Top Things to Do in Davenport | Midwest Living
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Top Things to Do in Davenport

German immigrants and the Mississippi River—flowing east to west here rather than its usual north to south—shaped Davenport (population: 101,000). Explore those forces in the heart of the Quad Cities.

What to do

Bucktown Center for the Arts More than a dozen shops and studios with pottery, jewelry, photography and other arts fill a historical building downtown. bucktownarts.com

Davenport Skybridge Get views of the Mississippi River from 50 feet up when you cross River Drive and railroad tracks via the Skybridge walkway. The view is even more impressive at night because of colored lights. cityofdavenportiowa.com

Davenport Skybridge

Davenport Skybridge. Courtesy of the Quad Cities Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Figge Art Museum One gallery is dedicated to Frank Lloyd Wright; another features American artists of the 1920s and 1930s, including Grant Wood. figgeartmuseum.org

Freight House Farmers Market Find fresh produce, baked goods and crafts on Saturdays year-round. freighthousefarmersmarket.com

German American Heritage Center Housed in an 1860s hotel where many German immigrants stayed, this center focuses on the immigrants' experiences, as well as the history of the Quad Cities area and German culture. gahc.org

German American Heritage Center

German American Heritage Center. Courtesy of the Quad Cities Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Modern Woodmen Park The minor-league Quad Cities River Bandits play at this ballpark where bumper cars, a roller coaster and a carousel provide entertainment off the field. milb.com

Nahant Marsh A self-guided tour through the marsh introduces you to several types of wetland environments. The educational center hosts events for kids and adults. nahantmarsh.org

Putnam Museum and Science Center Get up close to polar bears in the Hall of Mammals or have fun with hands-on experiments in the Science Center. putnam.org

Putnam Museum exhibit

Putnam Museum. Courtesy of the Quad Cities Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Vander Veer Botanical Park Explore a 33-acre park's conservatory, gardens and lagoon. cityofdavenport.com

Where to eat

Boozie's Bar and Grill This restaurant is the perfect spot to discuss your Davenport discoveries. booziesdavenport.com

Cafe Indigo Creative breakfasts include delicious French toast stuffed with strawberries and an artichoke-and-asiago frittata. qccafeindigo.com

The Machine Shed Stuffed pork chops, pot roast, and creamed chicken and biscuits are among the hearty, from-scratch meals at this farm-theme restaurant. machineshed.com

Fresh Deli by Nostalgia Farms Located next to the Freight House Farmers Market, Fresh Deli serves local ingredients in artful recipes, such as chilled beet buttermilk soup or bison sliders. Fresh Deli on Facebook

Lagomarcino’s Soda Fountain Indulge in hot fudge sundaes, banana splits, ice cream sodas and chocolate-covered toffees at this century-old store. lagomarcinos.com

Where to stay

The Current Iowa This boutique hotel opened last year in the 1910 Putnam building. Original artwork in every room and Mississippi River views enhance your stay. thecurrentiowa.com

Hotel Blackhawk The refurbished 11-story Hotel Blackhawk blends classic and contemporary styles to create a chic overnight spot downtown. hotelblackhawk.com

Hotel Blackhawk

Hotel Blackhawk.

Radisson Quad City Plaza Downtown, the Radisson skywalk connects to RiverCenter and the Adler Theatre. An expansive atrium anchors the hotel. radisson.com/davenportia

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