Winter Adventures to the Quad Cities Treat to Bald Eagle Viewing
Bald eagles winter along the Mississippi River in the Quad Cities making the destination perfect for a winter nature adventure. This past weekend, we visited the Quad Cities for the first time in the winter and were immediately enthralled by the bald eagles majestically flying through the air in a variety of locations along the mighty Mississippi.
Scenic Views, Nature and History Hiking Along Smith's Island Nature Trail
Smith's Island Nature Trail is a 1.2-mile loop near LeClaire, Iowa. The preserve is owned and managed by the US Corps of Engineers. While approaching the longest, forested portion of the trail, hikers will note views of the Mississippi River and Lock and Dam 14. We learned about Smith's Island while stopping at the Visitor's Center in LeClaire. We are so fortunate that we were directed to this spectacular nature haven!
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.
Our Quad Cities Adventures Made Us Hungry! See Our Foodie Discoveries During Our Getaway
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.
On our recent getaway to the Quad Cities, we enjoyed pausing from our adventures to relax with some foodie finds throughout the region. From great dinners to sweet treats to locally roasted coffee, we found so many great food options. Follow us along on a tasty little journey:
Figge Art Museum Impresses With A Large Art Collection Dating From The 15th Century To Present
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.
Meandering through the galleries of the Figge Art Museum introduced us to an unexpected array of artworks representing the use of a variety of media. A journey through the Figge Art Museum awakened exploration with art from old masters as well as new emerging artists. Some exhibitions are drawn from the Figge's outstanding collection of over 4,000 works of art. Other exhibitions feature traveling pieces from other collections. Each visit to the Figge is unique!
Tasty Tour Through Some of the Quad Cities Microbreweries
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.
Planning a few stops on the Quad Cities Ale Trail invites a fun way to explore some small businesses while on a getaway. The Quad Cities presents quite the impressive collection of local microbreweries to explore. With so many, each trip to the Quad Cities can be unique tasting bonanza!
Admiring a Jens Jensen Garden and Fascinating Local History at the Hauberg Estate in Rock Island, Illinois
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.
The Hauberg Estate rises as a majestic architectural treasure from atop a hill in Rock Island, Illinois. Touring the estate introduced us to magnificent gardens as well as the interesting history of the estate. Immediately upon first entering the grounds, I knew an afternoon of admiring beautiful landscaping, nature inspired architecture and interesting stories would unfold.
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:
Sylvan Island in the Quad Cities Welcomes Visitors to Incredible Nature Adventures
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.
Sylvan Island in Moline, Illinois represents the rehabilitation and reinvention of a former industrial site into a nature oasis full of flora and fauna as well as outdoor recreational opportunities. We were so impressed with the rehabilitation of the site and the diversity of wildlife that we hiked the island twice during our recent weekend getaway to the Quad Cities.
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| Eagles at Centennial Bridge image by Stacey Jeffery courtesy of Visit Quad Cities |
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| Eagles at Centennial Bridge image by Stacey Jeffery courtesy of Visit Quad Cities |
