Entertainment and Hotels

Hälsningar (Greetings)! 

Been searching around the net for things to do around the area. Looks like a good website to search for your interests is VisitQuadCities. It shows entertainment, hotels, festivals, and basically anything and everything that you can do in QC. I also found that they have various packages which includes: a hotel, some form of entertainment (tickets to museums, games, golf course, etc), a meal. So check it out you may find something that works well for your families stay.

As for my recommendation on some things to do in the QC, here are my picks.

Entertainment wise, the biggest name in this area is John Deere and they have a great museum that has their big tractors, old tractors, and other exhibits dealing with John Deere.

If military history is more your game then the RI Arsenal Museum is a great place to visit. The Rock Island Arsenal itself is packed with history from its cemetery to buildings. The museum itself is the 2nd oldest US Army museum in the United States.

On a side note: "The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will offer tours of Locks and Dam 15 at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., weather permitting, beginning at the Mississippi River Visitor Center on the west end of Arsenal Island. Wear shoes enclosed both front and back (tennis shoes are best, as walking is part of the tour). Group size is limited; come 20 minutes early to assure a place. The tours last 45-60 minutes. Advance reservations are required; call (309) 794-5338. Map Free."

If you are interested in Swedish history and settlements then Bishop Hill is a full day of reliving the past. 

There are many other museums around the area, including, Figgie Art Museum, Putnam Museum/IMAX (any age), and Family Museum (recommend for kids 12 under, very fun museum). They are wonderful museums to keep your kids active and educated. 

A few other events going on our:

The Quad Cities Cruisers will hold a classic car display from 6-9:30 p.m. in the JC Penney parking lot, SouthPark Mall, 4500 16th St., Moline. Call (563) 355-0036 for details. Map Free

The Hauberg Indian Museum at Black Hawk State Historic Site, 1510 46th Ave., Rock Island, offers visitors a tour of a year in the life of a Native American, starting with summer corn harvest and ending with spring maple syrup-bottling. Life-size displays, houses, and mannequins portray the daily life of a Sauk or Mesquakie Indian during the late 1700s and early 1800s. The Fur Trade exhibit examines the economic relationship between the Sauk and Mesquakie and the American Fur Company, which made Indians in Illinois part of lucrative worldwide trade. Hours are Wednesday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-noon and 1-5 p.m. March-October; 9 a.m.-noon and 1-4 p.m. November-February. Call (309) 788-9536.

Every Sunday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday,

An Alice in Wonderland display is featured at the Vander Veer Botanical Park Conservatory, 215 W. Central Park Ave., Davenport, from June 1-Sept. 1. Hours are 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday. The greenhouses and gardens feature a wide variety of plants and flowers. Admission is $1 for ages 16 and up; free for ages 15 and under, but must be accompanied by an adult. Free admission on Tuesdays. Call (563) 323-3298 for details.

Every Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday,

Food/Dine:

If you come to the QC you must go to Whitey's Ice Cream (was on Food Network) for all their unique flavors. If you like a more traditional soft serve then Country Style or Lagomarcino's would be what you are looking for.

Harris Pizza and Happy Joe's are the rival pizzas in area to try. If you have kids then Happy Joe's has a more entertainment friendly area for kids to play. 

Jim's Ribs in Rock Island, another Food Network pick, is a place to get some juicy BBQ.

Rudy's Tacos and Adolf's are the mexican food kings of the area. You can start a big debate on who is better.

Grinder's is definitely my favorite italian food provider, the variety, the prices, the taste are the best in the QC. They have lunch specials that fill you up like a dinner for under $5. I also recommend their Pizza Bread. 

Well, that was a little long but hopefully, some helpful advice to those out of town family coming in for the weekend. If anyone has certain things to see or place to eat you are more than welcome to comment.