Kids Empire Merle Hay

Honestly, if you’ve got kids of varying ages and need somewhere to burn a full afternoon in Des Moines, this is the spot locals keep coming back to. The multi-level climbing structure alone keeps older kids busy for hours — slides, tunnels, a maze — while the littles have enough going on with the play train that nobody’s bored at the same time. The bike track and soccer field are a nice bonus, and the whole place stays genuinely clean in a way that indoor play spots usually don’t. Staff are actually attentive here, which you notice fast. Shaded seating means parents aren’t standing around the whole time either.