IOWA: THE HAWKEYE STATE
BY CLAY LARROY
Cedar Rapids - The City of Five Seasons
Cedar Rapids is nicknamed the "City of
Five Seasons", for the "fifth season", which is time to enjoy
the other four. The symbol of the five seasons is the Tree of Five Seasons
sculpture in downtown along the north river bank. The name "Five
Seasons" and representations of the sculpture appear throughout the city
in many forms. Cedar Rapids is the second largest
city in Iowa and is the county seat of Linn County. The city lies on both banks
of the Cedar River, 20 miles north of Iowa City and 100 miles east of Des
Moines, the state's capital and largest city
Bloomsbury Farm
3260 69th Street
Atkins, IA 52206
Phone: (319) 446-7667
Atkins, IA 52206
Phone: (319) 446-7667
Bloomsbury Farm has
activities for kids of all ages! Whether you want to bounce on the Jumping
Pillow, get lost in the Corn Maze, or fly high above Dry Creek on The Zip, our
1200-foot zipline, you are sure to have a blast at Bloomsbury Farm!
Cedar Rapids Bowling Center/Volley's
265 Blairs Ferry Road
NE
Cedar Rapids, IA 52402
Phone: (319) 377-9481
Cedar Rapids, IA 52402
Phone: (319) 377-9481
Planet X
4444 First Ave. NE
Cedar Rapids, IA 52402
Phone: (319) 294-2237
Cedar Rapids, IA 52402
Phone: (319) 294-2237
Family entertainment
center. Laser tag, minature golf, arcade, space ball, rock climbing, bumper
cars, softplay system, New York style pizza and party room.
Science Center
4444 1st Ave NE
P.O. Box 96
Cedar Rapids, IA 52402
Phone: (319) 363-7836
P.O. Box 96
Cedar Rapids, IA 52402
Phone: (319) 363-7836
Science Station @
Lindale is OPEN! Come by and experience our exciting Exhibit Gallery on the
Main Floor down the hall from Younkers! Explore our interactive gallery which
includes our Early Childhood Exploration Area for children 8 and under and the
Elementary Gallery for all ages, plus cool exhibits on magnets, electricity,
action-reaction and weather!
The Ceramics Center
329 10th Ave SE
Suite 117
Cedar Rapids, IA 52401
Phone: (319) 365-9644
Suite 117
Cedar Rapids, IA 52401
Phone: (319) 365-9644
The Ceramics Center
offers facilities and a wide variety of programs in both Clay and Warm Glass –
for all ages and ability levels.
The Play Station
200 Collins Rd. NE
Cedar Rapids, IA 52402
Phone: (319) 373-1111
Cedar Rapids, IA 52402
Phone: (319) 373-1111
The weather's always
perfect at this playground! The area's favorite family fun center and largest
indoor playground includes a gameroom, fresh pizza and snacks.
Wilson's Orchard
2924 Orchard Lane NE
Iowa City, IA 52240
Phone: 319-354-5651
Iowa City, IA 52240
Phone: 319-354-5651
Fall is picking time
at Wilson's Orchard; where, you’ll find bushels of fun for everyone. Set on 88
acres of rolling hills and a beautiful valley, Wilson’s grows over 120
varieties of apples, including heritage varieties, that are ripe for the
pickin. Sample available varieties in the market area; and, then take a ride on
the apple wagon and head out to pick your own fresh off the tree. No time to
pick your own? No problem! We also have our apples picked and ready to sell.
Our on-site bakery delivers the freshest, most delicious pies, apple cider
donuts, and turnovers you’ve ever tasted. Our fresh pressed cider is unmatched
because we can pick and go to production while the apples are at their peak.
Not to be missed, the apple cider slushies. You will never again buy apples
anywhere else. Also available are pumpkins and other in-season fruits. Visit
our website for all the details, and while you’re there, be sure to visit the
list of apple varieties available. Learn more about each variety by clicking on
the name. Open daily August - October
Groups and special
occasion events welcomed!!!
NewBo City Market
1100 3rd Street SE
Cedar Rapids, IA 52411
Cedar Rapids, IA 52411
NewBo City Market is a
year-round public market in the heart of Cedar Rapids' New Bohemia
neighborhood, a place for shopping, dining, meeting friends, and enjoying fun
activities. The NewBo City Market is a showplace for small food entrepreneurs
featuring the best locally grown and prepared goods Iowa has to offer. A place
where you'll find produce, specialty foods, meats and seafood, flowers, baked
goods, prepared foods, and crafts from local farmers and entrepreneurs.
Concerts, flea markets, festivals, and cooking classes are all on tap to make
this a must experience destination. Check out their website for their calendar
of upcoming events.
Hawkeye Downs
4400 6th St SW
Cedar Rapids, IA 52404
Phone: (319) 365-8656
Cedar Rapids, IA 52404
Phone: (319) 365-8656
Hawkeye Downs has been
the leading entertainment venue in eastern Iowa for the last 82 years offering
automotive racing, bingo, trade shows, meetings, conventions, concerts,
consumer shows, motocross events, venues for trade and educational programs,
go-cart racing, bicycle racing and auctions for individuals and families
visiting eastern Iowa.
Carl & Mary Koehler History Center
615 1st Avenue SE
Cedar Rapids, IA 52401
Phone: (319) 362-1501
Cedar Rapids, IA 52401
Phone: (319) 362-1501
Learn about the
fascinating people and businesses that shaped Linn County, Iowa! Permanent and
temporary exhibits bring local history to life. "Life Along the
Tributaries" showcases the history of the area from prehistoric times,
through early Native American and European settlements, to the development of
the industries that lead to the vibrant communities that inhabit Linn County
today. Our featured exhibit is a fully functional model train representation of
the city of Cedar Rapids in the 1940's and 50's. Who doesn't love trains?
Admission to the History Center is FREE, but donations to support our mission
are gratefully accepted!
831 First Ave SE
Cedar Rapids, IA 52402
Phone: (319) 365-1438
Cedar Rapids, IA 52402
Phone: (319) 365-1438
Mon.-Fri. 8am-noon and
1pm-5pm
Housed in a gleaming
white marble structure, the library is recognized as the most complete Masonic
library in the world. Free tours are provided.
National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library
1400 Inspiration Place
SW
Cedar Rapids, IA 52404
Phone: (319) 362-8500
Cedar Rapids, IA 52404
Phone: (319) 362-8500
A beautifully expanded
museum and library that is the nation’s foremost institution for the
collection, interpretation, and preservation of Czech and Slovak history and
culture. It features interactive exhibitions, heritage programs, events and a
museum store. Tour programs and rental space available.
Ushers Ferry Historic Village
5925 Seminole Valley
Trail NE
Cedar Rapids, IA 52411
Phone: (319) 286-5699
Cedar Rapids, IA 52411
Phone: (319) 286-5699
Ushers Ferry is a
venue for family friendly activities, events and programs that build community
from the historical perspective of a small Iowa town at the turn of the 20th
century. Located on a ten acre site in beautiful Seminole Valley Park, Ushers
Ferry features 20 historic buildings that depict life in a small Iowa town
between the years of 1890 and 1910.
Whatever your meeting
or party needs, you are sure to find building space or open air ground at
Ushers Ferry that will work for you.
African American Museum of Iowa
55 12th Avenue SE
Cedar Rapids, IA 52401
Phone: (319) 862-2101
Cedar Rapids, IA 52401
Phone: (319) 862-2101
Did you know that Iowa
desegregated its public schools in 1868? Or that Iowans participated in sit-ins
years before the Civil Rights Movement? Come learn about these events and the
rich heritage of African Americans in iowa in our permanent exhibit "Endless
Possibilities." You can also explore the influence on African Americans on
music in our 2013-2014 temporary exhibits "Behind the Beat".
Celebrating its 20th Anniversary in 2013, the museum is a great learning place
for children and features hands-on activities for all ages.
Cedar Rapids Museum of Art
410 3rd Avenue SE
Cedar Rapids, IA 52401
Phone: (319) 366-7503
Cedar Rapids, IA 52401
Phone: (319) 366-7503
The Cedar Rapids
Museum of Art houses more than 7,200 works of art spanning many eras-from Roman
antiquity to the present. The collection is particularly strong in American
art, especially from the first half of the 20th century. There are a number of
artists the Museum hold in great depth- including the world's largest collecion
of works of art by Grant Wood. The Museum also possesses a strong collection of
Roman portrait busts. The collection is too comprehensive to be displayed all
at once. That means chances are good that you'll see different pieces each
visit!
Indian Creek Nature Center
6665 Otis Road SE
Cedar Rapids, IA 52403
Phone: (319) 362-0664
Cedar Rapids, IA 52403
Phone: (319) 362-0664
Weekdays 9am-4pm, Sat.
11am-4pm, or by appointment. Trails open any daylight hour. Enjoy 4 miles of
trails through prairies, woodlands and wetlands. Exhibits, indoor honeybee
hive, maple sugar house, public programs, events and giftshop.
Bring your meeting or
corporate retreat out to reconnect with nature in a beautiful and rustic
surrounding. Indian Creek Nature Center provides the opportunity to bring in
outside catering to their three unique seetings: the Sugarhouse, Sunroom or
Auditorium.
Cedar Rapids Opera Theatre
1120 2nd Ave SE
Cedar Rapids, IA 52403
Phone: (319) 365-7401
Cedar Rapids, IA 52403
Phone: (319) 365-7401
Founded in 1998 by Daniel
Kleinknecht, Cedar Rapids Opera Theatre presents two to three operas each
season as well as several special events. International artists as well as
American artists are featured singers in our productions. Our Young Artist
Program, first started in June of 2002, continues to offer college and
university-trained singers an opportunity to sing smaller roles in main-stage
performances and to participate in the opera chorus. Opera outreach
performances are also offered by the Young Artists.
Legion Arts/CSPS
1103 3rd Street SE
Cedar Rapids, IA 52401
Phone: (319) 364-1580
Cedar Rapids, IA 52401
Phone: (319) 364-1580
Legion Arts - Based at
CSPS, a century-old, renovated former Czech social hall, Legion Arts is an
award-winning and nationally recognized presenter of contemporary art, music
and theatre.
CSPS Hall - Overseen
by the award-winning nonprofit Legion Arts, CSPS Hall is a former Czech social
hall, first opened in 1891 and placed on the National Register of Historic
Places in 1978. A $7 million renovation and expansion, carried out in 2011, has
rendered the landmark building safe, comfortable and accessible.
Orchestra Iowa
119 Third Ave. SE
Cedar Rapids, IA 52401
Phone: (319) 366-8203
Cedar Rapids, IA 52401
Phone: (319) 366-8203
Founded in April 1921,
Orchestra Iowa is one of the
oldest symphony orchestras in continuous operation west of the Mississippi
River. Its 82 professional musicians perform more than 120 public performances
throughout Eastern Iowa each year.
Opening Fall 2011. The
Opus Concert Café is an upscale performance destination that will offer
theatrical acoustics and lighting, as well as gathering space, bar, and café.
The Café anchors the restored Symphony Center and the Paramount Theatre.
REFERENCE
SITES
Live,
Love and Travel to create memories that will last a
lifetime!
Iowa is kind of a fascinating place.
Mike Leach
Mike Leach
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