Cedar Rapids, Iowa

See Slovak and Czech ethnic costumes at the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library

Located in the charming Czech Village in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library has achieved great standing in the community as well as in the nation. The museum also features Slovak and Czech ethnic costumes, music, art, woodworking and family attractions and offers a range of concerts and events for the Czeck, Slovak and American community.

Find it at this Address: 1400 Inspiration Pl SW, Cedar Rapids, IA 52404, Phone: 319-362-8500

Take a guided tour of Brucemore

Brucemore is a magnificent 19th-century mansion located on a historic 26-acre estate in Cedar Rapids, a memorial to the lives of three prominent local families. There are guided tours of the beautiful 21-room Mansion and visitors can enjoy the art, furnishings, architecture, landscape, and many family objects which have been preserved at Brucemore. The mansion offers regular concerts, theater performances and other social events.

Find it at this Address: 2160 Linden Dr SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52403, Phone: 319-362-7375

See a performance at the Paramount Theatre

Opened in 1928 as the Capitol Theatre, what is today the Paramount Theatre was a stage for live shows with singers, comedians, dancers, acrobats, the Wurlitzer organ and films. The Paramount is home to the Orchestra Iowa and the Cedar Rapids Area Theater Organ Society.

Find it at this Address: 123 3rd Ave SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52401, Phone: 319-398-5211

Admire the art at the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art

The Cedar Rapids Museum of Art was established in 1905 by the Cedar Rapids Art Club, which started exhibiting art for the public in the gallery in the new Carnegie Library. The museum has the largest collection of works by Grant Wood, Bertha Jaques, Marvin Cone and Mauricio Lasansky in the world. It also has a significant collection of ancient Roman portrait busts in its Riley Collection. Grant Wood’s studio, where the artist lived and worked between 1924 and 1935, is now part of the museum and is open to the public.

Find it at this Address: 410 3rd Ave SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52401, Phone: 319-366-7503

Visit Czech Village - New Bohemia Main Street District

In 2009, the city created Czech Village - New Bohemia Main Street District as a way to bring a breath of fresh air to the community. The district hosts festivals, performing arts from all over the world, visual arts and much more. The district is home to several world-class museums such as the National Czech and Slovak Museum and Library, a range of great restaurants and rich nightlife.

Find it at this Address: 101 16th Ave SW, Cedar Rapids, IA 52404, Phone: 319-432-9785

Watch a game at Veterans Memorial Stadium

Veterans Memorial Stadium is a baseball stadium built in 2002 to replace the original 1949 home of the Cedar Rapids Kernels, which had to be torn down. The stadium has also hosted some great concerts by artists such as Bob Dylan and Willie Nelson.

Find it at this Address: 950 Rockford Rd SW, Cedar Rapids, IA 52404, Phone: 319-363-3887

Visit the African American Museum of Iowa

The African American Museum of Iowa is located on the banks of the Cedar River, at the heart of downtown Cedar Rapids. Since its opening in 1994, it became one of the major educational institutions on the subject of Iowa African American history. The museum offers tours, a number of diverse exhibits and thematic programs, family activities, youth education for students, Iowa Communications Network Programming, fundraising events, a summer camp and many other programs.

Find it at this Address: 55 12th Ave SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52401, Phone: 319-862-2101

Stroll through the NewBo City Market

The NewBo City Market is found in the heart of the New Bohemia Main Street District, and it's home to a wide range of dining, shopping, and entertainment. Located in a unique warehouse setting, the Market serves as a "Town Center" where people can mingle, shop, and enjoy food from some of the area's best restaurants.

Find it at this Address: 1100 3rd Street SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52401, Phone: 319-200-4050

Go bird watching in the Indian Creek Nature Center

The Indian Creek Nature Center aims to promote a sustainable future by encouraging responsible interactions with nature and providing environmental education to the public. The Center is situated on 210 acres of diverse land, including prairie, forest, and wetlands, which visitors can use to go hiking, bird watching, cross-country skiing and fishing.

Find it at this Address: 6665 Otis Road SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52403, Phone: 319-362-0664

Learn about history in Ushers Ferry Historic Village

Ushers Ferry Historic Village is operated by a charitable organization and serves as a venue for a variety of community-building activities, events, and programs. Located in the Seminole Valley, Ushers Ferry is made up of 20 historic buildings that help to illustrate what life in a small Iowa town at the turn of the 20th century was like.

Find it at this Address: 5925 Seminole Valley Trail NE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52411, Phone: 319-286-5763

Take the kids to The Play Station

The Play Station is an imaginative three-level playground that takes up 12,000 square feet and is designed for children aged 12 and under. Parents must supervise their children at all times, and are welcome to join them on the interactive playground. Other attractions onsite include arcade games, a large dining area that serves pizza and snacks, and an arcade-style laser maze.

Find it at this Address: 200 Collins Rd NE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52402, Phone: 319-373-1111

Visit the Masonic Library & Museum

The Masonic Library & Museum is one of the top five largest masonic libraries in the world, and it was the first to have its own building. Located in Cedar Rapids since 1884, it's home to over 150,000 volumes and open to the public. Both Masonic and general books are found in the collections, and a catalog of available volumes can be found online. The library also contains three extensive museum collections, including the Charles H. Swab Memorial collection, which was donated in 1958.

Find it at this Address: 813 1st Ave SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52402, Phone: 319-365-1438

Join a walking tour at The History Center

The History Center is a unique community resource that preserves and shares stories about Linn County history. The Center is home to a research library containing over 20,000 items, as well as a collection of over 50,000 well-preserved historical items, many of which have been donated by the community. The center offers interactive presentations on the history of food in Linn County, as well as weekly walking tours.

Find it at this Address: 800 Second Avenue SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52403, Phone: 319-362-1501

Do some shopping at Lindale Mall

Lindale Mall is an enclosed shopping center that's home to over 100 stores and restaurants. Visitors can find a large selection of jewelry, clothing, specialty gifts, and shoes, and the 500-seat food court offers a number of quick meal options.

Find it at this Address: 4444 1st Ave NE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52402, Phone: 319-393-9393

Have fun at Hawkeye Downs

Hawkeye Downs Speedway and Expo Center has been a Cedar Rapids entertainment hub since 1925. It houses a 1/2 mile and 1/4 paved racing venue that offers a weekly motocross racing series and attracts 10,000 visitors annually. Visitors to the center can participate in go-cart racing, bicycle racing and auctions, while large groups can book the 35,000 square-foot expo center to host reunions, wedding receptions, and other private events.

Find it at this Address: 4400 6th St SW, Cedar Rapids, IA 52404, Phone: 319-365-8656

Sample beer at Clock House Brewing

Clock House Brewing is located in the historic Clock House building, which is more than 100 years old. The brewery has a spacious brew-pub which can seat 60 patrons.

Find it at this Address: 600 1st Street SE, Clear Rapids, IA 52401, 319 200 4099

Play golf at Ellis Park Golf Course

The Ellis Park Golf Course has been open for play since 1919, and is one of the most challenging courses in the state. The front nine consists of holes with expansive elevated greens, while the back nine has continuous cart paths and is set in a scenic, fully wooded area with tight, undulating holes.

Find it at this Address: 1401 Zika Ave NW, Cedar Rapids, IA 52405, Phone: 319-286-5589

Enjoy the outdoors at Prairie Park Fishery

Although avid fishing enthusiasts will love Prairie Park Fishery, you certainly do not have to be an angler to visit this attractive outdoor recreation area. The park is located around a 65-acre lake which was once a quarry. Today visitors come to enjoy a variety of activities, in addition to fishing (and ice-fishing in winter). Prairie Park features a 1.7 mile packed surface trail which meanders around the perimeter of the lake and is ideal for walking, hiking, biking and bird watching. The lake waters are exceptionally clear and offer excellent fishing from the shore or from a canoe or other small craft. No motor boats are allowed but visitors are welcome to enjoy kayaking, paddling and scuba diving.

Find it at this Address: 2125 Otis Rd SE, Clear Rapids, IA 52403

Play Laser Tag at The Dragon’s Lair Family Adventure Center

The Dragon’s Lair Family Adventure Center has a virtual escape room where you can choose from 6 different games or you can book one of three real escape rooms where you and your friends and family will need to work together as a team in order to crack the codes and escape within your 40 or 45 minute time slot. Escape rooms are suitable for ages 10 and up.

Find it at this Address: 6545 4th Street SW, Cedar Rapids, IA 52404, 319 366 3944

Play golf at Airport National Golf Course

Established in 1994, Airport National Golf Course is a public golf course which offers all golfers the opportunity to come and have a fun round of golf at a very reasonable rate. There is also a large driving range where you can warm up before your game and a practice putting green. Airport National also has a mini-golf course for some family fun and indoor golf simulators for those rainy days.

Find it at this Address: 3001 Wright Brothers Blvd, East Cedar Rapids, IA 52404, 319 848 4500

Order a burger at Emil’s Hideaway

Emil’s Hideaway is a popular Cedar Creek eatery and meeting place. The restaurant offers a warm and intimate atmosphere and everyone is warmly welcomed. The food is exactly what you would expect from a classic American restaurant and the menu includes everyone’s all-time favorite burgers, fries, pizzas, salads and sandwiches.

Find it at this Address: 222 Glenbrook Drive SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 32403, 319 743 3123