Discover Des Moines: Coast, Marina, and Maritime History

Des Moines combines six miles of coastline with public beaches, waterfront promenades, and the distinctive character of Puget Sound. Those looking for a vacation apartment or vacation home can choose between days by the water, maritime experiences, local market activities, and historical discoveries. Des Moines also offers views of Puget Sound, the Olympic Mountains, and Mt. Rainier.

Beach, Tide Pools, and Coastal Landscape

A defining destination for trip planning is Saltwater State Park. The 137-acre park has a sandy beach. Its shoreline is characterized by driftwood and can be explored; there are also tide pools that give the coastal landscape a varied character. For families who want to combine nature experiences with different interests, this makes it possible to spend a day focused not only on the beach but also on the shoreline's distinctive formations.

Saltwater State Park also has an artificial underwater reef for scuba diving. This offering provides a distinct focus and complements the quieter observations along the shore with a maritime activity. When choosing your accommodation, you can therefore consider whether you primarily want to spend time on the beaches and promenades or deliberately include different facets of the coast in your trip.

Marina and Activities on the Water

Des Moines Marina is a fully equipped recreational harbor on Puget Sound. It also has a public fishing pier. Redondo Boat Launch features a two-lane launching ramp and a 170-foot-long side dock. These different locations make it clear that Des Moines's waterscape is not just for viewing but also plays a role in recreational activities on and around the water.

Consider which experiences should shape your itinerary: a walk along the shore, a visit to the marina, fishing, scuba diving, or simply taking in the landscape.

Market, Music, and Events

Every Saturday, the Des Moines Waterfront Farmers Market takes place by the water at Des Moines Marina. It offers fresh local produce, handcrafted foods, handmade goods, and live music. The market thus brings together culinary and artisan impressions and can provide a different focus for a day of vacation than the beach or harbor.

As part of the Summer Concerts & Beach Park Events, Des Moines offers free outdoor concerts and seasonal events by the water. This public life is complemented by the Des Moines Beach Park Event Center, a historic waterfront venue with event spaces built in wood-frame construction. The center also includes an outdoor lawn overlooking Puget Sound. Depending on your travel interests, when looking for a vacation home or vacation apartment you can therefore look for a combination of coastal experiences, a market visit, and cultural programming.

Maritime History in Des Moines

The area's connection to Puget Sound is also evident at the Des Moines Historical Society Museum. It features a permanent maritime exhibit about Des Moines's connection to Puget Sound. Odd Fellows Hall offers another way to explore the area's history. Over the course of its history, the building housed a police station, a jail, a school, and the town hall. Such milestones bring local history to life without limiting the visit to nature experiences alone.

Des Moines is therefore well suited to a trip in which you can experience the coast in different forms: as a sandy beach and shoreline landscape, as a harbor area, as a setting for markets and music, and as a subject of local history.

For additional destinations to compare, you can also see Seattle, Seatac, Burien, Kenmore, Shoreline, Mercer Island, Sammamish, and Normandy Park.

For the higher-level travel overview: King.