Welcome to the 2024 Official Des Moines Family Favorite Awards!
We have all seen the fun voting that happens around our city to highlight all the amazing businesses and organizations in the Des Moines area. Now is your chance to share your family’s favorite places to shop, play, eat, and service providers in the Des Moines area.
Hundreds of you showed up and shared your favorites for 2024. Take a look at the winners and runner-ups below!
The next voting will take place October 2025.
2024 Winners + Runner-Up’s
| Category | Place |
| Best Place for Indoor Play | |
| JouJou Des Moines | Winner |
| Des Moines Children’s Museum | Runner-Up |
| Best Park | |
| Raccoon River Park | Winner |
| Triumph Park | Runner-Up |
| Best Trampoline Park | |
| Get Air | Winner |
| Sky Zone | Runner- Up |
| Best Nature Center | |
| Jester Park Nature Center | Winner |
| Brenton Arboretum | Runner-Up |
| Best Splash Pad/Wading Pool | |
| Grimes Waterworks Park | Winner |
| Legion Park in West Des Moines | Runner-Up |
| Best Outdoor Aquatics Facility/ Water Park | |
| Clive Aquatics | Winner |
| Valley View | Runner-Up |
| Best Apple Orchard | |
| Center Grove Orchard | Winner |
| Deal’s Orchard | Runner-Up |
| Best Pumpkin Patch | |
| Center Grove Orchard | Winner |
| Howell’s Greenhouse and Pumpkin Patch | Runner-Up |
| Best Museum for Families | |
| Science Center of Iowa | Winner |
| Des Moines Children’s Museum | Runner-Up |
| Best Place to Bowl | |
| Spare Time Des Moines | Winner |
| Warrior Lanes | Runner-Up |
| Best Children’s Outdoor Entertainment | |
| Blank Park Zoo | Winner |
| Raccoon River Park | Runner-Up |
| Best Family-Friendly Movie Theater | |
| The Palms Movie Theater | Winner |
| B&B Theatres Ankeny 12 & B-Roll Bowling | Runner-Up |
| Best Indoor Play Space for Younger Kids (5 years and younger) | |
| JouJou Des Moines | Winner |
| Playgrounds Cafe | Runner-Up |
| Best Mini Golf Course | |
| Jester Park | Winner |
| Putts & Pins | Runner-Up |
| Best Place to Play Arcade | |
| Game Day | Winner |
| Sparetime | Runner-Up |
| Best Playground | |
| Raccoon River Park | Winner |
| Triumph Park | Runner-Up |
| Best Local Library | |
| West Des Moines Public Library | Winner |
| Grimes Public Library | Runner-Up |
| Best Place to Roller Skate | |
| Skateland | Winner |
| Skate South | Runner-Up |
| Best Children’s Party Venue | |
| JouJou Des Moines | Winner |
| Playgrounds for Kids | Runner-Up |
| Best Christmas Tree Farm | |
| Howell’s | Winner |
| Strautman Tree Farm | Runner-Up |
| Best Family-Friendly Egg Hunt | |
| Living History Farms | Winner |
| Howell’s | Runner-Up |
| Best Family Festival or Fair | |
| Iowa State Fair | Winner |
| Illumifest | Runner-Up |
| Best Pet-Friendly Spot | |
| Paws & Pints | Winner |
| Raccoon River Park | Runner-Up |
| Best Iowa Vacation – City | |
| Clear Lake | Winner |
| Okoboji | Runner-Up |
| Best Holiday Experience | |
| Christkindlmarket Des Moines | Winner |
| Reiman Gardens – Winter Wonderscape | Runner-Up |
| Best Summer Camp | |
| Des Moines Y Camp | Winner |
| Wesley Woods | Runner-Up |
| Best Children’s Theatre | |
| Des Moines Playhouse | Winner |
| Des Moines Performing Arts | Runner-Up |
| Best Family-Friendly Spot to See a Live Performance | |
| Des Moines Performing Arts | Winner |
| Des Moines Playhouse | Runner-Up |
| Best Toy Store | |
| The Learning Post Toys | Winner |
| Janes Des Moines | Runner-Up |
| Best Arts & Crafts Store | |
| Hobby Lobby | Winner |
| Michaels | Runner-Up |
| Best Kids Boutique | |
| Janes Des Moines | Winner |
| Robin and Riley | Runner-Up |
| Best Bike Shop | |
| Bike World | Winner |
| Kyle’s Bikes | Runner-Up |
| Best Shopping Mall or Center | |
| Jordan Creek Town Center | Winner |
| Merle Hay Mall | Runner-Up |
| Best Bookstore | |
| The Little Book | Winner |
| Reading in Public | Runner-Up |
| Best Kids Consignment Store or Event | |
| Once Upon A Child | Winner |
| Duck Worth Wearing | Runner-Up |
| Best Place to Purchase Children’s Furniture | |
| Homemakers | Winner |
| Suite Dreams | Runner-Up |
| Best Donut Shop | |
| Hurt’s Donuts | Winner |
| Donut Hut | Runner-Up |
| Best Pizza Place | |
| Dough Co. | Winner |
| Northern Lights | Runner-Up |
| Best Family Friendly Coffee Shop | |
| Playgrounds Cafe | Winner |
| Smokey Row | Runner-Up |
| Best Kid’s Eat Free Restaurant | |
| Pizza Ranch | Winner |
| Texas Roadhouse | Runner-Up |
| Best Family Friendly Restaurant | |
| Either/Or | Winner |
| Chick-fil-a | Runner-Up |
| Best Family Friendly Brewery | |
| Big Grove Brewery | Winner |
| Singlespeed Brewery | Runner-Up |
| Best Bakery | |
| La Mie | Winner |
| ChaCha’s Hiland Bakery | Runner-Up |
| Best Ice Cream Shop | |
| Home Sweet Cone | Winner |
| Black Cat Ice Cream | Runner-Up |
| Best Family Chiropractor | |
| Vero Health Center | Winner |
| Thrive Chiropractic | Runner-Up |
| Best Pediatric Dentistry | |
| The Nest | Winner |
| Pediatric Dentistry of Des Moines – Dr. Molly | Runner-Up |
| Best Place for Swim Lessons | |
| Goldfish Swim School | Winner |
| YMCA | Runner-Up |
| Best Dance Studio | |
| Grace Ballet | Winner |
| Dance Vision | Runner-Up |
| Best Gymnastics Studio | |
| Emerge Academy | Winner |
| Chows | Runner-Up |
| Best Place to Take Karate Classes | |
| Dojo’s | Winner |
| Triumph Martial Arts | Runner-Up |
| Best Parks & Recreation Department | |
| West Des Moines Parks & Recreation | Winner |
| Waukee Parks & Recreation | Runner-Up |
| Best Pediatrician | |
| Be Well Pediatrics | Winner |
| Dr. Jessica Greenley | Runner-Up |
| Best Children’s/Family Eye Doctor | |
| Wolfe Eye Clinic | Winner |
| Elite Eye Care | Runner-Up |
| Best Family-Friendly Photographer | |
| Michelle Lovell Photography | Winner |
| Belma Photography | Runner-Up |
| Best Daycare/Child Care Center | |
| New Horizon Academy | Winner |
| Primrose School of Urbandale | Runner-Up |
| Best Family Bank | |
| Community Choice Credit Union | Winner |
| Veridian Credit Union | Runner-Up |
| Best Church | |
| Lutheran Church of Hope | Winner |
| Valley Church | Runner-Up |
| Best Place for a Child’s Haircut | |
| Trixie’s Salon & Spa | Winner |
| Great Clips | Runner-Up |
| Best Labor/Delivery/Postpartum Staff | |
| Broadlawns | Winner |
| Methodist West | Runner-Up |
| Best Birth and/or Postpartum Doula | |
| Blessed Births & Beyond – Shannon Lee | Winner |
| DSM Doula – Kelli Brus | Runner-Up |
| Special Needs Service Providers | |
| Des Moines Therapy | Winner |
| Connect Therapy | Runner-Up |
All winners and runner-ups will receive an email and their ribbon sticker in the mail. If you have any questions please email ehuiatt@desmoinesparent.com