7 Best Things to Do in Waterloo, Iowa

By VacationIdea Staff on June 6, 2022 - Updated

City of Waterloo, Iowa - City Hall

The town of Waterloo, Iowa features a vibrant and fun downtown district full of locally-owned and operated restaurants, award-winning museums, shops, and even a riverside amphitheatre. In addition to downtown, Waterloo also boasts several other things to do for visitors and locals of all ages, such as exploring the Cedar Valley Nature Trail or George Wyth State Park, catching a game at the Riverfront Stadium, shopping at the Crossroads Mall, or grabbing a slice of pizza at the Mama Nicks Circle Pizzeria. The town also hosts several events throughout the year.

We recommend that you call the attractions and restaurants ahead of your visit to confirm current opening times.

1.Sullivan Brothers Iowa Veterans Museum

The Sullivan Brothers Iowa Veterans Museum in Waterloo, Iowa was established to honor the sacrifice and service of all veterans from Iowa, dating back to the Civil War up through to present day. Visitors can learn about their stories through the electronic Wall of Honor, interactive activities, and traditional exhibits. The museum includes more than thirty-five interactive exhibits that share the stories of veterans, as well as more than 1,500 interviews with veterans collected through the Voices of Iowa Oral History Project.

503 South St, Waterloo, IA 50701, Phone: 319-234-6357

2.Cedar Valley Nature Trail, Waterloo, Iowa

Spanning across sixty-seven miles, the Cedar Valley Nature Trail connects Ely to Evansdale, running through a number of small towns along the way. From the town of Evansdale to the McFarlane Park, the surface of the trail is asphalt, however, from McFarlane Park to Center Point, the surface is made of compacted limestone. The trail also connects the metro area of Linn County to the town of Waterloo, traveling through farmland, forest, and wetlands. While the limestone section of the Cedar Valley Nature Trail can be easily used to travel by a bicycle with narrow tires, watch for muddy conditions.

Waterloo, IA

3.George Wyth State Park, Waterloo, Iowa

The George Wyth Memorial State Park is situated near Cedar Falls and Waterloo in Iowa, a large woodland expanse abundant with outdoor activities and a wide variety of wildlife. Established as a National Urban Wildlife Sanctuary, over two hundred species of birds have been spotted within the state park. Visitors may also spot white-tailed deer throughout the year. In addition to wildlife viewing, George Wyth State Park offers several recreation activities, including more than five miles of multi-use trail for walking, in-line skating, and biking, along with six miles of hiking trails. During the winter, snowmobiling and cross-country skiing are popular activities as well.

3659 Wyth Rd, Waterloo, IA 50703, Phone: 319-232-5505

4.Cedar Valley Arboretum & Botanic Gardens, Waterloo, IA

The Cedar Valley Arboretum and Botanic Gardens encompasses approximately forty acres of beautiful grounds for visitors of all ages to explore, which include the Master Gardener’s Orchard, the Stout Daylily Collection, Iowa Native Prairie, the four-acre Butterfly Garden, the award-winning Children’s Garden, and much more. The Master Gardener’s Orchard consists of four different types of fruit trees, and the Cedar Valley Arboretum also features more than fifteen formal gardens.

1927 E Orange Rd, Waterloo, IA 50701, Phone: 319-226-4966

5.Crossroads Mall, Waterloo, Iowa

The Crossroads Mall in Waterloo, Iowa is conveniently situated near the intersection of US 20 and Interstate 380, about one mile from the Isle of Capri Hotel and Casino and the Lost Island Waterpark. In addition to being surrounded by several quality hotels and restaurants, just outside of Crossroads Mall is the Crossroads 12 Theatre. Popular shops located within the mall include Bath & Body Works among several others. Other shops surrounding the Crossroads Mall include Bed, Bath & Beyond, Barnes & Noble, Super Target, Best Buy, Hobby Lobby, DIck’s Sporting Goods, TJ Maxx, and Super Walmart.

2060 Crossroads Blvd, Waterloo, IA 50702

6.Riverfront Stadium, Waterloo, Iowa

Built originally in 1946 as the Municipal Stadium, the Riverfront Stadium in the town of Waterloo is used primarily for the sport of baseball, acting as the home field for the local Waterloo Bucks baseball team, which plays as part of the Northwoods League, a summer collegiate baseball league. The Riverfront Stadium is able to host a maximum of five thousand people for attending games. The stadium has also served as the home of the Waterloo Hawks, a minor league baseball team and was the site of the Midwest League All-Star Game in July of 1978.

850 Park Rd, Waterloo, IA 50703, Phone: 319-232-5633

7.Mama Nick’s Circle Pizzeria, Waterloo, Iowa

Serving the local Cedar Valley community for over fifty years, Mama Nick’s Circle Pizzeria has long held a time-honored tradition of offering quality pizza, sandwiches, and pasta. The restaurant uses only high quality ingredients piled on top of their made-to-order pizzas, such as fresh ground sausage and beef mixed with family spices, freshly chopped vegetables and sliced meats, real mozzarella cheese, and the pizzeria’s secret seasoning. Other menu options included hand-breaded pork tenderloins, sandwiches on fresh baked French bread, and fresh-cut French fries. There is also an all-you-can-eat buffet available for lunch with a wide variety of food.

1934 Washington St, Waterloo, IA 50702, Phone: 319-233-3323