The Fantastic Escape

(9 reviews)

7.3 mi

Excellent customer service. Fun game. Only played a regular escape room, "Case Files." If we had…read moremore time we would have tried a virtual one and laser tag.

I cannot express how amazed I am. The staff was extremely friendly and they seemed to truly enjoy…read moretheir job. I did the pirate escape room and it was challenging and hod some the most unique puzzles I have ever seen. Never have any of the other rooms had challenges that required skill and aiming, all the other ones I did were just puzzles of mind. I am hyped to go and do the other ones. There is one main item that I think would be nice to have there. The item I would add is to have a small section where candy bars and chips are sold. Overall though I could not be happier!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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The Fantastic Escape

(7 reviews)

14.3 mi

Definitely one of the best escape rooms I have ever done. The ambiance is great. The staff are fun…read moreand they really help you focus on the actual puzzle solving with just the right amount of guidance (e.g. indicating parts of the room that may be decorative, instead of you pulling the carpet up and everything off the walls). I also felt like the puzzles were good and avoided being "find the pad lock combo somewhere else in the room ad nauseum."

This was amazing. They walk you though and help you if you need it though the puzzle. Recommend if…read moreyou have 3plus people. Teamwork for sure and is very fun. We even made the leaderboard. They point out stuff you won't use which is helpful. Really enjoyed this experience. Everyone in our group got something to solve which was nice.

Winnnn!!

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Cryptiq Escapes

26.9 mi

A group of 8 of us visited Cryptiq on a Thursday afternoon as a coworker team building activity…read more All eight of us could have played one room, but I divided our group in two and chose Hotel Hostage and Parole Denied. We all had a great time. One of the owners was present and got us checked in. Super friendly. My team's Game Master, Payton, was awesome. They have 4 escape rooms to choose from with varying levels of difficulty. Not sure how often the themes change, but if you've played all four I'm not sure you'd be a repeat customer. I've only been to one other escape room prior to this, so not a lot to compare the experience to. I'd definitely return to Cryptiq to try some of the other rooms. Clean establishment, aesthetically pleasing. I like that the owners chose some Hawkeye themed colors and decor. A nice activity to have in Iowa City. A team-building/family/friend activity I highly recommend.

Great addition to the escape room stock in Johnson/Linn counties! My group has done most of the…read morerooms in the area and were excited to see another option pop up, but held off for a while because of the pandemic. Very happy that we finally decided to go. We chose to try Parole Denied, a well put together prison break story. While many are an hour in length, this room is slightly longer at 75 minutes. We were impressed by the variety and uniqueness of the puzzles, they kept us engaged and on our toes the whole time. This room required some serious teamwork, and it made it so much more enjoyable when we got out! Everyone was masked up and it didn't detract from any part of the experience. We're already planning a return trip to try another of their rooms.

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Grandmas heirloom

Escapology Escape Rooms Cedar Falls

4.3

(6 reviews)

53.3 mi

Such a great family activity while on vacation. It was very challenging but fun!!! We would go…read moreback again if we lived closer.

They held a second grade birthday party they scared the heck out of all the kids. They claimed it…read morewas age appropriate. It was not.

Arizona Shootout Room

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Bustout Live Escape Game

2.2

(12 reviews)

67.5 mi

This was my second time attending an Escape room type of place. We really enjoyed it both times,…read morehowever this establishment is not nearly as clean, well maintained or professional as the other one we played at. While we enjoyed the challenge and the game, the overall atmosphere was definitely a let down. The rooms we unkempt and sloppy, with an over all unprofessional 'trashy' appearance; cobwebs, dirt and debris in the floor, unfinished walls, scratched dirty paint, musty smell...The clues and puzzles were about the same as the previous place I played at, however the room decorations here were minimal, broke down and bare. It should also be noted that you actually need to leave the facility, go down a dark and unlevel hallway (think, trip hazard) to get to a bathroom in a different facility (the laundry mat). In addition to this, the staff on duty appeared to be bored and uninterested with no desire to engage except for the necessary bare minimum required to explain the game. All that aside, I think the Room Escape experiences are good ones, and if this is the only option available to you, then I guess it would be better than nothing. I enjoyed the 'bonding' experience of attempting to solve the puzzle with my husband.

This was my first time trying it. We went with a group of 8 and it was really cool. I think for the…read morearea this one is fine. I know a lot of people say he ones in Chicago are cooler but this is the quad cities, not Chicago. Price does seem very steep though for this area at 25 bucks a person. To me that is more Chicago prices.

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Hidden Barn Escape

67.4 mi

This was a great time. My son invited some friends for his birthday celebration. They solved the…read morepuzzle! Neat rooms with lots of cool and challenging ideas to find the clues to solve the puzzle. They have 3 different themed rooms. The based on The Office they customized based on if you are familiar with the show. I would highly recommend this business for a fun time. It would be a great team building event, as it really helps to work together.

From the owner: Our rooms are fully owner created and original! We love to mix things up and add twists to our…read moreescape Rooms. We specialize in mind games and love to change things up often!

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Factory of Fear

4.7

69.4 mi

Had a great time with some friends here. Had heard good things about the place from some classmates…read moreand decided to check it out. Blew me out of the water! Walked in and was greeted by some phenomenal people working the ticket booth. Their energy was very inviting. The haunt was amazing, very well detailed and a lot of work put into the place. They aren't very tall person friendly but they do put pool noodles on the top of the walkways that people could hit their head on. Absolutely would recommend to others. Heard that the owner is a great guy as well.

Actors hit you with the different angles and scream loud AF, the loudest I've ever heard someone…read morescream, but it still didn't scare me cuz I'm deaf cuz of years of DJing, producing music, and playing flamenco guitar. Also, IDGAF so it doesn't matter. It's a very fun filled house if you're in the area with nice room details.

Inside the haunt: It comes from below

Inside the haunt: Mama knows best

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Inside the haunt: A shot looking down the hallway in Nurse Reckoning's home for wayward girls

Escapology Escape Rooms

6.9 mi

This was the best escape room I've been to! Puck was so knowledgeable and fun helping us out with…read moreour hints! We did the Arizona Shootout (group of 4) and loved working together to make it out in time. We will definitely be back! Tip: Tuesday's are 50% off!

Lake Macbride Boat Rentals

3.7

(24 reviews)

15.9 mi

My coworkers and I visited Lake Macbride ~6:30PM on a Tuesday. Great service from this family run…read morerental company! They had plenty of pontoons available, and we selected the deluxe for a quick 1-hour trip around the lake. They were clean, well maintained and easy to operate. The employees answered all out questions and quickly taught us how to operate and what to avoid around the lake. The boats hold up to 8 people at $75 per hour (deluxe with plush seats), and there's a cheaper rate for the fishing boats. Great way to relax for our first time out in Iowa!

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Palo Beach

4.3

9.2 mi

Beach Playground…read more Boating Bird watching Winter drives and watch wildlife They have swings for adults Take a folding chair and blanket and chill ... Heard fishing good

Clean, clean , clean and lots of nature's offerings!!! My sis brought me here with the chillins'…read moreand 'twas a good time to be had by all. A boy plucked a fish about 10" long out of the water w his bare hands and a beaver made a cameo appearance trying to find his way to (I'm guessing) his 3 o'clock appt in the woods? This ain't Coney Island!!! ps- LEAVE YOUR ANNOYING CELL PHONES AT HOME.

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AirFX Trampoline Park

3.7

(38 reviews)

4.0 mi

We've come for 5 years and have always had a great experience. The owner (or manager) is amazing…read moreand has come to me of her own volition to ask me how she could improve the space to be more inclusive of neurodivergent kids. Never has this ever happened in any other establishment. We also had 2 birthday parties there that both went great! The party hosts are proper hosts, super helpful and attentive. If you are a parent of young kids you know how crucial having that help is. All the staff knows my son by sight and are always welcoming and really tolerant and patient with my AuDHD son who constantly runs into every place he isn't supposed to. We feel like family here. I haven't gone on a hectic day (intentionally) so I can't speak to the rule enforcement on those days, but I can say that I have seen the strictness vary depending on the vibe, age, and amount of kids there. I appreciate this because it's annoying to have to parent other people's older kids around safety if they are being too rowdy around the little ones. They're all still just kids, though! The only improvement they could make is adding a slide or 2, but maybe that is in the future! Who knows! The most important thing to me is the intention and advocacy I have seen in management. Keep it up!

Had the best birthday party experience here for our besties 5th birthday. We had a two hour party…read morewindow which included an hour of free play, pizza party, private party area, setup/clean up and access to everything. They have a fun little kid zone for toddlers under 48". Trampolines, games, foam pits, ninja warrior style obstacle courses, lots and lots to do for all ages. (Parents included) The service and team members were wonderful and friendly. I would highly recommend for your event or just a fun family friendly night out.

Inside

Cafe

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North Liberty Pool

3.3

(4 reviews)

19.0 mi

I would like to preface this review with a statement I heard my six-year-old exclaim upon the ride…read morehome from the North Liberty pool. "Mom this is the best pool I have ever been to, My expectations were shattered and I had the most gratifying experience I have ever had at an aquatic center" On a more personal note, I can attribute the saving of my marriage to the incredible staff at the pool, the way they were watching my child while he swam rekindled my love for my family as I saw the love the guards had for the other patrons. My child had had always been troubled and I admit that I did do a great job of disciplining him, however the swift responses by the guards when my sweet boy stepped out of line were magnificent and forever changed his attitude towards authority. The only complaint I can ever possibly think of would be the concessions stand lack of soft serve ice-cream and the indoor pools lack of a hot tub, however the pool's temperature is always at an acceptable temperature so that doesn't seem to be an issue. Although the pool does not have a hot tub, the other amenities more than make up for it. The slides had my children in utter elation after their first ride. We had just finished planning out trip to Disney World, but after our trip to the pool our children insisted that they had already been to the happiest place on earth. We immediately cancelled our plane ride and plan on coming back daily. The diving boards were like no other we had ever experienced, and the ropes felt like an excursion through a tropical rainforest. Finally, the bucket. Let me tell you about the bucket. There we were, waiting as the bucket filled with water. As it started to tip, I could feel the fear, joy and excitement coming from my kids' minds. After the many gallons of water rushed over our heads, I actually had become younger. I am convinced the water at this pool comes from the fountain of youth. Another lifechanging experience I had at the pool was when my mother passed out in the parking lot, a lifeguard sprinted over, backflipped over the fence, and immediately, with just their presence, resituated her, and healed her broken hip, she also appeared much younger. The incredible management at the pool is easily seen with their swift response to any and all complaints, even those coming from the Facebook group "North Liberty Moms" Which if I am being honest, paints the picture of the pool and their staff in an unaccreted and unfriendly light. The PH level of the pool is so incredible, I thought I was swimming in filtered drinking water, the water felt refreshing on my skin and took away all my wrinkles. Strangely enough the scar I had had since a child miraculously healed with just two minutes in the water due to the pools incredible healing properties, and the incredible watchful eyes of the lifeguards. I could write a book about all the incredible experience I have had at the pool. however, my kids are already begging to go back so I must leave now to take them, even though it will be a long three-hour drive.

North Liberty - Rec Mgr. Please hire more ethnic teens and young adults to balance the over…read moreabundance of White youth and young adults to work as lifeguards . When you have some many adversary white families that don't get monitored when " their children bully and antagonistic to the minority / ethnic children" it only a time when a parent will chastise that child when it's the Rec Mgr. / and attending Lifeguards on duty responsibilities to keep water safety . They doing a great job but they turn away their face to the obvious tension and don't follow through to either monitor that said " children are with a guardian!" And prevent the bullying of children in the pool. We are a sensitive community with diverse communities and we cherish our neighbors and desire our children to continue to play together in harmony.

The Fantastic Escape - escapegames - Updated August 2026

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Excellent customer service. Fun game. Only played a regular escape room, "Case Files." If we had…read moremore time we would have tried a virtual one and laser tag.

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Old MacDonald's Farm

4.7

Old MacDonald's Farm is donation-based petting zoo is a good way to entertain young kids for 30…read moreminutes to an hour without spending much. With a suggested $1 donation per person, visitors can step into the goat and pig pens to feed, pet, and interact with the animals. Feed is available for just 25 cents per small handful. In the back area, you'll find ducks, with pictures identifying males and females. It operates seasonally, opening in early May and closing near the end of September, so be sure to check their website for current hours and information. When we first arrived, some animals, like the bunny, pigs, and goats, were asleep, but my son still enjoyed seeing and identifying them. Young kids (3-5 years olds) can also enjoy riding and racing small tractors. While the number of animals is limited, it's an affordable way to experience farm animals. Watching the ducks was my favorite part, while my son loved seeing the goats bump heads up close. It could use some updates in certain areas, but given its affordability, I'm grateful that the Cedar Rapids Parks & Recreation Department continues to run the petting zoo. I hope it remains accessible to visitors for years to come.

We LOVE this place. Perfect for toddlers. It's pretty small and not a lot to see. But if you have…read morevery young kids who want to walk around and try their mini tractor/tricycles and pet a chicken... it's just perfect. It's right next to (or part of?) a large pond area with ducks and a walking path.

Cedar Rapids Bowling Center

4.1

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This has been and always will be the best place to bowl in Cedar Rapids! It had been a few years…read moresince I had gone bowling and a group of friends and I decided it was time! I believe they are still the cheapest to bowl in the area and not only that but drinks and food are pretty cheap too!! This is such a great place to bring friends and family!

This bowling alley in Cedar Rapids is very fun to go to. They have light-up bowling after 9pm with…read moremusic which is very awesome. My 13yr old daughter loves this bowling alley also. About every other time I go bowling at this bowling alley, my bowling lane tv screen (which counts points) messes up, but the people working always get it fixed fairly quickly. Good variety of ball sizes to choose from to bowl with. Food selection is good as well. There is a large selection of traditional bowling alley fried foods (fried cheese curds, fried pickles, fried mozzarella cheese sticks, etc...). This bowling alley is adjacent to the sand volleyball courts, which are fun to watch or participate in as well. The Cedar Rapids Sports/Social Club hosts a lot of summer and winter events (including bowling). At this bowling alley, I usually get a pitcher of Big Grove's Arms Race craft beer to drink with friends as we bowl. The atmosphere is classically sophisticated with an air of the 80s. Great Bowling Alley!

Cedar Rapids Municipal Golf Courses

4.0

Ellis gold course I think it's the best public golf course in the Cedar Rapids area, Nice views,…read moregood greens, well maintained course. There is a few water hazards, and can be a challenge for the begineer.

NewBo Run Half Marathon & 10K

This is one of the best races you'll ever run, in my opinion. I can't speak to the Half Marathon,…read morebecause I'm not there yet, but I did the 10K and I absolutely loved it! We registered online - I for the 10K and my friend for the Half Marathon. The prices were incredibly reasonable, especially if you signed up before the price increase. Since we came from out of town, we booked a hotel room nearby and the rates for that were affordable too and there are Airbnb options, as well. You could pick up your packet the day before or the day of, which made it convenient. We picked ours up the day before so we could be ready and spend some time in the NewBo City Market while everything was open. It's a great way to promote the area. Everyone congregated outside the NewBo City Market before the race and we were directed to walk about a block down to the Start. The race started on time and started early enough that it remained relatively cool throughout the course. I was also impressed that they'd coordinated with the trains so that we wouldn't be cut off during the event. That's some A+ planning right there! The 10K course was nice. There were some inclines that made it a little challenging but it mostly felt flat and fast. Every mile was marked and helped me keep pace. This is also chip timed, so you get the gun time and the chip time at the end. I especially liked that it went along trails and not so much neighborhoods with blocks, so I didn't spend too much time fixating on how far I'd gone or had to go. The After Party was one of the larger ones I've been to. We were handed our custom ceramic medals at the Finish and could grab some water before checking out the vendors. Rustic Hearth Bakery had Pretzel Rolls, another nearby restaurant made Breakfast Burritos (I had 2! Delicious!), and you could grab Cherry Kolache or Blueberry Kolache. There was free beer provided by NewBo Beer & Wine but they ran out of the free beer by the time my friend finished the Half Marathon, so we missed out on that and ended up having to pay the $6 for pints of their other offerings. We checked out the NewBo City Market again and walked around the NewBo Fest to see what the artists had on display. Overall, it was a day filled with fun and I would do it again!

Matsell Bridge Natural Area

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Unique park within the Linn County Conservation system. A little tricky to navigate with little…read moresignage, no main location, and no maps readily available (I relied on offline hiking app maps), but there appear to be at least 4 trail options spread throughout the nearly 2000 acre area. There's a boat launch, equestrian trail and campground, primitive hike in cabin and river-side campground, and a shooting range. The pit toilet near the cabin is pristine. I didn't see any other people in the nearly 2 hours I spent wandering around. Very peaceful. I want to come back and explore more of the area and maybe spend the night in the campground.

New and very accessible does require a fee payment per person or you can get a yearly pass for a…read morediscount if you visit often

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