Des Moines Parent is a local family resource for central Iowa parents, owned and run by Erin Huiatt since 2015. We share events, park reviews, seasonal guides and things to do in Des Moines with kids, reaching about 70,000 monthly pageviews and roughly 47,800 Facebook and 22,000 Instagram followers. Our audience includes families with children of all ages. We also include fun date night ideas too!
We offer several different methods to keep families in the know.
- Free event calendar
- Free app available for Android and iPhone devices.
- Travel reviews. Stay up to date with all our travels throughout the Midwest and beyond.
- Extensive park reviews.
- Weekly email newsletter. This is the BEST way to keep track of what fun is going on in central Iowa weekly.
- Receive a weekly itinerary to your inbox every Monday with our DSM Weekly Email. Sign up here!
- Date night ideas, because mom + dad need a night out too.
- Seasonal ultimate guides. This is the place to look each season for special holiday ideas, indoor/outdoor activities, camps, and more.
- The annual Summer Camp Fair is hosted in February.
- Every summer host the annual Trek the Parks Challenge that runs from June through August.
- Runs the annual Des Moines Parent Family Favorite Awards.
- Author of 100 Things To Do in Des Moines Before You Die (Reedy Press, 2023), with Where To Take the Kids: Des Moines coming from Reedy Press in spring 2027.
About Owner Erin Huiatt
In April 2015, Erin Huiatt, mother of two and wife to Travis, purchased Des Moines Parent from the previous owner, Thomas Brogan. She wanted to continue to grow and add to this awesome resource for central Iowa parents.
Erin sits on the board for the Des Moines Children’s Museum and is the former President of FemCity Des Moines. Erin is a reliable resource and stepping stone for parents to find support and make connections within her community and beyond. Learn more about Erin and her journey in Des Moines, Iowa.