If you have a houseful of kids (regardless of the age of the kids) you may want to fill their day with a trip to Adventureland in Altoona, Iowa.  Altoona is just a couple miles to the east of Des Moines so it is centrally located in the state of Iowa.

Although the price seems high for admission, $29 at the gate, you can get discounted tickets if you buy them online, $25. The price of the tickets allows you to ride all the rides (and there are quite a few from roller-coasters to little kid rides) for free.  The shows in the different locations throughout the park are free too.  The only thing you will pay for is food and any of the "chance" games you want to try…you might win a teddy bear or something.

While the kids are busy riding the rides you can go play bingo (the bingo hall is inside an airconditioned building) or just wandering around looking in the shops and seeing the other items on display.  Of course, that is only if you aren't on the rides too!

Enjoy the day at Adventureland, after the day you may want to go to Prairie Meadows Racetrack and Casino which is right next door.  Watch the thoroughbreds or quarter horse races, or maybe the harness racing.  Check the schedule at the track to see what is running while you are there.

You can check out information on the park at http://www.iowabeautiful.com/central-iowa-tourism/178-adventureland-altoona-iowa-des-moines.html?highlight=adventureland.  Have a great day!