Car Hop In Des Moines Iowa – Des Moines, Iowa is not only the friendliest city in the Midwest, but it also has great restaurants (zombie-themed burgers anyone?) and nightlife. Add to that the fact that it’s very walkable and home to great live music venues and a world-class art museum, and you have the perfect playground for a long weekend getaway.
Don’t fall into the trap of all this “state of transit” nonsense; Des Moines exudes a proud and energetic spirit that can be found in all the bars, local shops and restaurants.
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Head to the downtown area to start your first day in Iowa’s capital city. First, St. Australian-style Kilda serves breakfast (all day) and lunch. Choose brioche French toast or a cheddar and chive sandwich.
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Downtown is within walking distance, so if you can find a good parking spot near breakfast, leave the car and head to the East Village to visit the Iowa State Capitol building. With its dome covered in 23-carat gold leaf, it is impossible to miss, especially if you choose to walk down Locust Street, which offers amazing views of the surrounding area.
Guided tours are available Monday through Saturday, but you can take a self-guided tour anytime during the building’s opening hours. Don’t miss the Iowa State Law Library, with its soaring painted and painted surfaces and ornate spiral staircase.
From here, it’s a 10-minute walk to Zombie Burger + Drink Lab, you guessed it, a zombie movie themed restaurant. You can’t make fun of a burger menu.
Here’s a taster: “They’re Coming for You, Barbara,” featuring a caramelized onion, bacon, and grilled cheese sandwich bun with “Zombie Sauce.” Top it off with a drinkable milkshake to really start your afternoon.
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The East Village area has great local shops, and you can visit them all in a few hours. Check out Aimée for women’s designer clothing, Porch Light for home goods, Raygun for some unique Midwestern clothing, Ephemera for cards and other paper goods, Domestica for locally made gifts, and Leona Ruby for jewelry looks.
After shopping, grab a table at Lucca, one of the best local restaurants. This restaurant is known for its Italian cuisine, offering an excellent four-course menu with dishes such as gnocchi, scallops, chicken parmesan and risotto.
After dinner, head out to live music. Check out a show at Wooly’s, one of the city’s most popular venues for local and national acts, and grab tickets to see who’s taking the stage.
When the music stops, take a long walk on the High-Low barka. Here you can play classic (and modern) arcade games with a drink in hand. When you’re done playing your games, grab a seat next to the giant Jenga set up for some real fun.
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Sleep in, and when you’re ready, head downtown for brunch at Americano. The restaurant offers a Bombshell Brunch buffet every Saturday and Sunday morning, including unlimited food and drinks from the Bloody Mary bar, mimosas and screwdrivers.
Your first stop after lunch will be the Des Moines Arts Center. The museum has three buildings designed by famous architects: the Eliel Saarinen building, completed in 1948; Completed in 1968, the I.M. Pei building; and the Richard Meier Building, completed in 1985.
The center hosts permanent collections and rotating exhibitions. Don’t miss the award-winning rose garden and surrounding sculptures behind the museum.
You are probably feeling hungry right now. Head back to the East Village and stop at the Scenic Route Bakery, known for its pastries and fresh coffee drinks.
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Relax and give your feet a rest the next time you explore the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden. The 14-acre green space is located along the Des Moines River and includes both indoor and outdoor gardens for you to explore. The conservatory, in particular, will take you far, far away from your Midwestern environment for a while.
After sunset, start planning a trip for pre-dinner drinks to Hello, Marjorie, a popular downtown cocktail bar within walking distance. Inside one of the city’s most photographed spots, a neon sign inside reads Jack Kerouac’s famous quote: “The most beautiful girls in the world live in Des Moines.”
Your dinner spot is Des Moines’ best place for fresh pizza. Fong’s Pizza combines two unusual themes: a Polynesian cocktail lounge and a classic Italian red sauce restaurant. And the pizzas really run the gamut, from shoulder and loaded potato pie to orange chicken honey garlic pizza. Also, Tiki-inspired drinks come in interesting, graphic glassware.
You are in a good place to color on a Saturday night. Head around the corner to Court Avenue Brewing for a taste of local beers, or cross the street for a martini at the Lift Bar, which fills the walls with artwork from local artists.
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Downtown Des Moines and the surrounding areas are great bike-friendly places, and you’ll see this for yourself today. First, rent a bike at one of the many BCycle stations (Des Moines’ bike sharing system) and head to Mullet.
This restaurant is a popular place for cyclists as it is located near the bike path. The breakfast menu is extensive and popular; Omelet, chicken and waffles are highly recommended.
If the weather is nice, ask for a table on the roof. After giving the pedal a little gas, jump on the nearby bike path and follow it to Gray’s Lake, just outside the Downtown neighborhood. This 166-acre park has a loop trail that crosses the entire lake for walkers and cyclists.
For lunch, head to A Dong, the best Vietnamese restaurant in Des Moines (you can bike or drive, you choose). There are many to choose from; stuffed tofu served with stir-fried vegetables and tomato sauce, beef and lemongrass noodles, and fried shrimp with cauliflower, to name a few.
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After lunch, escape downtown, hop in the car, and head to West Des Moines, where you’ll spend the afternoon exploring the historic Valley Junction area. This area is famous for its antique shops; Stop by Hinge, Memory Lane Antiques and A OK Antiques to get lost among the gems.
There are also large clothing stores; Vintage fans will lose a few hours at Atomic Garage, while you can find more modern styles (and home decor) at Sisters. Looking for a snack? For a freshly baked cake, go to Let Them Eat Cake.
For dinner, stay and book a table at the Winchester Public House, a prohibition-style pub serving good pub food and great drinks. Valley Junction doesn’t have much of a nightlife, so head back to the downtown area after dinner. Start at Exile Brewing and see where the night takes you.
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