Le Claire, IA

Scratch-made comfort food in a historic river-pilot's home, with a bone-in pork chop and homemade ice cream, ranked the top restaurant in town. It is tucked a block off the main drag with Mississippi River views and a real gluten-free and vegetarian menu.

A family-owned dairy-sweet and grill at the north end of town, voted best breaded tenderloin in the state, with burgers, homemade soups, and soft-serve. Eat outside and watch barges and trains roll by.

A locally owned breakfast spot with farm-fresh eggs, big omelets, and daily fresh-made biscuits and gravy in generous, hearty portions. Go early; the biscuits and gravy sell best in the morning.

A rustic walk-in coffee house downtown with expertly brewed coffee and a wide selection of baked goods, the town's top coffee spot. Tiny inside, so it is better as a grab-and-go before strolling Cody Road's shops.

Upscale Tuscan-Italian dining in a renovated historic space, with salmon primavera, pasta, a well-priced wine list, and river views. The colorful dining room overlooks the river and the Buffalo Bill Museum.

A family Tex-Mex spot on Cody Road with chimichangas, mole, tortas, and burrito bowls, plus a patio with river views. The patio is the draw on a warm evening, with margaritas and friendly service.

A riverside viewing platform below the lock and dam, one of the Quad Cities' premier bald-eagle and pelican watching spots, reached by a short boardwalk over the water. Eagles concentrate here in the cold months, so bring a long lens.

A paved riverfront segment connecting Le Claire's waterfront south through the Quad Cities, with constant river views. Flat and paved, ideal for an easy bike ride or stroll; pick it up at the riverfront park and ride south.

Hundreds of acres of upland and bottomland forest, prairie, and wetland along the Wapsipinicon River, with several miles of quiet hiking trails and good birding. A peaceful walk away from the river crowds.

The county's largest park, with hiking, mountain-biking, and equestrian trails through woods and meadows north of Davenport. More trail variety than the in-town riverfront paths, and an easy add-on near the Cody Homestead.

A Victorian-style paddlewheel riverboat cruising the Mississippi from Le Claire to Dubuque, with two-day overnight cruises plus shorter sightseeing trips. Consistently the top-rated activity in town, and reviewers say the onboard food beats most local restaurants.

A family-owned grain-to-glass craft distillery making vodka, gin, and whiskey from local Iowa ingredients, with free tours and tastings and an adjoining cocktail house. Tours run on set time slots, so check the schedule.

A downtown craft brewpub right on the riverfront, pouring a rotating lineup of house beers with indoor and outdoor seating, trivia, and live music. The patio with the river view completes the two-block drinks trio with the distillery and winery.

A tasting room in a restored building with a river-view terrace, pouring dry-to-sweet local wines. A tasting comes with an etched souvenir glass, and there is live music on summer Fridays.

An eclectic shop in a historic hilltop home, with gifts and decor upstairs and a basement wine cellar of bottled wines below. It is a curated bottle-shop and gift store rather than a producing winery, so come to browse and buy.

An antique and fine-art shop set in a prairie-style home on Cody Road, specializing in rare, high-quality antique and vintage finds. One of the best of Le Claire's antique houses for serious browsers.

The real-life store and home base of the television show American Pickers, a two-story former fabrication shop packed with picked treasures and branded merch. It is tucked in the alley behind a gas station, easy to miss, and the staff happily field Pickers questions.

A riverfront museum on the life of William Cody and Le Claire's riverboat history, home to a dry-docked towboat that is a national historic landmark. Admission is inexpensive and includes the steamer next door.

A native-limestone farmhouse built by Buffalo Bill's father, with walnut floors and period furnishings, in the quiet farmland southwest of town. A cheap, self-guided tour you can linger over, and the home of Cody's early childhood.

The Mississippi River levee and riverfront park in the heart of downtown, with a boat ramp, green space, and the gathering spot for the annual Tug Fest tug-of-war across the river. Best at sunset for barge-watching.

A walkable nine-block stretch of historic highway lined with antique shops, boutiques, tasting rooms, and cafes in restored nineteenth-century buildings overlooking the river. Park once and stroll the whole strip.