Family Weekend Getaway

Make your next trip to Cedar Rapids an unforgettable experience for the whole family, no matter their age.

HIGH-ENERGY FUN
The fun starts when you jump into the AirFX Trampoline Park, navigate the maze at The Fun Station and roll into good times at Sparetime Entertainment. Slide out of your shoes and bounce for joy at AirFX as your crew experiences this indoor trampoline heaven. But that’s not all! Climb the walls, swing on the ropes, play mini-golf and try your hand on the Ninja Warrior Course. Go ahead, jump in and join the kids! Get lost in fun at The Fun Station’s indoor jungle gym playground. The maze will keep your group entertained for hours, and the arcade, lazer frenzy and climbing walls will entertain for hours more! When hunger strikes, refuel at the Boxcar cafe which offers pizzas, snacks, drinks and more! It’s all strikes when your crew hits up Sparetime’s luxury bowling lanes, win big in the Game Zone Arcade, experiences the epic laser tag arena and beats the challenging escape rooms!

ENRICHING FUN
Your family can take a walk through history and culture in Cedar Rapids. Visit Usher’s Ferry Historic Village featuring nine ADA-accessible, historic buildings that depict life in a small Iowa town between the years of 1890 and 1910. Visitor favorites include the gazebo, pavilion and saloon where you can order popcorn and a sarsaparilla. Cedar Rapids is known as Iowa’s Cultural Corridor for a reason. We are lucky enough to call ourselves home to multiple world-class museums including the Smithsonian affiliate National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library, the African American Museum of Iowa and the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art. Did you know that one of the United States’ most famous artists, Grant Wood, called Cedar Rapids home? Tour the studio where he painted his most famous work, American Gothic, right here in C.R!

FAMILY FUN ON THE FARM
Get outside, breathe the fresh air and meet some of the area’s most adorable local residents while you have a ball! Described as a “little Disneyland in the Heartland,” Bloomsbury Farm, just outside of Cedar Rapids, offers a wide variety of activities for young and old, including the petting zoo, hay-rack rides, a jumping pillow, zip line, carnival games, seasonal festivals and lots more! Old MacDonald’s Farm located in Bever Park near downtown, has offered a free family-friendly petting zoo for more than 100 years. Open seasonally, the animals and waterfowl vary but often include: chickens, calves, ducks, goats, lambs, piglets and rabbits. Spend a relaxing and fun day at Bass Family Farm where you can take an agri-tour, ride on a hay rack, taste local food, play mini-golf, explore the grounds and more! 

HANDS ON FUN
Cedar Rapids is full of indoor and outdoor ways to have a great time! The Downtown Cedar Rapids Public Library is truly one-of-a-kind and worth a visit. The children’s section is not only stocked with books and movies, but also includes a puppet theater, interactive computer games and lots of hands-on fun including a toddler play area specially curated for guests 36-inches and under. The Iowa Ceramic Center and Glass Studio in New Bohemia is a great way to get your creative juices flowing and have a great time creating together. Shop existing projects or sign up for a class and get your hands dirty!

GAME TIME FUN
When you’re ready to hit the ball park, check out a Cedar Rapids Kernels game at Veterans Memorial Stadium. The Kernels are a High-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins. A night out at the stadium includes food and drink specials, prizes, theme nights and fireworks most Saturday nights! Just across the parking lot, and another season away, you can pop into ImOn Ice Arena, aka “The Stable,” to watch the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders hockey team. Within the building, there’s also a public rink where you can do some ice skating of your own (year-round) or watch the Cedar Rapids Curling Club. At Hawkeye Downs Speedway, you can watch high speed races—including stock car and street drag—on Friday nights throughout the summer for some fast family fun. If you’re into a different kind of lap around the track, stop by the Iowa Equestrian Center at Kirkwood Community College where you can check out some fifty different shows—on both the indoor and outdoor arenas—throughout the year. 

SWEET TREATS
Cool down and power your next family adventure with a trip to one of our sweetest can’t-miss stops.  Almost Famous Popcorn in New Bohemia offers an amazing array of gourmet popcorn flavors, fresh scooped ice cream and vintage sodas. For a truly unique experience, kids of all ages will delight in the nostalgia of Sweet Mercantile Soda Fountain & Candy Shop where you can indulge in locally-inspired treats including the Crunch Berry Blast, Sweetie’s Cherry Kolache Sundae and the Iowa Nice Cream Sundae. Mix the sweet with the salty when you explore Frydae in Marion. These treats are almost too pretty to eat, but when you pair them with one of their delicious gourmet fries.... chef’s kiss!

We can’t wait to help you enjoy a relaxing, and fun-filled family getaway.