Experience all the QC has to offer

From riverboat excursions, biking miles of trails, taking a long walk across the I-74 bridge, fishing along the beautiful banks to taking in a water ski show, these are just a few of the many ways to experience life along the Mississippi River in the QC. As the only place in the nation where the Mighty Mississippi runs east to west, Quad Citizens take pride in this defining geographic feature, flocking to the river every weekend to exercise, picnic, boat and more.

Quad Citizens are culinary explorers, finding a new restaurant offering unique dishes in every downtown and neighborhood. Here in the Midwest, we boast restaurants that use locally sourced ingredients to provide diners with a unique Quad Cities dining experience. The food here is so good, we dedicate an entire week to QC restaurants. To get a taste of what the QC is made of, check out our Chamber-member restaurants.

Whether you’re looking for fun for the whole family, or having a romantic weekend, there’s always an option for theater lovers in the QC. On the stages of the Adler Theatre, Circa ‘21 Dinner Playhouse, Comedy Sportz, Quad City Music Guild, The Spotlight Theater, and more, you’ll find popular, timeless productions or unique, independent plays. Amplify your weekend with the excitement of QC theater.

Music lovers bop to the beat of their own drum in the Quad Cities, which boasts a vibrant live music scene filled with a variety of venues. The annual Mississippi Valley Fair brings in some of the world’s biggest musicians. Vibrant Arena at The Mark attracts world-renown touring artists, having hosted artists such as Snoop Dogg, Luke Bryan, Elton John, Paul McCartney and countless other tours. The Rust Belt and the Adler Theatre frequently host big-name acts, while you can enjoy an intimate night on the town at venues like Raccoon Motel and Rozz-Tox. Plus countless events year round, Like concert series in the park, Alternating Currents, Bix Jazz Festival, Blues Fest and more. The Quad Cities is where local artists and music stars come to perform in front of passionate music lovers.

For craft beer enthusiasts, there’s an abundance of local QC breweries, microbrews and distilleries where it’s easy to find the perfect craft beverage for you. Check out the QC Ale Trail to find a place where you can kick back and relax with an ice-cold brew with friends.

A proper QC adventure starts with a caffeine kick to fuel the day. From iced coffees to dark roasts, smoothies or energy drinks, QC cafes are serving up some of the tastiest go-go juice you’ve ever had. Try some of the best coffee spots in the QC as noted on the QC Coffee Trail.

The Quad Cities is a mecca of sports in the Midwest. It’s where the Rock Island Independents played in the early days of the NFL and the Tri-Cities Blackhawks would eventually become the Atlanta Hawks. Nowadays, professional sports continue to thrive, with Quad Cities River Bandits MiLB baseball, Quad City Storm SPHL hockey, Quad City Steamwheelers IFL football and much more. Heck, the Moline Maroons just won the Illinois 4A High School basketball championship. We love our professional sports teams and passionately cheer for our local prep teams across the state. In the Quad Cities, it’s always sports season, from little league tournaments at TBK Bank Sports Complex and Green Valley to professional sports, we’ve got your covered.

Aside from the Mississippi River, there are many hiking and biking trails throughout the QC. Explore the beautiful nature paths of Blackhawk State Historic Site, Illiniwek Forest Preserve, Nahant Marsh, and Scott County Park. Explore the beautiful gardens at the Quad City Botanical Center or Vander Veer Botanical Park. Play 18 holes of golf inexpensively, even with a cart, at one of our 20 golf courses. There’s an outdoor adventures from disc golf and fishing, to skate parks and dog parks to explore in the Quad Cities.

It’s a one-of-a-kind, delicious pizza preparation unique to the QC. It’s made with a malt-based dough, spicy tomato sauce and ground sausage before being cut into rectangular slices. It’s a QC staple, and pizza lovers can find the pizza at dozens of restaurants across the area.

Find out what makes the QC culture unique in its many forms of art, from galleries, museums, dance, events and hands-on experiences. Visit the Figge Art Museum and Quad City Arts to see works of artwork from local and global artists. Explore the Public Art Trail to find all the artwork throughout the Quad Cities. Catch live performances of Ballet Quad Cities or the Quad Cities Symphony Orchestra. And take in one of our many culturally rich events. There’s a creative vibe in the QC that we know you’ll love.

Learn more about the historical context underlining the Quad Cities at more than a dozen museums including the Buffalo Bill Museum, German American Heritage Center, John Deere Pavilion or Putnam Museum. Discover our heritage to discover how it’s driving this region forward.

There’s so much more to see and do in the QC. So, if these 11 aren’t your cup of tea, then we invite you to explore all there is to do in the QC at Visit Quad Cities, our destination management partner in promoting all things fun in the QC! From here you can plan your day in the QC and see what special events are happening year-round.