Des Moines Travel Guide

If you were to peer down from an airplane or the top of a hill, the capital of Iowa would look like a cluster of office towers popping out of a green corduroy landscape. Downtown straddles the confluence of two rivers—the Raccoon and the Des Moines. The skyline of historic buildings and modern structures faces granite government buildings and a classic gold-domed capitol across four bridges. Although hardly a glittering metropolis, Des Moines is a relatively hassle-free city with a number of museums, historic districts, and parks, as well as Drake University.

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Trip Ideas|Kelly DiNardo

The Iowan Tourist Attraction That Hollywood Built
Thirty years ago, a Hollywood crew built a baseball diamond in rural Iowa for what would become an iconic movie. Today, the site is one of Iowa’s top tourist attractions, drawing fans from around the world.

Kelly DiNardo

Arts & Culture|Emily Wasserman

America’s Best Small Art Festivals
From a small street festival next door to the nation’s capital to a laid-back event set in a mountain valley, there’s plenty to do and see at these outdoor art extravaganzas.

Emily Wasserman

Photos|Abbey Chase

50 Reasons to Visit Every U.S. State Capital
Though some of the country’s state capitals are already popular tourist destinations, many are hidden gems that, despite their important governmental roles, don’t often make it onto travelers’ radar.

Abbey Chase

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The Iowan Tourist Attraction That Hollywood Built
Thirty years ago, a Hollywood crew built a baseball diamond in rural Iowa for what would become an iconic movie. Today, the site is one of Iowa’s top tourist attractions, drawing fans from around the world.

America’s Best Small Art Festivals
From a small street festival next door to the nation’s capital to a laid-back event set in a mountain valley, there’s plenty to do and see at these outdoor art extravaganzas.

50 Reasons to Visit Every U.S. State Capital
Though some of the country’s state capitals are already popular tourist destinations, many are hidden gems that, despite their important governmental roles, don’t often make it onto travelers’ radar.

Around the Web

Des Moines

Find a Hotel

Related Articles

The Iowan Tourist Attraction That Hollywood Built Thirty years ago, a Hollywood crew built a baseball diamond in rural Iowa for what would become an iconic movie. Today, the site is one of Iowa’s top tourist attractions, drawing fans from around the world.

America’s Best Small Art Festivals From a small street festival next door to the nation’s capital to a laid-back event set in a mountain valley, there’s plenty to do and see at these outdoor art extravaganzas.

50 Reasons to Visit Every U.S. State Capital Though some of the country’s state capitals are already popular tourist destinations, many are hidden gems that, despite their important governmental roles, don’t often make it onto travelers’ radar.

Around the Web

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Des Moines

TRAVEL GUIDE

The Iowan Tourist Attraction That Hollywood Built
Thirty years ago, a Hollywood crew built a baseball diamond in rural Iowa for what would become an iconic movie. Today, the site is one of Iowa’s top tourist attractions, drawing fans from around the world.

America’s Best Small Art Festivals
From a small street festival next door to the nation’s capital to a laid-back event set in a mountain valley, there’s plenty to do and see at these outdoor art extravaganzas.

50 Reasons to Visit Every U.S. State Capital
Though some of the country’s state capitals are already popular tourist destinations, many are hidden gems that, despite their important governmental roles, don’t often make it onto travelers’ radar.