10 New Places to Try in Des Moines This Fall
My kids love trying new activities, and luckily, there are many exciting new places to explore in the Des Moines Metro this Fall. Check out our list of NEW activities and locations you won’t want to miss, including restaurants, playgrounds, toy stores, and more!
1. All Ages Music School
Address: 1308 8th Street, Ste. 5, West Des Moines
Phone: (515) 518-6276
Cost: Ranges depending on age, experience level and group vs private lessons
All Ages Music School seeks to provide a well-rounded music education, a strong foundation, and foster the skills essential for ‘functional musicianship’. They offer private lessons on winds, orchestral strings, voice, guitar, bass, ukulele, piano, drums, and more. Instruction includes group, individual, and duets. Classes start at age 3 and up.
2. Wilson’s Orchard and Farm: Movie Nights and Outdoor Playground
Address: 3201 15th Avenue, Cumming
Phone: (515) 216-0027
Cost: See website. Cost varies depending on the day and farm or farmyard admittance.
Wilson’s Orchard and Farm features over 20 rotating u-pick crops, a restaurant, bakery/café, event venue, farm market, and farmyard. New this year is Movies on the Farm, held every Thursday night. Enjoy cider and other concessions available for purchase at the Admission Shack. Admission is free.
While they have a Play Barn, they have also just constructed an outdoor playground to provide kids with more space to play.
3. Painted Woods Park
Address: Painted Woods West neighborhood off Indian Ridge Drive, Waukee
Painted Woods Park is an 8.5-acre area that will include a unique treehouse-style play space, a half basketball court, and trails. Treehouse-style play structures will be built among existing trees. Inclusive features will allow children of different abilities to play together. A small in-ground trampoline can support mobility aids, and a bowl swing at transfer height will let wheelchair users play outside their chair. It is currently scheduled to open by the end of 2025.
4. Centennial Park: Crickets Feature
Address: 1255 Warrior Lane, Waukee
Centennial Park features sand volleyball courts, ball diamonds, a 12-hole disc golf course, three playgrounds, a basketball court, a Gaga Ball pit, and ample open space for play.
The park will be one of the first in the nation to feature “Crickets,” an interactive, nature-themed playscape that utilizes sound and light to engage young minds and imaginations. This is slated to open after landscaping and surfacing are completed this fall.
5. Slime Kitchen
Address: 3800 Merle Hay Road, Suite 216, Des Moines
Phone: (515) 669-7354
Cost: $25/person
Kids will love making their own customized slime at Slime Kitchen. Choose a scent, color, mix-ins, glitter, textures, and more. Walk-ins welcome, but online reservations are recommended.
6. Toys “R” Us
Address: Jordan Creek Town Center, West Des Moines
In September, Toys “R” Us announced that it would be opening a new store at Jordan Creek Town Center, following the closure of all of its stores in 2018. There is no opening date yet, but stay tuned!
7. The Ingersoll
Address: 3711 Ingersoll Avenue, Des Moines
Cost: See website for tickets
The historic Ingersoll Theater will reopen after Thanksgiving, having been closed for over a decade. Tickets already went on sale for the first scheduled performance, “A White Christmas.” Dinner and non-alcoholic drinks are included with ticket prices and start two hours before the show. Brunch is provided for matinee performances.
8. Mee Mochi
Address: 772 W. Hickman Road, Waukee
Phone: (515) 619-8527
Mee Mochi serves a variety of desserts, including mochi donuts, a combination of a classic donut and a chewy Japanese mochi, soft-serve ice cream, Korean corn dogs, and Vietnamese coffee.
9. The Toasted Cone
Address: 9500 University Avenue, Suite 2105, West Des Moines
Phone: (515) 842-7020
The Toasted Cone is a new ice cream shop that opened at the end of September. It offers rotating ice cream flavors, toasted cones, and fresh-baked treats, including custom cakes.
10. Second Location Alerts
Try these great restaurants and coffee shop now opening at second locations.
- Faustinos Breakfast & Tacos in West Des Moines: This location will feature breakfast, including breakfast tacos, pancakes, and chilaquiles, along with a variety of lunch and dinner items, such as alambres- sizzling meats, peppers, and onions with cheese and tortillas.
- 2. Chikin-Likin: Enjoy Korean fried chicken, originally in Waukee, and now opening a new location at the Local Bites Food Hall downtown in October. They will also serve wings, sandwiches, and popular Korean dishes like bulgogi fries.
- Barista’s Bouquet: This coffee and floral arrangement shop in West Des Moines will open a second location in Urbandale in October. Stay tuned as their first location has lots of fun events, including children’s story time and kid-friendly Halloween pumpkin carving.
