rating across 6,206 reviews, indicating consistently high customer satisfaction for their escape room experiences
The venue offers 8 distinct themed escape rooms including CLUE, The Kidnapping, Kidnapping 2: Afraid of the Dark, Mystery Mansion, Wild West, Bomb Squad, Island Escape, and Operation: Casino, providing diverse difficulty levels and narratives

Kids Empire Merle Hay

Offers same-day re-entry with no additional cost - visitors can leave and return the same day by signing out with staff, maximizing value of their all-day access pass
The venue has specific accessibility accommodations for children on the autistic spectrum, including advance notice of surprise parades with loud music and elevated noise levels to help manage sensory sensitivities

Escape Chambers Des Moines

Operates a two-story laser tag arena with wireless rifle technology featuring realistic firing sounds and simulated recoil, along with padded drop steps connecting levels instead of traditional stairs
The venue offers multiple laser tag game modes including Team Slayer, Snipers, and King of the Hill within their 60-minute sessions

Gameday

Features a made-from-scratch kitchen with signature items like spicy deviled eggs ($9 for 6), charred wings, and a HUGE pretzel appetizer with house-made dips, indicating a more upscale casual dining approach than typical arcade venues
The venue serves as a sports viewing destination with multiple TVs for watching games, and offers a full-service bar with signature cocktails like Blue Porch Punch, combining traditional arcade/bowling entertainment with premium sports bar amenities

Chuck E. Cheese

Offers a free Kid Check safety program that uses matching stamps for children and adults to ensure safe reunification—a unique safety feature not commonly highlighted at typical family entertainment centers
This location features an Adventure Zone with both trampolines and an obstacle course, with the trampoline zone restricted to visitors under 56 inches tall, creating a specialized area for younger children

Air Lanes Bowling Center

Uses traditional free-fall pinsetters instead of modern string pin systems, providing a true regulation bowling experience with natural ball and pin reactions
Features cosmic bowling with nightclub-like atmosphere including special effects lighting and music, creating a glow-in-the-dark disco bowling experience

Pump It Up Urbandale Kids Birthdays and More

The facility offers 100% private birthday parties, meaning the entire space is exclusively reserved for each party with no other groups present simultaneously
Up Urbandale features a glow-in-the-dark party experience option with special lighting and glow-in-the-dark accessories, adding a unique twist to standard bounce house parties

The White Rabbit VR Arcade

Features spectator screens that display what individual players see inside their VR headsets, allowing friends and family to watch and follow the gameplay in real-time
The venue includes built-in visual safety reminders on-screen that help players stay within designated play areas and avoid colliding with other players during multiplayer VR experiences

Smash Room Iowa- Merle Hay Mall

Each splatter room participant receives a canvas to take home as a keepsake from their experience
Iowa offers a Smash & Splatter Combo Birthday Package for $199 that includes 1 hour in the splatter room plus 1.5 hours in the party room, allowing outside food and drink

Get Air Trampoline Park

Urbandale offers dedicated Toddler Time sessions for jumpers 46 inches and under, with special pricing that is honored during school closures, allowing families with very young children to enjoy the facility safely
The venue features Club Air, high-energy evening sessions held Friday and Saturday from 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM with special music and lighting effects, creating a distinct adult/teen experience separate from daytime family activities

Sky Zone Trampoline Park

Grimes features a GLOW program with special glow jump events, creating a unique nighttime experience with blacklight effects that attracts both kids and families
The venue offers a Little Leapers program specifically designed for younger children, indicating specialized programming for different age groups beyond standard open jump

Kids Empire Jordan Creek

Offers all-day admission validity, allowing guests to leave and return by checking in with staff, making it flexible for multi-activity outings
The punchcard loyalty program offers 10 admissions for $159 with no expiration date and non-nominative cards, allowing flexibility in usage across different visitors

The Slime Kitchen Des Moines

Kitchen features themed seasonal workshops with new creative themes dropping monthly (such as Boba Bar, Cinnamon Roll, and Lava Lamp), keeping the experience fresh and encouraging repeat visits
Staff assistance is highlighted as exceptional across 134 review mentions of 'friendly staff' and 109 mentions of 'helpful staff', with guides available throughout the entire slime-making process to ensure quality results

Pizza Ranch FunZone Arcade

Combines casual dining with arcade entertainment, requiring buffet purchase for FunZone access - creating an integrated entertainment and dining experience
Located in Urbandale, IA near multiple major attractions including Ripley's Believe It or Not!, Living History Farms, and the Worlds of Fun theme park, positioning it as part of a regional entertainment cluster

Warrior Lanes

All 16 bowling lanes feature automated bumpers on every lane, making it one of the few bowling alleys with universal bumper availability for both children and guests with special needs, rather than limiting bumpers to specific lanes
Offers ball ramps on every single lane as an accessibility feature, enabling bowlers of all abilities and ages to participate comfortably

Clawz Entertainment

Is an independent claw machine arcade where machines are intentionally calibrated to be winnable, with staff members offering free plays and personalized tips to customers to maximize their chances of winning
Staff members at Clawz Entertainment use their own personal play cards and take active measures like repositioning prizes and adjusting machine difficulty to ensure customers feel they've won fairly and received value for their money

The Operating Room Ankeny

Room features the newest and well-maintained pinball machines and hosts regular pinball tournaments, making it a destination for pinball enthusiasts
As an independent arcade venue, The Operating Room maintains a large arcade with 50-100 games including classic titles like Pac-Man (4 players) and Mario Kart alongside modern attractions like Jurassic Park and Tomb Raider arcade games

Adel Family Fun Center

Offers an exceptionally affordable group event package at $30 per person that includes bowling shoes, lanes, and an all-you-can-eat buffet with unlimited soda pitchers, making it a notably competitive pricing option for group events
The venue provides food and drink delivery service directly to bowling lanes, combining casual dining convenience with the bowling experience

Playgrounds Cafe

Features a parent-first design where the entire play structure is visible from seating areas without parents needing to walk around it, allowing caregivers to supervise while relaxing
Offers Montessori-themed play stations integrated into the facility, providing developmentally appropriate learning through play

Clive Aquatic Center

Features a lazy river as one of its main attractions, mentioned in 19 reviews - significantly more than any other individual feature
The facility offers dedicated toddler time programming, mentioned in 6 reviews, indicating structured activities beyond standard pool hours

Altoona Aquatics Park

Offers exceptionally affordable concessions with all items priced at $4 or less, making it budget-friendly for families
The park features an island and open grassy sunbathing area, providing a distinct layout compared to typical water parks

Adventureland Park

Features a lazy river as part of its water park amenities, with 75 review mentions highlighting this attraction
The park operates seasonal special events including Neon Nights (Friday & Saturday nights July 10 to August 15), Oktoberfest, and Phantom Fall Fest Halloween event, plus entertainment shows featuring magic, lumberjack performances, and drone shows

Columbus Park Sprayground

Is located near multiple major Des Moines attractions including the Pappajohn Sculpture Park and Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden, making it part of a larger cultural and recreational destination area
The venue features both a kiddie area and splash pad, offering water play options for multiple age groups

Blank Park Zoo

Operates active conservation breeding programs including a Cotton-Top Tamarin breeding program and a Turtle hatchling conservation program, demonstrating its commitment to species preservation
The zoo houses over 60 animal species across both indoor and outdoor exhibits, including rare species such as Snow Leopards, Amur Tigers, Eastern Black Rhinoceros, and Panamanian Golden Frogs

Blue Zoo Aquarium Des Moines

Aquarium features a fully interactive hands-on experience where visitors can touch and feed stingrays, starfish, birds, reptiles, and small fish, with stingray interactions being mentioned in 323 reviews and stingray petting specifically in 86 reviews
The aquarium hosts mermaid shows as a regular attraction, mentioned in 81 visitor reviews

Des Moines Children's Museum

Adults receive free admission to the Des Moines Children's Museum, making it an economical destination for family outings
The museum hosts Touch A Truck events in partnership with the City of Windsor Heights, providing interactive exploration of vehicles and equipment as part of its hands-on learning programming

Great Cats

Features 70+ animal species including rare animals such as Amur Tigers, Snow Leopards, and Eastern Black Rhinoceros
The zoo offers interactive giraffe feeding experiences available at scheduled times (11am, 1pm, 3pm) on weekends through Memorial Day

Ames History Museum

The museum features a unique vault that visitors can explore, described as 'uniquely interesting' by reviewers
The 'We the People of Ames' exhibit includes Civil War artifacts, U.S. Bicentennial items, presidential visit memorabilia, and World War II business artifacts

Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad & James H. Andrew Railroad Museum

The High Bridge is a notable scenic landmark featured prominently in train excursions, mentioned in 42 reviews, making it one of the most talked-about features of the attraction
Offers specialized Rail Explorers experiences where visitors can ride in pedal-powered rail cars, a unique interactive experience distinct from traditional train rides

Living History Farms

The museum spans 500 acres and features four distinct historical time periods: 1700 Ioway Indian Farm, 1850 Pioneer Farm, 1876 Town of Walnut Hill, and 1900 Horse-Powered Farm, allowing visitors to journey through 200 years of agricultural history
Uses on-site interpreters and historians who embody their time periods to deliver educational experiences, with review mentions highlighting staff expertise in bringing history to life through hands-on demonstrations like printing shop activities

The Zoo

Children's Underground features a story reader program available to enhance the visitor experience

Combat Live Laser Tag

Features 285 different weapon simulations that rotate weekly, providing constantly varied gameplay experiences
Arena course layout changes weekly and game modes are dynamically adjusted based on the arena configuration

The Fat Putter Des Moines

Putter features 3 different mini golf courses plus arcade games and brain buster puzzle games integrated throughout the courses
The venue operates as a 21+ only venue from 6pm to close, transforming into an adults-only entertainment space in the evenings

West Grand Golf

Offers a unique tiered pricing structure including free play for children 5 and under, discounted daycare rates at $9 per child, and group lesson packages, making it exceptionally accessible for families and organized groups
The course features cascading waterfalls, elegant fountains, and picturesque rock gardens with colorful blooms integrated throughout the 18-hole layout, creating a distinctive natural landscape setting for mini golf

Monster Mini Golf Grimes

Features custom artwork and murals paying homage to local Grimes culture and landmarks, making it a locally-themed attraction rather than a generic franchise experience
Offers a multi-entertainment complex with 18-hole glow-in-the-dark mini golf, laser maze, bowling, and arcade in one location

Skateland

Features an indoor skate park with a quarter pipe, drop-in quarter pipe, and multiple ramps and rails, plus an augmented reality interactive mural on the northern-most half pipe
The rink offers games approximately every 15 minutes during skating sessions to provide entertainment breaks for guests

Ames / ISU Ice Arena

The rink features a pep band and cheerleaders at hockey games, which is notable enough that visitors specifically mentioned it as their first experience seeing this at a skating venue
The rink experienced a month-long closure in May, after which hockey sessions were added back to the calendar

North River Seasonal Ice Skating Rink

Features separate dedicated rinks - one for hockey and one for general skating - allowing simultaneous use by different skating disciplines
The rink operates on a completely free admission model with extended hours from dawn until dusk throughout the winter months

Skate South

VIP glow room party packages include multiple entertainment and food amenities: food, beverages, airbrush tattoos, and arcade game cards all included in one package
Parties booked during rink opening result in significantly less crowded experiences, allowing private event guests to nearly have the place to themselves

Brenton Skating Plaza

Is an open-air outdoor skating rink with scenic views of the Des Moines river and city skyline, offering a unique skating experience with refreshing riverside breezes
The venue doubles as a concert venue that operates rain or shine, with surprisingly good acoustics and consistent sound quality from front to back despite being an open-air space

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Family Fun Centers in Des Moines Area

Laser Tag in Des Moines Area

Skating Rinks in Des Moines Area

Zoos in Des Moines Area

Children's Museums in Des Moines Area

Water Parks in Des Moines Area

Trampoline Parks in Des Moines Area

Mini Golf in Des Moines Area

Escape Rooms in Des Moines Area

VR Experiences in Des Moines Area

Top picks across Des Moines Area

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Planning notes