family vacations museums historic sites and riverfront festivals
The Quad Cities area consists of Davenport
and Bettendorf in Iowa, and Moline, East Moline and Rock Island in Illinois.
The region has the excitement of a big city and the hospitality of a small town
with award-winning museums and cultural centers, internationally-recognized
festivals, beautiful riverfronts and a vibrant nightlife.
Davenport has beautiful riverfront vistas and an active downtown area with the Figge Art and Putnam History Museums and great shopping at the North Park Mall.
Bettendorf the Library and adjacent Family Museum provide exciting programs and storytelling. The numerous outdoor activities include the Splash Landing water park, Wallace's Garden Center and Duck Creek Recreational Trail.
Rock Island‘s downtown is known for its festivals and nightlife with Cajun food and zydeco music; Jamaican food and reggae music; and a fall Irish folk festival. Family activities include the country's largest go-kart street race. Experience a downtown architectural tour and the Broadway Historic District.
Davenport has beautiful riverfront vistas and an active downtown area with the Figge Art and Putnam History Museums and great shopping at the North Park Mall.
Bettendorf the Library and adjacent Family Museum provide exciting programs and storytelling. The numerous outdoor activities include the Splash Landing water park, Wallace's Garden Center and Duck Creek Recreational Trail.
Rock Island‘s downtown is known for its festivals and nightlife with Cajun food and zydeco music; Jamaican food and reggae music; and a fall Irish folk festival. Family activities include the country's largest go-kart street race. Experience a downtown architectural tour and the Broadway Historic District.
Moline
is one of the agricultural capitals of the world, home of John Deere and
steeped in history. The modern downtown area features great riverfront views
and evening entertainment with musicals performed by local actors.
East Moline is home to many great events and festivities. Empire Park is right on the Mississippi River, walk along the riverfront trails of The Quarter or visit to the John Deere Harvester Works, one of the world's largest combine factories.
East Moline is home to many great events and festivities. Empire Park is right on the Mississippi River, walk along the riverfront trails of The Quarter or visit to the John Deere Harvester Works, one of the world's largest combine factories.
Quad City
Museums
The
Figge Art Museum in downtown Davenport is community-centered
facility and a gathering place for residents and visitors alike to experience
and enjoy the visual arts. Located on the banks of the Mississippi River, this
100,000 square foot museum was designed by British architect David
Chipperfield, and includes nine permanent collection galleries, traveling
exhibition galleries, art studios for children and adults, aFamily Gallery and
Activity Center. The Figge has a collection of approximately 3,000 works that
reflect artistic styles and developments from the Renaissance to contemporary
art, with particular strengths in American Regionalist, Mexican Colonial and
Haitian Art.
The
Iowa 80 Trucking Museum was a dream of Iowa 80 Truckstop founder,
Bill Moon who had a passion for collecting antique trucks and other trucking
memorabilia. Every truck has a story to tell and can provide a unique glimpse
back in time. Many rare and one-of-a-kind trucks are on display.
Breweries Wineries and Distilleries
Mississippi
River Distilling vodka, gin and bourbon whiskey handmade from local
corn and wheat grown within 25 miles in small handmade batches.
Wide
River Winery atop the Mississippi bluff north of Clinton with some
of the finest wines in the Midwest; 11 types of wine, all with catchy names
including Felony Red and Ms. D'Meanor White.
Riverboats the Quad Cities'
location on the Mississippi River has inspired many riverboat captains and
writers. Enjoy this mighty river aboard a riverboat cruise or an open-air water
taxi.
River Action
strives to foster the environmental, economic, and cultural vitality of the
Mississippi River and its riverfront in the Quad City region and 12 communities
in two states and two counties. Some of the many accomplishments have been the
lighting of the Centennial Bridge, The Quad City Water Taxi, QC Riverfront
Design Principles, and Waterfront Master Plan. River Way projects include
development of a way finding system to guide people along riverfront trails, art
projects, historic markers, riverfront parks, enhancement and restoration of
wetland habitats.
The Rock Island
Arsenal was
established by Act of Congress in 1862 and has been an active manufacturer of
military equipment and ordnance since the 1880s: leather horse equipment, meat
cans and canteens, paper targets, artillery recoil mechanisms and carriages,
and the Model 1903 rifle. The Museum on the Island is the second oldest
US Army Museum in the United States.
Biking
and Hiking the
Quad Cities is at the crossroads of the national Mississippi River Trail and
American Discovery Trails; 100 miles of beautiful trails that meander along the
mighty Mississippi River, through parks, over bridges and through history-filled
sections of these riverfront cities.
Historic Neighborhoods
The Broadway
Historic District is a collection of historic homes in Rock Island.
Founded as a neighborhood association in 1988, it gained National Register of
Historic Places status in 1998.
The Village
of East Davenport a historic logging and Civil War military community
with unique shops, restaurants and pubs. Lindsay Park, home to the Union Army’s
parade grounds during the Civil War.
The
John Deere Historic Site the original Grand Detour homestead where
he created his first self-scouring plow. The site also features a replica of
his blacksmith shop with a working blacksmith and an exhibit from an
archeological dig. Tour guides tell what life on the prairie was all about.
Connect for
a Travel Experience
in the Quad Cities of Illinois and Iowa
in the Quad Cities of Illinois and Iowa