Iowa City, Iowa, is home to the University of Iowa and adjacent to Coralville, Iowa. Though Iowa City is a college town with the expected amenities for college-age individuals, it is also home to several attractions for younger students and children. Coralville offer several additional activity options seconds to minutes away depending on your exact location within Iowa City.
Aquatics
On one of Iowa City's frequent hot summer days, you may want to cool off with your kids in the water. The Coralville Community Aquatic Center has slides, a zero-depth entry pool and a splash deck. The Mercer Park Aquatic Center/Scanlon Gym has a three-section pool, an outdoor wading pool and spa. Other pools can be located on Iowa City's park and recreation website.
Interactive
Your young elementary school kids and toddlers may enjoy the numerous interactive exhibits and pretend play areas at the Iowa Children's Museum in the Coralville Mall. The mall also has numerous department and specialty stores, a toddler play area, ice skating rink, theater and carousel your kids may enjoy after playing at the museum.
University of Iowa
The University of Iowa Pentacrest Museums are located in downtown Iowa City in the center of the University of Iowa campus. Your kids may enjoy imagining themselves as 19th-century lawmakers in the first Iowa capitol building's renovated senate or congress rooms and other exhibits in the museum including an "old computer" (that is, typewriter) exhibit in the lower level. The University of Iowa Museum of Natural History is located next door to the old capitol building and offers geology, ecology, native culture, bird and mammal exhibits. Both museums offer free admission. Iowans love their Hawkeyes; your Hawkeye or general sports enthusiasts may enjoy the University of Iowa Athletics Hall of Fame, which contains exhibits depicting the history of the university's 22 sports teams. You can also expend some energy shooting baskets or kicking field goals in the basketball and football rooms in the museum.
Museums
The Iowa Firefighters Memorial is found off Exit 242 along I-80, which runs through Iowa City and Coralville. The memorial has a sculpture and wall memorializing firefighters who have given their lives to protect, as well as an eternal flame and visitors' center. The Antique Car Museum of Iowa is located in Coralville. It has approximately 65 cars from the 1890s to the 1990s, as well as car technology, design, model, license plate, spark plug and hubcap exhibits. It also holds a model train display.
Outdoors
At Coralville Lake and Devonian Fossil Gorge, you can become an archaeologist hunting for fossils on the ocean floor revealed by receding flood waters in 1993 and 2008. A visitor's center and interpretive signs will guide you in the types of fossils you can find in the gorge. After you are done exploring, you can enjoy a picnic in one of the picnic areas in the park. Finally, Iowa City has an extensive park system featuring 40 parks, playgrounds, open space, pools, tennis courts, ball fields, trails, picnic areas and an outdoor theater; information about enjoying them all can be found on the city's parks and recreation website.
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