These five cities on the banks of the Mississippi offer smooth jazz and old-fashioned riverboats, attractive waterfronts, contemporary art and thrilling sports.
The Quad Cities are the collective name for five entwined cities and surrounding communities on the Mississippi River covering two states. Davenport and Bettendorf make up the Iowa half and Moline, East Moline and Rock Island are in Illinois. The five cities offer unique experiences but all feature fantastic views of the Mississippi. Discover the cities’ thriving art scenes, catch a baseball match at the local stadium and learn about the area’s fascinating Native American and Civil War heritage.
Davenport and Bettendorf are located in the Quad Cities’ northern half. Find a scenic urban landscape in Davenport, highlighted by the city’s pedestrianized Skybridge. This riverfront footbridge offers fantastic Mississippi River views and is brightly lit by a kaleidoscope of colored lights. See bald eagles fishing from here in the winter.
Davenport features a thriving artists’ community, supported by the Village of East Davenport, the Figge Art Museum and the Bucktown Center for the Arts. Enjoy family-friendly fun at the Family Museum of Arts and Science or Splash Landing Aquatic Center in nearby Bettendorf. See an exciting baseball match at Davenport’s Modern Woodmen Park.
Take an old-fashioned Mississippi River cruise on a paddlewheel boat or luxury riverboat along the Illinois and Iowa border. Cruise past the largest roller dam in the world, Rock Island Arsenal, and the historic home of Colonel Davenport. Many cruises offer lunch, fascinating narration and entertainment, such as a Mississippi-style big band.
Enjoy the warm tones of Mississippi jazz at the Bix Beiderbecke Memorial Jazz Festival and Mississippi Valley Blues Festival, held in summer.
On the Illinois side, find the Black Hawk State Historic Site where Native American villages once stood on Rock Island. Today the island houses the world headquarters for well-known farm equipment company John Deere and the Moline iWireless Center sports and concert arena.
The Quad Cities are connected to several major American cities via the Quad Cities International Airport. Reach the Quad Cities with the Amtrak service to Galesburg, an Illinois city 50 miles (80 kilometers) from Moline. Public transport, major highways and pedestrian footbridges connect the five cities.