Iowa winters may be cold and bitter, but that doesn't mean your relationship has to be! Here are 13 fun activities you could do with your partner during a freezing Eastern Iowa winter:

Check out a New Restaurant

Did you know that more than 35 restaurants have opened near the Corridor in 2022? That's a LOT of new places to try! Instead of going to the same restaurant that you always go to, consider mixing it up and trying one of THESE new eateries! My favorites are Sacred Cow Tavern, SKO Tavern & Tacos, Barrel House, and Czech Town Station. I've also heard great things about Ideal Theater & Bar, a cool new business over in the Czech Village with cocktails, snacks, and live music! It could be a fun place to stop when you're finished with dinner.

See a Movie at Marcus Wehrenberg Theatre

Going to movies now is much more of an experience than it used to be! Marcus Wehrenberg Theatre in Cedar Rapids not only has those fancy reclining DreamLoungers in every theatre, but they also have a bar with seating that you can check out before and after each movie. And sure, you can still get a giant tub of popcorn, but there's also a restaurant menu with burgers, sandwiches, pizza, and appetizers. The best part? You can order your food online in advance so it's ready when you get there, or just order when you arrive and they'll deliver it right to you in the theatre!

Drive Through a Holiday Light Display

Nothing will get you in the holiday spirit quite like driving through a Christmas wonderland! There are several drive-thru holiday light displays here in Eastern Iowa that you can enjoy throughout December. Here are some of the big ones:

Go to a Concert

There are already some big concerts scheduled for early 2023! Some of the artists headed to Eastern Iowa include:

  • Old Dominion
  • The Judds
  • Parker McCollum
  • The Pork Tornadoes
  • Reba McEntire
  • Journey
  • Tanya Tucker

For details on all the upcoming shows in 2023 that we know of (so far), click HERE!

Visit an Escape Room

If you want a date with a little more of a challenge, grab your partner (and maybe another couple or two) and visit one of the escape rooms that we have here in Eastern Iowa:

Attend a Murder Mystery Dinner

Goldfinch Tap + Eatery is hosting a Murder Mystery Dinner, Dessert & Show on Saturday, January 21st at 5:30 p.m. for $50 a person, but that's not your only murder mystery option in the area! The Dinner Detective hosts a Murder Mystery Dinner once a month at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Cedar Rapids. Dates currently on the schedule include December 17th, January 28th, February 18th, and March 4th from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tickets are $59.95 and can be purchased HERE.

If you want to really immerse yourself in the experience, Mont Rest Inn in Bellevue hosts very intricate Murder Mystery Dinners for guests most weekends, but you do have to reserve a room at the bed & breakfast first. You can read more about that HERE.

Sample Craft Beers at Coralville BrrrFest

Tickets are on sale now for Coralville BrrrFest, a popular annual event for beer lovers in the Corridor. The Facebook page says that attendees can "sample and purchase craft beers showcased by breweries from across the Midwest." The 2023 event will take place Saturday, January 28th from 1 to 4 p.m. and tickets range between $50 and $65. You can purchase yours HERE.

If you can't attend Coralville BrrrFest, there are still plenty of other places to sample craft beers here in Eastern Iowa! Some of the breweries that offer beer flights include Lion Bridge Brewing Company, Clock House Brewing, and Iowa Brewing Company in Cedar Rapids, SingleSpeed Brewing Co. in Waterloo, Big Grove Brewery in Solon and Iowa City, Millstream Brewing Co. in Amana, and Backpocket Brewing in Coralville.

Go Axe Throwing

Text your axe throwing abilities with your significant other! If you want to try a more adventurous date, you can check out one of these axe throwing businesses here in Eastern Iowa:

Attend a Comedy Show

From time to time, big comedians will make stops here in Eastern Iowa. For example, Bert Kreischer is headed to the Alliant Energy Powerhouse Arena in Cedar Rapids on Thursday, February 23rd. But, there are also a couple of small comedy clubs in the area that have shows from local and national comedians! The Lucky Cat Comedy Club in Cedar Rapids has lots of different events on their schedule, as does Joystick Comedy Arcade in Iowa City. If you're looking for a laugh, those two places are good options.

Try Line Dancing

There aren't very many places here in Eastern Iowa to go dancing, but there is at least one place that offers line dancing! DanceMor Ballroom in Swisher hosts line dancing and line-dancing lessons every Wednesday night beginning at 7 p.m. for only $5. Have a drink and see if you and your partner can boot scoot boogie!

Go Go-Karting

Another adventurous date idea is doing a little go-karting at Speedeezz Indoor Karting in Cedar Rapids! Feel like a kid again with "unadulterated exhilaration" from Speedezz's "electrifying go kart racing experience." Who doesn't love a little friendly competition?!

Play Arcade Games

Arcade games aren't just for kids, you know! Just like go-karting, arcades can be fun for all ages. There are several places in Eastern Iowa with awesome arcades, and one of the first places that comes to mind is Spare Time Entertainment in Cedar Rapids. Not only are there a bunch of arcade games, but there's also bowling, food, and other fun activities. For a more low-key venue, check out the pinball machines and other old-school games at The Quarter Barrel in Cedar Rapids or Double Tap Beercade, which has locations in Iowa City and Cedar Falls.

Book a Couple's Massage

A lot of the activities on this list involve going out and being active, but not this one! If you and your partner just want a night to relax together, consider booking a couple's massage. Some of the highly-rated spas that offer them include:

10 Cozy Cabins & Cottages to Stay At This Winter in Iowa

Looking for a little "staycation" this winter in Iowa? There are lots of cozy cabins and cottages on Airbnb that you can stay at! Here are 10 of our favorites:

Cedar Rapids Balloon Glow 2022

Balloon Glow 2022 was a huge success for the Cedar Rapids Freedom Festival! Here are some photos from this year's event!

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