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The Cedar Rivers Region sits on the east side of Iowa. The destination is named after the second-largest city in Iowa, following Des Moines.[9] Cedar Rapids is located in the middle of the region and is known for arts, culture, and various museums, including the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library.[2] Other cities within the area include Iowa City, Waterloo, and Davenport. The second-largest river in North America, the Mississippi River, hugs the region's east side.[10] The weather in the region typically has warm summers of around 70 degrees and winters with an average temperature of 40 degrees. The most popular time to visit the destination is June through August.[7]
The Cedar Rapids Region is named after the second-largest city in Iowa.[2] Cedar Rapids has a unique culture and various things to do. Something special about Cedar Rapids is the representation of central European culture, specifically the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library is one of the top attractions in the area and is a place where visitors can learn about the Czech Republic and Slovakia's culture and history. The museum was founded in 1974, moved locations in 1983, and then was renovated in 2012 after the Iowa flood. The museum was founded by a group of second and third-generation Czech American descendants.[4] The museum's focus is sharing the history of the Czech and Slovak people and providing engaging learning experiences for visitors.[3] The Cedar Rapids Museum of Art is another popular attraction within the Cedar Rapids Region. The museum originated in 1895 and strives to educate visitors through a wide variety of artwork from many different eras. The museum has the largest collection of work from Grant Wood, famous for creating the American Gothic painting.[5]
For an outdoor adventure, the Palisades-Kepler State Park is a place for camping, having picnics, hiking, fishing, and wildlife viewing. The river at the Palisades-Kepler State Park offers various opportunities for catching fish, such as channel catfish, bass, and bluegills. Campers can stay in one of the four family cabins that are available at the state park or use one of the electrical hookups for campers and RVs. The cabins accommodate four people and have a shower, restroom, stovetop, and refrigerator.[6] June through August is the busiest time for tourism in the Cedar Rapids Region. The weather is comfortable and higher throughout these months.[7]
The Cedar Rapids Region covers the east side of Iowa. Cities within the destination include Iowa City, Waterloo, Brooklyn, Dubuque, and Tama. The Mississippi River follows the east side of the region. Hawkeye Wildlife Management Area and Randolph Wildlife Management Area are two of the natural landmarks in the area. The Cedar Rapids Region has long and warm summers, typically from May to September. The average temperature during the summer months is around 73 degrees. The winter season lasts about three months, starting in December and lasting through February. The average temperature during the winter months is 40 degrees. The coldest day of the year is usually in January, reaching an average low of 14 degrees. The warmest day of the year reaches 84 degrees in July.
April through September are the months when the area receives the most precipitation, with a 27% chance of a wet day.[1]
The Palisades-Kepler State Park is one of the destinations throughout the destination where visitors will have the opportunity to spot some of the wildlife that the Cedar Rapids Region has to offer. White-tailed deer, wild turkeys, and songbirds are a few of the frequently spotted animals at the state park.[6] Cedar Rapids is known for the high amount of corn that is produced. The grain processing industry is the driving force in Cedar Rapid's economy, providing residents with 4,000 jobs.[2] Some of the other products that are produced in Iowa include soybeans, hogs, and cattle.
The Cedar Rapids Region was first inhabited by the Fox and Sac Native American Tribes. Osgood Shepherd was the first white settler to come to the area. George Greene, Nicholas Brown, and a few others are known as the true founders of the area. They bought Osgood Sheperd's claim and started constructing the town. The town was officially recognized as a town on January 15, 1849, and was named after the Cedar River, named after the large amounts of red cedar trees surrounding the bank.
Cedar Rapids expanded in the 1850s due to a large number of Czech immigrants that came to the area. The city continued to grow due to the railroads and companies that started up during these times. One of the companies that started in the area was the Quaker Oats Company. The oatmeal was built in 1873 and is now the largest cereal mill in the world. Cedar Rapids has 126,326 people, 87.98% White, 5.58% African American, .31% Native American, 2.21% Asian, .12% Pacific Islander, .93% from other races, 2.87% from two or more races, and 3.31% Hispanic or Latino. Muslim heritage is a part of Cedar Rapids due to the immigrants from Lebanon and Syria in 1895. The National Muslim Cemetery covers 12 acres and is the first Muslim cemetery in North America.[2]
Die Heimat County Inn is found in the village of Homestead, Iowa, located in the Amana Colonies. The Amana Colonies is a seven-village area built and established by German Pietists in the 1800s. Homestead, as well as the rest of The Amana Colonies, do their best to live up to, and preserve, their heritage with many stores and shops selling a wide variety of German based goods and traditional foods as well. The town will also hold Oktoberfest, which is a celebration that showcases German traditions and festivities. Another unique fact of the area is that the movie, "Christmas in Homestead," used the city of Homestead as its filming location.
...Read MoreThe Four Mounds Inn and Conference Center is an inn that can be found on the west side of the Mississippi River in Dubuque, Iowa. The property is just a short walk to the river and has access to a number of popular hiking and biking trails. The Four Mounds Inn is set on the northern outskirts of Dubuque, putting it out of the way of most of the city, but to reach most parts of the town is usually not much more than a 20-minute drive. The inn doubles as a place to stay for guests as well as a conference center for businesses that need a place to have a corporate meeting or retreat with their employees.
...Read MoreThe Richards House Bed and Breakfast is an inn that is located in Dubuque, Iowa, which is a city situated on The Mississippi River. People can make reservations for one of the six available suites year-round and take advantage of several events that occur in Dubuque and other nearby cities. Dubuque also has a variety of restaurants and places of entertainment that people can visit during their stay, like a ski resort, golf courses, or botanical gardens. The inn is able to house pets and children of all ages. The bed and breakfast has been in business for over 30 years, but the home was built over 100 years ago by a man named Mr. Richards, which is where the inn received its name.
...Read MoreThe small farming town of Sigourney, Iowa, is the home to the Belva Deer Inn. Surrounded by soybean fields, the Belva Deer Inn is a quiet yet convenient place where hunting groups and families can enjoy their stay in Sigourney. It is close to restaurants, Belva Deer State Park, and downtown Sigourney, so guests do not need to plan lots of time for travel.
...Read MoreMcNeill Stone Mansion Bed and Breakfast
The McNeill Stone Mansion Bed and Breakfast is located in Oskaloosa, Iowa, and was constructed in the year 1908. After being abandoned for about ten years, the property was purchased by the current owner, Virginia, and her late husband, Gary. They wanted to purchase a property with the purpose of owning a bed and breakfast, and they felt that this building would be the best one for them. With much work on their part, they made the property what it is today: an old-fashioned bed and breakfast with many modern amenities. There are four rooms available for all of those who desire to stay with them, as well as off-street parking, a yard, and terraces. Breakfast is provided complimentary to a guest's stay, along with beverages and snacks. Virginia invites all of her guests to come "relax, refresh, and rekindle [their] spirit[s]."
...Read MoreThe Burford House Inn is owned and managed by Mark McCallum. The Inn is located on a small lot in Iowa City, Iowa. Burford House is a restored Victorian home, within a few minutes walk of many attractions and restaurants in Iowa City including the town square, a large park, and many restaurants and shops. The old home is three stories with rooms on each floor and a large studio apartment in the loft. Many rooms at Burford House Inn can be rented long term by students attending university in the area. The ground level rooms are all handicap accessible. A full breakfast is served by the owner Mark McCallum daily with additional cost. Some snacks, coffee, and tea are all available on the house at all times. The Burford House Inn is open year round with a increase of guests from June to August.
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