Des Moines Area Shop Local Gift Guide

Local businesses are the heart and soul of our community!

Check out this gift guide to some of our favorite local shops and businesses to help you find the perfect gift for everyone on your list.

Follow the West Des Moines Candy Cane Trail this holiday shopping season and support local businesses to earn points and win prizes!

From now until December 24, visit and check in at participating retailers, restaurants, and more throughout West Des Moines and Central Iowa. Level up from a Festive Explorer to a Jolly Shopper or take the crown as a Holiday Hero just by shopping local!

There is no cost to participate in this festive challenge. A special thank you to Greater Iowa Credit Union, Lashier Graphics & Signs, Remodelworks, and Zirous for their support of the WDM Candy Cane Trail!

Learn more about the West Des Moines Candy Cane Trail:

Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | LinkedIn | Candy Cane Trail

Gifts for Family Fun

Take an aerial or trapeze class at Cirque Wonderland in West Des Moines. 

Smash Park offers food and fun for all ages with cornhole, arcade games, pickleball, and more! 

Spare Time is so much more than a bowling alley with lazer tag, arcade games, and more.

Gifts for girlfriends, sisters, moms

Find women’s and children’s clothing, adorable decor, and more at Momere in Valley Junction. 

Treat your best girl (or yourself!) to a little pampering with a facial or other spa services at Face Foundrie. 

Give the plant lover on your list unique plants, containers, and more from the Trendy Gardener in West Des Moines. 

DSM Mercantile is a modern general store located in Highland Park featuring local products for simplifying your home.

Shop online or at Pop and Nod’s store in the Shops at Roosevelt. The boutique features colorful accessories, clothes, and decor. 

Find flour sack tea towels, holiday mugs, Swedish dishcloths, and more from Doe a Deer Design. 

Gifts for Kids

Skip Amazon and support this local when you buy books from Reading in Public bookstore in Valley Junction. 

Find unique, educational gifts, games, and more for kids of all ages at Learning Post & Toys in West Des Moines. 

There’s a reason Bing’s in Valley Junction was voted best local gift shop! Check it out for stocking stuffers and more. 

Food and Drinks

Coffee lovers will love the smooth cold lattes and other coffee beverages at Northern Vessel. Check out their coffee club membership.

Anyone with a sweet tooth will be delighted with a box of treats from Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory in Valley Junction. 

A six-pack of beer, merchandise, or a gift card to Big Grove Brewery in Sherman Hill is a must-have for the beer lovers on your list. 

Iowa Inspired Gifts

Find vintage-inspired Des Moines prints, t-shirts, and home decor at Bozz Prints in Valley Junction. The designs are a perfect gift for a lover of all things Iowa. 

Head to Heart of Iowa in Valley Junction to find gift baskets filled with tasty Iowa-made products as well as t-shirts, candles, and more. 

Get unique, handmade artisan ornaments, sculptures, artwork, and so much more at Sticks Gallery in the Historic East Village. 

What are your favorite places to shop local for the holidays?