Timeline
15:54
Grab a late breakfast or early lunch at the original Drake Diner. Order the Bulldog burger or a shake while you plan your route.
16:39
Walk to the Des Moines Botanical Garden. Find the Robert D. Ray Asian Gardens and locate the Asian pavilion. The late afternoon light is turning warm and long.
17:09
Watch the sun set toward the WSW. The golden light hits the pavilion and the garden paths just before the sky darkens.
17:39
Walk to Zombie Burger nearby. The undead-themed decor fits the post-sunset mood. Grab a creative burger or milkshake to keep the energy up.
Local tip
The Botanical Garden is particularly popular during cold Iowa winters, so arrive early enough to secure a good viewing spot near the pavilion before the crowds gather for the sunset.
Check before you go
- Drake Diner is open Mo-Sa 07:00-23:00 and Su 07:00-22:00.
- Zombie Burger is open Mo-Th and Su 11:00-24:00, and Fr-Sa 11:00-02:00.
Built from places in the Wikivoyage guide to Des Moines (CC BY-SA 4.0), with open map data from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).