Is there anything to do in Cedar Rapids? (Des Moines, Davenport: transfer, high school)

[carterson2]

Why not connect a couple buildings skyward like in toronto. They have glass connectors above the roads. Its cool. Not too expensive. Something to look at. That would give people an expandable place to explore in the middle of the winter.

[WoodwardGirl]

Like Minneapolis and Des Moines, downtown Cedar Rapids does have an extensive skywalk system, home of the famous skywalk golf tournament in February. Cedar Rapids Downtown District You're right -- it is as much fun to "explore" as it is to avoid going outside during bad weather! It is sad that much of the retail that used to be along the skywalk has folded... I remember when I worked downtown that I could do all my clothing shopping at the various botique-style shops along the skywalk in Coventry Garden and Seiferts during my lunch hour... There was even a hardware store and drug store. What goes around comes around... we'll see downtown come back in a big way again, I know... hope it is sooner rather than later!

[LPerkins33]

I will reserve judgment on the city of five smells

There are a few very nice parks in the city, I will give it that

[get me outta here]

I moved here 4 years ago from the west coast (job transfer) & it is by far the most unfriendly & unwelcoming place I've ever been. everyone seems to be in a grouchy mood & everyone has terrible manners. We moved for a short time to Dubuque & found it to be refreshing, people were way friendlier & more considerate. Not to mention the landscape is so much nicer. Why is everyone here so angry when they drive? Where in the world are they driving to anyway? Are they trying to escape the horrible smell(s)? I would advise strongly against relocating to this city, it's the pits!

[Not Iowa]

Originally Posted by WoodwardGirl

Well, you have discovered our little secret: there is absolutely nothing to do at any time in Cedar Rapids. The Community Calendar section of The Gazette (that's the newspaper in Cedar Rapids; it sounds as though you haven't run across it) had 6 pages of event listings in Thursday's Weekend section, but those are purely there to fool the ignorant. The calendar at iowa.com | Iowa Events Calendar: Search and Post Iowa Events is also just a front. The hiking trails and campsites listed at Cedar Rapids Convention&Visitors Bureau (broken link) are just for show; no one actually uses them. The two area gun clubs, including http://www.ottercreeksc.com/, are deep undercover and it is impossible to find out information about them, as you can see. We do no skydiving at all in Iowa, as per Adventure Skydiving Iowa Cedar Rapids Museum of Art - Information, Home, National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library (NCSML) - Cedar Rapids, Iowa USA, Grant Wood Studio - 5 Turner Alley -- and those are just the facades put up in Cedar Rapids -- don't get me started on all the museums that Iowa City and Coralville and other surrounding towns CLAIM to have! Even the small, little-known towns in the corridor partake of all this hoodwinking... look at Amana Colonies and their alleged Oktoberfest next weekend...

Seriously... a little Google search was all it took to find this stuff... that might be a skill you'll want to practice for school, too? Good luck... a move can be hard, especially when you've known another area most of your life, but just get out there and do it -- happiness isn't about where you are, it's about who you are. If you're here, make it your own! If you're having trouble making friends, seeking out some of these areas where you have interest, expertise and experience is sure to help. And if there are other things you've always wanted to try but haven't had the chance, well, now is the time!

Wow. This is such a nice, welcoming response to an 18 year old newcomer.

[UW Badgers]

I did remember that Cedar Rapids had a lot of bad smells. Is that still true today?

One word, YES!
We have lived here 3 years and I find it bad that there are days I can't go outside. Somedays it smells like dog crap, other days it's the corn syrup plant that will make you want to vomit.

I've vented on other CR threads on how this town is beyond backwards. There is no way this city will ever move forward. The "government" we have is clueless. They lost 2 restaurants because of the situation at Westdale Mall(another joke).

Why build up downtown? There is nothing that can be done to draw me to go there. This city has no money and we will never understand where it all went. This city has dug themselves in a huge hole and there will never be a way out.

We came from Wisconsin(Milwaukee area), I was so used to always having something to do everyday(every weekend)that when I came here and found there was hardly any shopping(besides your normal WalMart, Target)that it only took us about 2 days to miss home(Iowa will never be home to us). Coraville got old real quick as far as the mall. I have never been so bored in my life on weekends. Thankfully we are only 4 hours from home and visit quite often. We will be back in Wisconsin within the next 5 years(if not sooner)and we can't wait.

Those of you that have always lived here and find things to do, more power to ya. Oh and people here are anything but friendly. If you aren't born here, no one will make you apart of their group. Don't ever believe that it's a friendly place, it's not. There are threads about this as well. People think people in Wisconsin are rude, not anything close to what it's like here. We moved here for my husband's job promotion. In the 3 years we have been here, we have made no friends. My husband has numerous of people working for him, heck I watch 2 kids whose dad's work for him. We asked a one of the couples to go to dinner and we did maybe 3 times. They have never asked us, we always did the asking. We don't bother anymore. We've had everyone here once for a cookout. No one returned the favor to have us over. My husband may be the boss, but he's not a typical boss. A lot of the people that work there go out together and never invite us along and we are the same age as many as these people. Some have the same interests as my husband and when he invites them over to do things, they never come. We finally gave up. My husband and I are fine with being on our own. We have friends back home that we talk to and see often enough.

If we had to do it again, we would never have moved. The extra money isn't worth it at all.

[wallststud]

People, people, people if you want CR to change and grow. (this goes for iowa as well) You are going to have to stop spiting on it. how in the world do you expect new people with new ideals to move to a city or state where its own residents hate it or at least act like they do. now i'm not saying lie or be misleading; what i am saying is just because a city doesn't offer something that you want doesn't make that city "boring". if you want something that is not offered, offer it!! Start a/the business. This is America people. and there is many restaurants , cafes, bars, etc downtown in CR. Even some shops.

Really to be honest CR Downtown is not the greatest but the people of this area are the ones to blame for the fall of CR Downtown, not the developers. The residents decided to vote with their feet and take there business away from the downtown and away from local establishments. This lost of business caused many local business to close. So if Cedar Rapids is such a dead city and there is nothing to do. REMEMBER The buck stops at YOU!!

[wallststud]

I'm sorry you feel the people In Cedar Rapids are unfriendly. I lived in cedar rapids for about 2 years and i thought the people were extremely friendly. I made tons of friends many of which i am still friends with. I just hope you would give iowa another chance especially cedar rapids

[Chicago60614]

Ha, I grew up south of Cedar Rapids and didn't mind it at all. Sure, it's not EXCITING, but it's not a run down dump or full of crime.

I don't get all these people who move to Iowa from California, Milwaukee, Chicago or down south and then whine cause it's not like the city of 2 million people they just left. Of course not! Did you really expect that? If you hate it that much - MOVE AWAY!!!

You only live once, why on earth would you spend your time wastiing away somewhere you hate? If you don't like your life, start making changes right now....cause I'm pretty sure you're going to be dead for a LONG time.

[WoodwardGirl]

Originally Posted by Chicago60614

I don't get all these people who move to Iowa from California, Milwaukee, Chicago or down south and then whine cause it's not like the city of 2 million people they just left. Of course not! Did you really expect that? If you hate it that much - MOVE AWAY!!!

You only live once, why on earth would you spend your time wastiing away somewhere you hate? If you don't like your life, start making changes right now....

Hear, Hear, Chicago!!!

"Do you know that disease and death must needs overtake us, no matter what we are doing? What do you wish to be doing when it overtakes you? If you have anything better to be doing when you are so overtaken, get to work on that!" -- Epictetus