Weekend Trip to: Burlington, IA
From Advisory Board Member: Nikki Eddy
Last summer, my husband, two kids (12 and 6 at the time), and my mother took a short drive from Quincy to Burlington, Iowa. We had been there many times before for various reasons—shopping somewhere different, enjoying meals, or watching a Burlington Bees game—so a fun overnight stay for the water park was nothing new. Our primary reason for the trip was Fun City’s Hurricane Harbor, the water park section of Fun City.
If you plan to visit Fun City for more than a single day, you can stay at one of their attached hotels, which I’m sure are lovely, though I’ve never stayed in them myself. I also can’t say if they offer discounts for hotel stays or package deals that bundle the hotel, water park, gaming, and restaurant options together. Instead, we chose to stay at the Holiday Inn Express and Suites across the street—a fairly new and updated hotel that is always clean. We’ve stayed there multiple times before and have had great experiences.
We arrived just after the water park gates opened, so the line to get in was short. Once inside, we slathered on our sunscreen, and the kids dove into the wide variety of ways to get wet! My son was a little disappointed that he didn’t meet the height requirement (48”) for the faster water slides, so he had to stick with the two slower slides—the Blue and Green —which only require children to be 42” tall. Despite this, he had a blast and loved that he could go down the slides independently without needing a lifejacket, since he’s a confident swimmer. One of us would always go down first and wait in the pool for him, just in case he got disoriented coming out of the slide.
The faster slides use tubes, and you can ride in a single or double tube. The more weight in the tube, the faster you go—so when two people ride together, you really fly! It’s a lot of fun, and you definitely get your exercise climbing up the steps all day. The lazy river provides a nice break when you need to slow down for a couple of laps! There’s also a standard pool for a relaxed swim and a toddler area with plenty of splash pad activities. When you get hungry, you have a few snack stands outside and a full concession stand inside, offering typical poolside fare—including full pizzas—and even some adult beverages.
I highly recommend checking out Burlington’s local restaurants. Chain restaurants are great, but if you’ve had one Panera mac and cheese, you’ve had them all! Unfortunately, my favorite Burlington restaurant recently closed, so I can’t share our exact meal spots from this trip, but I do have some great recommendations. After leaving Fun City and freshening up at the hotel, we visited The Busted Cup Brewhouse—a first-time experience for me, recommended by a friend. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but it turned out to be perfect! The atmosphere was super fun, located upstairs in its building (with an elevator), and the food was amazing. There are tons of beers and drinks to choose from, and it’s very family-friendly.
I’ve also heard great things about The SOM Restaurant, though I haven’t been there myself. Everyone I’ve spoken to raves about it. These restaurants are near the river, and you really shouldn’t pass up a chance to enjoy a walk along the riverfront. It’s beautiful and well-maintained, and right outside the small event center is a small public splash pad, available for kids to play in during the summer. My son was dying to jump in—watching the other kids play and inching closer and closer to the water!
A few other Burlington activities I’d recommend:
A Burlington Bees game It’s an affordable, fun event for the whole family, and if the kids get bored during the game, there’s a playground area to keep them entertained.
Go Fish Sushi A great sushi spot, though it has more of a date-night vibe than a family one. The food is excellent!
El Taco Casa My husband loves this tiny hole-in-the-wall taco joint. His college roommate was from Burlington and introduced him to it years ago, and now it’s a must-visit whenever we’re in town. The tacos are delicious, though it’s more of a takeout spot than a sit-down restaurant.
Cold Stone Creamery Located right around the corner from Fun City’s water park entrance, it’s a hit with my kids. Personally, I’d rather have an A&W ice cream float, but that’s just me!
