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.

Cedar Rapids is Iowa's second largest city and the industrial capital of the state. A variety of events, nightclubs, museums, and attractions are accessible via skywalks. Main entertainment venues downtown include the Paramount Theatre which hosts Broadway shows and the area's symphony orchestra, and the U.S. Cellular Center, which presents many of the area's biggest concerts and sporting events. State, city and county parks offer unlimited recreational activities including golfing, camping, and access to the Cedar River for boating, swimming, and fishing. Facilities for BMX biking, ice skating, snowmobiling, disc golf, sledding, skateboarding, and in-line skating round out an excellent mix of outdoor venues.

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.

Des Moines, is the largest city in Iowa and the state's capital. Des Moines also offers a full complement of big city attractions including ballet, opera, symphony, and theater performances. Downtown, visitors will find a concentration of restaurants, bars, and nightclubs. Area golf courses and parks provide outdoor recreation opportunities. At Saylorville Lake, a 26,000-acre lake northwest of Des Moines, camping, sailing, motor boating, swimming, and fishing are popular activities.

The Mississippi River forms the eastern border of Missouri. In the past the river carried Native Americans, explorers, early settlers and Lewis and Clark. Today this historic river transports agricultural products, provides recreational venues and scenic views, and is home to many historical sites and communities.

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.