Best Things to Do in Cedar Rapids, Iowa

A walk through the Czech Village and New Bohemia neighborhoods of Cedar Rapids is a great way to get acquainted with the city. Located across the river from each other, both of these historic neighborhoods have thriving arts and cultural scenes and no shortage of local shops and boutiques. Some of the most popular shops are that of wordsmiths, like Next Page Books and Scribe Stationer, as well as the adventure-ready SOKO Outfitters and the adorable Moss Plant Shop. 

This Smithsonian-affiliated museum has a variety of permanent and temporary exhibitions that highlight stories of the Czech and Slovak people both locally and around the world. Keep an eye on their event calendar for everything from cooking classes to crafting workshops. 

Raise a glass at Lion Bridge Brewing Co. This small-batch brewery is regularly crowded with locals and travelers alike. Go with a classic and order the Compensation English Mild Ale, a two-year gold medal winner at the Great American Beer Festival. Or opt for a funkier seasonal release like the Blackberry Cheesecake kettle sour. 

What better way to learn about a place than through food? Visit Sykora Bakery in the heart of the Czech Village to sample some traditional favorites. From the bakery’s famous Bohemian rye bread to specialty pastries like kolache and babovka, you’ll get an authentic taste of Czech culture here. 

Walk the halls of Cedar Rapids’s old money at Brucemore, a 21-room Queen Anne mansion and sprawling estate built in the late 1880s. The estate was built by Caroline Soutter Sinclair, the widow of prominent meatpacking tycoon T.M. Sinclair, but also served as the home of several other prominent families, including the owners of Quaker Oats. The home and gardens are open to visitors looking to glimpse a lavish past.

African American Museum of Iowa is the only statewide museum dedicated to telling the stories of African American history and culture. The museum has programs and exhibits on everything from systemic oppression in schools to the Black Arts Movement. 

Grant Wood put Iowa on the map with his iconic painting “American Gothic.” Wood also lived and worked in Iowa for much of his life. In Cedar Rapids you can pay a visit to the Grant Wood Studio to learn more about the Regionalist artist and see where he created some of his most well-known pieces.

For a city of its size, Cedar Rapids has a surprisingly long-standing connection to the arts. The Cedar Rapids Art Museum got its start all the way back in 1895 when a group of locals, inspired by the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago, established an arts club. Since then, the museum has grown into an extensive collection of modern and contemporary American art. 

Built in the 1920s, the Paramount Theatre is just one of 300 historic movie palaces left in the country. The theater has undergone significant renovations during its life, especially following Cedar Rapids’ historic 2008 flooding. Today, it hosts all sorts of performances from concerts to the city’s traveling Broadway series in its beautifully restored interior complete with red velvet seats and intricately painted ceiling. 

Get a taste of upscale family-style dining at Rodina. This small restaurant serves up high-end takes on traditional Midwestern comfort foods with a menu that changes seasonally. Cozy fall dishes like mushroom toasts and squash latkes appear on brightly colored stoneware plates alongside duck breast and autumn tarts. 

The Map Room is known for its expansive craft beer menu and internationally inspired burgers. Burgers like the Delhi (which has garam masala curry, mint chutney and paneer) and the Maui (with SPAM and grilled pineapple) top the list of quarter-pound handhelds you’ll find in this cozy pub. 

Sample a little bit of everything at the NewBo City Market. This permanent city market gives small-scale makers and new eateries an opportunity to try out their business concept with delicious results. Here you’ll find everything from artisanal pizzas and Italian beef to gumbo and Caribbean food. 

Lighthouse Inn Supper Club is one of the oldest restaurants in the state. Opened in 1912, this classic eatery has hearty portions, full-fat ingredients and a crowd that shows up promptly at 5 p.m. (or risks waiting hours for a table). Entrees like prime rib and barbecue ribs are among the supper club’s most popular orders, but the Greek spanakopita is a show-stopper. Back in the day this restaurant played host to notorious mobsters like John Dillinger and Al Capone, who frequently came to eastern Iowa when they needed to lie low. 

Head to Cedar Ridge Winery & Distillery and grab a drink at the first distillery to be licensed in Iowa since Prohibition. The distillery released its first batch of its signature bourbon whiskey in 2010 and shortly after became a national leader, winning both regional and national distilling competitions. The Cedar Ridge tasting room and restaurant in neighboring Swisher is the perfect scenic spot to spend an afternoon. Sample some of the distillery’s spirits and balance out the booze with a wood-fired pizza. This is also a popular spot for a boozy Sunday brunch. 

You might find a new favorite craft beer at the relaxed Iowa Brewing Co. taproom in downtown Cedar Rapids. This laid-back space is the perfect place for a weeknight or afternoon hang with its sprawling patio, ample seating and even video game consoles. You’ll find more than a dozen of the brewery’s own concoctions on tap alongside kombucha and hard cider. 

Get your caffeine fix at the truly Instagrammable Kismet Coffee & Bloom. This combination coffee and flower shop is as aesthetically pleasing as it is delicious. Though the coffee menu is on the smaller side, this place makes up for it in the quality of its drinks and the beautiful ambiance. Even if you don’t luck out with some good Cedar Rapids smells, you can order Kismet’s Crunch Berry Day latte.  

Experience the beautiful Cedar River blufflands at Palisades-Kepler State Park. Just 20 minutes from Cedar Rapids, this state park has five miles of rugged hiking trails through heavily wooded terrain in addition to picnic shelters and a number of rentable cabins. It’s also a popular spot for morel mushroom hunting in late spring when they’re in season.

Connect with nature with a visit to one of the most environmentally sustainable buildings in the country at the Indian Creek Nature Center. The building, aptly titled Amazing Space, houses a variety of exhibits, including painted turtles and a bird room. This more-than-500-acre wildlife preserve is open 365 days a year and includes four miles of well-groomed trails that meander through prairie, woodland and wetlands. 

Sleep in style with a stay at The Hotel at Kirkwood Center. This is Cedar Rapids’ only AAA Four Diamond hotel, and it has the amenities to back the designation up with spacious rooms, luxury linens and more than 100 pieces of original art throughout the property. This contemporary hotel is also conveniently located nearby the Eastern Iowa Airport. 

Lounge with a llama at this unique farmstay at Prairie Patch Farm. This 120-year-old farmhouse on a 50-acre private wildlife refuge is a restful retreat after a day spent touristing. You’ll find all the standard amenities and a pasture full of llamas just outside your back door. Prairie Patch Farm also offers llama hikes and farm visits to both guests and the general public.