Iowa City, IA
Iowa City is the fifth-most populous city in Iowa, is the county seat of Jonson County, and is the home of the University of Iowa. Often considered one of the best places to live in the country, Iowa City is a destination for artists from all around the world and the home of Hawkeye sports. The University of Iowa campus blends seamlessly into downtown Iowa City, allowing our students and their guests to feel connected to the community. When you visit your student, we recommend walking the Literary Walk, grabbing a bite to eat at one of the downtown Ped Mall restaurants, or escape the downtown vibe and explore one of the 50 local parks.
Parks & Recreation
Iowa City is home to over 50 local parks and almost 100 percent of Iowa City residents live within a 1/2 a mile of open spaces. Here are a few ways students and their guests can explore Iowa City's outdoor offerings:
- Rent a bike from the Iowa City Bike Library and hit the trails!
- Pack a picnic or take a hike around one of the local parks.
- In the summer or early fall, attend the popular Iowa City Farmers Market.
Community Events & Culture
Iowa City is known for their downtown arts, culture, and entertainment events that happen throughout the whole year. A few of those events are highlighted below, but we also encourage you to check out the Iowa City Downtown District website to help you plan events when you come to visit your student.
- Tase of Iowa City (August): Celebrate the culinary diversity of the downtown restaurant scene.
- Summer of the Arts (May-August): A series of weekly events throughout the summer, including the popular Jazz Fest and Summer Fest.
- Block Party (June): Often the highlight of everyone's summer, this large event celebrates everything that makes Iowa City what it is.
- Tis the Season (November-December): Get into the winter and holiday spirit with various programming and promotional sales.