Des Moines, WA

Des Moines stretches along the shores of Puget Sound about halfway between Seattle and Tacoma, offering a relaxed waterfront setting with easy access to the entire metro area. The heart of the community sits right at the marina, where locals take evening walks along the promenade, fish off the pier, or meet friends for dinner overlooking the docks. Marine View Drive serves as the main downtown strip, lined with neighborhood restaurants, coffee shops, and small businesses. Moving inland, the area transitions into quiet residential streets with a mix of mid-century homes, newer developments, and convenient shopping plazas along Pacific Highway.

ATTRWalter Siegmund (talk) / CC BY-SA 3.0

Originally named by settlers from Iowa in the late 1800s, the town grew from a quiet timber outpost into a comfortable coastal suburb. You can still see pieces of that heritage around town today. Des Moines Beach Park preserves historic timber-framed buildings right where the creek meets the saltwater, creating a scenic spot for picnics, community gatherings, and weekend strolls. Just behind the park, the paved Des Moines Creek Trail winds through a lush, forested ravine, giving runners, cyclists, and dog walkers a peaceful nature path that leads all the way inland.

ATTRJoe Mabel / CC BY-SA 3.0

Higher education and workforce training center around Highline College, which occupies a leafy hilltop campus near the city's eastern edge. The college is a major community anchor, offering degree tracks, professional certificates, and public events. Down along the shoreline at Redondo Beach, Highline also operates the MaST Center, a community marine lab and aquarium. Families and visitors stop by during open weekend hours to explore touch tanks filled with Puget Sound sea life, while the surrounding boardwalk and fishing pier make Redondo a popular spot for paddleboarding and seaside dining.

ATTRJoe Mabel / CC BY-SA 3.0

Outdoor recreation is a major draw for newcomers, especially with Saltwater State Park located just south of town. The park features shaded picnic lawns, wooded hiking trails, expansive tide pools, and a protected underwater reef that attracts scuba divers from across the region. Back at the marina, the weekend waterfront farmers market runs throughout the summer with live music, fresh local produce, food trucks, and artisan crafts right beside the boats. Between the sunset views over the Olympic Mountains and the down-to-earth maritime feel, Des Moines makes it easy to enjoy coastal living.