If your Des Moines visit includes a Saturday between spring and fall, the Downtown Farmers’ Market is one of the easiest recommendations I can make. It turns the Historic Court District into a busy mix of food, produce, flowers, local products and people simply enjoying the morning.
Come hungry
This is not a market where you only shop for vegetables. With hundreds of vendors during the main season, breakfast and snacks are a big part of the experience. You can wander between stalls, try something local and watch downtown gradually fill with people.
I prefer treating the market as breakfast and sightseeing combined rather than arriving with a strict shopping list. It is also a good place to see a side of Des Moines that can be difficult to appreciate from the major attractions alone.
Make a morning of it
After the market, continue through downtown, walk toward the river or head west toward the sculpture park. The market usually operates seasonally, so always check the current dates and hours before planning your trip around it.