1. It gets cold in Winter. But you learn to live with it. The whole city's living with it too.
2. Natural beauty is harder to see. There are no mountains or beaches. 99% of Iowa's land is unnatural[1]. But it sure does make you appreciate the smaller-scale natural beauty that is available every day, and especially the grandeur of the traditionally beautiful areas of the country.
I lived in Iowa City for several years while my kids were young. It is an amazing city. Everyone is lovely, the restaurants are great, home of an active local grocer, tons of activities by the university, great schools, low CoL, completely walkable, and nothing was ever more than 5 minutes away (yes, when we moved, I had to reorient myself on what "far away" was). I think my kids were lucky to grow up there!
I'm from Iowa City! It's awesome to see this pop up on HN. IC has a number of great older bars like this. Sadly my favorite (The Sanctuary) closed recently and may be lost forever.
If song lyrics count, Eleni Mandell's "Iowa City" is the poem that will always stick in my mind about that town.
Girls, the boys don't cheat in Iowa City
Iowa City nothing to do
Now they're crisp and they're clean
Iowa City
Iowa Iowa
Skies are blue
Not so, Chicago
Never, New York
When you're off and you're looking for something
What will you do?
Where will you go?
Nearby Amana Iowa hosts a yearly Bratwurst festival at which you can learn about the history of an attempt at a utopian society and watch dachshunds race while very very drunk
Iowa City has great aspects. New Pioneer Co-Op: having spent more life afterwards in Boulder, CO, I can safely say IC still holds the prize for ideal progressive food grocery option in the US (admittedly I haven’t been to Portland, and imagine they might compete). Prairie Lights is cool and all but I’d rather be at The Strand. Or Goblin Market or Samdmeyer’s in Chicago. Or Old Town in Stockholm.
Iowa City starts feeling small VERY quickly. The winters are cold. There are no amazing natural areas for activity. Downtown is getting more sterile every year (circa 20 years ago).
University of Iowa is a great example of a University scene, but if you are not a student or professor, you’ll quickly bump up against the guardrails
of small town US economics.
I always say that Iowa City is the Paris of the Midwest ;). Except when there's a home game.
The art culture is incredible. Two of our favorite artists spent a considerable amount of time there, so we made a few trips when researching trying to find pieces.
"Poetry City": Iowa City, Iowa
(publicbooks.org)54 points by samclemens 25 April 2025 | 26 comments
Comments
I love downtown Iowa City. Absolutely adore it. I've spent a lot of time trying to convince family, friends, and anyone who will listen to move here.
It's everything people say: active, friendly, community-oriented, walkable, safe, smart, rebellious, affordable.
I only recognize 2 claims against it:
1. It gets cold in Winter. But you learn to live with it. The whole city's living with it too.
2. Natural beauty is harder to see. There are no mountains or beaches. 99% of Iowa's land is unnatural[1]. But it sure does make you appreciate the smaller-scale natural beauty that is available every day, and especially the grandeur of the traditionally beautiful areas of the country.
1:https://www.iaenvironment.org/blog/iowa-environmental-voice/...
Iowa City starts feeling small VERY quickly. The winters are cold. There are no amazing natural areas for activity. Downtown is getting more sterile every year (circa 20 years ago).
University of Iowa is a great example of a University scene, but if you are not a student or professor, you’ll quickly bump up against the guardrails of small town US economics.
The art culture is incredible. Two of our favorite artists spent a considerable amount of time there, so we made a few trips when researching trying to find pieces.