EXPLORE: Family Fun
Don’t keep yourselves and the family cooped up all fall and winter long. Get out of the house and experience any of these family-friendly places.
By Cyote Williams
CLIMB IOWA
3605 S.E. Miehe Drive, Grimes
150 E. Fourth St., Des Moines
www.climbiowa.com
With two locations, each boasting climbing walls with different ways to reach their indoor summits, Climb Iowa is a great way to get exercise in a non-traditional way. The Grimes location has more than 10,000 square feet of climbing and 200 routes. The East Village location comes equipped with a 3,000-square-foot bouldering wall and a 1,000-square-foot training/workout area.
SCIENCE CENTER OF IOWA
401 W. Martin Luther King Jr Parkway,
Des Moines
www.sciowa.org
A beloved destination for curious kids, the Science Center of Iowa has permanent exhibits such as Small Discoveries, What On Earth? When Things Get Moving, Why The Sky?, the Makers Studio and Brick by Brick that keep children actively entertained while learning about science in the process.
LIVING HISTORY FARMS
11121 Hickman Road, Urbandale
www.lhf.org
History comes to life at Living History Farms. Three hundred years’ worth of history is told through the varying exhibits and demonstrations, all to educate people on how Iowans transformed the fertile prairie into the most productive farmland in the world. Not only that, but LHF hosts family-friendly events all season long from Applefest to its Family Christmas.
SLEEPY HOLLOW SPORTS PARK
4051 Dean Ave., Des Moines
www.sleepyhollowsportspark.com
Enjoy Sleepy Hollow Sports Park in several ways during the fall and winter months. The scare park that takes over the grounds during Halloween can frighten even the toughest individuals. In the winter, the tubing, snowboarding and skiing hills are some of the best you can find.
BLANK PARK ZOO
7401 S.W. Ninth St., Des Moines
www.blankparkzoo.com
Yep, that’s right. Despite the frigid Iowa winters, the Blank Park Zoo is open year-round. Take a trip to one of the country’s best zoos, with plenty of exotic animals to feed or see. The Zoo currently has 104 different animal species and 1,484 animal specimens in its care.
LAURIDSEN SKATEPARK
901 Second Ave., Des Moines
www.dsmskatepark.com
The country’s largest outdoor skatepark can be found in downtown Des Moines. With 88,000 square feet of skatepark ready to be skated, bladed and, inevitably, fallen on, the Lauridsen Skatepark is a great place to take young ones to learn a new sport and possibly make some new friends.
SEVEN OAKS RECREATION
1086 222nd Drive, Boone
www.sevenoaksrec.com
Roughly a 50-minute drive from Des Moines, Seven Oaks Recreation is a slice of skier and snowboarder heaven. Take the lift up to the top and, if you’ve got the skills, bomb down the hill and let your wild side show. If you’re still a newbie, you can take advantage of the lessons offered. If you’re being dragged into the cold against your will, the Coal Creek Lounge can accommodate you nicely while your friends freeze away.
GLAZED EXPRESSIONS
1315 S.W. Oralabor Road, Ankeny
8826 Swanson Blvd., Clive
www.glazedexpressions.com
Those with craft-focused kiddos shouldn’t miss a trip to Glazed Expressions. Pick a date to visit either of its locations with the family to create a physical memory to last a lifetime. Pick out a piece of pottery from more than 350 options and get to painting. Once you’re done, they friendly staff will fire it up for you in the studio, and, voila.
CLIMB IOWA
3605 S.E. Miehe Drive, Grimes
150 E. Fourth St., Des Moines
www.climbiowa.com
With two locations, each boasting climbing walls with different ways to reach their indoor summits, Climb Iowa is a great way to get exercise in a non-traditional way. The Grimes location has more than 10,000 square feet of climbing and 200 routes. The East Village location comes equipped with a 3,000-square-foot bouldering wall and a 1,000-square-foot training/workout area.
SCIENCE CENTER OF IOWA
401 W. Martin Luther King Jr Parkway,
Des Moines
www.sciowa.org
A beloved destination for curious kids, the Science Center of Iowa has permanent exhibits such as Small Discoveries, What On Earth? When Things Get Moving, Why The Sky?, the Makers Studio and Brick by Brick that keep children actively entertained while learning about science in the process.
LIVING HISTORY FARMS
11121 Hickman Road, Urbandale
www.lhf.org
History comes to life at Living History Farms. Three hundred years’ worth of history is told through the varying exhibits and demonstrations, all to educate people on how Iowans transformed the fertile prairie into the most productive farmland in the world. Not only that, but LHF hosts family-friendly events all season long from Applefest to its Family Christmas.
SLEEPY HOLLOW SPORTS PARK
4051 Dean Ave., Des Moines
www.sleepyhollowsportspark.com
Enjoy Sleepy Hollow Sports Park in several ways during the fall and winter months. The scare park that takes over the grounds during Halloween can frighten even the toughest individuals. In the winter, the tubing, snowboarding and skiing hills are some of the best you can find.
BLANK PARK ZOO
7401 S.W. Ninth St., Des Moines
www.blankparkzoo.com
Yep, that’s right. Despite the frigid Iowa winters, the Blank Park Zoo is open year-round. Take a trip to one of the country’s best zoos, with plenty of exotic animals to feed or see. The Zoo currently has 104 different animal species and 1,484 animal specimens in its care.
LAURIDSEN SKATEPARK
901 Second Ave., Des Moines
www.dsmskatepark.com
The country’s largest outdoor skatepark can be found in downtown Des Moines. With 88,000 square feet of skatepark ready to be skated, bladed and, inevitably, fallen on, the Lauridsen Skatepark is a great place to take young ones to learn a new sport and possibly make some new friends.
SEVEN OAKS RECREATION
1086 222nd Drive, Boone
www.sevenoaksrec.com
Roughly a 50-minute drive from Des Moines, Seven Oaks Recreation is a slice of skier and snowboarder heaven. Take the lift up to the top and, if you’ve got the skills, bomb down the hill and let your wild side show. If you’re still a newbie, you can take advantage of the lessons offered. If you’re being dragged into the cold against your will, the Coal Creek Lounge can accommodate you nicely while your friends freeze away.
GLAZED EXPRESSIONS
1315 S.W. Oralabor Road, Ankeny
8826 Swanson Blvd., Clive
www.glazedexpressions.com
Those with craft-focused kiddos shouldn’t miss a trip to Glazed Expressions. Pick a date to visit either of its locations with the family to create a physical memory to last a lifetime. Pick out a piece of pottery from more than 350 options and get to painting. Once you’re done, they friendly staff will fire it up for you in the studio, and, voila.