Start from 21 curated places around Le Claire, IA, then choose the recommendations that fit your guests.
Restaurants & cafés
Crane & Pelican Cafe
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.
Big Dave and Holly's
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.
Trails & outdoors
Lock and Dam No. 14 Eagle Area
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.
Mississippi River Trail
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.
Things to do
Riverboat Twilight
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.
Mississippi River Distilling Company
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.
Landmarks & sights
Antique Archaeology
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.
Buffalo Bill Museum
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.