A Day Trip
Permission to Carb Load
8 a.m. - Start the day right with a few carbs before your morning ride at Cafe Saint Pio or Lucky's on 16th in Czech Village.
Ready to Ride
9-10 a.m. - Double check your bike gear before leaving Sokol Park for an out–n-back bike ride. Head south on the Cedar River Trail-South for a mildly hilly ride of 7.2 miles. This paved trail promises wonderful scenery along the Cedar River. Continue south and connect on to the Hoover Trail for an additional 2.7 miles to Ely. It’s a treat cycling on a tree lined paved trail as the day starts to warm up. Take a turn around the main street area of Ely to catch another mile or so. Restrooms and water can be found at various businesses in Ely.
10-11 a.m. - Head back north on the Hoover Trail and north on the Cedar River Trail to Sokol Park for a total ride of almost 20 miles.
Lunch Break
11:30 a.m - Now you’ve burned off breakfast, how about some lunch? Bike across the Bridge of Lions to the NewBo District. A left on 3rd Street SE and 2 blocks up brings you to the heart of the District. There are plentiful lunch possibilities including:
- A Jucy Lucy stuffed burger and a draft of one of the 56 beers on tap at the Parlor City Pub & Eatery. While you and your fellow cyclists fuel up, you can enjoy sitting under a tall tin ceiling and take in all of the Cedar Rapids memorabilia.
- If no one can decide and you need more options try the NewBo City Market where you’ll find multitude of options, including Saucy Focaccia, named to Iowa’s Best Burger list.
- Make sure to swing by the Almost Famous Popcorn for some premium ice cream or a uniquely flavored gourmet popcorn.
Culture Crawl
1:30 p.m. - Let your lunch settle as you take a quick trip back across the Cedar River to stroll through the latest exhibits at the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library and learn more about Czech and Slovak culture.
Local Brews
3 p.m. - Take a break from culture with an award winning micro-brew at Lion Bridge Brewing Company. This neighbor brewery was awarded a gold medal from the 2014 and 2015 Great American Beer Festival! They have an outdoor patio that is perfect for a beautiful Iowa afternoon.
History Lesson
4 p.m. - Need to stretch those legs? Saunter through some of the antique shops in Czech Village and do a little reminiscing. Or take a quick jaunt over to Veterans Memorial Building and view the only stained glass window by Grant Wood, famous for painting American Gothic.
Sit and Sip
5 p.m. - It’s dinner time! Check out one of the area's many patios including Local Pour Streetfood in Kingston Village.
Rest Your Weary Head
When you’re ready to call it a night, find a comfortable room here.
And That’s Not All!
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