Headed to Iowa --- Suggestions?
So I am taking the family to the game on Saturday (better half, 10yo & 9yo). Pretty excited as this will be my first ever Michigan road game. We're expecting a great time but wondering if the board has an suggestions on can't miss to dos. Thanks ahead of time.
September 27th, 2022 at 9:37 AM ^
Not so much a to-do as a safety tip -- if you feel threatened by someone, just hand them a football and they'll immediately start moving backwards. So have a few of those on hand, just in case.
P.S. Look, I've never been to Iowa, so below-the-belt jokes are all I got, sorry bruh
September 27th, 2022 at 6:16 PM ^
Excellent plan.
Safety tip, part 2 is, if you hand them a football, keep an eye out, they may just punt it at you....
September 27th, 2022 at 9:48 AM ^
Iowa? check out corn i guess
/s
September 27th, 2022 at 10:09 AM ^
I flew into Cedar Rapids once and they had corn growing between the runway and the taxiway.
September 27th, 2022 at 10:22 AM ^
About a decade ago, a spike in corn prices meant farmers put almost any land they could access into production. Here's an article about how farmers were tearing down buildings, plowing up golf courses, etc across Iowa to increase corn acreage.
https://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/31/us/in-iowa-farmland-expands-as-crop-prices-soar.html
September 27th, 2022 at 1:42 PM ^
Corntastic
What? Its just a pun about corn
September 27th, 2022 at 9:49 AM ^
Here's to hoping you see a repeat of the B10 Championship game last Dec.....
If it were a couple weeks later, I'd be taking my 12 ga. and Millie, my GWP with me for some world class pheasant hunting......
September 27th, 2022 at 10:34 AM ^
Best dogs ever! Not sure why this posted sideways but here is our girl Eva, rocking her Go Blue Bandana!
September 27th, 2022 at 10:51 AM ^
and on the way back pick up your cow?
September 27th, 2022 at 11:58 AM ^
highly possible.... although slightly off the route.
September 27th, 2022 at 11:03 AM ^
12 ga for pheasant? Kind of a big mess, no? Not 20 ga?
September 27th, 2022 at 11:35 AM ^
depends if you're hunting for food or for looks. also, the pheasant can flush quite a ways away when you get in that open field environment.
September 27th, 2022 at 11:54 AM ^
my wife uses a 20 ga.....
September 27th, 2022 at 1:20 PM ^
And she looks great doing it, no doubt. A match made in heaven.
September 27th, 2022 at 1:55 PM ^
I prefer 20 ga because I'm too lazy to lug around a 12...
September 27th, 2022 at 2:35 PM ^
Also, the shoulder starts to complain after a certain age. I can hear it whispering, in its best Danny Glover voice: "you're too old for this shit, switch to 20ga".
September 27th, 2022 at 1:00 PM ^
Girlfriend With Potential?
September 27th, 2022 at 2:13 PM ^
total wife zone, confirmed marriage this summer. booted blue done goooood.
September 27th, 2022 at 9:30 PM ^
I'll endorse 12 over 20. But you want pheasant nirvana? Iowa is no slouch, but keep driving to South Dakota.
September 27th, 2022 at 9:58 AM ^
I went in 2016 and here are my tips:
1. WIN THE D@MN GAME.... maybe start Davis Warren as a sacrificial lamb/escape goat?
2. Depending on your travel route, stop at the I-80 Truck Stop
3. There are a large cluster of bars/restaurants a few blocks east of the river. There's a cool campusy vibe to the hole area, with lots of outdoor patios (outdoor beers taste better) and very polite and welcoming students.
4. Kinnick is a few blocks west of the river, so the noon kickoff isn't doing you any favors with pre-game/game/post-game walking, but the weather should be fantastic (outdoor beers taste better).
September 27th, 2022 at 10:27 AM ^
WIN THE D@MN GAME.... maybe start Davis Warren as a sacrificial lamb/escape goat.
This is the 2nd time recently on MGB I’ve seen the term “escape goat”. Am I missing something? Is this supposed to be scape goat?
September 27th, 2022 at 10:34 AM ^
Escape goat - so we get out with a win?
LOL!!
September 27th, 2022 at 10:59 AM ^
Uhh.. you don't know? If you're on a plane and the pilot says, oh no, we're doing down, you quickly grab your escape goat and jump!
September 27th, 2022 at 11:09 AM ^
and this is the second time in recent memory, I've been challenged on the play on words. A scapegoat would be one taking blame for the loss... I forgot his name, but the O-lineman that Ole'd his block and got Wilton Speight planted in the cornfield in 2016.
An escape goat will be the livestock that pulls the team to safety, away from the Dark Magic of Kinnick.
September 27th, 2022 at 12:23 PM ^
If we are going on sheer shiftiness and elusiveness, I think there's a good case for Barry Sanders as the Escape GOAT
September 27th, 2022 at 12:47 PM ^
He was speared in the shoulder. That wasn't on the OL. Memories...
September 28th, 2022 at 12:23 AM ^
Yeah, that’s the ticket. Eye roll
September 28th, 2022 at 12:21 AM ^
escape goat?
September 28th, 2022 at 12:22 AM ^
hole area?
September 27th, 2022 at 9:58 AM ^
Team suggestion: If the visitor locker room is still pink, use it as a motivator for rage, or just ignore it and focus on the game, not redecorating
September 27th, 2022 at 10:03 AM ^
Easy way to make friends with the locals, just keep looking around with big eyes and ask people "Is this heaven?"
September 27th, 2022 at 10:40 AM ^
Lol for real. Well done, sir
September 27th, 2022 at 12:25 PM ^
The Field of Dreams movie site up in Dyersville remains pretty low-key and worth a visit if you had an emotional connection with the movie. It's about an hour and a half northeast of Iowa City, and admission to the field remains free (donations appreciated).
The small stadium that they built nearby to hold the MLB games the last two years is next to the movie site, but the original site itself is still there.
September 27th, 2022 at 10:05 AM ^
Spent a day in Iowa City this summer. Nice town, seems like a smaller version of Ann Arbor, especially if UM main campus were on the Huron River. The couple of places we stopped in for food/drinks were great. I'm sure it's crazy on game day, but if the weather's good I'd take a walking tour of campus and along the river. Don't get freaked out by the building with the golden dome, you're not in South Bend - that is the old state capitol building. One disappointment during the summer at least was no decent ice cream place in the downtown/campus area.
September 27th, 2022 at 10:20 AM ^
Bring something to read.
September 27th, 2022 at 10:23 AM ^
Heading there as well. Went in 2016, so yes win the game. Fans are great though so it should be fun to have the family there.
Search the MgoBoard b/c there was a post for it back in August I have been referring to.
September 27th, 2022 at 10:29 AM ^
Do they sell beer in the stadium?
September 27th, 2022 at 10:42 AM ^
Yes bring your wallet
September 27th, 2022 at 11:21 AM ^
And make sure there is money (lots of it) in said wallet before you head to the game.
September 27th, 2022 at 11:31 AM ^
i thought they transacted only in corn
September 27th, 2022 at 12:24 PM ^
Haven't been to many concerts lately? If that picture is correct and the can is more than 12 ounces that is about half of the cost of a beer at Wrigley, Pine Knob and Little Caesar's.
September 27th, 2022 at 10:29 AM ^
My college buddies went to Iowa 10-15 years ago without me and said it was the best B1G atmosphere for a road game. I was proposing it to them this year and no one bit (at least while there was time to plan). Got to make it there for a game someday.
September 27th, 2022 at 10:42 AM ^
Then your friends haven’t been to a game in Lincoln
September 27th, 2022 at 1:02 PM ^
Iowa/Wisconsin/Nebraska are all similar as great college towns. Passionate fans who love to drink and tailgate. Recommend going to all 3 if you haven’t yet. For the most part, good people. Always have a few outliers in every group.
September 27th, 2022 at 10:34 AM ^
Watch Children of the Corn.
September 27th, 2022 at 11:00 AM ^
LOL...kiddos should love that one!
September 27th, 2022 at 10:39 AM ^
I haven't been to Iowa City, but I have spent a fair amount of time in Omaheehaw, right next door to Council Bluffs. Ehh, Iowa... Nebraska... It's all the same place. The people are really nice.
I did also spend a month in actual Iowa one week (closer to Des Moines). Again, it wasn't much different from Omaheehaw, except fewer people because we weren't in the city. Lot's of corn, few hills.
I don't think my post helps you even a little bit...
September 27th, 2022 at 10:51 AM ^
When I went to Nebraska last year, they had these shirts. That's how you trash talk in the corn belt I guess.
September 27th, 2022 at 10:55 AM ^
Re-post from the August thread on this same topic:
I've lived in Iowa City for 30 years, looking forward to the game on 10/1! You'll be on foot from downtown, don't even think about driving up to Kinnick. It's a ~15-20 min. walk. Tailgating starts early and goes late. Melrose Ave. outside the stadium offers the usual array of food cart eating before the game and it's quite fun just to take in the atmosphere. Iowa fans are generally very friendly and welcoming as long as you don't come across as too arrogant.
As for local eats and hangouts the day before or after, I'd recommend:
1. Pizza: Wig 'n Pen (thicker crust/deep dish) in Coralville or Pagliai's (old style/thin crust) north of downtown on Bloomington St. (walkable).
2. Breakfast: Hamburg Inn (kind of like Brown Jug, located just north of downtown on Linn St.) or Bluebird Diner (somewhat nicer but not fancy, located just north of downtown on Market St.)
3. Bar scene: anything downtown caters mostly to students so check it out if that's your thing; for a more 'adult' experience you could try Big Grove in Iowa City (south of downtown on Gilbert St.) or either Reunion Brewery or 30Hop or Backpocket in Coralville (require driving or Uber).
Be aware that the area will be very crowded (of course) for the whole weekend and sit-down restaurants will be overfilled with long wait times. In 2016 two of my Michigan roommates came for the game and we waited 75 mins. to be seated for dinner.
If you're just hungry and don't care about sitting down and making a production of a meal, I'd recommend either carrying out from Oasis on Linn St. (best middle eastern food in the upper midwest) or assuming you have a car, drive over to the east side of Iowa City to Jimmy Jack's Rib Shack on Lower Muscatine Ave. Fantastic ribs, smoked chicken and the best cornbread!
Let me know if I'm missing something that you're looking for--Iowa City is a great road trip and Kinnick is a wonderful venue (other than the home team juju). Go Blue!