116 3rd St SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
A backyard bucket list
Katie Mills Giorgio’s book, ‘100 Things to Do In Cedar Rapids Before You Die,’ should keep you busy
Dash, one of Prairie Patch Farm’s llamas, looks up at the camera while reaching under the fence to graze on grass just outside of the pasture in Cedar Rapids on Wednesday, April 29, 2020. (Andy Abeyta/The Gazette)
Katie Mills Giorgio’s book, “100 Things to Do in Cedar Rapids Before You Die,” is sure to keep you busy. (Jill Christine Photography)
Willie Ray Fairley, owner of Willie Ray's Q Shack, checks on ribs after running out of food at the end of a busy lunch rush at Willie Ray’s Q Shack in Cedar Rapids on Friday, May 21, 2021. Fairley has been named by Fortune as one of the top 50 World Leaders for the generosity he's shown by feeding folks during the derecho here and in Texas after the ice storms in February. (Andy Abeyta/The Gazette)
Patrick "Jamaican Pat" Rashed dishes out a portion of gumbo at his stand at NewBo City Market in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on Friday, October 7, 2022. The stand offers gumbo and other dishes from Rashed’s teenage years in New Orleans. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette)
Cedar Rapids should be on your bucket list.
In fact, local author Katie Mills Giorgio says there are 100 things — just in the Cedar Rapids area — that should be on your bucket list.
Her debut book “100 Things to Do in Cedar Rapids Before You Die” is available at a number of locations throughout the city.
She admits the book’s concept took some by surprise. “People are like, ‘A hundred things? Really? In Cedar Rapids?’”
Giorgio, who has written for Cedar Rapids Tourism and other local publications, including The Gazette for years, knew she could come up with an entire book of engaging activities for all ages.
“I just did kind of a quick little session where I thought — what would I put in it? And I got to like 50 things superfast. I knew it wasn’t going to be too hard to pull it off.”
She was also inspired because she wanted to shine a light on Cedar Rapids.
“We don’t give (Cedar Rapids) enough credit, especially people that are from here or have lived here for a long time. I think you can get kind of jaded about where you live or you just forget how to engage with your city.”
“This is a place we should be proud of.”
The book is divided up into five categories: food/drink; arts/culture; music/entertainment; sports/outdoor; and retail/shopping.
“It was nice to have categories,” Giorgio explained. “I joke that I could have done the whole book just on restaurants!”
But it was a challenging process to decide what to include. Giorgio said there were some staples, like Brucemore, that had to go in. “But I tried to come up with some surprises for people, too.”
One surprise? Just how many outdoor activities there are in the Cedar Rapids area. “I think, especially when you’re in the Midwest, you kind of take that for granted. We think, oh the weather’s only nice here two-thirds of the year, but we really have a lot of really cool outdoor things to do.”
At the back of the book, Giorgio lists the book’s activities by season, making it easy to plan year-round adventures.
She also sorts activities into themes, including a girl’s weekend or out with the kids.
“I am a huge proponent of supporting local and appreciating what we do have here. Whether you’re talking about museums or free things to do with your kids or places to eat, there really is a wide variety of things to do. And it’s about getting out and appreciating those things because if we don’t, they’re not going to be there.”
Giorgio hopes this book sparks conversations about the city and gets people out to explore something new.
“I just want more people to be reminded and know that Cedar Rapids has really cool things to do. And here’s a list to get you started. And you can add to it, if you want. And tell more people about it.”
10 Things to Do in Cedar Rapids Before You Die
Here’s a little sample of some of the things in Katie Mills Giorgio’s book, “100 Things to Do in Cedar Rapids Before You Die”:
Catch a concert at McGrath Amphitheatre
See a ski show on the Cedar River
Tantalize your taste buds at NewBo City Market
Eat a pork tenderloin as big as your face at Joensy’s
Give back while eating ‘cue at Willie Ray’s Q Shack
Pet baby animals at Old MacDonald’s Farm
Sink your putt at Twin Pines Golf Course
Hike with a llama at Prairie Patch Farm
Step into an artist’s home at the Grant Wood Studio
Bring history to life at Brucemore
Source: “100 Things to Do in Cedar Rapids Before You Die” by Katie Mills Giorgio
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