Recreation & Entertainment

Shopping and Dining

From large malls to small specialty shops, boutiques to antiques, - you'll find it all.  The Iowa City area has a variety of cuisine from casual to elegant, including international tastes from around the globe.  Our affordable cost of living makes shopping and dining more enjoyable.

Sports and Big 10 Athletics

Iowa City is home to the University of Iowa and the Iowa Hawkeyes.  Sports fans can enjoy events throughout the year including football, men's and women's basketball, wrestling, baseball, softball, and field hockey.  Our teams are always competitive and have each developed a national reputation.

The area also offers great organized sports and activities for all ages and abilities. More than 30 miles of hiking and biking trails connect neighboring communities. And, the cities and towns in Johnson County coordinate programs for residents at their neighborhood community centers.

 Hawkeye Athletics

Parks and Recreation

The Iowa City area is an outdoor paradise, rich with public open spaces; picturesque vistas; pristine, natural tall-grass prairies; savannah forests; gentle, rolling hills and productive farmland.  A 5,300-acre, man-made reservoir and 25,000 acres of surrounding woodlands provide camping sites, hiking trails, water skiing, fishing, boating, swimming and picnic facilities, the area has something for everyone.

Iowa is a golfers paradise with more courses per capita than any other state. The region has numerous nine- and 18-hole golf courses and three of the state's top-ranking links are in Iowa City and nearby, Amana, Cedar Rapids and Riverside.

 Iowa City Park and Recreation Department

 Amana Colonies Golf Course

 Coralville Reservoir

 NEW - 3D Trail and Bike Maps

Number of Recreation Facilities in Iowa City area

Public Parks

Hawkeye Wildlife Area
Herbert Hoover Historic National Park
Lake Macbride State Park
Coralville Lake Army Corps of Engineers
F. W. Kent Park
Johnson County Heritage Trust
Thornberry Off-leash Dog Park
Southgate Park  - 160-acre park with an 80-acre lake
More than 48 city parks in the area