Introduction to Cedar Rapids, IA

Seventy miles southwest of Dubuque and home of Quaker Oats, CEDAR RAPIDS is Iowa's industrial leader. In the late 1840s, a meat-packing boom lured thousands of Czechs here. The Czech Village, 16th Avenue SW and First Street, features the excellent Sykora's bakery, gift shops, traditional houses and a new museum of national costumes and immigrant artifacts (Tues–Sun 9.30am–4.00pm; $5; tel 319/362-8500). The very modern Museum of Art, 410 Third Ave SE, boasts a comprehensive collection of paintings by Grant Wood, best known for his depictions of 1930s farmlife (Tues, Wed, Fri & Sat 10am–4pm, Thurs 10am–7pm, Sun noon–4pm; $4).

Cedar Rapids' CVB is based at 119 First Ave SE, downtown (Mon–Fri 8am–5pm; tel 319/398-5009 or 1-800/735-5557, www.cedar-rapids.com). For reasonably priced rooms, there's the Best Western Cooper's Mill, 100 F Ave NW (tel 319/366-5323 or 1-800/858-5511; $50–75).

Information by Rough Guides

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