Top 10 Quad Cities Activities for Grandparents & Grandkids To Do Together

1. Quad City Botanical Center
This Rock Island, IL, delight is great in the winter and summer. Outside Gardens: grandchildren can play in the water garden while grandparents sit in the shade. Inside Gardens: kids and adults can feed the fish and enjoy the warmth of the Sun Garden. In warmer weather months, there's a fabulous train garden with a working railroad that you certainly don't want to miss! It usually runs on Sunday afternoons.

2. Channel Cat Water Taxi
All ages enjoy boating on the Mississippi River. This water taxi will take you up and down the river with stops on both the IL and IA side. You can stay on or hop off to explore different cities.

3. Lagomarcino's Hot Fudge Sundae
The amazing hot fudge at Lagomarcino's in the Village of East Davenport, IA, or Moline, IL, is definitely a necessary stop for all grandparents and grandchildren. The “old-timey” atmosphere, delightful candy choices, and amazing desserts will make your taste buds sing.

4. Family Musuem
While this Bettendorf museum is a great spot for the kids to play, there are comfortable benches and interesting enough activities that grandparents will be delighted as well. Be sure to check out the maker-space upstairs where creativity can bridge the age gap and you can work together to create something uniquely yours. It's make and take so you get to keep what you make!

5. Circa 21 Dinner Playhouse
Introducing youngsters to the wonder of theatre is a true gift. Circa '21 in Rock Island, IL, often showcases productions that are fun for the whole family. Enjoying a fancy dinner and an evening out can be great fun for both young and old.

6. Figge Art Museum
From docent guided tours to special exhibits to regular collections, you'll love checking out the art at the Figge Art Museum in Davenport, IA. Even the building looks like a work of art. It's comfortable footprint and elevators make this an easy place to navigate and explore for all ages.

7. McManus Park
(FYI - Quad Citizens call this Rocket Park for a former rocket playground structure that used to be at this park.) You'll find Bettendorf's McManus Park is one of the Quad Cities children's favorites. There are multiple equipment groupings and lots of space. The biggest playground is very accessible for all ages and some areas are even wheelchair friendly. There's a lot of nice seating and even ground so walking around keeping an eye on grandkids is easy to do.

8. John Deere Pavillion
All ages will love climbing into the cab of a combine or tractor at the John Deere Pavillion in Moline, IL. If your grandparents grew up on a farm, this place is a wonderful starter of stories.

9. Enjoy Quad Cities Style Pizza
Pizza is a favorite food for all ages. The Quad Cities have their own style. We even have our own specialty pizza: the Taco Pizza. Everyone loves pizza, but pizza with chips on it?!! Even Better. There's lots of debate about the best QC pizza joint. You'll have to try a few and get an opinion of your own.

10. The Old World Gardens and Fountain at Vander Veer Botanical Park
This Davenport, IA treasure is one grandparents nor grandkids will want to miss. “The stone fountain dates back to the 1930s and ... runs from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. May through October. The water shoots up at varying heights and colored lights change the color of the water making for some beautiful nights in Vander Veer Park” (davenportiowa.com).

Bonus
If you're here in the summertime, be sure to check out the fun Parks and Recreation Pools in the area. Many have fun water slides, spray parks and lots of fun activities for all ages. 

Written by Meghan Cooley

Meghan Cooley moved to the Quad Cities from St. Charles, IL, as an Augustana College student over 20 years ago. She left briefly after graduation and then returned to work in admissions and then marketing at Augustana College for 18 years. She now works as a consultant for admissions marketing and social media. She also does copy editing and writes for the Quad City Moms Blog. Now a true Quad Cities transplant, Meghan lives in Rock Island with her husband, Luke (R.O.W.V.A. and Augustana grad and Modern Woodmen employee) and four boys. She loves living in the Quad Cities and finds it the perfect place to raise a family, plan a date night, and go on adventures.