People explore Cedar Falls all year, but summer makes it even better outdoors. Longer days, fewer layers, and plenty to do mean it’s easy to plan a weekend getaway or a road trip stop. Here are ten ways to enjoy summer in town, along with tips to help you make the most of your stay.
1. Visit Three Bookstores on One Block
Yes, really. Wander a single downtown block and browse three independent bookstores, each with its own personality. It’s a choose-your-own-adventure, but with bookmarks.
Tips:
2. Learn a New Skill: Take a River Surfing Lesson
You don’t need an ocean to surf. Gateway River Park provides lessons on waves that turn curiosity into adrenaline. Beginners welcome (ages 10+), bragging rights guaranteed.
Tips:
- Book a lesson ahead of time.
- Safety gear and boards are provided with lessons. Water shoes are required, and leggings are recommended.
3. Dance at a Silent Disco
Slip on a pair of headphones, pick your channel, and dance like no one can hear you. Because they can’t. Silent discos pop up during annual Downtown District events. Check the event schedule online before you go.
Tips:
- Bring a friend for laughs.
- Perfect for Instagram-worthy dance shots.
- Annual events worth planning around.
4. Bicycle or Hike Iowa’s First Designated Trail Town
Cedar Falls is Iowa’s first officially designated Trails Town on the American Discovery Trail. More than 130 miles of connected trails run through town, follow the river, and stretch out into open, breezy space that’s easy to enjoy at your own pace.
Tips:
5. Try a Local Craft Beer
Grab a patio pint at SingleSpeed Brewing Co., or try Second State Brewing's Sunset Surfer Shandy, created to celebrate Gateway River Park. It’s an easy way to wrap up a summer day outside.
Tips:
- Check brewery hours: patios are great to enjoy in the evening.
- Ask about seasonal brews! Summer specials are often unique.
6. Enjoy an Ice Cream Picnic
Grab a frozen treat to go from Four Queens Dairy or The Vibe Coffee and Ice Cream, then spread out a blanket in a shady park. Or, plan your visit around an Ice Cream Truck Night at Three Pines Farm, where you can enjoy homemade ice cream, outdoor games, and time on a family farm with goats and Leonard the llama.
Tips:
- Pair with a frisbee, blanket games, or a good book.
7. Bottle Feed a Calf
Just a short drive away in Hudson, Hansen’s Dairy offers a hands on tour. Their two-hour experience includes a trolley ride to the farm, where you can feed a calf, milk a cow by hand, pet kangaroos, make homemade butter, sample Hansen’s products, and enjoy ice cream. Bottle-feeding calves is equal parts wholesome, hilarious, and heart-melting. Short on time? You can still enjoy Hansen’s farm-fresh goods at their retail location in Cedar Falls.
Tips:
- Reservations are required. Book a tour online.
- Perfect activity for families or animal lovers.
8. Stay at a Historic Hotel
Check into the Black Hawk Hotel, where the walls have stories and downtown dining is just steps away. It’s a staycation with a time-travel twist.
Tips:
- Book early for weekends or special events.
- Explore downtown shops and restaurants after check-in.
- Ask the front desk to share a few historic tidbits about the hotel and the famous guests who’ve stayed there.
9. Visit the Ice House Museum
Before freezers ruled the world, ice harvesting was an art. The Cedar Falls Ice House Museum preserves that story and stands alone as the only museum of its kind in the country, still telling its story inside its original building.
Tips:
- Great for a short visit between other activities.
- Check seasonal museum hours.
- Kids will love seeing the old ice-harvesting tools.
10. Take the Public Art Tour
Murals, sculptures, and unexpected details turn a simple walk into a visual scavenger hunt. The public art tour is proof that creativity lives comfortably outdoors here.
Tips:
- Bring a camera or phone — every corner has photo ops.
- Scan the QR code at any of the outdoor sculpture plaques to use your phone see all highlights.
- Start your tour with a stop at the Hearst Center for the Arts gallery and sculpture garden.
Advertising leading to this page paid for in part by the Iowa Tourism Office.
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