Hey, friends! Benny here, with tips for your next trip to Des Moines. We recently went on a trip to Iowa and stayed at the Holiday Inn Express and Suites West Des Moines-Jordan West. It was a nice hotel in a great location; however, sometime after our trip they quit allowing dogs. This is really a bummer because we had hoped to return to this hotel.

Raccoon River Dog Park

Two of the best dog-friendly activities on our trip to Iowa were located in West Des Moines. The first is Raccoon River Dog Park. It is a 10-acre fenced park operated by the City of West Des Moines. They offer both annual and day passes online. Day passes are valid for the day they are purchased and were $5 per dog when we visited. We went two days in a row because it was such a great dog park! There are trails for humans to walk on while their dogs freely run around and explore.

Paws & Pints

The second place that I recommend in West Des Moines is Paws & Pints. Our group used the outdoor dog parks, restaurant, and bar during our visit. Only the small outside area was open when we arrived and the dogs were eager to stretch their legs in the bigger area once it was open. The humans in our group ate, but they sadly forgot to offer me something from the dog menu. Maybe next time I’ll get try something yummy, like the beef stew or doggie “beer.”

Let me know in the comments if I should check out another dog-friendly place on our next trip to Des Moines!