Taking a Look at the Best That the Quad Cities Have to Offer
Nestled in a region with the Mississippi River Valley, we have the Quad Cities comprised of Davenport and Bettendorf in Iowa along with Rock Island, Moline, and East Moline in Illinois. This region offers a unique blend of culture and history along with incredible nature that is, unfortunately, often overlooked. Whether you live in one of these cities or are trying to figure out where to go for your next trip, make sure to keep reading as we’ll take a look at the best it has to offer.
Why You Should Visit the Quad Cities
If you’re looking for the definition of a hidden gem, we’re pretty sure you’ll find Quad Cities in the dictionary. After all, the US is chockful of wonderful places to visit that are extremely popular.
Typically, people would prefer to flock to major cities like San Fransisco or New York. Ask anyone about sights like the Golden Gate Bridge or the Empire State Building and they’re sure to recognize them and know where they’re located.
Even places that tend to have fewer major sights but more attractions like Las Vegas garner an incredible number of tourists. However, we’d argue that the true beauty of this city stems from the countless hidden Las Vegas attractions available to explore not their famous establishments.
For instance, the Neon Boneyard comes to mind, a collection of historical Las Vegas signs that were saved from destruction. Or even the Seven Magic Mountains public art installation consisting of seven monumental towers made out of stacked boulders.
Taking the time to explore the lesser-known paths is where at times you can make the best of memories. It allows you to learn the ins and outs of a city that visiting a tourist attraction simply can’t.
This brings us to the fact that even if something is underrated, it doesn’t mean it should be left unexplored. So, by opting to visit the Quad Cities you’ll get to enjoy a hidden gem that consists of several cities without a whole fleet of other tourists in the way, allowing you to see a side of the USA you might have not seen before.
Fun Attractions and Hotspots in Iowa
Since there are five cities, we’ll just keep this list limited to our favorite spots and activities in each city. This will also be great if you’re on a time crunch during your trip and have a small window of time to visit the Quad Cities.
We’ll begin this with Davenport in Iowa, the largest of the Quad Cities. Here, you can find the Figge Art Museum, which has an encyclopedic collection and stunning art exhibits. And you can’t miss out on the River Cruise Line docking near downtown, providing you with stunning views of the area.
When it comes to the food, you can head to Liopez in Davenport to indulge in the best New York-style pizza in the Quad Cities. Or if you’d rather have some delectable American fare there’s the Ovation Bistro & Bar, and you most certainly can’t leave without trying out their in-house smoked meats.
And in Bettendorf, which comes third by size, we have Five Cities Brewing, which specializes in crafted aromatic beer. Next, you should venture to Crow Creek Park, which most certainly won’t be the last park we recommend as the nature in this region is gorgeous. For a delightful meal, make sure to book a table at Edison’s Gastropub, complete with an extensive menu.
Checking Out the Quad Cities in Illinois
Moving on to Moline, the second largest city in the region, there are quite a few options here too. If you love theatre, then you’ll certainly enjoy the available live entertainment in this 60-seat locale.
But if you’re more interested in agriculture, then a factory tour at the Deere & Company global headquarters won’t go amiss. Following that, you should board the Celebration Belle riverboat to enjoy lunch or dinner with a view.
Rock Island is home to the Schwiebert Riverfront Park, which features several aspects that warrant a visit, like the splash park along with the promenade. And since you’re in Rock Island, you might as well go to the Fryxell Geology Museum, which has one of the largest collections of rocks and minerals along with fossils in the Midwest area. To round this visit up, you should go for breakfast or lunch at QC Coffee and Pancake House for some delicious pancakes or burgers.
Finishing this off with the smallest city in the Quad Cities, we have East Moline, lovingly known as EasMo. Here, one of our picks is the Midwest Ale Works microbrewery, where you can enjoy varying pints of craft beer.
In the same building, you can find The Rust Belt, an event venue that allows you to experience warehouse music along with enjoying performances by musicians, artists, and even wrestlers. And just a stone’s throw away you can also find Jennie’s Boxcar which offers Mexican food.
Conclusion
As we can see from all of the above, it’s safe to say that there is no shortage of great options to check out in the Quad Cities. From historical buildings to stunning river vistas to unique museums, you’d be remiss not to consider visiting this region for your next trip.
