AMANA COLONIES
"Gemütlichkeit" (German for warmth, cheer and friendliness) overflows in our seven quaint villages, founded 150 years ago. [more ]

FUN!

Attractions

The University of Iowa campus is home to many attractions, including:

The Museum of Art, located in the building next to the School of Music; Friday noon-9pm, Sat./Sun. noon-5pm. The Museum holds one of the country’s most important collections of African sculpture, and a permanent collection of 19th and 20th-century European art.

The Old Capitol, at the center of the “Pentacrest,” was the original state capitol of Iowa, 1842-46, and the first building of the University. The dome burned in 2002, and has recently been re-opened.

The Museum of Natural History, also in the Pentacrest, is the oldest university museum West of the Missippi. Sat. 10am-5pm, Sun. 1-5pm.

You may visit The University of Iowa Vistor’s page for more information.

Other attractions in Iowa City itself include:

City Park, the centerpiece of Iowa City’s public parks system, happens to lie just across the street from the School of Music (Park Road, along the Iowa river). It features two pools, children’s carnival rides, tennis courts, other sports fields, and a bicycle path.

The Heritage Museum of Johnson County, inside an 1876 brick schoolhouse. 310 5th St., Coralville.

The “Pedestrian Mall” is at the center of town, just east of the “Pentacrest,” and features several blocks of unique shops, restaurants, and pubs, as well as the Iowa City Public Library. Unfortunately, the Iowa City Jazz festival will not yet have arrived…

Plum Grove Historic Farm, an 1844 Greek revival home and the residence of Iowa’s first territorial governor—1030 Carroll St.

Prairie Lights Books, 15 S. Dubuque St., is Iowa City’s best independent bookstore. Coffee shop on premises, and frequent poetry readings, public radio broadcasts, etc.

While in the Iowa City area, you also may enjoy visiting these unique historic sites:

The Amana Colonies, 25 miles norwest of Iowa City (8 miles north of I-80), are a series of seven villages and hundreds of historic sites and buildings. Religious separatists (a pietist brethren) founded the colonies in the mid-19th century, and maintained their communal ownership of the lands and buildings until early in the 20th. Vistors may see woodworking and blacksmithing demonstrations, visit museums of the colonial life, eat good German family-style food, and taste homemade Iowa sweet wines. The Old Creamery Theater begins its season in late spring. For more information, call (800) 579-2294, or visit http://www.amanacolonies.com.

The Herbert Hoover National Historic Site, c.25 miles East of Iowa City and just off I-80 in West Branch, includes Hoover’s birthplace and grave site, the Hoover Presidential Library-Museum, and several buildings restored to their late 19th century Quaker roots. (319) 643-2541, See http://www.nps.gov/heho.

The Kalona Historical Village, an Amish community 17 miles southwest of Iowa City (off US-1), includes a restored historical Village, the Iowa Mennonite Museum and Archives, and a Quilt and Textile Museum. Call (319) 656-2519.

The National Czech and Slovak Museum and Library happens to be in Cedar Rapids, 20 miles north of Iowa City on I-380. While there, stroll around Cedar Rapids’ “Czech Village,” a five-block piece of the old country that includes several Czech cuisine restaurants. See http://www.ncsml.org.

Dining Information

Iowa City, though small, does boast a number of fine restaurants. Our recommendations within walking distance of the Iowa House Hotel and the Sheraton include:

Atlas World Grill, 127 Iowa Ave. ($$-$$$) Well-flavored Mediterranean-American fare.

Bread Garden Bakery and Cafe, 224 S. Clinton St. ($) Excellent home-made soups, European hearth breads, pastries, sandwiches, desserts, coffee that passes Italian taste buds, and fresh-sqeezed juices. Vegetarian and vegan options.

Bruegger’s Bagel Bakery, 225 Iowa Ave. ($) You know what good things to expect…

The Brown Bottle, 115 E. Washington St. ($$-$$$) Italian trattoria, well worth the price. Excellent pasta dishes, personal pizzas, wine list. Ask for the bleu cheese dressing on your salad; it’s made fresh with Iowa Maytag Blue.

Hamburg Inn, 214 N. Linn St. ($) Very reasonable diner-style food, breakfast available all day, burgers and sandwiches, also offering the unique “pie-milkshake.” The restaurant is further noted as a political hotbed; you may sit at tables named for Bill Clinton, Ronald Reagan, Howard Dean, and others. This restaurant was featured on the TV program The West Wing, so fans should not miss it.

India Café, 227 E. Washington St. ($-$$) Vegetarian and non-vegetarian Indian food, lunch buffet seven days a week.

Java House, 211½ E. Washington St. ($) Better than the Starbucks you will pass on your way.

Linn St. Café, 121 N. Linn St. ($$$) Contemporary American cuisine, in a romantic ambience; excellence award from “Wine Specialist.” Reservations recommended, 337-7370.

One Twenty-six, 126 E. Washington St. ($$-$$$) Downtown bistro with good reputation.

The Sanctuary Restaurant and Pub, 405 S, Gilbert St. ($-$$) Home of the University of Iowa Musicology and Music Theory happy hour.

Thai Flavors, 340 E. Burlington St. ($-$$) Flavorful and modestly-priced Thai dishes, including an astonishing variety of curries.

Within a short driving distance (generally 5-10 minutes), you may try the following:

Bob’s Your Uncle Pizza Café, 749 Mormon Trek Blvd (in Walden Square). ($$) Hand-tossed brick oven pizzas, pasta dishes, grill, tasty appetizers.

El Ranchero, 21 Sturgis Corner Drive (off of Riverside Dr. South). ($-$$) Authentic Mexican food, with lunch specials, dinner combinations, and up to a dozen different hot sauces at the table.

Iowa River Power Company, 501 1st Ave., Coralville. ($$$) The place to go for good Iowa beef, with a view of the Iowa River adding to a great ambience. Reservations recommended, 351-1904.

Old Chicago Pizza, 75 2nd St., Coralville (between the Coralville “strip” and the University). ($$) Deep-dish, thin-crust, stuffed pizzas, well-made with fresh toppings, accompanied by 110 beer offerings. Try the “Chicago Seven.”

Sushi Popo, 725 Mormon Trek Blvd (in Walden Square). ($$) Japanese and Chinese cuisines both, fine Sushi bar, sake list, reasonably priced. Bento box lunch specials are very generous and highly recommended.

Taste on Melrose, 1006 Melrose Ave. ($$$) Unique and diverse seasonal menu, fresh-baked breads, “half taste” portions available, complete wine list; ask if the grilled scallops are available. Reservations recommended, 339-9938.

Three Samurai, 1801 2nd St., Coralville (Clock Tower Plaza). ($$$) Surprisingly good (and reasonable) Japanese dinners, Sushi bar, Tatami. Reservations recommended, 337-3340.

Wig and Pen Pizza Pub, 1220 Highway 6 (Riverside Drive, just north/west of the University). ($-$$) Just what the name implies, a smoky pub environment with great pizza, one of our grad students’ favorites.

Visit the Iowa City/Coralville Convention and Visitor’s Bureau for more information about the community.