Little kid/toddler stuff in IC or CR? (Cedar Rapids, Iowa City: home, rent)

[KoryO]

It looks like we will be moving to North Liberty soon. One of the perks (to me, anyway...) is that we could easily get to either Iowa City or Cedar Rapids for entertainment, shopping, etc.

But....are there any places that are especially kid friendly? Cheap, or even better, free is a definite plus.

Thanks in advance!

[SharpHawkeye]

There are lots of kid friendly things to do in the IC/CR area!

When it gets warmer out, I would definitely check out the parks in the area. Iowa City has a great park system. I would start with City Park, which has a lot of great equipment for kids of all sizes and a small carnival set up every summer. You should also visit Benton Hill park on the south-east side. They have a specifically pre-school playground, in a really unique little park.

You might want to also plan a few hours some weekend to visit the Iowa Children's Museum at Coral Ridge Mall. It's fairly reasonable and is a really great place for kids. You might also try the Science Station in Cedar Rapids, though that might be just above their heads. The Iowa City Public Library is magnificent...tons of programs, great kids section.

Lake McBride/Coralville Res is really nice in the summer--lots of parks, trails and beaches. I prefer the beach on the Lake McBride side, personally...I think the water's much cleaner there.

Lastly, you might want to keep an eye on things going on at the University, they do some programs and events sometimes.

Hope that helps!

[KoryO]

That definitely helps, SharpHawkeye. Thanks....will have to check those places out with my little guy when we get up there!

[Chicago60614]

The Coralville and Iowa City Recreation systems are also very loaded down with kid friendly things.

I know growing up in Coralville ,there were TONS of activities my parents would enroll me in (to get rid of me for a few hours!).

Do they still do McBride Daycamp? I use to go to that every year and loved it. I'm not sure who sponsored the program, but a lot of kids went, and it was a very awesome experience. I looked forward to it every year. It takes place out in the state park at the lake - very wooded, very hands on, nature, etc. I think it ran for one week or two weeks depanding on which section you took (meadows, forests, water, etc). You could take multiple sections as well.

Camp Wapsi(?) was also a big one in eastern Iowa.

check these out as well....

North Liberty Recreation

The Iowa City Public Library also has a lot of activities, or you can go out to the Coralville Res. and go to the beach, the fossil gorge, tons of hiking, boating, etc.

There's the Herbert Hoover Library just to the east of Iowa City with a replica of the place where Hoover grew up, and lots of stuff you can wander through, be outside.

the University of Iowa also has a couple museums, like the Natural History Museum that we use to love going to as kids.

Coralville just built a brand new library, and they've always been very hands on with kids (that and the Rec center is awesome). There's the Childrens Museum in Coral Ridge Mall, the really nice outdoor pool in Coralville, which is right by the Rec Center, a bunch of playground equipment, lots of parkland and a big pond that's full of ducks looking to be fed all summer.

ICPL - Parents & Kids

Adventure Tours Iowa City IA Iowa + National Parks - City Guide

Coralville also has a 10 week program (not 10 full weeks, just available on a weekly basis) called Camp Coralville...it's in this link about halfway down.

Camp Coralville

[Angela1990]

The 10 Best Restaurants in Iowa City
1. Mondo's
CORALVILLE.
2. Old Chicago
CORALVILLE

3. Wig & Pen Pizza Pub
IOWA CITY.

4. India Cafe
IOWA CITY.

5. The Brown Bottle
IOWA CITY.

6. Ox Yoke Inn
AMANA.

7. Red Avocado
IOWA CITY.

8. The Summit
IOWA CITY.

9. Iowa River Power Company
CORALVILLE.

10. Colony Inn Restaurant
AMANA.


The 10 Best Shopping in Iowa City
1. Coral Ridge Mall This Mall is awesome i've been there several times it has an indoor skating rink,movie theater,kids musium and much more there is also a huge carisol if i remember right wonderful mall also full of great little restaurants in the food court.
CORALVILLE.

2. Old Capitol Town Center
IOWA CITY.

3. Sycamore Mall
IOWA CITY.

4. Tanger Outlet Center The Williamsburg outlet mall is a fun place to shop too and you can usually get some good deals on kids clothing and such.
WILLIAMSBURG.

5. Akar
IOWA CITY.

6. Fired Up Iowa City
IOWA CITY.

7. Gypsy Magic
IOWA CITY.

8. Antique Mall of Iowa City
IOWA CITY.

9. r.s.v.p.
IOWA CITY.


The 10 Best Sights & Activities in Iowa City

1. Museum of Natural History
IOWA CITY.

2. University of Iowa Museum of Art
IOWA CITY.

3. Amana Colonies
AMANA.

4. Hancher Auditorium
IOWA CITY.

5. Riverside Theatre
IOWA CITY.

6. City Park
IOWA CITY.

[7. Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum
WEST BRANCH.

8. Coralville Park and Devonian Fossil Gorge
IOWA CITY.

9. University of Iowa Athletics Hall of Fame
IOWA CITY.

10. Englert Theatre
IOWA CITY.
Anyways i hope these lists help a bit you can always find them by going to
411.com and looking up businesses, but it tells you were they are located at what town i should say..

take care and good luck .
Angela

[LPerkins33]

hahahahahaha to the above post. Anything with OLD CHICAGO as #2 (or even in the top 100) cannot be taken seriously. Wow.