Exploring the Quad City Along the Mississippi River
Hey there!
So, I had this work thing near Davenport, IL, and you know me, I couldn't pass up the chance to explore a bit around the Mississippi River and the heart of Davenport. It was that lovely springtime weather – not too hot, just perfect with a nice, bright sun shining down. I waited until late afternoon, thinking the light would be just right and the shadows wouldn't be too harsh for some good views.
Getting downtown was a breeze, no traffic jams at all at that time. But guess what? When I got closer to the river and the spots I wanted to check out, there was construction everywhere! They had fenced off the whole area, so getting to the river was a no-go. They even closed the SkyBridge, which I was actually really excited to see. So, all I could do was wander along the fence, hoping I could get to the river on the other side. And yay, I did! The river is seriously huge in this part – it felt more like a giant, flowing lake. The other side looked so far away! And the bridges? Wow! They're such beautiful pieces of work, connecting both sides and the neighboring states of Illinois and Iowa. I stumbled upon this outdoor amphitheater, a really pretty limestone structure that's both a memorial and a place for fun. It's called the BIX Memorial. Right behind it was the Centennial Bridge, the one I mentioned earlier. I snapped a few pics and then just strolled along. While I was there, I even saw some pelicans flying around the river. It's pretty amazing how those birds have adapted to living around people.
My little adventure continued north to where the Celebration Belle is docked. It's a touristy paddle boat that takes people for rides on the river. My wife and I actually did that trip maybe twenty years ago – it was super interesting and we learned a lot!
The Celebration Belle and the Mississippi River Bridge nearby were the last stops on my little outing. This place is really something special, with its own story and some lovely architecture. It's definitely one of those spots I'll always want to go back to!
