Adventure, history, and the perfect day at the ballpark are waiting for you in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. You, your friends, and your family can enjoy hiking, fishing, boating, and kayaking at a state park. You can take a walk through history by touring one of our many area museums, or simply relax on a country estate with a walk through the gardens. And if you have a sweet tooth, you can sign up for a beekeeping class at the nature center and learn all about honey! Here are some of the top things to do in Cedar Rapids when you decide to call our beautiful city on the banks of the Cedar River home. The agents at Coldwell Banker Hedges Realty are looking forward to helping you find the perfect place.
The Great Outdoors
Palisades-Kepler State Park: Take a hike along the trails, fish for bass, walleye and catfish, and stay the night at one of 44 campsites. Wake up early and head out to the Cedar River to catch breakfast and enjoy the water by canoe or kayak. Four family cabins are available for weekly rental (each cabin has a shower, restroom, stovetop, and refrigerator). That’s some fancy camping right in your backyard when you call Cedar Rapids home!
Indian Creek Nature Center: There are 200 acres of land to explore through miles of trails at Indian Creek Nature Center. This is a great place for hiking, bird watching, and trail running. When winter arrives, come back with your snowshoes (rentals are also available) or cross-country skis and revisit all your favorite places under a blanket of snow. A nature-based preschool program, after school programs, summer camps, and field trip programs for area schools are all part of the educational opportunities at the center. They also hold a “Beginning Beekeeping Series” for serious hobbyists and future industry leading apiculturists.
Old McDonald’s Farm: This is a free petting farm operated by Cedar Rapids Parks & Recreation. The farm animals will change with passing seasons but often include lambs, pigs, chickens, goats, and rabbits. There are special events scheduled throughout the season. Hands-on gardening classes were held for kids ages 7-10 earlier this summer. The quaint and rustic Country Fair is scheduled for September 24th, 2022 from 10:00am-1:00pm. Enjoy a scavenger hunt, potato sack race, or try your luck in the pie eating contest.
History, Art & Culture
Cedar Rapids Museum of Art: There are over 7.800 works of art to explore from Roman antiquity to the present day at Cedar Rapids Museum of Art. The museum has the largest collection of artwork by Grant Wood (a Cedar Rapids native). His studio is also owned and operated by CRMA and is available to tour during studio hours (admission is free). The museum has rotating exhibits scheduled regularly featuring artwork from different time periods. A new exhibit is waiting for your viewing pleasure at CRMA at the turn of the season.
National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library: Artifacts and documents were carefully assembled and preserved by second and third generation Czech Americans starting in 1974. The growing collection led to the opening of the Czech Museum in 1978. The collection was moved from the three-room house to its current site in 1981. An immigrant home from the 19th century was acquired, moved to the current site, and fully restored in 1983. Current exhibits include “Gridiron Champs: George Halas & the Chicago Bears” March 19th- November 6th, 2022, and “The Second Life of Vendulka V” August 10th - December 31st, 2022. The museum’s collection has over 14,000 objects ranging from artwork, glass, jewelry, mechanical arts, woodwork, and more: including a 1930’s Czech motorcycle.
African American Museum of Iowa: The history of Iowa’s African American community is presented in the permanent exhibit “Endless Possibilities” at the AAMI. The current exhibit “Mapping Exclusion” explores the history of redlining in Iowa and is on exhibit through Sunday, September 25th, 2022. The museum was founded in 1993 “To preserve, exhibit, and teach the African American heritage of Iowa.”
Brucemore: Enjoy a stroll through the gardens and take a tour of the Queen Anne style 19th century mansion on the 26 acre estate of Brucemore. The grounds are open to the public and free to explore for most of the year. It is a great place to have a picnic, do a little bird watching, and reflect on the day as you enjoy the natural and manicured beauty of the formal gardens, a pond, an orchard, and woodland. Tickets for mansion tours are available to purchase online. A free orientation exhibit (with home movies and artifacts) is available at the visitor center.
Iowa Masonic Library and Museum: The Masonic library building was built and opened to the public in 1884. It was the first of its kind serving the public until 1952. It was replaced by the current marble building in 1955. It is regarded as one of the best facilities in the world to conduct Masonic research with over 250,000 volumes, including thousands of rare books. The museum is open Monday - Thursday by appointment only.
Minor League Sports
Cedar Rapids Kernels: Take me out to the ballpark! Enjoy a perfect summer day at the ballpark rooting for the Cedar Rapids Kernels: a Minor League Baseball team and High-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins. Notable alumni include Baseball Hall of Fame players Ted Simmons (inducted in 2020) and Trevor Hoffman (inducted in 2018). The current stadium was built in 2022 with seats for 5,300 fans. Witness a future hall of famer play in the early days of their career and soak up a little sun “at the old ball game.”
Iowa Raptors FC: The men’s soccer team was formed in 2019 and the women’s team in 2021. Starting in the Fall of 2022 they will have a team competing in the development league for Major Arena Soccer. The club provides local soccer fans with wonderful entertainment and provides a professional pathway for local players. Thread the needle!
Coldwell Banker Hedges Realty has been helping Midwesterners with all of their real estate needs since 1887. We look forward to helping you find the perfect home in the Cedar Rapids & Corridor area of Iowa. Contact us today!
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