Des Moines: Coast, Beach and Marina

Des Moines looks out over Puget Sound: the city has six miles of coastline with public beaches and waterfront promenades. From Des Moines, you can enjoy views of Puget Sound, the Olympic Mountains and Mt. Rainier. Several waterfront highlights offer options for planning your trip—from beaches and tidal landscapes to boating, markets, events and maritime history. If you’re looking for a hotel, you can start by considering which of these aspects you want to shape your stay.

Beach, Tides and Diving

Saltwater State Park covers 137 acres and has a sandy beach. Its features include tide pools and a driftwood-strewn shoreline to explore. It also has an artificial underwater reef for scuba diving. The park therefore brings together different ways to experience the water: the beach and tidal landscape, as well as a reef for scuba diving. When planning your visit, you can decide whether to focus primarily on the coastal landscape or scuba diving.

Marina and Boating Infrastructure

Des Moines Marina is a fully equipped recreational harbor on Puget Sound and has a public fishing pier. Redondo Boat Launch offers a two-lane boat launch and 170 feet of side-tie moorage. You can distinguish between these places based on the maritime activity you’re interested in: at the marina, the harbor and fishing from the public pier take center stage; at the boat launch, it’s the launch ramp and side-tie moorage. This makes it easier to decide whether the harbor, fishing or boating infrastructure is especially important to your trip.

Market and Seasonal Events

The Des Moines Waterfront Farmers Market takes place every Saturday on the waterfront at Des Moines Marina. Offerings include fresh local produce, artisan foods, handmade goods and live music. The market brings shopping and music together on a regular weekly schedule. Summer Concerts & Beach Park Events complement the program with free outdoor concerts and seasonal events on the waterfront. The market and seasonal events thus offer different ways to plan your stay around specific dates. If you want to plan around a particular concert, it’s a good idea to check the exact dates in advance.

Event Venue and Maritime History

Des Moines Beach Park Event Center is a historic waterfront venue. Its event spaces feature timber-frame construction, and it also has an outdoor lawn with views of Puget Sound. The venue brings together event architecture and an open landscape overlooking the Sound. The Des Moines Historical Society Museum offers a different maritime perspective: its permanent exhibit explores Des Moines’ connection to Puget Sound. While the Event Center combines event spaces with an outdoor lawn, the museum presents the city’s maritime history in a permanent exhibit.

Choose the Focus of Your Trip

For your planning, you can sort the options by what you’d like to focus on: coastal landscapes and tides, scuba diving, the harbor and fishing, or culture and events. If you first decide which aspect matters most to you, you’ll have a clear starting point for your search for hotels in Des Moines.

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For the broader travel overview: King.