Woodland Heights - Des Moines, IA Area Guide

Until the late 1800s, Woodland Heights provided adjacent Sherman Hill residents with a heavily forested area that sat between the Raccoon and Des Moines River valleys. Increased commerce on both rivers spawned the development of homes in Woodland Heights, ultimately resulting in the second major neighborhood of Des Moines taking shape. The stable neighborhood has maintained consistent demographics, although the growth of Drake University along the northern border created housing demand for both students and professors. Cultural attractions abound near Woodland Heights, as residents make the short trip downtown to the Des Moines Art Museum to tour one of several exhibits that hit the city every year. The Des Moines Civic Center located near the confluence of the Des Moines and Raccoon rivers hosts well-known theatrical productions and live musical performances. Woodland Heights residents enjoy front row seats for the spectacular annual fireworks display presented on Independence Day.

Woodland Heights residents flood to Noah's Ark, the family-friendly dining gem that has dazzled palates for over 50 years. As one of the anchors of the Ingersoll restaurant district, Noah's Ark serves critically acclaimed handmade thin crust pizzas and universally praised baked lasagna.

Manhattan Deli offers a lower priced option for dining in Woodland Heights. Sandwich specialists slice fresh cuts of beef and turkey and pile the succulent meats on artisan breads smothered in spicy mustard.

Less than a mile east on Ingersoll, Woodland Heights residents imbibe one of Iowa's numerous craft beers and enjoy live music that resonates inside of the Gas Lamp. The most popular live music venue in Des Moines attracts both regional and national talent looking to perform in an intimate environment. Woodland Heights promotes a strict residential development code that precludes the development of live music venues and nightclubs. However, residents leave the relative calm of the Woodland Heights neighborhood and immerse themselves in sports-themed bars such as Wellman's Pub and Starbar, both Ingersoll Avenue institutions that attract customers throughout the metropolitan area.

The numerous transportation options available to Woodland Heights residents make it difficult to select one permanent mode. Drivers have quick access to Interstate 235, the central thoroughfare that connects downtown Des Moines to outlying communities such as Clive and West Des Moines. The car pooling service Uber has a strong presence within Woodland Heights as well, as busy professionals often share the cost of commuting to and from nearby small businesses and corporate headquarters. Cab service hovers around downtown Des Moines hotels such as the Marriott, which means that on most occasions, Woodland Heights residents wait less than five minutes when attempting to hail a cab.

By walking on the smoothly paved sidewalks that line every street within Woodland Heights, residents can catch one of the buses that traverse Ingersoll Avenue — the number 60 runs in a rectangular route from the downtown bus terminal to stops that include Drake University and all of the entertainment venues along Ingersoll Avenue. Cyclists travel on wide cyclist-only lanes on Ingersoll all the way out to where the Des Moines area bike trails form one of the best bike trail networks in the country. Unlike adjoining Sherman Hill, Woodland Heights residents never have to dig for change to pay for public parking.

Woodland Heights residents do not have to travel far to get away from the urban lifestyle. The Des Moines Department of Parks and Recreations does a tremendous job of maximizing the natural wonders that pervade the Des Moines and Raccoon rivers. Gray's Lake, which spans over 100 acres and sits just south of the Raccoon River, allows anglers to ply their craft on a large body of water centered within the vast park. The park also rents boats to visitors who want to absorb the fresh air and cool breezes. Gray's Lake hosts several annual events, including the Pumpkin Fest that attracts visitors throughout the state of Iowa. The adjacently located child-friendly Water Works Park provides a more rustic ambiance as well as numerous bike trails and secluded enclaves for you to spend the day in, but these parks do not feature an area for your furry friend to explore. Head to the Windsor Heights Dog Park, located five miles due west, to provide Fido with the ample room he needs to stretch his legs. Windsor Heights Dog Park sits next to a paved trail and within an exercise-centric city park.

Des Moines gives area residents world-class dining and drinking options without charging world-class prices. Domestic 12-ounce draw beers along Ingersoll Avenue never cost more than $3, and several bars and restaurant discount domestic draws to $1.50 during happy hour. Gas prices at nearby service stations sit 9 percent below the national average, although Woodland Heights residents will find the best gas prices away from gas pumps located closer to the highways. A two-hour bus fare that includes one transfer costs Des Moines Area Transit (DART) passengers $1.75

Because of its prime location, the cost of living in Woodland Heights mirrors the average cost of living in other Des Moines neighborhoods, but residents enjoy a cost of living that falls 5 percent below the national average. Median rent for a one-bedroom Woodland Heights apartment sits at $718, which costs $2 more than the average Des Moines one-bedroom apartment. One-bedroom renters who live on Woodland Heights pay an average of $65 more than renters who live in other parts of the state.

Considering Woodland Heights residents have so many grocery shopping choices surrounding the small community, settling on the right one may prove to be a difficult task. Locals can find fresh produce at Beaverdale Farmers Market from June to September by traveling a few miles north of Woodland Heights.

Gateway Market, located on Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway, attracts residents from all over the area for its wide selection of locally grown fruits and vegetables. This independently owned grocery store also runs a small cafe where diners feast on the freshly prepared hot foods created by certified chefs. Des Moines also hosts a farmers market each year in the downtown section of the city that runs from early May to late October.

Forget the large shopping malls such as Merle Hay that take at least 15 minutes to travel to. Although Younkers and Von Maur have most of your fashion needs covered, you should stay on Ingersoll Avenue to meet all of your fashion needs. The business district bustles with boutiques and specialty stores that can't be found anywhere else in the Des Moines metropolitan area.

Customize the appearance of your artwork by shopping for frames at Tandem Brick Gallery & Frame, and women can enhance their wardrobe without mortgaging their homes by shopping at the fashion epicenter known as Repeat Boutique Consignment. Men find their chic looks at Badowers, where brand-name manufacturers sell sport coats, denim jeans and hand-knitted sweaters.