I’m all here for date nights with the boo and going out with the gals, but sometimes going solo and taking yourself on a date is just what you need! Intentional time to spend alone can be incredibly helpful to learn more about yourself, learn more about Des Moines, and reflect on what you truly enjoy doing. So here’s to hanging out with me, myself, and I (and discovering how fun it can be)!

Written by Andrea DeBruin, DSMG Contributor and Morgan Chicchelly, DSMG Founder

Learn Something New

Des Moines Arts Center – Take an art class or just take a stroll to the always enjoyable art center nestled in one of our favorite neighborhoods of Des Moines. Saying it better than we can, “The Des Moines Art Center has amassed an important collection of art from the 19th century to the present, with a major emphasis on contemporary art. Focused on quality and global in scope, it includes major works by Henry Ossawa Tanner, Edward Hopper, Georgia O’Keeffe, and Francis Bacon, among hundreds of others.” Check out all the upcoming events here.

Mainframe Studios – Have you ever wondered what’s inside that really colorful building downtown? It’s Mainframe Studios – a nonprofit that finished a full renovation in 2017 now home to 180 studios supporting over 220 artists across 30+ disciplines. The possibilities for a date night for yourself are truly endless. Don’t know where to start? Check out FIRST FRIDAYS at Mainframe, an open house with a monthly theme serving as  a great introduction!

Cooking with Alessandra – Here’s one for the people who love to plan well in advance! Her in-person classes book up FAST so if you can’t get in, try taking home an authentic Italian recipe with Alessandra’s at home kits for a perfect at home solo date.

Get Outside

Go for a walk or ride on the trails, have a picnic, catch a sunset, or simply take a book outside and enjoy the fresh air.  Ditch any distractions of your phone, podcasts, or social media and focus on staying present. Here are a few of our favorite places to go outdoors. 

Easter Lake – Oh you don’t know about Easter Lake? Don’t spoil this secret. Head just south of downtown for a nice 4 mile loop. There’s also a few more trails with shorter distances as well. When the weather is nice, you can also do non-motorized sports like paddle boarding and canoeing! It’s a beautiful place to refresh and refuel. You won’t believe you’re only 15 minutes from downtown.

Brenton Arboretum – This is one of my personal favorites just 30 minutes north and west of downtown! The gravel road winding throughout seems to never end as you approach the Arboretum.  There are plenty of benches to sit on and take in the beauty of the streams and endless rolling hills. This is also a great place to practice photography, bird watch, or study the local flora. Check out the latest events here. 

Picnic in Pappajohn Sculpture Park or Rose Garden – We love a good picnic moment and there are a couple great spots around Des Moines for them including the sculpture park and rose garden. Check out our Instagram stories for regular shout outs to some of our favorite local charcuterie makers to add to your picnic.

Gray’s Lake (#ClubGray’sLake) –  We want to bring RMWs (rich mom walks) to Des Moines at Club Gray’s Lake.  Bring your pup, bring a friend, go alone. It’s a perfect reset to any day to walk around the 2 mile loop! For a cool photo op, stop by at night to see the bridges over the lake. It’s colorful and a perfect reflection moment to appreciate your new city.

PepperHarrow Farm in Madison County –  What’s better than wandering through beautiful flower fields in Madison County? Truly nothing. Pepperharrow hosts open houses, workshops, glamping (!) and other events throughout the year. This is a great solo date to explore the Winterset area, take great pictures, or just learn about two amazing entrepreneurs who developed this flower farm to turn a passion into a career.

Des Moines Botanical Garden – A great outing for a day that’s super cold when the weather is just blegh, go indoors and wander through the plants in a warm, humid environment. When the weather is better, there are amazing public gardens as well! Check out our their full calendar of events here.  We even made a reel about this “winter blues” hack for anyone that needs a warm sunny pick-me-up.

Shop Vintage

There are few things that are more satisfying than stumbling across an incredible vintage find. How do we know? Because Vintage In The Valley was so much fun this year. It could be a name brand vintage piece of clothing, a piece of furniture with history, or a rare collectible. There’s no shortage of places/curators in the area. With a constant stream of unique and eclectic vintage pieces circling into these stores, there will always be something new to catch your eye! 

Here are some of our favorite brick & mortars that feature various vintage guest vendors throughout the year:

Self Care Treatments

Just the thought of scheduling a full day to pamper myself makes me giddy! It could be nails, massage, haircut, or a facial – choose your favorites! Find bath salts, a foot scrub, or a clay face mask and make a luxurious at-home spa day. Whatever it may be, be intentional to give yourself the gift of relaxation!

East Village Spa – An East Village Institution since 2008, East Village Spa’s philosophy is “Every. Body. Welcome.” From the peaceful, zen waiting lounge to their helpful, kind employees, East Village Spa has created a space that is comforting and inviting to all. The spa offers a range of services including massages, facials, manicures, pedicures and waxing.

Source: East Village Day Spa

Inner Space Des Moines – Want to give light therapy a try? Inner Space has got that. Interested in Biomat®? They’ve got that too! There’s nothing quite like sinking into that warm mat for 45 minutes under a set of cozy blankets. The pièce de résistance, however, has got to be the salt lounge! Trade in your shoes for booties and make your way to the Himalayan salt lounge where you’ll find zero gravity chairs to chillax in while taking in all the benefits the salt has to offer. The salt lounge is great for respiratory and immune systems and let’s face it, they both can use an extra boost in the winter months.

Grab A Bite

It may seem counterintuitive, but going out to eat or grab a little something for your sweet tooth on your own is very empowering! We love the time to sit with our thoughts, be present with the experience, and of course, people watch around us. Here’s some of our favorite spots to take ourselves out to eat in the Des Moines area.

Clyde’s Fine Diner – Our team tends to frequent solo dates at Clyde’s bar for a bite, drink and overall great vibes. It feels special, the staff is lovely, and the food is delicious.

Creme DSM –  We can’t say enough great things about Creme – a one-stop shop for sweet tooths. Coffee, cake, cocktails, cookies, and too many other women-owned small businesses’ products to choose from, everything about Creme makes it one of our favorites.  Nestled right off Ingersoll, you also have the opportunity to shop or hit up multiple places for your solo adventures. Feeling a late night solo date? Check out Midnight Munchies.

Other Date Night Spots to Grab A Bite – Yes,  you can cultivate romance with yourself too! We’ve got a roundup of some of our other favorites at this guide.