In summertime, Iowa City sponsors weekly live music downtown, and year-round renowned poets, writers, artists, historians, scientists, and others speak or perform at university or local venues. 

Excellent public schools, comfortable neighborhoods, and a highly educated population mean that Iowa City frequently appears high on “best-place-to-live” rankings in national publications. The nearby countryside, scenic state parks, and the Iowa River provide many opportunities for walking, biking, kayaking, and boating. Twenty miles north is Cedar Rapids, Iowa’s second-largest city, home to the Eastern Iowa Airport and a population of about 120,000. Chicago, St. Louis, Kansas City, Omaha, and Minneapolis/St. Paul are within a half-day's driving distance.