1
Blank Park Zoo
Zoo
Train rides, petting areas, carousel, concessions & more in a year-round zoo & conservation center.
4.50 (5.8K reviews)
2
Pappajohn Sculpture Park
Sculpture museum
Park housing a sculpture garden, dedicated chess & picnic tables, the Central Library & more.
4.60 (4.9K reviews)
3
Saltwater State Park
State park
This park on the shores of Puget Sound has campsites, volleyball courts & an artificial reef.
4.50 (3K reviews)
5
Gray's Lake Park
Park
167-acre park featuring a 1.9-mi. lighted walking path around a lake with small boat rentals.
4.70 (2K reviews)
6
Hoyt Sherman Place
Performing arts theater
Art gallery & performance venue for dance, music, comedy & more in a grand 19th-century manor.
4.70 (1.6K reviews)
8
Iowa State Capitol
Historical landmark
Legislative building known for elegant, 1800s architecture & vast gilded dome, with tours available.
4.80 (1.3K reviews)
9
Union Park
Park
Public park since 1892, with an old-fashioned carousel, water play area, BBQ grills & sports courts.
4.40 (1K reviews)
10
Ewing Park
Park
Spacious park with playgrounds, an 18-hole disc golf course, a pond & a lilac arboretum.
4.60 (765 reviews)
11
Grandview Park
Park
👍👍 Took my son there to get some pictures for his photography class. Beautiful park, great frisbee golf course, playground and splash pad. Got some great picks ☺️
4.50 (633 reviews)
12
Cowles Commons
Park
👍👍 Fun meeting place chance to cool off 😎in the fountain.
4.50 (628 reviews)
13
Science Center of Iowa
Science museum
Science-focused interactive galleries & learning labs plus a planetarium & IMAX cinema.
4.50 (573 reviews)
15
Birdland Park
Park
Park on a lake with trails, a marina & a boat ramp, plus enclosed shelters to reserve in advance.
4.40 (534 reviews)
16
Greenwood - Ashworth Park
City park
Public recreation area with playgrounds, a splash pad & picnic shelters, plus a pond & rose garden.
4.70 (519 reviews)
17
MacRae Park
Park
Green space on a bluff with dramatic downtown views, tennis courts, a pond & a playground.
4.40 (515 reviews)
18
McHenry Park
Park
👍👍 Such a cute park tucked away in a cute neighborhood from busy streets. We went for the splash pad and my kids loved it!
4.40 (514 reviews)
19
State Historical Building
Historical society
Museum exhibiting over a thousand items related to Iowa's history, from cannons to bicycles.
4.60 (507 reviews)
20
Pete Crivaro Park
Park
👍 We go here for an easy disc golf course to play with our sons. Would give 5 stars but part of the 9 hole course (3 holes) are under construction booo. Hope not for long.
4.30 (503 reviews)