Nine Reasons Why Greater Des Moines is Family-Friendly
What makes Greater Des Moines (DSM) a family-friendly place to live? Is it the welcoming neighborhoods? The amazing food scene? Is it the opportunity for a well-rounded education and work-based learning opportunities for students? Maybe it’s all of these and more! Whether you end up in Grimes or Waukee, West Des Moines or Johnston, you’ll find amenities focused on family.
If you're looking for a family-friendly home, you'll love DSM. Get on our list to learn more about why DSM is so great.
Check out these nine reasons to find out why DSM is the place for your family:
1. Because The Rankings Say So:
In 2024, DSM has accumulated rankings that showcase how affordable, clean and neighborly the city is.
2. Welcoming Neighborhoods
No matter what DSM community you find yourself in, there is a neighborhood that’s right for you.
Families interested in Clive will love the area surrounding Campbell Park, which is a short walk to the Greenbelt Trail, with family-friendly events like Food Truck Fridays happening nearby during the warmer months. Families enthusiastic about exploring recreational areas will love the natural play structures and the skatepark at Walker-Johnston Park in Urbandale, which happens to be in close proximity to the Urbandale Public Library, too, so there’s no shortage of fun opportunities for your family to enjoy.
In West Des Moines, the Historic Valley Junction neighborhood is walkable with local shops and exciting events happening all the time. The kids will love checking out Cirque Wonderland for camps and classes, as well as Coffee Cats Café for a beverage with some feline friends!
For families looking for a small-town vibe, you’ll find it in places like Adel, Knoxville, Grinnell, Indianola, Pella and Winterset. These locales are nestled into rural settings but are packed with amenities from parks and arts to health care services that make life fun and convenient, too.
Looking for older, Victorian-style architecture? In Downtown DSM, Sherman Hill homes feature gable roofs and other attributes distinct to the area. Other Des Moines neighborhoods like Waterbury, Beaverdale and Ingersoll/Grand also offer historic charm.
Travel north of Des Moines, and your Prairie Trail home is situated in one of Ankeny’s most walkable neighborhoods, with plenty of shops, restaurants and two aquatic centers.
3. Educational Programming
In Waukee, high school and college students can find summer opportunities with DiscoverYou, a hands-on learning experience powered by a local company, Holmes-Murphy, ensuring their growth in areas of interest like marketing, sales, accounting and more. An opportunity for younger students can be found with the Waukee Innovation and Learning Center, which offers STEM summer camps for elementary and middle schoolers so they can gain knowledge through interactive experiences.
Local high school students also benefit from programs like Avenue Scholars, which offers educational support, coaching and more. The Greater Des Moines Partnership’s Career Ready Collective program is another that helps prepare youth for professional work.
For students interested in science and tech innovation, the Iowa State University Research Park in Ames works in conjunction with Iowa State University. There are hundreds of student interns employed at the Research Park at any given time, working with startups and Iowa-based companies, helping them to expand and succeed in the state. The John & Mary Pappajohn Education Center in Downtown DSM offers University of Iowa graduate degree programming to students in Des Moines who are already working full-time to encourage advanced degree programs and development of employees already in the workforce.
4. Engaging Museums
For many parents, education doesn’t stop at school and a city with robust museums featuring interactive exhibits and learning experiences is an important factor to consider. While DSM has its own Science Center, Historical Museum and Art Museum, like any other large metropolitan city, it also has several unique museums you won’t find anywhere else. Living History Farms in Urbandale, for instance, is an open-air museum with historical interpreters. Take the kids to the National Balloon Museum and U.S. Ballooning Hall of Fame in Indianola to get a history of hot air ballooning — do this during the annual National Balloon Classic to really get the most out of your experience! For parents of a racing fan, check out Knoxville’s own National Sprint Car Hall of Fame & Museum before heading to the Knoxville Raceway for a championship race.
5. Work-Based Learning Experiences and Internships
Helping your child develop their interests and giving them real-world experiences isn’t something we just talk about in DSM. Our employers, schools and leadership across the state of Iowa want to ensure your kids are prepared for the real world. Developing a career pathway is easy to do thanks to companies like Dotdash Meredith, John Deere and Musco Sports Lighting where work-based learning programs have taken off and are just a few examples of programming that is cropping up all over the region. These companies are collaborating with local organizations to invest in the next generation. A work-based learning program called iJag, helps businesses partner with local school districts to develop the students’ skills and assist in finding career pathways. This program has become a leader in work-based learning and has partnered with companies like Alliant Energy, Collins Aerospace, John Deere Foundation, Master Builders of Iowa, Principal, Wellmark and more.
Des Moines-based Dotdash Meredith offers an apprentice program in partnership with Iowa State University’s Greenlee School and Drake University, where students can work 15-20 hours a week with popular media brands, including Midwest Living and Better Homes and Gardens. In Ankeny, John Deere offers internships, a Part-Time Student Program so you can work around your classes and an Early Talent Development Program for recent graduates designed to give full-time workers experience in two or more positions within the company. Finding a job isn’t daunting when your experience in an industry starts early and grows over time. Musco headquarters in Oskaloosa, with factories in Muscatine and Des Moines, also offers work-based learning programs to local students. You can hear more about their successful program here.
Internships and apprenticeships round out education in the region, with The Partnership even offering a summer engagement series for interns. The series, DSM Intern Connection, offers presentations from local leaders and networking opportunities.
6. Evolving International Airport
What’s more family-friendly than the ability to offer a bigger, better terminal at Des Moines International Airport? Your family and friends will have an easier time when they travel to DSM to make memories with your family thanks to four new gates and a parking garage expansion that will be complete by 2026! Learn more about the Lift DSM project at flydsm.com.
7. Things to do in Every Season
When you think about living in a particular location, you want to make sure you can enjoy it year-round. While summer offers festivals, swimming pools and endless outdoor recreational opportunities, what about the rest of the year? Don’t worry — we’ve got it covered! For the fall season, enjoy the apple orchards and pumpkin patches such as Wills Family Orchard and Iowa Orchard.
During the winter months, the entire family will love places like Brenton Skating Plaza for outdoor ice skating or sledding down Capitol Hill in Downtown DSM. Brenton even offers special events for seniors, students adapted and sensory skates as well as a few holiday skate events. While in Downtown DSM, check out the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden to get warm temps any time of year and attend Story Sprouts, a Friday morning story time for the kids offered February through April. Visit Jester Park Nature Center in Granger for indoor nature displays then head over to the Jester Park Outdoor Recreation & Wellness Center for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing rentals. In Polk City, check out Big Creek State Park for ice fishing.
8. Student-Centered Performing Camps
For families with a passion for the stage, theater camps are offered across the region, inviting students of all ages to take part in a new production. During the summer, sign your kids up for a weeklong Musical Theater camp or Broadway Intensive with Des Moines Performing Arts in Downtown DSM. Or check out Altoona’s Class Act Productions (CAP) Theater program, which offers year-round opportunities for youth. And while most of the Des Moines Playhouse classes and camps take place in the summer months, there are some offered during the fall and winter, too. And if your child isn’t so much into performing, you can still support these awesome organizations and what they bring to the region by attending a performance and seeing local talent.
9. A Distinct Food Scene
You might be surprised by the flavors you find when you explore the DSM food scene. For families who want something a bit different, local restaurants balance family needs with seasonal menu items. Homegrown, located in the old Chrysler building in Downtown DSM, offers Funfetti Pancakes or Grilled Cheese for the kids while bringing seasonal flavors to menu items for the parents. Early Bird in Ankeny offers a colorful interior with food unique to the restaurant like Jalapeno Popper Hash Holes, Churro Waffles and Breakfast Nachos. Machine Shed in Urbandale offers family-style dining that features kids’ menu items as well as specialties like Fruit Crisp featuring seasonal fruit. Enjoy the wood-fired kitchen at Hugo’s in Des Moines, where kids can try Mediterranean-inspired meatballs and parents can enjoy a seasonal cocktail in the Drake neighborhood. In Waukee, the Playgrounds Café is one to check out, with its seasonal drinks and all-day breakfast options!
In the colder months, don’t forget to warm up with a Fresh-Pressed Apple Cider from Wilson’s Orchard in Cumming, a S’mores Hot Cocoa from The Breakfast Club in Ankeny and Des Moines or a seasonal latte from St. Kilda Café & Bakery in Downtown DSM and Clive. During the spring and summer, try the Bomb Pop Sorbet from Black Cat Ice Cream in DSM or West Des Moines’ Historic Valley Junction district.
Find Your Next Home in Greater DSM
There’s no reason to be undecided about whether DSM is the place for your family. Learn more about things to do in region and how to connect as a family through activities and attractions in the region here.
Still want to learn more about living here and putting down roots? Join our Connect to DSM list and get an inside look at DSM.