Things to Do in West Des Moines

At Glazed Expressions, a large stock of pristine white pottery pieces awaits a painter's touch. Owner Laura Riegel and her knowledgeable team of artists encourage creativity during studio sessions, when visitors spend time designing and painting their own works of decorative art. Staff members offer advice on the best techniques for stenciling and daubing pieces such as vases, picture frames, and animal figurines. Alternatively, fused-glass projects meld shards into kaleidoscopic pendants or stained-glass windshield replacements. A BYOB policy enhances a festive atmosphere within the studio, where playful splashes of paint adorn the walls and the furniture is bright and colorful.

Roy Michael, who has been a PGA professional for 15 years, conducts golf lessons and intensive group seminars at Echo Valley Country Club, where he is the head of instruction. Roy tweaks the mechanics of students’ full swings on the driving range as they take aim at target greens or listless physicists attempting to discover gravity. On the practice green, the instructor assesses putting strokes and offers advice for correcting each pupil’s physical and mental approach to this notoriously difficult part of the game. As golf is not learned through rote repetition alone, students also receive instruction through on-course play, which is better for seeing the importance of course management, maintaining a positive mindset, and learning to deal with distractions from clouds shaped like turkey legs.

As children and their caretakers enjoy a leisurely day at Union Park, a cluster of animals—storks, giraffes, brown bears, and ostriches among them —suddenly storms past. What sounds like a stampede is really the family-friendly site of The Heritage Carousel of Des Moines, which has been entertaining guests since 1998. For only 50 cents, participants can hop aboard the turn-of-the-century replica carousel, which builders hand carved from basswood and hand painted. As the dulcet tones of an old-fashioned band organ hum in the background, the carousel accommodates children, wedding parties, and bull riders in training. Elsewhere, riders can pause from carousel excursions to sample other Union Park attractions such as multiage play equipment and the Rocket Slide, whose recent repainting replicates its original look from the early 1970s.