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Published Jul/Aug 2005 | ||||||
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River history and outdoor recreation make the Quad Cities a great summer weekend getaway.
By Patsy Bell Hobson |
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 ith so many exhibits and activities in the Quad Cities, a weekend trip is bound to have a full schedule with four times the fun.Nestled into the only section of the Mississippi River that runs east to west, the four communities known as the Quad Cities–Moline/East Moline and Rock Island in Illinois and Davenport and Bettendorf in Iowa–celebrate life on the Mississippi River every day. A view from the river Begin your river experience aboard the Celebration Belle riverboat, which offers lunch, dinner, 100-mile cruises and Big Band excursions. Or tour the river by the Channel Cat Water Taxi, which also provides links to Quad Cities riverfront bicycle trails. Bring your own bicycle or rent a bike from Quad Cities Convention & Visitors Bureau in downtown Davenport and Moline. Several trails crisscross in the Quad Cities, but a popular route, The Great River Trail, follows the Mississippi River. Four cities, one great time A selection of highlights may help you plan a weekend trip to the Quad Cities. In addition to taking a cruise on the Mississippi, you can soak up more river history by starting with Rock Island. Visit Lock and Dam #15 at Rock Island to view Mississippi River navigation and learn about the river's past and present. Admission is free, and summer hours are 9 a.m.-9 p.m. The lock and dam are on historic Arsenal Island, home to the Rock Island Arsenal, an active U.S. Army factory with several historic buildings that make up a National Historic Landmark district. Nighttime activities for families include ComedySportz in Rock Island. A pleasant evening for two can be found at Circa ‘21 Dinner Playhouse, both at 1828 Third Ave. There’s no mistaking that Moline is home to John Deere. John Deere Commons lies near the site of the first factory that made the revolutionary sod-busting plows. Enjoy history, antiques, galleries, gift shops, restaurants, pubs, festivals, concert hall and a Radisson hotel on the commons. For rainy day or hot weather breaks, stop by FireWorks Coffeehouse & Pottery Painted by You (2139 16th St.) in Moline. While sipping a fancy coffee drink, you can paint a pottery masterpiece that will be fired, finished and shipped to your home. Davenport is home to a newer attraction, River Music Experience (RME) at 131 West Second St. Blues, jazz, rock ‘n’ roll, gospel, country and Cajun/Zydeco are musical forms that were born in the USA, and they’re all on display at RME. For lunch or dinner, try Centro, a European-style eatery located inside the museum. There’s also a coffeehouse and gift shop. The charming village of East Davenport invites you to park and walk through the quaint shops, restaurants and pubs, including Lagomarcino’s (2132 East 11th St.), a turn-of-the-century ice cream parlor renowned for lunches, ice cream treats and handmade chocolates. There’s another location in Moline (1422 Fifth Ave.). East Davenport is also the site of one of the two local studio showrooms of Isabel Bloom, where artisans individually cast and finish whimsical concrete sculptures. Visit the second studio in the John Deere Commons area of Moline. In Bettendorf, the Family Museum of Arts & Science (2900 Learning Campus Drive) is a fun-packed, hands-on museum designed for children and families to share in the joy of discovery, investigation and learning together. Patsy Bell Hobson is a contributor from Liberty, Mo. |
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