Staci’s guidebook
Breweries
This is a truly excellent local brewery. The "open concept" brewery and taproom make for not only an interesting atmosphere, but also give you some insight into how the beer is made! They do not serve food, but on weekends often have a food truck parked outside, and they strongly encourage you to have food delivered directly to the bar from many of the local restaurants!
With an assortment of games, and an outdoor patio, this is a great space for everyone (even kids!) to enjoy.
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Iowa Brewing Company
708 3rd St SEThis is a truly excellent local brewery. The "open concept" brewery and taproom make for not only an interesting atmosphere, but also give you some insight into how the beer is made! They do not serve food, but on weekends often have a food truck parked outside, and they strongly encourage you to have food delivered directly to the bar from many of the local restaurants!
With an assortment of games, and an outdoor patio, this is a great space for everyone (even kids!) to enjoy.
The fact that this is an amazing brewery almost overshadows it's excellent dining options -- but don't miss out! They have an Americana inspired menu, with snack options, as well as tacos, burgers, brisket, and more!
But don't get too distracted, the beer is still the main course. They always have at least one nitro on tap, and have a rotating list of beers to keep it fresh for each season. There is something here for every style of beer drinker! (Cider for non-beer fans, and house brewed orange soda and root beer for non-alcoholic choices!)
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Lion Bridge Brewing Co.
59 16th Ave SWThe fact that this is an amazing brewery almost overshadows it's excellent dining options -- but don't miss out! They have an Americana inspired menu, with snack options, as well as tacos, burgers, brisket, and more!
But don't get too distracted, the beer is still the main course. They always have at least one nitro on tap, and have a rotating list of beers to keep it fresh for each season. There is something here for every style of beer drinker! (Cider for non-beer fans, and house brewed orange soda and root beer for non-alcoholic choices!)
One of the newest breweries in town, Thew has been quick to distinguish themselves as a high quality brewery. Thew offers a wide range of beers, from brown ales to Czech Pilsners, there's something for everyone! They don't serve food, but on weekends there is often a food truck outside, and it is neighbors with one of my favorite local eateries - The Local Pour.
They allow children until 7pm.
Thew Brewing Company
301 2nd Ave SWOne of the newest breweries in town, Thew has been quick to distinguish themselves as a high quality brewery. Thew offers a wide range of beers, from brown ales to Czech Pilsners, there's something for everyone! They don't serve food, but on weekends there is often a food truck outside, and it is neighbors with one of my favorite local eateries - The Local Pour.
They allow children until 7pm.
Clock House Brewing creates a unique niche in the CR brewery scene by serving food from one of best restaurants in town --Black Sheep Social Club. They host fewer house beer guest taps than some of the breweries in town -- but their beer never disappoints! The brewery's beer tanks are visible from the dining room, which is a nice reminder that the beer is truly local! They also have a wonderful cocktail selection!
Clock House Brewing
600 1st Street SoutheastClock House Brewing creates a unique niche in the CR brewery scene by serving food from one of best restaurants in town --Black Sheep Social Club. They host fewer house beer guest taps than some of the breweries in town -- but their beer never disappoints! The brewery's beer tanks are visible from the dining room, which is a nice reminder that the beer is truly local! They also have a wonderful cocktail selection!
Quarter Barrel is certainly the most unique brewery (and not just in Cedar Rapids!) It boasts 8 or more by now, house brewed beers, and always have a couple guest taps available too. However, what makes this brewery unique is that it is also an arcade. Like, from the '80s, PacMan, DigDug, Street Fighter, and pinball, arcade. They also are a Pizzeria, so if you work up an appetite trying to beat your kid at Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (kids are always welcome), you've got a lot of great options. They even have a Crab Rangoon Pizza ("Crab Rangoonies") !
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The Quarter Barrel Arcade & Brewery
616 2nd Ave SEQuarter Barrel is certainly the most unique brewery (and not just in Cedar Rapids!) It boasts 8 or more by now, house brewed beers, and always have a couple guest taps available too. However, what makes this brewery unique is that it is also an arcade. Like, from the '80s, PacMan, DigDug, Street Fighter, and pinball, arcade. They also are a Pizzeria, so if you work up an appetite trying to beat your kid at Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (kids are always welcome), you've got a lot of great options. They even have a Crab Rangoon Pizza ("Crab Rangoonies") !
Third Base Brewery
500 Blairs Ferry Rd NEFood scene
Cedar Rapids has a surprising number of superb eateries, most within walking distance of Downtown!
The LP (or "Local Pour") is a favorite of mine. They cook some seriously excellent food. It seems inappropriate to call it "pub food" because it was clearly made with much deliberation and care. They have any group of people having a hard time agreeing on what to eat for dinner. Their menu has everything from ramen and gyros to walking-tacos (it's a Midwestern thing), corndogs and burgers.
They also keep a large beer selection, and their bartenders make excellent mixed drinks. They even have a couple "bowls" (drinks meant to be shared by 2 ore more people!). My favorite one comes in a hollowed out pineapple!
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Local Pour
302 3rd Ave SWThe LP (or "Local Pour") is a favorite of mine. They cook some seriously excellent food. It seems inappropriate to call it "pub food" because it was clearly made with much deliberation and care. They have any group of people having a hard time agreeing on what to eat for dinner. Their menu has everything from ramen and gyros to walking-tacos (it's a Midwestern thing), corndogs and burgers.
They also keep a large beer selection, and their bartenders make excellent mixed drinks. They even have a couple "bowls" (drinks meant to be shared by 2 ore more people!). My favorite one comes in a hollowed out pineapple!
Vivian's Soul Food
2925 Williams Pkwy SWAmazing, authentic food. Locally owned business!
This hip new locale offers a unique dinning experience, with live music, as well as walls covered in art. Excellent wether you want a decadent full meal, or just an appetizer and a glass of wine.
The Bohemian
1029 3rd Street SoutheastThis hip new locale offers a unique dinning experience, with live music, as well as walls covered in art. Excellent wether you want a decadent full meal, or just an appetizer and a glass of wine.
Sightseeing
Cedar Rapids has had a diverse immigrant population since its conception. One of the largest groups of immigrants were Czechs. Learn about the influence they had on Cedar Rapids through the decades! They have both permanent and traveling displays, so even if you have visited in the past, it is worth it to check in to see what's new! Check out the Czech Village just down the road from the museum, there are local shops and restaurants in this district.
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National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library
1400 Inspiration Pl SWCedar Rapids has had a diverse immigrant population since its conception. One of the largest groups of immigrants were Czechs. Learn about the influence they had on Cedar Rapids through the decades! They have both permanent and traveling displays, so even if you have visited in the past, it is worth it to check in to see what's new! Check out the Czech Village just down the road from the museum, there are local shops and restaurants in this district.
This 19th century mansion hosts concerts, theater, programs, and tours on the eminence estate that it sits on. The house is beautifully maintained as it was when it was built over 130 years ago.
Check out their website, they often host events, especially in the summer.
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Brucemore
2160 Linden Dr SEThis 19th century mansion hosts concerts, theater, programs, and tours on the eminence estate that it sits on. The house is beautifully maintained as it was when it was built over 130 years ago.
Check out their website, they often host events, especially in the summer.
Nearby to the Czech Museum, The African American museum offers another excellent way to spend an afternoon. Here you can learn about the sometimes devastating, sometimes uplifting history of African Americans' history, especially that which is unique to African Americans living in Iowa.
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African American Museum Of Iowa
55 12th Ave SENearby to the Czech Museum, The African American museum offers another excellent way to spend an afternoon. Here you can learn about the sometimes devastating, sometimes uplifting history of African Americans' history, especially that which is unique to African Americans living in Iowa.
Less than a 10 minute drive from downtown Cedar Rapids, you will find this beautiful lake. Far from offering only fishing, this park offers a smooth bike and hiking trail, and a view that makes it hard to remember you're still in the city! A unique local find can be spotted from here. Ask a local about the "Mountain", or "Mount" you saw on the SW side of the river.
Prairie Park Fishery
2125 Otis Rd SELess than a 10 minute drive from downtown Cedar Rapids, you will find this beautiful lake. Far from offering only fishing, this park offers a smooth bike and hiking trail, and a view that makes it hard to remember you're still in the city! A unique local find can be spotted from here. Ask a local about the "Mountain", or "Mount" you saw on the SW side of the river.
Grant Wood painted the iconic American Gothic in this very studio. But that wasn't all he painted! Clearly inspired by Iowan landscape, he painted beautiful landscapes of farms and fields. Stop by to view the studio, and have any questions answered by a docent will be there to answer any questions you may have.
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Grant Wood Studio and Visitor Center
810 2nd Ave SEGrant Wood painted the iconic American Gothic in this very studio. But that wasn't all he painted! Clearly inspired by Iowan landscape, he painted beautiful landscapes of farms and fields. Stop by to view the studio, and have any questions answered by a docent will be there to answer any questions you may have.
Activities
Exhilarating for kids and adults alike. These guys are serious about creating a great go-karting experience. After each race, you get a printout complete not only with winners and losers, but a graph to show your progress throughout the race!
Kid friendly - but it's seriously not ONLY for kids. When I'm there, it's been mostly adults!
Speedeezz Indoor Karting
1120 33rd Ave SWExhilarating for kids and adults alike. These guys are serious about creating a great go-karting experience. After each race, you get a printout complete not only with winners and losers, but a graph to show your progress throughout the race!
Kid friendly - but it's seriously not ONLY for kids. When I'm there, it's been mostly adults!
Opened in 1919, this municipal golf course offers both expansive greens, as well as a few densely wooded areas. Sitting at 2 hours and 15 minutes to complete the course, it is a nice way to spend an afternoon.
Ellis Golf Course
1401 Zika Ave NWOpened in 1919, this municipal golf course offers both expansive greens, as well as a few densely wooded areas. Sitting at 2 hours and 15 minutes to complete the course, it is a nice way to spend an afternoon.