Midwest Hawkeye City Guides
Cedar Rapids, IA
Total Iowa Alumni and Friends
49,415
Iowa Alumni Network
Local I-Club chapters form a strong Hawkeye presence within the state of Iowa and a few surrounding states. They serve as an extension of the National I-Club, which supports Hawkeye student-athletes and promotes Hawkeye Athletics.
Game Watch Locations
Do you know of a Hawkeye game watch location in Cedar Rapids? Tell us!
Alumni-Owned Businesses
Must-See Attractions
This state museum works to preserve, exhibit, and teach Iowa's African American history.
Enjoy headline concerts, comedy, and other traveling shows.
Check out up-and-coming MLB players by catching a minor league game.
Located in downtown Cedar Rapids, the art museum uses its collection, exhibitions, and programs to excite, engage, and educate the community.
See up-and-coming NHL players by catching a junior ice hockey game.
Committed to celebrating patriotism, community, and family, this annual festival begins in June and ends on Independence Day.
Come see the original home and studio of renowned Iowa artist Grant Wood.
Not your traditional farmers' market—this event offers a nighttime shopping experience with food, drinks, art, entertainment, and more.
Catch a live outdoor show featuring beautiful views along the Cedar River.
A unique, indoor shopping space that gives small businesses a safe space to get off the ground.
A historic theatre located in the heart of downtown Cedar Rapids.
Off the Beaten Path
A historic mansion and 26-acre estate that tells the stories of three Cedar Rapids families. This space is also a popular location for music, theater, and other live events.
Take a walk, jog, or bike ride along this nearly 13-mile long nature trail.
A unique district that is home to one-of-a-kind shopping, dining, and two museums.
Des Moines, IA
Total Iowa Alumni and Friends
90,037
Des Moines Metro Area
Iowa Alumni Network
Local I-Club chapters form a strong Hawkeye presence within the state of Iowa and a few surrounding states. They serve as an extension of the National I-Club, which supports Hawkeye student-athletes and promotes Hawkeye Athletics.
Alumni-Owned Businesses
Must-See Attractions
Take a walk on the wild side with a visit to the zoo.
In the heart of downtown, enjoy fresh produce, beautiful flowers, delicious eats, and more.
Located just outside downtown, this park offers kayaking, as well as trails for walking, hiking, and biking.
Home to many shops, restaurants, bars, and breweries within walking distance.
Watch up-and-coming MLB players in a minor league game.
Fried food on a stick anyone? Do not miss this quintessential Iowa experience.
Located in the heart of downtown Des Moines and full of larger than life sculptures.
Prost! Enjoy beer, live music, and more each fall.
Golf fans won't want to miss this annual PGA Tour Champions golf tournament that also benefits Iowa children's charities.
Off the Beaten Path
A summer festival featuring live music, brews, and food.
A multi-day music festival featuring mostly EDM and hip-hop music.
An outdoor skating rink overlooking the river.
Breweries
The brewery scene is big in Des Moines! There are more than 20 in the metro, and many of them are located near biking trails. Check out these popular breweries near downtown:
Ranked among the top art festivals in the United States, this three-day event is held every summer in Western Gateway Park in Des Moines.
This historic building features an art gallery and historic theater.
Chicago, IL
Total Iowa Alumni and Friends
72,306
Chicago Metro Area
Iowa Alumni Network
Iowa Clubs connect Hawkeyes in more than 60 cities across the country and around the world. Wear your black and gold proudly as you cheer on the Hawkeyes, attend networking and cultural events, and raise scholarship funds for Iowa students in the Chicago area.
Game Watch Locations
Alumni, fans, and friends in the Chicago area gather regularly at local establishments to cheer on their beloved Hawkeyes. Check out Chicago's robust list of game watch locations.
Alumni-Owned Businesses
Must-See Attractions
See some of the best views of the city from the top of the former John Hancock Center.
Enjoy a performance in one of Chicago's historic theaters.
One of the world's largest fountains is located in Grant Park.
See some of Chicago's architectural gems from the water.
Go, Cubs, go! Catch a professional baseball game at historic Wrigley Field.
Catch some fun in the sun while on 26 miles of lakefront in the Windy City.
Enjoy this 1.25-mile-long path in the heart of the city.
See the city while traveling on a Segway.
This stunning, historic theater was the first "large and lavish" movie palace in the United States.
See and move around the city using a water taxi.
Enjoy a large, urban green space in the loop area of Chicago.
Home to more than 1,200 acres, this park is located along Lake Michigan on the north side of Chicago.
Grab a selfie with "The Bean" statue located in the Loop area.
Featuring rides, attractions, and rentals, this 3,300-foot-long pier offers beautiful views of Lake Michigan.
Enjoy a night of laughs with this famous improvisational theater troupe.
An abandoned elevated railway has been transformed into a beautiful park and trail.
Catch a professional baseball game on the South Side.
Check out the views from the top of one of the tallest buildings in the world.
Off the Beaten Path
Check out this list to see some of the more unusual tours offered in Chicago.
The first planetarium in America, today if offers an introduction to the next generation of space explorers.
Gangsters, mobsters, and criminals—oh my!
Travel back in time with stories of gangsters and bootleggers from the Prohibition era.
A beautiful conservatory and botanical garden located in Lincoln Park.
Connecting 50 buildings in Chicago.
Grab your best walking shoes and tour the city on foot.
Home to one of the largest botanical conservatories in the country.
Located just north of Chicago, this temple is known as one of the "most striking and unusual religious building in America."
View the work of local artists and photographers.
Home to a public garden, outdoor museum, herbarium, and tree research program.
View this famous artist's latest projects and installations, including work featured in documentaries and museums.
Kansas City, MO
Total Iowa Alumni and Friends
11,963
Kansas City Metro Area
Iowa Alumni Network
Founded in 1985, the Greater Kansas City Iowa Club is made up of a large, loyal membership and gathers to socialize, have fun, and promote the University of Iowa. Regular events include Iowa football and basketball game watches, an annual golf tournament, and tailgating events before Sporting KC and Kansas City Royals games. It's great to be a KC Hawkeye!
Game Watch Locations
Alumni, fans, and friends in the Kansas City area gather regularly at local establishments to cheer on their beloved Hawkeyes. Check out game watch locations in Kansas City.
Alumni-Owned Businesses
Must-See Attractions
Catch an NFL game at Arrowhead Stadium.
Enjoy a professional baseball game at Kauffman Stadium.
Take a walk on the wild side with more than 1,700 animals.
A museum dedicated to preserving and celebrating the rich history of Black baseball players and their impact on social advancement in America.
Cheer on Sporting Kansas City, an American professional soccer club.
Spend a day touring the museum's famous encyclopedic and Asian art collections.
Calling all thrill seekers! Come enjoy this 235-acre amusement park.
History buffs, come explore America's official museum dedicated to World War I.
Off the Beaten Path
Featuring exhibits dedicated to famous jazz icons like Charlie Parker, Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, and more.
Enjoy an "eclectic enclave" of shops, eateries, studios, and art galleries.
Be sure to grab napkins and wet wipes—you cannot be in Kansas City without enjoying the delicious BBQ and brew scene.
Featuring livestock shows, rodeos, and events that shine a light on Kansas City's Western heritage.
Twin Cities (Minneapolis/St. Paul)
Total Iowa Alumni and Friends
20,812
Twin Cities Metro Area
Iowa Alumni Network
Iowa Clubs connect Hawkeyes in more than 60 cities across the country and around the world. Wear your black and gold proudly as you cheer on the Hawkeyes, attend networking and cultural events, and raise scholarship funds for Iowa students in the Twin Cities area.
Game Watch Locations
Alumni, fans, and friends in the Minneapolis/St. Paul metro area gather regularly at local establishments to cheer on their beloved Hawkeyes. Check out the list of game watch locations in the Twin Cities.
Alumni-Owned Businesses
Must-See Attractions
Since opening its doors in 1992, this has been a must-see for American shopping, attractions, and entertainment.
Home to the famous Spoonbridge and Cherry sculpture.
The only arched bridge made of stone on the Mississippi River.
Visit a famous Minnesota-based brewery that boasts award-winning beers.
A couple trendy Minneapolis neighborhoods home to unique bistros and boutiques.
Enjoy the beautiful city lake scene with walks, jogs, and bike rides along trails and paths.
Off the Beaten Path
The creator of Charlie Brown and Peanuts grew up and lived in St. Paul. To honor Schultz, there are Snoopy statues throughout the Twin Cities.
Minneapolis is the most literate city in the country in terms of access to bookstores and libraries. F. Scott Fitzgerald's childhood home is located near the state capitol building and the lake in White Bear Lake is said to have given him the idea for the green light in his famous novel The Great Gatsby.
Located in St. Paul, these caves used to be a hideout for gangsters during Prohibition. Today they are a wedding venue.
Iowa Pride
Floyd of Rosedale is a historic trophy that the Minnesota Gophers and Iowa Hawkeyes play for when they face each other on the gridiron.