Burlington is a Mississippi River port town with a rich Native American, German pioneer, and transportation history. Downtown Burlington is home to two National Historic Districts, Heritage Hill and West Jefferson Street. For outdoor recreation, area parks offer camping, hiking, and caving. The city has two public golf courses. Bowling, go-karts, laser tag, restaurants, and a climbing wall supply hours of entertainment at Fun City, an amusement and water park.

Davenport and Bettendorf are Iowa's part of the Quad Cities region. Along with East Moline, Moline, and Rock Island, Illinois, they form a metropolitan area with a population of more than 400,000. The Quad Cities have a rich Native American and Mississippi River heritage. Many of the things to see and do in Davenport and Bettendorf are on or along the Mississippi. Visitors can take a riverboat cruise or ferry boat ride or enjoy riverboat gaming at one of the area's casinos. Islands in the Mississippi River between Iowa and Illinois provide a variety of recreational and historical attractions.

Iowa City is home to the University of Iowa. The University of Iowa resides on the state's original capital grounds. Along with Big Ten basketball and other sports, the university houses medical, art, and natural history museums. Coralville Lake's Devonian Fossil Gorge is Iowa City's most popular outdoor destination. Fossils cover the 15-foot-deep gorge's bedrock surface. The 5,400-acre lake provides fishing, boating, and swimming access.

Rathbun Lake is popular for water sports and fishing spring through fall. An abundance of public-use land around the lake provides additional recreation opportunities. There are eight campgrounds around the lake. On the northern shore of the lake Honey Creek State Park offers 828 acres of camping and trails. Marinas at both the east and west ends of the lake provide supplies, slip rentals, campgrounds, and a hotel.

Red Rock Lake is a popular boating, water sports, and fishing destination, and Iowa's largest lake. Motor boating, water skiing, and sailing are the lake's standard summer activities. Beaches along the lake provide easy access for swimming. Anglers fish for crappie, white bass, and walleye. Outfitters and guide services are offered in nearby towns. An eagle-eye view of the lake and the Des Moines River valley is possible from 106-feet tall Cordova Observation Tower.