Des Moines has quietly become one of the Midwest’s best shopping hubs, offering everything from small-business charm to full-scale retail destinations. Whether you’re hunting for the perfect gift, refreshing your wardrobe, or planning a full girls’ day out, the city has a little bit of everything. Here’s your guide to the best places to shop across the metro.
Shop Local:
Valley Junction (West Des Moines)
Valley Junction’s historic brick-lined streets are filled with independently owned boutiques, artisan makers and more.
You’ll find everything from curated home décor to handmade jewelry, specialty foods, plants, vintage fashion, and unique gifts. The district’s charm comes from the people, shop owners who know your name, remember your style, and help you discover pieces that feel personal. The shops are a mix of home décor, vintage, gifts, plants, clothes, and random things you didn’t know you needed until you saw them.
Seasonal markets, live music nights, and holiday events make Valley Junction more than just a shopping destination!
East Village (Downtown Des Moines)
If Valley Junction is cozy and classic, the East Village is its cool, modern cousin. This area has some of the best clothing and lifestyle boutiques in the city. The shops feel curated without feeling pretentious, and you can easily shop, grab coffee, wander around, and make an afternoon of it. It’s also one of the easiest places to find homemade gifts.
Commercial Shopping:
Jordan Creek Town Center (West Des Moines)
For the days when you just want everything in one spot, Jordan Creek is where most people go. It’s the biggest mall in Iowa, so it has the staples, popular clothing stores, tech, beauty, shoes, and all the chain retailers you expect. It’s convenient, there’s food, you can walk the lake, and it’s the easiest option for holiday shopping or when you’re bouncing between multiple stores.
Why Des Moines is a Must-Visit Shopping City:
Des Moines makes shopping pretty simple. You can support small businesses in the morning, grab lunch, and then head to Jordan Creek to finish off anything you couldn’t find locally. What makes these places the best shopping in Des Moines isn’t that they’re fancy, it’s that they’re easy, friendly, and full of variety depending on what you’re looking for.
If you’re searching for the best coffee shops in Des Moines, you’re in luck – the city has a thriving and constantly evolving coffee scene. Whether you’re a latte loyalist, a pour-over purist, or someone who just loves a cozy place to relax, Des Moines offers cafés that deliver both craftsmanship and community. Here’s your guide to some of the top spots locals love.
If you’re hunting for therapy in Des Moines, you’ve got options, and a couple of them stand out for different reasons. In my opinion, there are two that are especially worth checking out: Forward Consulting, LLC and Seva Counseling. Each offers slightly different styles and strengths, depending on what you need.
Des Moines Water Works is a public water utility located in the capital city of Iowa. The municipal facility has the motto “Think Downstream,” which ultimately encourages members of the community to be cautious and think about their environmental impact on the city’s water sources.
Recently, Des Moines Water Works passed new water rates beginning in 2026. Commercial and industrial customers will be charged $10.70 a month per thousand gallons of Des Moines water used. The increase is reported to have come from the large flush of nitrates into the water sources from farming and residential lawn care. Nitrate removal systems were working overtime from June to August 2025 to produce safe and reliable drinking water for the public.
Des Moines Water Works states their mission to be “Leading and advocating to deliver Water You Can Trust For Life.”
Water Works Park
The Des Moines Water Works park is infamous around the city for its beautiful landscaping and public art. Spanning approximately 1,500 acres, the Water Works park covers nearly twice the amount of ground that Central Park does.
The park is also home to the Arie Den Boer Arboretum, named after its developer in 1930. The arboretum is home to one of the largest collections of crabapple trees in the world, making for a beautiful bloom when the trees flower in the spring.
Des Moines Water Works Park often hosts outdoor concerts for the community, with recent performers being Jessie Murph, Willie Nelson, and REO Speedwagon.
The park also hosts Biergarten, an annual, family-friendly German-themed beer garden. Attendees can purchase and enjoy multiple kinds of local craft beer and stop by street-food stands selling hotdogs, pretzels, and more.
Additionally, Water Works has become an iconic spot for Des Moines photographers. Thanks to the unique designs and photo ops around the park, hundreds of people take advantage of the scenery each year to plan grad or family photos.
Des Moines Community Outreach
In addition to its parks and arts investments, Des Moines Water Works also promotes pollution prevention. Outreach includes specific suggestions on how homeowners in Des Moines can limit their environmental footprint — and improve water quality for the community. Des Moines Water Works recommends using natural cleaning products and warns against disposing environmentally toxic materials — Household Hazardous Materials (HHMs) — down drains or into sewers. Recycling and reducing household waste is also part of the equation.
Des Moines Water Works also lists specific guidelines for yard maintenance practices. Because grass clippings and other yard manicuring by-products can block sewer drainage, Des Moines Water Works advises homeowners to bag up waste and put it in CompostIt! Bags.
In public spaces such as parks, Des Moines Water Works encourages community members contribute to group clean-up efforts.
All in all, Des Moines Water Works is more than just a utility company. They care about the Des Moines community and improving water quality for all.
Four best practices for creating a mother-daughter weekend itinerary you’ll never forget
ABOVE: MOMMA (LEFT) AND MY BEST FRIEND SERENA (RIGHT) MET FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS EASTER WEEKEND. WE ATTENDED THE DRAKE SOFTBALL GAME TOGETHER AS OUR FIRST DES MOINES TOURISM ACTIVITY.
Mom and I engaged in Des Moines tourism over Easter weekend when she came to visit from her home in the Twin Cities.
If you’re a college student like me, chances are your mom comes to see you at university, too. I always look forward to mom’s visits. The first few times she came to see me, though, I struggled curating an itinerary. I worried about it being too stiff – or too boring.
Now, I have hosted relatives enough to know what works. These are my four tips for hosting loved ones in Des Moines.
1. Pick two structured activities per day
For each full day Mom’s in town, plan two structured activities. What do I mean by structured?
Look for events that
have a clear start and end time
are hosted by an organization (such as a boutique, gallery, or neighborhood)
cater to your visitor’s niche interests
These can include museum tours, fitness classes and aquarium shows.
Having structured events on your itinerary prevents you from having to constantly entertain your guests. Think about it. You’ll be hosting a relative for two, three – maybe even seven days. You have to keep them engaged.
So why not let an organization take on some of that responsibility?
My favorite part about attending community events is learning more about Des Moines. They lead to wonderful conversations with community members and Mom.
My mom and I did the Highland Park Shop Hop on April 19. We kicked things off at The Collective. The Collective is a shop that sells sustainable goods and advocates for social justice.
Mom purchased a bamboo first aid kit for her Pre-K classroom in St. Paul, Minn. I wanted the birthday design market tote. Its design was an adorable sketch of The Collective’s checkout area with the owner sketched behind the desk.
I ask the person ringing us up, “Is this a picture of you, Jamie?”
“Yes!” she says.
“You should sign the bag, then,” my mom jokes.
At least I thought she was joking. Jamie gets out a Sharpie and signs the front of the bag.
“Who is this bag for?” she asks.
“My sister Kylie,” I say.
Jamie writes “To Kylie” with a heart on the front of the tote.
This is why you need to take your mom to community events. While teaching her about Des Moines, you yourself will meet new people and learn new things.
and my personal favorite tip: go to a coffee shop in Des Moines, look at its bulletin board and take pictures of event flyers that interest you
Let it be known that if you plan to attend an event, you don’t have to follow through with it. If you and Mom spontaneously do something else — even better.
Having two structured events planned will help you prevent boredom.
2. Have some Des Moines lounges and breweries in your back pocket
Have a list of five lounges and breweries in your back pocket. Pick ones that you’ve never been to before.
lEFT: MOM AND I WENT TO EXILE BREWING IN DOWNTOWN DES MOINES FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS EASTER WEEKEND. I HAD TO PHOTOBOMB HER FACEBOOK POST.
Lounges and breweries are great places to go when you and your relative become tired tourists. You’ve already seen the sights and exhausted the activities. You’re ready to relax and have a conversation.
Lounges and breweries offer enough occupancy to where you can stay as long as you like without the waiters begging you to leave. And all you’re expected to get is a drink. There’s no pressure to order food (but you absolutely should).
3. What’s up in Des Moines’ schools?
Some of the best arts productions I’ve attended have been produced by a high school. College sporting events are electric and engaging. And the best part of both of these: they’re affordable!
ABOVE: RON BUEL SOFTBALL FIELD AT DRAKE UNIVERSITY.
Before Mom arrives, look into the arts and sports scenes of the local schools. Consider what Mom was a part of when she was in school.
For example, my mom played college ball, so I took her to a (free!) Drake Softball game. She grumbled at errors and cheered for home runs!
4. Establish a Des Moines visit tradition
Traditions make the different eras of your life. College is a singular and short era of your life. Why not have a special ritual to remember Mom’s visits to your university by for years to come?
Maybe you’re at a loss.
What am I supposed to do as a tradition with Mom in Des Moines?
I’ve provided a list to help you get started.
Des Moines Tourism Traditions
buy two chains and find new matching charms each time Mom visits
