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Iowa
Regional larger cities boast many options
Some of the major Iowa communities within an hour or two driving distance offer some great sites and events to consider this fall and winter.
Here is a rundown of several:
Cedar Rapids
The Main Events
There are always plenty of annual events going on in Cedar Rapids -- be a part of them this season.
* Heat things up Dec. 5 and experience Cedar Rapids' Fifth Annual Fire & Ice Festival. Event includes the Fire & Ice Chili Challenge, Lighted Holiday Parade, ice sculptures and a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus. www.freedomfestival.com/Schedule/20091205/123/Fire-Ice-Festival.aspx.
* Experience the magnificent 21-room mansion that is the Brucemore. Greenery, lights, bright poinsettias, and festive decorations add to the mansion's warmth during the holiday season. Evening tours and other events allow you to experience the charm of the mansion. www.brucemore.org/
Must-see treasures
Immerse yourself in the rich history of Eastern Iowa.
* The Cedar Rapids Museum of Art is the place to be for Norman Rockwell fans this fall and winter as it presents its Norman Rockwell: Fact & Fiction exhibition Sept. 12-Jan. 3. www.crma.org/Exhibition/Detail/Norman_Rock
well_Fact_Fiction.aspx .
* Let the African American Museum of Iowa take you back in time to the underground railroad in Iowa to experience the journey's perils and triumphs in this living history event Sept. 11-12. www.blackiowa.org/programs/calendar.html
For the sports-minded
Cedar Rapids offers a varied menu of sporting events to take in and be part of.
* Join the RoughRiders USHL Hockey Team for their 2009/10 season at the Cedar Rapids Ice Arena Oct. 3 - April 3. www.roughridershockey.com/Home/tabid/36/Default.aspx.
* For those who like to be on the ice, the Cedar Rapids Ice Arena also offers public skating all season. www.cricearena.com/.
* Experience the wonder of horses as the Arabian Spooktacular Horse Show comes to the Iowa Equestrian Center at Kirkwood Community College Nov. 7-8. Phone 319-398-7107 for more information.
* U.S. Figure Skating hosts its 2010 Midwestern & Pacific Coast Synchronized Skating Sectional Championships at the Cedar Rapids Ice Arena Jan. 28-30. www.usfigureskating.org/Story.asp?id=42345.
Be awed and entertained
Hear and see the arts alive and well in the City of Five Seasons.
Be one of the first to see the new Orchestra Iowa (formerly the Cedar Rapids Symphony Orchestra) perform its program "Urban Perspectives" at Sinclair Auditorium on Oct. 17. Visit www.orchestraiowa.org/.
On Feb. 26, the entire Iowa Theater Building will reopen for the first time since the floods of 2008 with Theatre Cedar Rapids' premiere of the Mel Brooks smash hit The Producers. www.theatrecr.org/index.php.
clinton
The main event
Dancing lights and soaring birds are just two reasons to bring the family to Clinton.
* Venture south for the Symphony Lights Walk on Nov. 25, consisting of a 1-mile course within Clinton's Eagle Point Park. The walk is lighted by the Symphony of Lights display. Leisurely enjoy it on foot. For more information, call 563-243-3442
* Keep your eyes to the skies for Clinton's annual Eagle Watch on the first Saturday in January. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and Clinton Community College co-host a free Special Eagle Watch Day during peak season on the upper Mississippi. Visitors will enjoy outdoor eagle viewing at Lock & Dam 13. www.missriver.org
Must-see treasures
Chug away or stay and play in Clinton.
* Glimpse a bit of history aboard the Camanche Depot and Museum, a fully-restored 1951 Milwaukee/Soo Line caboose and railroad depot, built in 1899. The Museum houses collections from Camanche's past, including a veteran's list of past and present military personnel. Open by appointment. Call 563-259-1285, 563- 259-1280, or 563-259-1175.
* The Felix Adler Children's Discovery Center offers families a place to discover and play by exploring arts, culture and science through interactive and educational exhibits. Open Wednesday-Sunday each week. www.adlerdiscoverycenter.org/index.html.
iowa city
Must-see treasures
Eat, drink, and laugh in the original Iowa State Capital.
* The Iowa Children's Museum allows children to take part in CityWorks, a child-size village where children can role-play real life situations. Plus its latest exhibit "View From My Window" allows visitors to see artwork featuring young artists with disabilities who capture a snapshot of their life through painting, drawing, or sculpture and explain why it makes their "window," or perspective. www.theicm.org/
* Enjoy a one-of-a-kind dining experience as you visit the Iowa River Power Restaurant, formerly a flour mill, turned power generating station, turned restaurant in 1977. www.powercompanyrestaurant.com.
* The Gardens at Gazebo on the Green offers garden tours and a formal English Tea. Allow 1 1/2 hours for a garden tour; 2 1/2-3 hours for a tour, tea and a visit to the gift shop. www.iowacitycoralville.org/members_details.asp?I=523.
For the sports-minded
Sports fans can enjoy Iowa Hawkeye sporting events throughout the fall and winter months including men's and women's basketball and field hockey. Settle in for some field hockey now through November. www.hawk
eyesports.com/sports/w-fieldh/sched/iowa-w-fieldh-sched.html.
Be awed and entertained
* The 16th Annual Iowa Women's Music Festival, Sept. 11-12, will feature the vocal stylings of Michelle Shocked. Get the ladies together for an inspiring and entertaining weekend. www.prairievoices.net/index.html.
* Join the live audience for the Tom's (Nothnagle) Guitar Show nearly every Tuesday night from 6 to 7 p.m. through December. The show develops spontaneously through viewer participation, generally along themes of musical requests, cultural commentary, and casual conversation. tomsguitarshow.com/welcome/
kalona
The main event
Experience the genuineness of Kalona. Make plans now to visit Kalona for their Fall Festival Sept. 25-26.
Local musicians, including The Harmony Dulcimer Players, will perform throughout the weekend. Take in homemade treats like apple fritters and ice cream. Kids will have the chance to try their hand in a carved pumpkin contest, horse and pony rides, and more. Finish out your visit with Old World Demonstrations such as broom making and corn meal grinding. www.kalonaiowa.org/festival/index.html for complete details.
Must-see treasures
Kalona offers a trip back in time with some special places that can't be missed.
* Savor the cookies, pastries, breads, pies and more from the Kalona Bakery. Offering "Family Favorite Homemade Recipes" each Monday-Saturday. Call 800-213-4531.
* Home to nearly 200 quilts, the Kalona Quilt & Textile Museum displays quilt exhibits on a rotating basis every three months. Call 319-656-2240.
* When in Kalona there are two bed and breakfast establishments that are sure to take your cares away. The Carriage House Bed and Breakfast is hosted in a house built in 1918. www.carriagehousebb.net/,
Ethel's Gourmet Kitchen, Bed & Breakfast also offers down home hospitality and homemade breakfast. www.ia-bednbreakfast-inns.com/ethelsbandb.htm.
mount vernon
Visit three registered national historic districts, including the entire Cornell College campus, the downtown shopping district, and a neighborhood of Victorian homes. www.visitmvl.com/main/
The main events
* The Lincoln Highway Arts Festival features nearly 40 Iowa artists when they line the main street of Mount Vernon as it becomes a pedestrian mall for the day on Sept. 26. Enjoy strolling musicians, the Eastern Iowa Brass Band in concert, walking history tours and food vendors. Call 319-895-0636.
* It will be a hot one on Oct. 10 as Mount Vernon-Lisbon Community Development hosts its second annual Chili Cook-off. Cooking begins at Noon with judging at 4 p.m. The cook-off will open to the public for tastings from 4 to 7 p.m. www.visitmvl.com.
Quad Cities
The main events
For some truly fun times and great memories, visit the Quad Cities.
* The Quad-City Symphony Orchestra holds its traditional Riverfront Pops Concert on Sept. 12 at LeClaire Park in Davenport. Enjoy picnicking on the grounds and a fireworks-and-cannon finale. www.qcsymphony.com/ev_calendar_detail.cfm?id=24
* Look skyward Sept. 19-20 as the Quad Cities Celebrate Summer Family Fun and Kite Festival takes flight. Festival activities include giant show kites, stunt kite performances, candy drops, free kids kite building and contests, and more. Land on www.qckiteclub.org/ to learn more.
Must-see treasures
For unique things to experience, there are a variety of museums offering more than you'd imagine.
* Davenport's Putnam Museum and Imax Theatre is home to its newly renovated Egyptian Gallery, as well as the infamous IMAX Theatre. Through Nov., Putnam is offering Martinis to the Max, offering adult visitors the chance to share spirits, food and a featured film. Contact 563-324-1054, Ext. 258 or visit www.putnam.org/planvisit.html.
* Visit the Family Museum in Bettendorf, featuring hands-on, interactive exhibits and extraordinary age-appropriate programs for children of all ages. Phone 563- 344-4106 or visit www.familymuseum.org/index.php.
For the sports-minded
For those who prefer a bit more activity as the weather cools, there are many ways to work up a sweat in the Quad Cities.
* Bike trails offer beautiful riverfront views, especially in the fall. Enjoy riverfront trails winding throughout the Quad Cities. Bike rental is available Monday through Saturday through Oct.. Call 563-322-3911, ext. 114.
* Beginning in early Dec., Ski Snowstar Winter Sports Park offers ice skating in beautiful park settings, tubing, skiing and snowboarding for those who love their powder. Visit www.skisnowstar.com.
Be awed and entertained
* The Mississippi River Visitors Center on Arsenal Island offers eagle watches and Clock Tower tours every weekend on Saturdays and Sundays mid-January through mid-February. Call 309-794-5338.
* Experience nature's change of seasons this year on the Twilight Riverboat located just 10 minutes from the Quad Cities in LeClaire, Iowa, offering overnight cruises from LeClaire to Dubuque. www.riverboattwilight.com
Tama
The main event
* Hay rides into the buffalo herd, grilled bison burgers and hot dogs, buckskinner and flintknapper -- just a few of the things you'll find at Tama's annual Buffalo Ranch Open House Oct. 3. Phone 641-484-6725 or visit www.dreesmanbuffaloranch.com.
* Get your 2009 Heart of Iowa Wine Trail Passport at the John Earnest Vineyard and Winery, one of the 25 wineries located in Central Iowa. Have your passport stamped with each winery's custom stamp. Once you have all 15 stamps, the winery will verify your passport, and you will receive a gift. Passports can be completed anytime during 2009. www.heartofiowawinetrail.com/events.htm.
For the sports-minded
ATV' and Off Road Motorcycle fans will enjoy the second annual Iowa Off Highway Vehicle Association (IOHVA) Jamboree Sept. 27 at the Tama Off Road Vehicle Park. Events include a barrel race, radar run, trail course, ATV pulling sled, and a ATV and Bike show. Registration takes place 8-8:30 a.m., events starting at 10. iowaohv.com/
waterloo/cedar falls
The main event
Stroll through a cemetery in mid October as you encounter some of Waterloo's earliest residents brought to life through actors and live historical interpretation on Oct. 17. That's when the Grout Museum District presents Strolling with the Spirits Cemetery Walk. Call 319-234-6357.
Must-see treasures
From the young to the young at heart, there is something for everyone to enjoy in Waterloo.
* The Sullivan Brothers Iowa Veterans Museum is another part of the Grout Museum District. It is named after the five Sullivan brothers from Waterloo who lost their lives when the USS Juneau was sunk in the 1942 Battle of Guadalcanal.
* The Gallagher-Bluedorn will play host to several exciting acts during its 2009-2010 season, including Jungle Jack Hanna, who will be on hand with a live animal demonstration Sept. 20. Other performances include "The Nutcracker," Nov. 21-22 and the Soweto Gospel Choir March 5. See www.gbpac.com/season/index.shtml for more.
* Moove over kids, the Waterloo Center for the Arts will present the Dreaming Cows Exhibit through Dec. 31 at the Phelps Youth Pavilion. The exhibit will feature art by Betty LaDuke and her work with Heifer International accompanied by a number of hands-on activities. www.phelpsyouthpavilion.org/galleries/exhibits.html.
* The University Museum, Cedar Falls, boasts the largest natural history and human history collection in Northeast Iowa. The museum serves both the University and the community. Call 319-273-2188.
* Hearst Center for the Arts, Cedar Falls, features local and regional artists in traveling and special focus exhibitions. It houses two galleries, a recital hall and a small library. Call 319-273-8641.
For the sports-minded
Spectator or participant sports, Waterloo brings you both.
* The Waterloo Black Hawks take to the ice for another exciting season of USHL hockey at the Young Arena beginning Oct. 3. For a full schedule, visit waterlooblackhawks.com/webpage.php?pageid=schedule&script=schedule.php.
* The fourth annual Five Sullivan Brothers Veterans 5K/10K on Nov. 7 is intended as a memorial for those who gave their lives in service of our country and a celebration of the veterans who served their country and returned home. River Plaza. Call 800-728-8431.