Sports, Tradition a Winning Combination in Iowa City

Hand-picked and created to serve as the state capital of the new territory of Iowa due to its centralized location, Iowa City served in that capacity until 1857. The fourth largest city in the state serves as the home of the University of Iowa, which dominates the sporting landscape in the city.  A delightful mix of old and new, tourists can just as easily visit ancient sea floors as they could high-tech children’s museums and waterparks. Stay at the Marriott Hotel & Conference Center, Hilton Garden Inn, or Radisson Hotel and Conference Center, all conveniently located and comfortable.

Notable Recent/Upcoming Events

• IHSAA Boys Swimming Championships: 2/9/19 : Campus Rec and Wellness Center
• 2019 MIGS Program Men’s Junior National Invite & Open Team Cup: 3/1-3/2019 : University of Iowa Field House.
• 2019-2020 Telenet UCI Cyclocross World Cup: 9/14/19 : Johnson County Fairgrounds
• Dan Gable Donnybrook Wrestling Tournament: 12/4-5/2020 : Xtream Arena/Fieldhouse
• NCAA Men’s Swimming & Diving Championships: 3/23-27/2021 : Campus Rec & Wellness Center

Things to do in Iowa City/Coralville

While teams battle and fight for the gold, younger siblings and kids can take the day off and explore the Iowa Children’s Museum, where fun and learning are one and the same. With 28,000-square-feet of exhibits activities, kids can spend all day learning and still not see everything the museum has to offer. Exhibits like Notion of Motion: Science of Skateboarding, where children learn about force, mass, gravity and energy, are sure to not only grab a kid’s attention but teach them as well. With a mission to “inspire every child to imagine, create, discover and explore through the Power of Play,” Iowa Children’s Museum is a great place to let kids roam free and give parents a much-needed break.

When looking to spend a peaceful day enjoying nature, Terry Trueblood Recreation Area is the place to go. Fishing and bird-watching are available at the nearly 200-acre riverfront area. Take a hike in the unique locale where prairie, lake and riverfront all fuse together. Have a picnic along the beautiful Iowa River or Sand Lake before taking a kayak or canoe trip. There’s even a chance to ice skate in the winter. Whatever outdoor activity suits your fancy, Terry Trueblood Recreation Area is the place to go. 

Iowa is about as far from the ocean as a person can be, but you can still take a stroll along the sea floor thanks to the Devonian Fossil Gorge. This geographical tourist attraction is a relatively recent find when in 1993 it was uncovered thanks to a flood. The Gorge is a chance to see 375 million-year-old fossil right underneath your feet as you walk across this ancient rocky ocean floor. A cell phone based audio tour is available for those who wish to learn about the history at their own pace.

Don’t just go with the flow, make a splash! Visit the Coralville Outdoor Aquatic Center and enjoy some fun in the sun. The center has three water slides, on-deck shaded seating and 11,000-square-feet of surface water to splash in. Iowa might not be known for its aquatic opportunities, but this venue makes a compelling argument that it should be.

A prime example of a U-Pick orchard, Wilson Orchard is where all types of tourists can pick the ripest and juiciest apples right off the branch. A visit during the fall season brings the added bonus of picking pumpkins as well, a staple of Halloween time. Driven out to the orchards on a fun tractor ride, the real working farm immerses you in the experience and is sure to delight. With all these events–coupled with the option to purchase the orchard’s famous cider and baked turnovers– it’s no wonder Wilson Orchard was voted as one of the top 50 things to do in Iowa City.