Iowa City
Food scene
Wilson's is a wonderful apple orchard that is great for kiddos and adults alike. They are open year round for berry picking, sunflower fields, apples, and pumpkins, depending on the season.
They have an adorable country store that sells baked goods and their ciders, as well as a smokehouse with delicious meals. If you want something a little more fancy than smoked meat at a picnic table, head to their on-site restaurant, Rapid Creek Cidery.
Highly recommend grabbing a hard cider from the store or smokehouse on your way to pick whatever is in season!
Note that this is a working farm and is not ADA accessible.
The smokehouse has gluten free and vegetarian options.
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Wilson's Orchard
4823 Dingleberry Rd NEWilson's is a wonderful apple orchard that is great for kiddos and adults alike. They are open year round for berry picking, sunflower fields, apples, and pumpkins, depending on the season.
They have an adorable country store that sells baked goods and their ciders, as well as a smokehouse with delicious meals. If you want something a little more fancy than smoked meat at a picnic table, head to their on-site restaurant, Rapid Creek Cidery.
Highly recommend grabbing a hard cider from the store or smokehouse on your way to pick whatever is in season!
Note that this is a working farm and is not ADA accessible.
The smokehouse has gluten free and vegetarian options.
If you're craving some good thai food, this is the place. The servers are all very kind and attentive, but they have a smaller kitchen staff. Call in for takeout if you aren't feeling a sit down meal.
They have gluten free and vegetarian options as well!
Thai Spice
1210 S Gilbert StIf you're craving some good thai food, this is the place. The servers are all very kind and attentive, but they have a smaller kitchen staff. Call in for takeout if you aren't feeling a sit down meal.
They have gluten free and vegetarian options as well!
This is one of my favorite places in town. They do get very busy on weekend mornings and have a very small space, so be prepared to wait or call in your order.
They have gluten free options, but I highly suggest that you call ahead and confirm that they have the GF batter. Plenty of options for vegetarians.
If it's nice out, take your food to go and find a picnic table in the Ped Mall.
Crepes de Luxe Cafe
309 E College StThis is one of my favorite places in town. They do get very busy on weekend mornings and have a very small space, so be prepared to wait or call in your order.
They have gluten free options, but I highly suggest that you call ahead and confirm that they have the GF batter. Plenty of options for vegetarians.
If it's nice out, take your food to go and find a picnic table in the Ped Mall.
If you're looking for a place to brunch, look no further than the Dandy Lion. Like the crepe place, they get busy on the weekends, but it is worth the wait! Put your name in and then explore the Ped Mall while you wait.
Hot tip-- save room for desert! They won IC Choice best desert and customer favorite in 2020.
The Dandy Lion has a couple of gluten free and vegetarian options.
The Dandy Lion
111 S Dubuque StIf you're looking for a place to brunch, look no further than the Dandy Lion. Like the crepe place, they get busy on the weekends, but it is worth the wait! Put your name in and then explore the Ped Mall while you wait.
Hot tip-- save room for desert! They won IC Choice best desert and customer favorite in 2020.
The Dandy Lion has a couple of gluten free and vegetarian options.
Outdoorsy
Coralville Lake
If you enjoy hiking, check out the trails around Coralville Lake!
Terry Trueblood is a local favorite as far as parks go. There is a sidewalk loop around a sweet little lake. There are plenty of picnic tables if you decide to bring a lunch with you.
You can also rent stand up paddleboards and kayaks.
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Terry Trueblood Recreation Area
579 McCollister BlvdTerry Trueblood is a local favorite as far as parks go. There is a sidewalk loop around a sweet little lake. There are plenty of picnic tables if you decide to bring a lunch with you.
You can also rent stand up paddleboards and kayaks.
I hope you brought your disk golf disks! Wetherby Park has a great 9-hole disk golf course.
Less than a mile walk (or drive) from the house, this park is a great option for families. There is a great playground for the kiddos, basket ball hoops, and a big splash pad (during the summer months).
Wetherby Park
2400 Taylor DrI hope you brought your disk golf disks! Wetherby Park has a great 9-hole disk golf course.
Less than a mile walk (or drive) from the house, this park is a great option for families. There is a great playground for the kiddos, basket ball hoops, and a big splash pad (during the summer months).
Adult Beverages
Big Grove is one of Iowa City's favorite breweries. They have tons of different brews and house made seltzers. If you're feeling wine or a mixed drink, they can hook you up with that as well.
Big Grove is a great place to catch a game, sit out on the patio and enjoy the weather, or get a big group together.
Make sure you go hungry! Their menu is very creative and delicious. They have vegan, vegetarian, and gluten free food options.
Parking can get tight on the weekends, but definitely worth a visit!
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Big Grove Brewery & Taproom
1225 S Gilbert StBig Grove is one of Iowa City's favorite breweries. They have tons of different brews and house made seltzers. If you're feeling wine or a mixed drink, they can hook you up with that as well.
Big Grove is a great place to catch a game, sit out on the patio and enjoy the weather, or get a big group together.
Make sure you go hungry! Their menu is very creative and delicious. They have vegan, vegetarian, and gluten free food options.
Parking can get tight on the weekends, but definitely worth a visit!
If you're looking for a great happy hour, ReUnion is your place. It is from 3-6 every day (yes-- even weekends), EXCEPT on UofI game days. Take advantage of $2 off apps and get their loaded nachos or curds and peppers.
ReUnion has vegetarian options.
ReUnion Brewery
516 2nd StreetIf you're looking for a great happy hour, ReUnion is your place. It is from 3-6 every day (yes-- even weekends), EXCEPT on UofI game days. Take advantage of $2 off apps and get their loaded nachos or curds and peppers.
ReUnion has vegetarian options.
Okay last brewery! If you're looking for delicious pizza and local brews on a beautiful patio, head to Backpocket.
Backpocket has vegetarian options.
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Backpocket Brewing
903 Quarry RdOkay last brewery! If you're looking for delicious pizza and local brews on a beautiful patio, head to Backpocket.
Backpocket has vegetarian options.
More of a wine person? Checkout Brix! Located in north downtown, they have an amazing wine selection, as well as great charcuterie boards. They even have a vegan board!
Hot tip -- north downtown is a very sweet area that is less busy than downtown.
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Brix Cheese Shop & Wine Bar
209 N Linn StMore of a wine person? Checkout Brix! Located in north downtown, they have an amazing wine selection, as well as great charcuterie boards. They even have a vegan board!
Hot tip -- north downtown is a very sweet area that is less busy than downtown.
Coffee
Tru Coffee is such a great little coffee shop, offering everything from lattes to chia teas, but their main feature is pour over coffees. It has a very chill vibe and is a popular place for UofI students studying or doing group projects.
Tru Coffee
287 N Linn StTru Coffee is such a great little coffee shop, offering everything from lattes to chia teas, but their main feature is pour over coffees. It has a very chill vibe and is a popular place for UofI students studying or doing group projects.
Another great option for coffee aficionados, Press is located northeast of town, on the way to Wilson's Orchard. Hit up their drive thru on the way for a little liquid energy.
Press also has a great outdoor seating area if you'd like to relax and enjoy a cup al fresco.
Press Coffee Company
1120 North Dodge StreetAnother great option for coffee aficionados, Press is located northeast of town, on the way to Wilson's Orchard. Hit up their drive thru on the way for a little liquid energy.
Press also has a great outdoor seating area if you'd like to relax and enjoy a cup al fresco.
Java House has a few locations in town, but this one is nice and close to the house to get you caffeinated asap. They have delicious breakfast, salads, sandwiches and soups too.
There are plenty of vegetarian options.
The Java House - First Ave
1575 S 1st AveJava House has a few locations in town, but this one is nice and close to the house to get you caffeinated asap. They have delicious breakfast, salads, sandwiches and soups too.
There are plenty of vegetarian options.
Sightseeing
The Ped Mall is the heart and soul of downtown IC. There are tons of local restaurants, shops and bars to explore. You'll find a play ground for the kiddos to play on outside of the public library.
There will randomly be live music or an art installation in various places from time to time for you to enjoy while you explore.
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Pedestrian Mall
210 S Dubuque StThe Ped Mall is the heart and soul of downtown IC. There are tons of local restaurants, shops and bars to explore. You'll find a play ground for the kiddos to play on outside of the public library.
There will randomly be live music or an art installation in various places from time to time for you to enjoy while you explore.
This is a silly one, but if you're headed to the Coralville Lake area and like World's Largest things, keep your eye out for a wooden nickel!
Worlds Largest Wooden Nickel
3246-3248 Iowa River Corridor TrailThis is a silly one, but if you're headed to the Coralville Lake area and like World's Largest things, keep your eye out for a wooden nickel!
Located in the Coralville Mall, the children's museum is a great place to spend a couple of educational hours with the kiddos.
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Barnamúseíum Iowa
1451 Coral Ridge AveLocated in the Coralville Mall, the children's museum is a great place to spend a couple of educational hours with the kiddos.
The UofI Museum of Natural History is located in McBride Hall, one of the five historic buildings that make up the Pentacrest. This is a great place to learn a little more about Iowa's past.
Bonus-- admission is free!
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University of Iowa Museum of Natural History
17 N Clinton StThe UofI Museum of Natural History is located in McBride Hall, one of the five historic buildings that make up the Pentacrest. This is a great place to learn a little more about Iowa's past.
Bonus-- admission is free!
Also a part of the Pentacrest is the Old Capitol Museum. Bonus-- admission is free to both museums.
Fun fact-- this building was (as it's name suggests) the original capitol of Iowa. When it was decided to move the capitol to Des Moines to be more central, the building was gifted to the University. It was the first building and is still the heart and soul of campus.
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Old Capitol Museum
21 N Clinton StAlso a part of the Pentacrest is the Old Capitol Museum. Bonus-- admission is free to both museums.
Fun fact-- this building was (as it's name suggests) the original capitol of Iowa. When it was decided to move the capitol to Des Moines to be more central, the building was gifted to the University. It was the first building and is still the heart and soul of campus.