A Day in LeClaire, Iowa Reveling in History, River Views and a Jubilant Downtown

 

Blissful Escape on the Mississippi in LeClaire, Iowa

An amble about LeClaire, Iowa enchants with charming historic structures, unique local businesses, lovely Mississippi River views, a jovial ambiance, foodie temptations, libations and interesting stories from the past. A visit to LeClaire always provides us with a fun little escape so we enjoy a little meander whenever we are in the area.

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History, Hiking and Omaha Views from Lewis & Clark Monument Park in Council Bluffs, Iowa

 

Learning History and Admiring a Unique Landscape at Lewis & Clark Monument Park in Council Bluffs, Iowa

Lewis & Clark Monument Park in Council Bluffs, Iowa not only marks a significant historic moment but also offers amazing views and hiking in the Loess Hills. Overall, we found Lewis & Clark Monument Park to be quite and impressive. We loved exploring this fantastic spot for hiking near Omaha.

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Quad Cities Waterfall and Duck Creek Charm at Bettendorf, Iowa's Devils Glen Park

 

Meandering Along Duck Creek at Devils Glen Park in Bettendorf, Iowa

Disclosure: Thank you to Visit Quad Cities for hosting my trip to the Quad Cities in order to share incredible experiences with my audience. Opinions are 100% my own.

Devils Glen Park beckoned us to wander and scout for a waterfall! The first park established in Bettendorf, Iowa features limestone bluffs, woodlands, Duck Creek, a waterfall and plenty of green space. We spent a quiet Sunday morning wandering the paths of Devils Glen Park. While the waterfall is a star and worthy of adding as an Iowa waterfall trip, the entire preserve brought a calm only nature can to our morning.

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Canyons, Waterfalls, Wildflowers and History at Wildcat Den State Park in Muscatine, Iowa

Chasing Spring Waterfalls and Ambling Through Rocky Canyons Intrigue at Wildcat Den State Park

Disclosure: Thank you to Visit Quad Cities for hosting my trip to the Quad Cities in order to share incredible experiences with my audience. Opinions are 100% my own.

Climbing down into canyons, gazing up at sculpted cliffs above and chasing spring waterfalls made a visit to Wildcat Den State Park an intriguing yet rugged adventure. The well loved preserve also welcomed us with a floor carpeted with spring wildflowers as well as a taste of history in the form of historic structures. Wildcat Den certainly spellbound us as we wound along trails through her natural beauty.

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Art, Nature, History, Foodie Finds and Beer Blend Into A Perfect Getaway in the Quad Cities

 

A Perfect Weekend Escape to the Quad Cities Wandering Through Nature, Sipping Craft Beer, Admiring Art and History and More

Disclosure: Thank you to Visit Quad Cities for hosting my trip to the Quad Cities in order to share incredible experiences with my audience. Opinions are 100% my own.

Recently, my husband and I spent a weekend recharging along the Mighty Mississippi in the Quad Cities of Moline, East Moline and Rock Island, Illinois and Davenport and Bettendorf, Iowa. The Quad Cities offers a magnificent location for getaway featuring nature, history, art, foodie finds and local microbreweries. Even though this was our second visit to the Quad Cities, we found the region full of new experiences blending in with old favorites. For us, this was the perfect recipe for a wonderful getaway! We had such a fantastic time and I am looking forward to sharing our adventure with you in this next series of posts. Take a peek at what we will explore:

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Bald Eagle Days and Eagle Watching Coming Up in the Quad Cities

Eagles at Centennial Bridge image by Stacey Jeffery courtesy of Visit Quad Cities

Bald Eagle Days and Eagle Watching Coming Up in the Quad Cities

Winter is a fabulous time to look for bald eagles along the Mississippi River in Illinois. The Quad Cities have some excellent opportunities to view the majestic birds and learn from naturalists. Take a peek:

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Antique Archaeology in Le Claire, Iowa

While we were in the Quad Cities, we were near Le Claire, Iowa which happens to be the home of the American Pickers' Antique Archaeology. So, we had to make a stop! It certainly is a favorite and there quite a few other fans visiting when we arrived.

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Bucktown Center for the Arts and Artists in the Quad Cities {NOW CLOSED}

While exploring the the Quad Cities, we encountered a vibrant artist community. For those with a passion for local art or those curious about creative processes, a visit to the Bucktown Center for the Arts is a must. The Bucktown Center for the Arts is an artist collective where up and coming artists can rent space to create and sell their pieces. (Unfortunately, the center is now closed.)

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Nahant Marsh in Davenport, Iowa

Nahant Marsh in Davenport, Iowa is an ecological success story. Once the site of a sportsman's club, the area had been contaminated with lead due to skeet shooting. The site was declared a Superfund Site. After the lead was cleaned up, the marsh was designated as a nature preserve. Today, we can all witness the amazing recovery of the marsh. The marsh is now the home to over 150 species of birds, over 400 species of plants, some mammals, fish, reptiles, amphibians and insects. The preserve provides for a tranquil nature adventure that most of us are not treated to everyday!

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Bix Beiderbecke Museum in Davenport, Iowa

During our Quad Cities vacation, we visited at the right time to see the new Bix Beiderbecke Museum. I must admit that I did not know much about Bix before my visit. However, our whole family was totally fascinated by the museum and realized that the museum speaks to both jazz aficiondos and those just beginning to learn about jazz. The museum had just opened its doors a couple of weeks before our visit, so we were very lucky to experience this new treasure!

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Exploring Science and Local History at the Putnam Museum

The Putnam Museum in Davenport, Iowa is all about exploration. The museum features a considerable cache of hands-on science exhibits, natural history displays, Egyptian artifacts and a very thorough exhibit on Quad Cities history.

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Cruising the Mississippi River on Channel Cat {Quad Cities}

After soaking in some spectacular water views in the Quad Cities, we had to spend some time on the water ourselves. Cue the Channel Cat!

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Isabel Bloom Studio and Tour in Davenport, Iowa: Creativity in Action

While exploring the Quad Cities, we experienced the live production of Davenport's own Isabel Bloom sculptures. Isabel Bloom sculptures are a mixture of heartwarming, inspirational, sentimental and whimsical pieces. All Isabel Bloom pieces are incredibly beautiful and the care in crafting them is evident. Heart goes into every one!

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Family Weekend in the Quad Cities

We recently spent three wonderful days exploring the Quad Cities uncovering an incredible location for a long family weekend featuring local makers, river fun, nature havens, local history and foodie treats. Straddling the Mississippi, the Quad Cities of Moline and Rock Island in Illinois and Bettendorf and Davenport, Iowa offer a wealth of family fun activities with a little something for everyone's interests.

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Dubuque Incline Delivers Historical Experience with Grand Views

Prior to our Galena trip, my daughter had never visited Iowa before. Since we were so close, we made a stop in Dubuque to ride its historic incline.

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