My youngest daughter had a softball tournament here today. There are 8 fields total and the…read moreconcession stand/bathrooms are in the middle of all the fields. There was also a coffee truck and Kona ice truck which are great ideas! We like this complex because Heyns ice cream is conveniently located right across the street. :)

Penn Meadows Park is a solid location for softball tournaments!…read more It boasts nine well maintained baseball/softball fields, plenty of space for warmups, a few batting cages, trees for shade between games and plenty of bathrooms. My only three qualms are that 1) parking can be a bit crazy on tournament days, 2) the dugouts are insanely small with only one entrance and 3) the fields are numbered however they are named, too. You really have to scope out the map to figure out where 'OPTIMIST' field is or 'Pizza Ranch' field. (I get sponsorships, but let's just keep fields numbered as it's more intuitive...) I believe it is the largest park in NL. It has: picnic shelters, a few soccer fields, a playground, a volleyball court and some newer tennis courts. Additionally, there is a trail around the park. My 10U softball team took second place at the tournament here this weekend! We definitely enjoyed playing at Penn Meadows Park.

Tucked behind Casey's General Store lives this cute little park…read more It boasts a basketball court, plethora of slides, swings, spring riders, a shelter with a grill and other kiddo climbing thingamajigs. We stopped over, after my son saw it from afar. It has newer equipment, is in a good (semi-secluded) location with plenty of parking. Potter Park is definitely worth a stop if you're in the area with littles!

Sites sizes and extremely narrow turn around weren't mentioned on sites, this is No big Rig 40 ft…read moreor mor friendly. Site let us book site #4 even asking for size of rig, but once we arrived Large signage read-No Big Rigs ,narrow to no turn around for this site. We disconnected our tow car and drove around looking for a spot. We were able to locate site 30 which read 45 ft with full hook ups. However we barely at 40 ft fit,even had to back up Over fire ring to fit and park our tow. We then saw it is electric only,Not full hook ups. We are parked and staying for our original 3 nights, however we are very disappointed at the discrepancy in the description of park,it is really for for TT,Campers, tents..id say 34 ft max for sites. Make sure you scout your site first to assure you will fit

Today we started with paddle boarding and kayaking. Then we headed to the beach for some fun. I…read morelove this beach!

Unfortunately when I visited the visitor's center was closed, but I still had a blast! There is a…read morelot that you can park in, and then travel down a path to a bunch of informational displays about the flood in 1993 that carved out this gorge, revealing all of the fossils. Then, you proceed down the path into a gorge, keeping an eye out for fossils. I saw a bunch of fossils on the bank to my right, before I even made it to the gorge. There were a few people scattered walking their dogs, although one group was actively looking to spot fossils and had the brochure from the Army Corps of Engineers about the different fossils present. All in all, this was a great spot to spend an hour walking around. I did see evidence that people have poached fossils from here, which is a shame. Look, but don't take!

Open area with lots to look at. I'm surprised they let people walk over these fossil imprints. Much…read moreof the rock is cracked and loose. Much of the area has numbers imbedded into the ground to help you find the things.

We visited Sugar Bottom for a beach day. The area was beautiful! It has a number of paths and what…read moreseems like a nice camping area (although we weren't there for that). The beach area was spacious--lots of room to spread out on the sand. The beach also has a couple of good shady spots, which is helpful on a hot day. However, we ended up heading over to the Lake MacBride beach because the Sugar Bottom area was a little less lively. Could have just been the day, but we were looking for somewhere more high energy on a summer weekend afternoon. They also don't have the boat rental options that MacBride beach has. If you do like quiet spaces then this would be the place! It also seems great if you have kids (which we don't) because there is just more space to run around. Just be prepared to bring all of your own entertainment.

Beautifully maintained campground. Several spaces with a lake view! Great for families and anyone…read morewho likes outdoor recreation. Boat dock available, and honors system firewood available in the evening. We did reservations through Recreation.gov and that made check in super easy! We brought our 2 Yorkies, and about 1/3 or more of the campers also brought dogs. Lots of trees, but also well mowed green spaces. This is now on our top 10 for Iowa campgrounds! Several spots right next to the bathroom / shower house, and great areas for larger camping groups. Would like to see a couple more updates to the shower facility. The water temp was fully adjustable-a knob rather than a button type, so you could have water the full duration of your shower. The water pressure was great, temperature great, but tile could use some updating. That may be in the works because the lighting was motion sensor and LED. There was also a ceiling fan which helped discourage bugs in the bathhouse!

A pretty solid park option in Coralville. (With a pretty spiffy pavilion for rental in the middle.)…read more There are a plethora of trails... going up to the North Liberty Rec Center and down to Coral Ridge Mall. There are frequently joggers, dog walkers and bicyclists. Great people watching! This is one of the few parks in the area with fishing... it also offers picnic tables, shelters, typical playground equipment. While I can't say it is the nicest play area around-- it does have the essential sand box, slides and swings! It's a picturesque park with a beautiful pond. (Geese and frogs are seen on the regular.). Definitely a pretty spot for engagement photos or family pics. (I've done both here!)

We love North Ridge Pavillion!read more

This park is part of an urban development project, so don't expect a nature trail. However, it is…read moreneat how they preserved a slice of nature with the adjacent river and wetlands. The sleek industrial walkway stands in contrast to the wetlands. Some sculptures along the path. Feels like a safe area as it is next to a conference center.

Here I am at this place and its not a popular site for visitors today. The place is serene, full…read moreof wildlife, and picturesque. I accidently stumbled on this site by accident and decided to take pictures and understand the historic significance behind this preservation. I believe it adds value to the current reconstruction of this downtown area of Coralville. Time will tell if this park will be a major attraction once the completion of the nightlife businesses occurs.

Hey, Guys! The Iowa Raptor Project is back…read more After a pandemic-caused hiatus, this Iowa City gem is open to the public. Let me throw some buzz words at you. It is... OUTDOORS. Socially distanced. Free. Kid-friendly. Educational. Easy parking. Good for groups. I have been enjoying the IRP since I was a kiddo. It is absolutely amazing that some of their residents are older than I am! From owls to eagles to turkey vultures and more. You'll see some amazing raptors-- most of which were injured and could no longer live in the wild due to that. (My kids LOVE hearing how old each bird is, what their name is and their story.) Stop by then go on a hike or swing by the beach at McBride State Park! PRO TIPS: Sunscreen and bug repellent, please. Water Bottles are encouraged. No dog! Shhhhhhh. Stop in the bird blind. Bring a picnic. Make a donation.

The Raptor Project isn't flashy or huge, but it's one of my go-to spots when I need to get away for…read morea little while. There's something calming about spending time looking at the birds and then taking a little hike out around the MacBride Nature Area. I've found a couple nice spots to hammock as well. It's not often that you get to see birds of prey close enough to really take in their colors and patterns. Don't just stick to the most well-known like the bald eagle, the owls, and the peregrine falcon. While turkey vultures may not be the prettiest birds, they're still cool to see up close. And spend time with the kestrels - my motto is "kestrels are the best-rels". They also have Family Days regularly featuring a different type of bird with activities for the kids as well as having some of the birds out of the cages for educational purposes.

ST Morrison Park is a long-time Coralville staple. Its idyllic fishing pond is surrounded by…read moreshelters, a (semi dated) playground, a plethora of (newer) tennis courts, the outdoor pool (which boasts two slides and a diving board) -- as well as youth ball diamonds. This park is home of the Music in the Park Concert Series, Farmers Market and 4thFest. I've been going to this park for decades, it rarely disappoints. Recently I've been renting the south ballpark for youth softball practices. It's well maintained, is appropriately priced per hour and has a plethora of (nearby) parking. You can reserve ball fields through the Coralville Rec online, via a form. (Spring softball fields are insanely hard to come by and require a draft.) ST Morrison Park is a great option for softball practice, a birthday party or just a trip to the park!

S.T. Morrison park is a delightful area just off the Coralville strip that provides a great place…read moreto go for a picnic, a run or just some chill time with the fam and pets. It's located off the back of the police station and community center and has tons of fields, ponds and shelters for whatever you're in the mood for. The Coralville water park is also attached and is a great spot to go chillax while the kids enjoy an amenity that too often requires a long drive. In addition to the great gathering areas, they have tennis courts, volleyball courts and number of baseball diamonds for use whenever. A great place to get outside and enjoy an afternoon regardless of what your interests!

This park has a large prairie with several trail loops that wind through it and I especially love…read morethat it's mostly flat - making this one of my favorite places to ride my clunky cruiser bike (hills and this 40lb fixed-gear are a no-go). The park is mostly made up of prairie however there are loads of volunteer trees sprouting up and no one seems to be doing any prairie management, so I envision this park will need to be renamed to the "Waterworks Wooded Park" within the next ten years. It's nestled next to the Iowa River, just off I-80 and with entrances on two sides of the park (one at the back of Mackinaw Village neighborhood off Foster Road and the other off the North half of Dubuque Street), it's easily accessible and a nice space to catch a couple deep breaths and see some wildlife at the end of the day.