In need of a weekend getaway in the beautiful Midwest? How about instead of visiting one city, you get to explore 5! The Quad Cities are made up of 5 cities within two states. Rock Island, East Moline, and Moline are in Illinois, while Bettendorf and Davenport are in Iowa. All cities are conveniently located by the Mississippi River, which makes for a great bike ride or awesome views by the water. If you are looking for a quick getaway that is not too far from Chicago (only 2.5-hour drive), then going to the Quad Cities will not disappoint you.
Day 1
Welcome to the Quad Cities! Check into Axis Hotel, drop off your bags and get ready to grab some grub. Axis is located conveniently on a block of bars, so you can easily walk to your next destination. We loved how modern and spacious the rooms were and that they also have a bar downstairs that stays open till 11pm.
Bent River Brewing is a quick 3-minute walk from the hotel. It was challenging to pick out what we wanted to eat, because everything looked so good! They have plenty of seating and their wall murals made for a great photo opp. This brewery is also part of the QC Ale Trail which you must explore when visiting here! You get to hop around different participating breweries, get checked in, and at the end collect couple of cool prizes.
For a nightcap, cross over the bridge to Davenport and check out another stop on the QC Ale Trail which is Stompbox Brewing. We were already too full to try their food, but the burgers and pizza looked incredible! We should have saved some room to give it a try.
Day 2
Rise and shine, it’s time for some caffeine to get your day going! A couple blocks down from the hotel, grab a coffee from Dead Poet’s Espresso. I loved how they have the piano playing which makes for a cozy vibe.
Now that we have some energy, it’s time to grab bikes from the destination center and explore the Quad Cities in our own way. All cities are very bike friendly, have designated lanes and trails, so you will not feel uneasy. Just like the Ale Trail, there is an Public Art Trail which is a similar concept to the brewery one. You get to explore all the fantastic art in your own time, check into an app, and upon completing all stops you can enter a drawing to win! I loved how engaging these trails were and what a fun way to explore a new place!
After exploring Illinois side, take a Cat Water Taxi to get onto Iowa’s side and continue your adventures. Since the taxi makes stops at all the cities, the ride takes about an hour to get to Davenport. However, it is super enjoyable, and you get to see the cities from the water in a relaxed atmosphere. You can even bring your bikes onboard!
If you get dropped off at the Davenport stop, you can stop at the Lindsey Sculpture park for a quick photo opp. Continue on the trail along the river and make your way to another Ale Trail stop which is Front Street Brewing. Fantastic selection of beer, nicest staff, and yummy dining options: what else do you need?! 😊
We all love beer, but if we have an option to try a craft cocktail: we will! Stop at Mississippi River Distilling Company for a fancy drink with an amazing chic vibe.
After all the fancy liquid diet, it’s time to head back to the hotel for a delicious dinner, before we head out to see the Quad Cities River Bandits play. Enjoy an amazing atmosphere and some of the best vibes carried by the fans residing here.
Day 3
After you check out of the hotel, head to Vander Veer Botanical Garden. Their grounds are so stunning, and their green house was so lush that it was hard not to take photos here. You can easily spend a few hours wondering around and learning about all the exotic plants they have here.
Before you head onto the road, stop at Armored Gardens for lunch. They have a huge patio with ping pong tables, plenty of space, and over 100 beers on draft! (yes, you heard that right!).
If you still have some time before you head home, head about 50 miles north to Maquoketa Caves State Park. There are numerous beautiful trails, variety of caves to walk through and tons of photo opps. It was not packed when we went, so we had the best time before we jumped back on the road.
Whether you are looking for a quick Midwest getaway or looking to spend a weekend in not only 1, but 5 cities at once 😊 the Quad Cities will not disappoint you! We hope this quick itinerary will let you experience your own adventure during your visit here.
XoXo
Adri & Kam
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