A member of the Quad Cities quartet, Moline in Rock Island County, Illinois sits between the Rock River in the south and the great, flowing Mississippi in the north. Oozing an innate small town charm, the historic Moline (from the French word moulin meaning ‘mill town’) is all about a booming economy, a lively dining and music scene, and stunning walking and cycle paths all along the Mississippi River. Victorian architecture, shiny, big tractors, picnic-worthy parks and gardens, a great dining scene, and the iconic John Deere Pavillion showcasing the region’s agricultural history - all make Moline explore-worthy. Here are some amazing things to do in Moline, Illinois.
1. Explore Victorian architecture at Butterworth Center and Deere-Wiman House
The founding father of Moline, John Deere’s son built both Swiss-style Deere-Wiman House and Butterworth Center–the former his home and the latter a wedding present for his daughter. Two unique features of the Victorian Butterworth Center is the pipe organ (probably one of the largest residential organs in the Midwest), and the library, complete with an 18th-century Italian ceiling painting. Tours of the Deere-Wiman House offer glimpses into Victorian family life and architectural innovations, with particular points of interest being a Kimball pipe organ in the library, and a multi-nozzle spa shower.
Butterworth Center and Deere-Wiman House
Address:1105 8th St, Moline, IL 61265
2. Have a picnic at Ben Butterworth Parkway
Go picnicking at the beautiful 50-acre (20.2 hectares) Ben Butterworth Parkway. Located right alongside the flowing, mighty Mississippi River, the acres of green space has a paved trail for biking, running, and walking as well. Carry a picnic basket with your choice of knick-knacks, food, and drinks and head to one of the stunning shelters in Ben Butterworth to have a lovely day out in Moline, enjoying the sights. However, please make note that you need to book the shelters in advance.
Ben Butterworth Parkway
Address: 3000 River Dr, Moline
Website: Ben Butterworth Parkway
Opening hours: 6am - 11pm (daily)
3. Eat a delicious Mexican meal at Restaurante El Mariachi
Good meat, a host of peppers, garlic, onion, cilantro, and tomato are what most Mexican meals contain - its how you use them that makes the difference. This is evidenced by the lip-smacking meals at El Mariachi, which will transport you straight to a Mexican village, featuring fresh, everyday homemade soups, entrees, sauces, chips, and tortillas. Dig into the Super Burro with the Salsa Ranchera sauce and flavour-bursting Carnitas (seasoned fresh-pulled pork) in the form of Tostadas, Quesadillas, and Enchiladas. Sip cool margaritas with your meal, for it isn’t a Mexican meal without a margarita!
Restaurante El Mariachi
Address: 1317 15th St, Moline
Website: Restaurante El Mariachi
Opening hours: Tue - Thu: 11am - 9pm; Fri: 11am - 10pm; Sat: 9am - 10pm; Sun: 9am - 8pm (closed on Mon)
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4. Tour the wonderful John Deere Pavilion
Get behind the wheels of innovation and explore the 180-year-old history of the John Deere Pavillion, a vision of blacksmith John Deere who employed his knowledge and skills to revolutionise farming in the region. Sit in the cab of some of the man’s biggest machines - dozer, combine, tractor - and learn all about their building and movement and how they’re changing lives across the world. What’s more, you can even test your skills in state-of-the-art simulators!
John Deere Pavilion
Address: 1400 River Dr, Moline, IL 61265, USA
Website: John Deere Pavilion
Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 9am - 5pm; Sun: 12pm - 4pm
5. Enjoy cruising with Celebration Belle
The 800-passenger riverboat of Celebration Belle is how the Quad Cities are showcased to the world. Part of the Quad City river cruises which were the brainchild of entrepreneur Joe Schadler, the Celebration Belle is the Upper Mississippi’s largest non-gaming riverboat excursion. Indulge in all-day cruising along the stunning and mighty Mississippi, where you’re also offered breakfast, lunches, dinner buffets, afternoon snacks, and on-board entertainment as well.
Celebration Belle
Address: 2501 River Dr, Moline
Website: Celebration Belle
Price: See website
6. Hike through Sylvan Island
If you’re an outdoors person, go hiking at the lovely, abandoned industrial spot of Sylvan Island, a 1.2-mile (2 km) urban multi-use trail system running across and around the stunning 35-acre (14.1 hectares) huge Sylvan Island Park. Located in the Mississippi River/Sylvan Slough, the hiking trails on Sylvan Island vary in degrees of difficulty and feature elevation changes as well, making hiking not only challenging but fun, too. Public restrooms are available across the river.
Sylvan Island
Address: 1st Ave & 2nd Street, Moline
Website: Sylvan Island
7. Stroll around Prospect Park
If strolling in a lush-green, 100-year-old park is your thing, then visiting Prospect Park while you’re in Moline is a must. The 1889-built verdant, wooded space not only has a 2.1-mile long (3.4 km) walking trail, but it also has a pond (fishing permitted), numerous benches for resting after a stroll or simply taking in the sights, a disc golf course, a gazebo, a fishing dock, a playground, a sheltered picnic area, and even the Quad City Music Guild!
Prospect Park
Address: 30th Ave, Moline
Website: Prospect Park
Opening hours: 6am - 11pm (daily)
8. Relish organic food at Barley & Rye Bistro
The innovative Barley & Rye in Moline has a seriously solid dedication to local, sustainably grown foods, changing lunch and dinner menus with seasons and their best produce. Start off with appetizers such as brisket poutine, hot fried chicken pickles, and move on to delectable entrees like the ever-popular burgers, Waffle and Chicken Sandwich, Port Wine Duck Burger, and the Grass-fed Lamb Philly Sandwich. The restaurant is also known for seafood specialities as well as a great wine list.
Barley & Rye Bistro
Address: 1320 5th Ave, Moline
Website: Barley & Rye Bistro
Opening hours: Tue - Wed: 4pm - 10pm; Fri - Sat: 4pm - 11pm (closed on Sun & Mon)
9. Tour the Center for Belgian Culture
Posted by Center for Belgian Culture on Sunday, 17 March 2019
A fascinating fact about the Quad Cities of Moline, East Moline, Rock Island, Bettendorf, and Davenport is that they once boasted of the largest Belgian population in the US. Today, Moline and the other Quad Cities still rank second in the entire country for their Belgian heritage. The Center for Belgian Culture showcases the same proud, preserved heritage, encouraging relations and ties between Belgians in the Quad Cities and everywhere else. They even organize monthly Belgian waffle breakfasts at the Friends Circle Club Hall!
Center for Belgian Culture
Address: 1608 7th St, Moline
Website: Center for Belgian Culture
Opening hours: Wed, Fri - Sat: 1pm - 4pm (closed from Sun - Thu)
10. See the green spaces at Riverside Park
Riverside Park is Moline’s very first all-inclusive park and perfect for an evening stroll after a day of exploring Moline. Formerly a run-down Quad City Park, Riverside Park was revived as an all-inclusive playground, giving all kids the chance to play together. Apart from pretty, green spaces, the park also features water fountains, picnic shelters for a day out in Moline, fishing and swimming opportunities, as well as areas for sports such as tennis, volleyball, baseball, and even ice skating. If you have kids, grab some toys such as balls and bats and head to Riverside Park for a fun day out in Moline.
Riverside Park
Address: 3300 5th Ave, Moline
Website: Riverside Park
Opening hours:6am - 11pm (daily)
11. Relax at Stephens Park
Don’t let Stephen’s Park’s seemingly small urban trail system fool you. The verdant park features a 1.7-mile long (2.7 km) trail network and some lovely woods, making Stephen’s Park a great place to spend a relaxing evening in Moline after all the walking and the exploration. The park also has many other amenities such as basketball courts, sand volleyball courts, playgrounds, and even baseball fields so you can even grab a game with your friends first, take along a picnic basket, and make a day out of it.
Stephens Park
Address: 7th St & 15th Avenue, Moline
Website: Stephens Park
Opening hours: 6am - 11pm (daily)
12. Enjoy live music at Bierstube Moline
If you have a hankering for German beer and sausages, Moline serves it up to you in the most authentic way in Bierstube, an authentic German-American bar and grill services sandwiches, sausages, ales, and more. The place boasts of a 2,500 sq. feet (232 sq. metres) huge Biergarten and a whopping 37 draft beer lines, apart from delicious food including German speciality meals and homemade sausages. Try the Corned Beef Rueben, the Hawaiian Chicken Salad, and the many, many beers they have to offer.
Bierstube
Address: 415 15th St, Moline
Website: Bierstube
Opening hours: 11am - 3pm (daily)
13. Grab a cocktail and some bar chow at Hollar's Bar & Grill
For American favourites with a tasty twist, head to Hollar’s Bar & Grill, complete with a full bar stocked with the best beer, wine, and more. Hollar’s Bar and Grill not only boasts of an extensive menu but also great cocktails and other fresh alcoholic drinks and a good karaoke as well. Choose from the many daily specials or go in for some all-time classic favourite dishes such as chips and salsa and mozzarella sticks. Hollar’s even offers you the choices of enchiladas, burgers, salads, and making your own wrap. With so much choices of food under one roof, Hollar’s Bar & Grill is where you need to head to when you’re hungry!
Hollar's Bar & Grill
Address: 4050 27th St, Moline
Website: Hollar’s Bar & Grill
Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 11am - 2am; Sun: 11am - 12am
14. Have a drink at Pub 1848
If you want to let your hair down and have a good time after a tiring day of exploring Moline, head to the best bar around the Quad Cities - Pub 1848! If you’re in Moline on a Sunday and can belt out decent tunes in public, Sunday karaoke nights at Pub 1848 will fetch you a free shot for every time you sing! The pub also features an amazing selection of craft beers for all those beer fans out there, and great drinks such as the Gosling ginger beer and Moscow mules, which seem to be house favourites. Pub 1848 certainly shows you how to have a good time!
Pub 1848
Address: 1601 River Dr #106, Moline
Website: Pub 1848
Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 3pm - 3am; Sat - Sun: 12pm - 12am
15. Try Italian dishes at Johnny's Italian Steakhouse
Indulge in your craving for Italian food at Johnny’s Italian Steakhouse, located in the heart of Downtown Moline. A Rat Pack-era ambience is what Johnny’s has come to be known for, as well as serving delicious seafood dishes, Italian food, and even steaks. Don’t miss checking out or sitting at the stunning wraparound Blue Bar, which has the distinct Sinatra-esque touch to it. Overall, Johnny’s Italian Steakhouse is both sophisticated and affordable, oozing a celebratory atmosphere that will certainly prompt you to let your hair down.
Johnny's Italian Steakhouse
Address: 1300 River Dr, Moline
Website: Johnny’s Italian Steakhouse
Opening hours: Sun - Thu: 11am - 9pm; Fri - Sat: 11am - 10pm
Marvelous Moline
It might look like Moline lacks attractions, but the charming, typically American town has a lot to offer. Head to Moline to experience it and everything that it has to offer.
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