Cedar Rapids IA

[09CTSV]

Anyone from around the area? Thinking of accepting an offer from there. Housing looks decent. Taking a trip out that way next week to see the area and visit the plant.

[tjfontaine]

From the twin cities - been there a number of times though. Cool downtown. Lots of hip places to go out and eat . White star ale house hit that one ... If you need a nice hotel, the hotel at Kirkwood center south of town is quite nice they train students in the hospitality industry there very good service.

[bsmith]

That is @Entropy neck of the woods...
I'm from the other side of the state.

[Entropy]

Yup, I live in Cedar Rapids on the northwest side of town.

Housing is quite affordable. Most places will have a new roof and maybe siding due to the derecho that came through in August of 2020. If you have kids education options are good.

There is a local corvette club, but I’m not involved since selling my ‘Vette 10+ years ago.

Will concur on the Kirkwood Hotel (I teach at the college). There are a lot of great restaurants and microbreweries. Iowa City is less than 30 minutes away and Des Moines is around 2 hours which hits a lot of the cultural needs. Chicago is around 4 hours and is great for sports/music.

[Anjdog2003]

Originally Posted by Entropy

You'll be able to watch the greatest cfb team in Ames Iowa

[Entropy]

Originally Posted by Anjdog2003

[09CTSV]

Originally Posted by Entropy

Yup, I live in Cedar Rapids on the northwest side of town.

Housing is quite affordable. Most places will have a new roof and maybe siding due to the derecho that came through in August of 2020. If you have kids education options are good.

There is a local corvette club, but I’m not involved since selling my ‘Vette 10+ years ago.

Will concur on the Kirkwood Hotel (I teach at the college). There are a lot of great restaurants and microbreweries. Iowa City is less than 30 minutes away and Des Moines is around 2 hours which hits a lot of the cultural needs. Chicago is around 4 hours and is great for sports/music.

Thanks for the information. I've been looking on Realtor. com for housing and most don't seem too bad. I'd like to find a large 3 car garage with a house attached but my wife might have a different take on it.

I plan to head out Wednesday and spend Thursday looking around before heading to the plant and meeting the Team, get a tour of the facility and making sure this is something I'll enjoy doing. The Company has already extended an offer I just want to make sure everything looks good and would meet our needs. We have lived outside of Evansville IN for the past 18 years and it is time to get the heck out and do something different for a change.

How are the winters, weather, Traffic, crime etc? It is just the wife and our three large Bernese Mountain Dogs so local schools we don't worry about. Making the wife happy is the #1 choice.

[Entropy]

Originally Posted by 09CTSV

Thanks for the information. I've been looking on Realtor. com for housing and most don't seem too bad. I'd like to find a large 3 car garage with a house attached but my wife might have a different take on it.

I plan to head out Wednesday and spend Thursday looking around before heading to the plant and meeting the Team, get a tour of the facility and making sure this is something I'll enjoy doing. The Company has already extended an offer I just want to make sure everything looks good and would meet our needs. We have lived outside of Evansville IN for the past 18 years and it is time to get the heck out and do something different for a change.

How are the winters, weather, Traffic, crime etc? It is just the wife and our three large Bernese Mountain Dogs so local schools we don't worry about. Making the wife happy is the #1 choice.

Winters get pretty cold in January and February, and are usually pretty temperate by mid-March (this Spring is an exception). Usually lows will drop around to zero for a week. Snowfall is usually max around 30 inches, with maybe one bad snowfall between 6 and 12 inches.
Traffic is manageable, usually only busy during shift changes.
Crime is standard for a city this size, and largely in neighborhoods in lower socioeconomic areas (Wellington Heights, just East of downtown).

Areas that are thriving are Czech Village and Little Bohemia just outside of the downtown area. Lots of small businesses and some great microbreweries. With U of Iowa down the road, there’s a good arts and music scene. Quite a few parks, and the city has dedicated dog parks you can register for and let dogs off leash.

[Entropy]

I should mention that we have a High A baseball team in town (Cedar Rapids Kernels) which are a Twins farm team. The Rough Riders are the locks semi-pro hockey team. There was arena football, but I’m not sure if they are still around. U of Iowa has all major sports, and football and basketball tickets are hot commodities. Wrestling is popular as well.

There is a reservoir (Lake MacBride) just south of town if you like boating/swimming/fishing.
To the NW of town is the chain of lakes natural area near Palo, which is popular with outdoorsman. There are also a few shooting ranges within a quick drive of town for folks who like to target shoot. Not sure about indoor ranges, the only one I’ve seen is at the Isaac Walton league in town.

[09CTSV]

Thank you. I appreciate the information. We have a Baseball team and hockey here in Evansville. Haven't seen either one play. Too much drama around the area with all the other sports, UK, UI, Purdue etc. I just stay away. We went to a few Hockey games in VA when we lived there.
For the most part we stay to home or hit some nature areas where we can walk the dogs and enjoy the outdoors. Pretty boring lifestyle for the most part.

[Entropy]

There are some great nature areas in CR.
Indian Creek Nature Center is cool and has some great trails. They also have lots of activities, including a maple syrup festival where they make syrup from maple trees on the property. It’s pretty awesome.
Wanatee Park is where we take our dogs. Big county park on the SE side of town. Morgan Creek is a great place as well on the NW side. Palisades State Park is just East of town and right on the Cedar River. Great trails that follow the river.

[09CTSV]

Sounds great. I believe the plant is right on the river, corn grinding plant. I am trying to arrange to spend the Friday at the plant and Thursday looking around town trying to figure out where to zero in on the houses. I don't mind a drive and would like to not feel like we are in a fish bowl.

[09CTSV]

Drove out Wednesday after work, 7.5 hours on the road getting in at 0030. Met the plant manager Thursday around 9 and spent 3 hours talking with different personnel who will be reporting to me. I'll be signing the acceptance letter and talking with HR on Monday. Nothing like a late in life change but it is for the better.

[ZipZap]

Good Luck! Enjoy the beef!

[Anjdog2003]

Originally Posted by ZipZap

Good Luck! Enjoy the beach!

[ratflinger]

There's probably a lake








And OP - hope you're not allergic to corn

[MEANZ06]

Originally Posted by ZipZap

Good Luck! Enjoy the beef!

Our daughter lived in Iowa for few years now in Nebraska. When we go out there I have as much steak dinners as possible, the beef is much better than we get here.

[ZipZap]

Originally Posted by Anjdog2003

Just cause you like sausage, don't be hatin'

Get a corn finished ribeye in Iowa and if you're not a vegan, that shit will expand your mind.

[Entropy]

Originally Posted by 09CTSV

Drove out Wednesday after work, 7.5 hours on the road getting in at 0030. Met the plant manager Thursday around 9 and spent 3 hours talking with different personnel who will be reporting to me. I'll be signing the acceptance letter and talking with HR on Monday. Nothing like a late in life change but it is for the better.

Welcome to Iowa!

[09CTSV]

Originally Posted by Entropy

Welcome to Iowa!

Thanks, now the house search is in full swing. Looked around the area for about 5 hours on Thursday. Lot's of new construction all over the place.