Sick of people saying this. Iowa City is not a world class city. Period. Iowa City is a backwater.
It's population is extremely white. "street music downtown" and "dozens of clubs and events" is a complete given in most major US cities and the only reason you would think that is special is if you have never left the midwest.
The city is ugly and has literally no public transportation. It is extremely car-centric and you will be constantly battling traffic if you are crazy enough to bike. ( People will be aggressive and not respect you )
It's culture reflects the rural trump-land small towns that surround it. Good old boys People walking around in full camo after going hunting over the weekend.
edit:
Also: Iowa is ugly and there is nothing to do there. You can find somewhere cheap in Colorado or Oregon and have the option to go hiking and skiing.
In Iowa, you have absolutely BRUTAL winters and nothing to do outside the entire year anywyay. Unless you find walking next to high-ways flanked by corn-fields with no sidewalk a great natural experience.
No; I think its enough for one person most of the time. I can participate in the activites, or I can go home to my house in the country 10 minutes away. There is a new downtown transit center with a very convenient bus system. Bike lanes and paths have been created everywhere.
And yes its a mixture of cultures; that's kind of the point. You can run to Silicon Valley and hide among your own brogrammer tribe, or you can go somewhere and meet different people
And thanks for promoting the idea that Iowa is ugly; keeps folks away which is nice. Right now we're in fall color; I hiked along the river this weekend and it was gorgeous. Can spend an afternoon at the lake with the cousin if I can wrangle an invite, or go to the public access. Camping, canoeing. The best secondary road system around, with thousands of miles of countryside biking opportunities.
Not everybody likes all these things; some folks want only the bright lights and noise. But I add my 2 cents to round out the discussion.
It's population is extremely white. "street music downtown" and "dozens of clubs and events" is a complete given in most major US cities and the only reason you would think that is special is if you have never left the midwest.
The city is ugly and has literally no public transportation. It is extremely car-centric and you will be constantly battling traffic if you are crazy enough to bike. ( People will be aggressive and not respect you )
It's culture reflects the rural trump-land small towns that surround it. Good old boys People walking around in full camo after going hunting over the weekend.
edit:
Also: Iowa is ugly and there is nothing to do there. You can find somewhere cheap in Colorado or Oregon and have the option to go hiking and skiing.
In Iowa, you have absolutely BRUTAL winters and nothing to do outside the entire year anywyay. Unless you find walking next to high-ways flanked by corn-fields with no sidewalk a great natural experience.