Things to Do in Coralville
Just minutes away from the University of Iowa, Coralville, IA is an energetic city with a wide array of entertainment and dining options. From museums and parks to breweries and pubs, there are options for our residents in all walks of life. Living at The Hampton at Coral Ridge, you are right in the center of it all! Check out of list below to see our favorite things to do in the city.
TOP 5 AMAZING PLACES TO EAT IN CORALVILLE
Midwesterners take their beer seriously, which is why Coralville and Iowa City locals flock to Backpocket Brewing. Located in the revitalized Iowa River Landing, this hometown taproom and beer garden is the perfect place to gather for good times and artisanal beer. The Backpocket brewmasters focus on perfecting German-style brews like the Dunkel, Weizen, and German Pale Ale, but also feature seasonal beers in the form of shandies, stouts, and Mexican-style lagers.
Backpocket is committed to putting Iowa on the American brewing map by supplying beer lovers with a top-notch experience from the first sip to the last.
No American city is complete without a cozy, retro diner that serves breakfast from morning to night. In Iowa City that’s the Bluebird Diner, a local legend that has been feeding the early birds since 2010. The menu features all the breakfast classics— omelets, pancakes, and benedicts, as well as creative spins on huevos rancheros, French toast, and a steak & eggs dish that can be prepared Oscar style with crab meat, asparagus, and hollandaise.
The lunch and dinner menu also impresses with fan favorites such as the Moroccan-inspired “Vesuvius Burger,” the Reuben, and the seared NY strip. Regardless of the time of day, the Bluebird Diner has the perfect dish for you.
3. Monica’s
Monica’s is Coralville’s most well-loved Italian restaurant, earning itself multiple “best of” awards throughout its 20 years of business. The extensive menu is split between Italian and American dishes and provides something designed for every palate. Within the Italian portion of the menu, Monica’s offers freshly rolled pastas, hand tossed pizzas, and classic entrées like chicken parmesan. Each dish is plated to perfection. The American side of the menu is a throwback to “Bob’s Your Uncle,” the owner’s previous restaurant. Patrons can choose from jambalaya, pot roast, chicken pot pie, and more.
Whether you’re in the mood for Italian or American cuisine, the seasoned culinary team at Monica’s has a dish that’s perfect for you.
4. Tavern Blue
Before moving to Iowa and opening a restaurant, the owners of Tavern Blue spent many years living by the ocean. They decided to import those breezy vibes to Coralville with a beach-themed bar, restaurant, and entertainment venue that has quickly become a local favorite. Tavern Blue features a wide variety of game options including mini golf, foosball, darts, and super-sized Jenga and Connect 4. The kitchen is centered around an aqua tiled, wood fired oven that produces some of the tastiest pizzas in town, like the margherita, burrata, and buffalo chicken.
Even though it’s situated in Iowa, the folks at Tavern Blue provide the perfect space for you to feel like you’re living beachside.
Big Grove Brewery is one of the most recognizable names in the world of Iowa beer with multiple locations around the state. The sprawling Iowa City taproom is built for a good time with a beautiful 360 bar, an outdoor patio, and bright green lawn space for cornhole and other games you can easily play with a beer in one hand.
The brew list is filled with fan favorites like the Boomtown golden ale, the Atomic Eddy IPA, and the Juicy Jam sour. The menu includes bar room classics like burgers and chicken wings alongside surprisingly adventurous dishes like an Indian-inspired paneer curry, a Peruvian pulled pork sandwich, a Yakisoba noodle bowl.
Big Grove’s Iowa City taproom brings together handcrafted beer, elevated bar food, and an energetic atmosphere.
Top 5 Things To Do In Coralville
Englert Theatre
Known as “Iowa City’s last historic theatre,” the Englert Theatre has been an active performance space for over 100 years. Originally opened in 1912 by William & Etta Englert, the 700-seat venue hosts musical performances, plays, ballets, national speakers, and more.
The vaudeville-era architecture lends itself to inspiring performances and many national and international acts choose to make a return to the Englert when traveling through Iowa. After a series of renovations and upgrades, the acoustics are fully optimized, providing the audience with the best possible entertainment experience.
Explore their website for further information on upcoming events and ticket prices.
Pinseekers
Pinseekers is a multifaceted entertainment destination centered around a full-size driving range, a putting course, bowling lanes, and a multi-sport simulator. Located just outside of Tiffin, about 10 minutes northwest of The Hampton at Coral Ridge, Pinseekers is the perfect place to hone your golf game while enjoying barroom classics like chicken wings, nachos, burgers, and a long list of craft brews, wines, and cocktails. Making memories at Pinseekers is inevitable.
Coralville Lake
During the 20th century, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers built a series of lakes by diverting river flow, a process which provided cities with drinking water and prevented flooding. The modern American landscape has been shaped be these massive government water projects, which include Iowa’s beautiful Coralville Lake.
Spanning over 5,000 acres, Coralville Lake offers visitors endless opportunities for swimming, boating, and paddleboarding. The Army Corp of Engineers also maintains the beaches where nature lovers can spend the day or set up camp for overnight stays. Iowa’s natural beauty is on full display at Coralville Lake.
Iowa Children's Museum
The Iowa Children’s Museum is all about exercising the imagination. By providing a safe place for kids to learn and explore, the museum encourages Iowans to dream big and think outside the box. Visitors will wind their way through a maze of colorful exhibits that often involve hands on learning. These include the pirate-themed “Coral Cove,” an “Art Studio” with a bounty of supplies, and the “Take Flight” exhibit where kids can sit inside of a real Cessna 150 airplane. Above all, the creators of the Iowa Children's Museum believe in and value the inherent power of play.
Tom Harkin Trailhead
Many of the world’s greatest historical figures were privy to the power of walking. Everyone from Abe Lincoln to Charles Darwin to Virginia Woolf were known to have a daily walking routine that would help to stimulate new ideas. The secret they discovered was this— there’s nothing that refreshes the soul quite like a long, leisurely walk in nature.
The Tom Harkin Trailhead is the perfect place for Hampton at Coral Ridge residents to access Clear Creek Trail. Buffeted by the meandering Clear Creek and the Clear Creek Greenbelt, walkers, runners, and bikers will find themselves enveloped by Iowa’s local flora, fauna, and natural beauty.