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Iowa City

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Iowa City is a city of just over 60,000 people in Eastern Iowa. It is primarily known as the home of the University of Iowa.

[edit] Understand

Iowa City was the first capital of the state of Iowa, before the capital was moved westward to Des Moines. Considered a college town and (along with the U of I, many jobs are associated with the teaching hospital).

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Iowa City has a population of about 62,000 (2006). The university has an enrollment of approximately 30,000 students. As such, the university has a strong impact on the culture of Iowa City and impacts the community from a variety of sources, including the hospital, Writer's Workshop and various university teams and programs.

[edit] Tourist information

  • Iowa City/Coralville Area Convention and Visitors Bureau [1]

[edit] Get in

[edit] By car

Iowa City can be reached by I-80 from Chicago to the east and Des Moines to the west. I-380, brings in traffic from the north near Waterloo. Especially in the fall and winter, expect traffic delays from university games as there are very few main roads or entrances/exits to I-80.

[edit] By plane

The nearest commercial airport (CID), the Eastern Iowa Airport [2], is in Cedar Rapids, about 20 miles to the north on I-380. A taxi to Iowa City may cost $40; a shuttle $25. Sometimes lower-cost flights are available into Moline (MLI) or Des Moines (DSM).

[edit] Get around

[edit] By bus

Walking is the easiest way to get around downtown Iowa City; the university is right in the middle of downtown. For greater distances, there is an extensive bus system ($0.75/ride). The university's Cambus system covers most of the campus buildings and is free and open to the public.

[edit][add listing] See

  • Old Capitol Museum, ☎ +1 319 335-0548. Tu-F 10AM-3PM, Sa 10AM-5PM, Su 1PM-5PM. Tour Iowa's first capitol building in the center of the Pentacrest. Also visit the Discovery Center and the Humanities Gallery. Gift shop. free.  edit
  • University of Iowa Museum of Art, 150 N Riverside Dr, ☎ +1 319 335-1727, [3]. Some European paintings, large collection of African art, changing exhibitions. Gift shop, coffee bar. free.  edit
  • University of Iowa Museum of Natural History, (inside MacBride Hall at the corner of Jefferson and Clinton Sts), ☎ +1 319-335-0480, [4]. Tu-F 10AM-?, Sa 10AM-5PM, Su 1PM-5PM. Displays of Iowa's geology and ecology, as well as Native American culture. Features a reconstruction of a giant Ice Age sloth and a large collection of birds. Gift shop. free.  edit

[edit][add listing] Do

Spend time walking around the pedestrian mall (ped mall) in downtown Iowa City.

Only minutes to the north, Lake MacBride and Coralville Lake offer camping, hiking, and boating.

[edit] Events and Festivals

  • Friday Night Concert Series, [5]. mid May-early Sep on F 6:30PM-9:30PM. Free.  edit
  • Saturday Night Free Movie Series, On the wall at the Pentacrest on the corner of Jefferson and Clinton Sts, [6]. mid May-early Sep on Sa 7:30PM-end. Free.  edit
  • Jazz Festival, Ped Mall. 1 weekend in Jul.  edit

[edit][add listing] Buy

  • Coral Ridge Mall 1451 Coral Ridge Ave, Coralville, +1 319 625-3112 or 800-283-6592
  • Prairie Lights Book Store, 15 S Dubuque St, +1 319 337-2681 [7]. This large bookstore downtown frequently appears on "Top 10 Bookstores in the U.S." lists. It features regular readings by nationally and internationally known authors.

[edit][add listing] Eat

  • Cafe Z, 1705 S 1st Ave Ste A, ☎ +1 319 338-1738, [8]. French and Italian Cuisine.  edit
  • Confusions Cafe, 2431 Coral Ct #3, Coralville, ☎ +1 319 545-7386. The place to go to get a taste of anything you've been craving.  edit
  • The Hamburg Inn No. 2, 214 N Linn St, ☎ +1 319 337-5512, [9]. Open daily 6AM-11PM. Hamburgers, soups, a large selection of omelets and more. An Iowa City institution.  edit
  • Linn Street Cafe, 121 North Linn St, ☎ +1 319 337-7370. Fine dining.  edit
  • Lou Henri, ☎ +1 319 351-3637. Open for breakfast and lunch, specializing in the former.  edit
  • Masala, 9 S Dubuque St, ☎ +1 319 338-6199. Open daily 11:15AM-2:30PM, 5PM-9:30PM. East Indian vegetarian food. This place is leagues above the other Indian restaurant in town, despite their fully vegetarian menu.  edit
  • The Motley Cow Cafe, 327 E Market St, ☎ +1 319 688-9177.  edit
  • Pagliai's Pizza, 302 E Bloomington St (various locations in the state), ☎ +1 319 351-5073. M-Sa 4PM-midnight, Su 4PM-11PM. Pizza from family recipes. Thin-crust style.  edit
  • Whitey's Ice Cream, 112 E Washington St, ☎ +1 319 354-1200, [10]. This regional chain has been making ice cream since 1933. Thick milk shakes.  edit
  • Z'Mariks Noodle Cafe, 19 S Dubuque St, ☎ +1 319 338-5500. Asian, Greek and Italian noodle dishes.  edit

[edit][add listing] Drink

Because of the university, downtown is very busy on weekend nights. With thousands of college-aged people (and older folks staying around for home games) drinking within a few blocks of each other, use caution when walking to or visiting establishments. There is a bar for all types. State law requires alcohol purchases to be made before 2AM.

[edit] Student crowd (21+)

  • Brothers Bar and Grill, 125 S Dubuque St, ☎ +1 319 338-6373. Due to the large cover for those yet to turn 21 years of age, it caters to an older crowd. There's a dance floor and it's pretty upbeat.  edit
  • Atlas World Grill. Classy place. Great wine and cuisine.  edit

[edit] Student crowd (19+)

  • Studio 13, 13 S Linn St, [11]. Iowa City's only gay bar and dance club. DJs most nights of the week, plus fun drag shows, karaoke, theme parties and contests. Mainly college-aged(19+).  edit

[edit] Relaxed crowd

  • The Airliner, 22 S Clinton St, ☎ +1 319 351-9259. A staple bar for decades. It's known for incredible pizza ($1.50/slice on Sundays) and cheap drinks. Visited by Tom Brokaw in May 2008 when his favorite booth as a student was dedicated to him with a plaque.  edit
  • Hanrahan's. Good townie bar.  edit
  • Joe's Place, 115 Iowa Ave, ☎ +1 319 338-6717. Located downtown and generally caters to an older crowd. Fairly laid-back atmosphere.  edit
  • Q Bar. Good place to play pool and get cheap beer. Draws a fairly diverse crowd and has great music with frequent shows upstairs.  edit

[edit] Sports bars

  • Sports Column. Variety of cheap drinks. Great place to watch football and basketball games. It gets pretty chaotic on the weekends.  edit
  • The Vine, 330 E Prentiss St, ☎ +1 319 354-8767. Wings and beer, busier on game day.  edit

[edit] Clubs

  • Farras Night Club, 320 E Burlington St. Newer night spot featuring world music and specializes in Latin American music and dance.  edit

[edit][add listing] Sleep

  • Hotel Vetro, 201 S Linn St, (toll free: +1 800 592-0355). Downtown on the pedestrian plaza.  edit

[edit] Stay Healthy

  • University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics Has Level 1 Trauma Center as well as urgent care at the Emergency Treatment Center. The Emergency entrance is located right off Grand Ave. +1 319 356-2233. Non Emergency and Urgent Care, contact the University of Iowa Family Care Center at +1 319 384-8442.

[edit] Cope

[edit] Newspapers

  • Iowa City Press-Citizen [12] is Iowa City's biggest daily newspaper.
  • Daily Iowan [13] U of I's daily newspaper.

[edit] Get out

Routes through Iowa City
Omaha ← Des Moines ←  W noframe E  → Davenport → Chicago
Cedar Rapids ←  N noframe S  → END


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