Its about 2 miles from my house. The bank fishing sucks due to the weeds. Camping was awesome over…read more4th july weekend. Beautiful scenery except for all the goose . The staff is helpful, friendly and polite.

Beautifly manicured and organized camping site. Staff super helpful too. Efficient RV dump!read more

Clearly long cold Iowa winters have made me far more brave than I would have imagined. I mean who…read moresays, "It's a beautiful day lets go check out a new park" when its December and 30 degrees out. Never thought that would be me, but sure enough now knowing subzero temperatures have brainwashed me to think 30 degrees is a gorgeous winter day! With this new found appreciation for 30 degree days I packed the pups in the car and headed to check out Hickory Hill Park. What a nice park full of no shortage of multiple winding trails through the woods and prairies. All the trails were very well maintained and were perfect for exploring with our dogs. This is the perfect park if you are just looking to enjoy nature. So want to trail run, walk/hike, stroll with your dog? Then you found the right spot! I also imagine this would be a great spot for snowshoeing or cross country skiing if there was a significant snow fall. It wasn't muddy when we went since the ground was frozen but I imagine if there was recently a lot of rain this place could get pretty muddy.

This summer (somehow) I explored the outdoors a shi*t ton while also feeling absolutely trapped in…read moremy home? I don't know if that makes sense to you? But... COVID-19. Amiright?! Hickory Hill Park has been on my gotta-try list all summer. FINALLY on Labor Day weekend, we found the time to drive across town, to the wayyyyy east side to check it out. LET ME TELL YOU. THIS PARK IS BEAUTIFUL. There's tons of trails for jogging, walking and hiking! From wooded ones, to paths through the prairie. There is something for everyone. Picnic shelters, too. There are a couple reasons this is a four vs five star. 1. There's not a lot of signage on the trails, so it is very easy to get lost or not know where to continue on to! Make sure you have a map online pulled up when you visit. 2. Hickory Hill boasts very, very narrow paths. So during a pandemic-- BRING YOUR MASK! We typically are the family just try to distance when we are hiking outdoors... but distancing is hard on trails at this east side gem.

Chautauqua! This park is apparently named after an Indian…read moretribe that used to hang out around here. This large, green park is situated on the edge of town, along the Crow Creek (also named after an Indian tribe.) The park is along a big loop that you can barely fit a car down most of the way. There are plenty of places to pull off in the shade and park and get out and explore the varied landscape of Chautauqua Park. The park offers a wide range of activities, from frisbee golf, to horse and hiking trails, to soccer goals, and playgrounds. There's lots of areas to just explore, with big hills and the stream that meanders through the park. There's a little something for everyone here. The park is large enough that you can get your own area to play, or meet up with others to relax. The park seems to have a lot of history. It's clean. Not very well lit, but still feels safe since you're in this small town.

This is such a cute park. It had disc golf! It also connects to the loop trail which is amazing…read more Take a stroll there! You won't regret it.

Came here to kill some time in between appointments. Being a native Cedarapidian, I've never…read morevisited City Park. On the coldest day of the year I decided to park my car and watch the birds ---- bald eagles to be exact. At least 25 of them. Just, wow! Is this an Iowa City thing? If so, I'd drive here just to bird watch at City Park more often. Looks like a fabulous little park (from what I can see under all the snow). Would be a fun place to come back and visit during the warmer months. Recommend - if for no other reason than to bald eagle watch!

One of Iowa City's signature parks, new investments in the last few years have really improved this…read moreriverside gem. At more than 100 acres, it's massive and divided into Upper and Lower City Park. Outdoor pool? Check. Huge, new adventure playground? Check. Trails? Check. In addition to standard play features, City Park also boasts Riverside Theatre's Shakespeare Stage, historic cabins and public art. I do wish the pool was a modern aquatic center and the park had more wintertime activities, such as an outdoor skating rink. All around though, a solid place to spend a morning or afternoon!

Quick to pick up a beverage or snack. Great pizza or burgers and fries, onion rings, cheese balls…read moreand lots of other choices. Friendly staff.

FW Kent Park continues to be a family favorite. Both because of how close it is to Iowa City (it's…read morejust three miles west of Tiffin on Highway 6) and it's beauty. We popped over this weekend for some fresh air and fall family photos. I am always just in awe of how busy the park is year round. Since my last review both of my kiddos have had the chance to take school field trips out to visit the Conservation Education Center, which is located at the park. It offers year-round educational programs and workshops. The staff is knowledgeable and the kids always have a blast. There's something for everyone at this gem. A bird blind for bird watchers. Access to the entire shoreline for anglers. Nine miles of trails for hikers and cross-country skiers. Seven historic bridges for photographers and families looking for fun family photos :) A large campground for campers-- available April through October. As well as a handful of picnic shelters (available via reservation). And, of course, Kent Park beach, my family's favorite (open Memorial Day through Labor Day) -- it is pristine, free and a great time. Overall, FW Kent Park is a wonderful place to get outside and clear your head. Drive over and explore today!

A crazy beautiful outdoor space in Iowa City…read more I came to meet a friend with her almost two-year-old daughter who could not get enough of the park. My friend loves this park because "it's not just one structure, there are lots of different pieces for [my daughter] to explore." Riverfront Crossings Park has great faux nature logs and rocks for kids to play with/on. From the tunnel that runs under a hill, to the zip line there is loads of fun to be had here. I also love the parent/child partner swing which allows parents to swing in tandem with their little one- it saves you an arm workout! There are also some metal spheres that make noise similar to a steel drum. It's a nice sensory addition for children.

A large, wonderful city park with a lot of flat open space along the river. The playground uses…read morenatural looking elements to mimic nature--hollow tree trunks, for example--to climb over, through, or around. Connects to city trails that get you along the river or downtown in 10 minutes.

A great park to be seen year round. This park is an amazing project and partnership alike…read more Stop and feed the ducks, join in on local education or Park & Rec events, or stop to take pictures and learn about pollinators & plants. This is a great spot to see it all! For family events, dates, or just something to do.

What a beautiful park!…read more During a quick trip to Iowa we kept our activities limited to outdoor activities and carry out eats. I pulled up the Yelp app to find a park to explore and voila, there was Vander Veer Botanical Park. It was a toasty 93 degree day so we were quickly drawn to the plentiful shaded spaces found throughout this large park. In addition to a botanical garden (which we didn't visit specifically), they also have a rose garden, small pond with a fountain, long shaded promenade, and plentiful paved paths for walking. We strolled through the rose garden and then were naturally drawn to the long shaded walkway that leads up to a large and entertaining fountain at the end. This park has so many lovely uses for varying audiences and interests. Highly recommend giving it a visit if you find yourself in the Quad Cities!

This is a small state park with eight full hookups and a tent area. That being said it has large…read morelake and many well maintained trails plus areas for picnics. On our most recent trip, two teens and their dad built a shelter and bench for people to enjoy. Also had some young teens deliver "random acts of kindness" gift bags - so cool. Individual showers and bathrooms also available.

A very peaceful & beautiful place!! Nice campground along with 2 cabins to rent, a lake for…read moreswimming, a playground for kids at the beach, kayaking, boating, fishing, several hiking trails, and there's a waterfall. Plenty of picnic areas to grill, read, stretch out on a blanket or chair & enjoy nature. The only downside is the geese.

Not a great place for fishing. The lake is beautiful and the trail is nice. However if you want to…read morecatch any of the many fish you can see jumping out of the water, good luck. The lake is not accessible except for the very small sandy beach. The fishing jetty is so overgrown with trees and other vegetation; impossible to drop a fishing line.

When I was growing up my mom would always say, "Go outside and get the stink blown off you!"…read more Terry Trueblood Recreation Area is the perfect place to do that. The wide, paved loop around Sand Lake is 1.9 miles long and always has motivated joggers, leisurely walkers, families with strollers, bicycle enthusiasts and leashed four legged friends enjoying it. The lake is cool during the summer. You'll definitely see people fishing, canoeing or kayaking, a dog swimming and much more. (You can rent equipment at Fin &Feather H2O right then and there, on site.) Besides taking my family here to have 'the stink blown off them' we have also taken family photos at Terry Trueblood. They have really turned out fabulous with the water in the background. There is ample parking, a little play area for kids and a handful of shelters to enjoy lunch in, or have a party. There is also a lodge and while I have never rented it, I have friends who have and their events turned out great. Bring your family, your dog ... maybe your bike or your workout here and enjoy!