# Le Claire

Le Claire is part of the greater Quad Cities area, in Eastern Iowa.

## Understand

Le Claire is a Mississippi River town of 3,765 (2010). It is named for Antoine LeClaire, who developed a large part of the Iowa Quad Cities on property that was given him by the tribes who originally laid claim to it. The town was the head of the Rock Island Rapids, a notorious section of the river that extended as far south as what is now downtown Davenport. River pilots were required to guide river traffic through the rapids, which impacted the early economic life of the town. The rapids were tamed by the development of the lock and dams on the upper river. The town is also the boyhood home of frontiersman Buffalo Bill Cody.

## Get in
### By car

Le Claire is a small town with interstate access. There is no mass transit or any other easy way to access the town. Most of the town lies north of the interchange of Interstate 80 and US Route 67. The exit is right after the Mississippi River Bridge. From the Iowa Quad Cities it is, for the most part, easier to access the town via US 67, which has great views of the Mississippi River. From the north side of the Quad Cities it is easier to use Interstate 80.

### By plane

Quad City International Airport in Moline has non-stop flights from major markets primarily in the Midwest, the South and Southwest United States.

## Get around
### By car

Because Le Claire is a small town it is easy to navigate. Cody Road (US Route 67) is the town's main street and all establishments that a visitor would patronize is either on the street or just off of it. Caution should be excised when driving through the downtown area on summer weekends when many people visit. Traffic will be heavier, although manageable, and there will be many pedestrians. There is also railroad tracks that separate the downtown businesses from a large surface parking lot along the Mississippi River. Even though there are not a large number of daily freight trains on the tracks, caution should be exercised.

## See

* Buffalo Bill Museum, 200 N Cody Rd, ☏ +1 563 289-5580, BuffaloBill@iowatelecom.net. M-Sa 9AM-4PM, Su noon-4PM. The museum commemorates frontiersman Buffalo Bill Cody and contains memorabilia from his Wild West Show as well as antiques and other items of historic interest. It also houses the tugboat Lone Star, which is a National Historic Landmark.
* Mississippi River Distilling Company, 303 N. Cody Rd., ☏ +1 563 484-4342, info@mrdistilling.com. Tours: daily noon-4PM; retail shop: M-Sa 10AM-5PM, Su noon-5PM. The tour includes viewing the entire distilling process, from the cleaning, milling and cooking of the grain, to the fermentation, distillation, blending, aging and bottling of spirits. The tour ends in the tasting room for free samples for patrons over 21 years of age. Tours: Free.

## Do

* Pebble Creek Golf Course, 3851 Forest Grove Drive, ☏ +1 563 332-5072, proshop@pebblecreekgolf.org. 18-hole golf course and restaurant.

## Buy

Downtown Le Claire is home to a variety of small, locally owned shops.
* Antique Archaeology, 115 1/2 Davenport St., ☏ +1 563 265-3939. M-F 10AM-5PM, Sa 10AM-5PM, Su noon-5PM. A former fabrication shop now houses antiques and collectables, a new merchandise store, and serves as the home base for the American Pickers television show featured on the History Channel.
* Artswork, 221 N. Cody Rd., ☏ +1 563 289-3316, deb@artsworkia.com. Tu-F 10AM-5PM, Sa 10AM-5PM, Su noon-4PM. Features fine art, pottery, clothing, and jewelry.
* Aunt Hattie's Fanciful Emporium, 110 N. Cody Rd., ☏ +1 563 289-2228, aunthatties@gmail.com. Features nostalgia items and gifts.
* Dwellings, 101 S. Cody Rd., ☏ +1 563 289-5038, dwellings101@gmail.com. Features a mix of home decor, antiques, and artwork.
* Grasshoppers and the Vintage Vine Wine Cellar, 208 N. Cody Rd., ☏ +1 563 289-4652, info@shopthehop.com. Su-M noon-4PM, Tu-Sa 10AM-5PM. Gifts displayed among antiques and painted furniture. The basement features a variety of wines along with wine accessory items.
* LeClaire Canning Company, 114 N. Cody Rd., ☏ +1 563 265-5226, info@leclairecanningcompany.com. Tu-Sa 10AM-5PM, Su 11:30AM-5PM. Salsas, sauces, spices.
* Mississippi Cottage Antiques, 606 N. Cody Rd., ☏ +1 563 289-1515, misscottageantiques@yahoo.com. Unique antiques, fine arts, and crafts all housed in a 1800s river home.
* Penny Waters Studio, 103 S. Cody Road, ☏ +1 563 289-2504. Home decor, unique gifts, interior design.
* Posh Home, 217 N. Cody Rd., ☏ +1 563 289-4663, fax: +1 563 289-4665, infoposhhome@aol.com. Upscale home furnishings and gifts.
* Primitive Cottage, 127 N. Cody Rd., ☏ +1 563 289-3332. A gift shop with country furnishings and decor.
* Razzleberries, 227 N. Cody Rd., ☏ +1 563 289-2502. M-Sa 10AM-5PM, Su noon-4PM. Purses, bags, jewelry, unique clothing and more.
* Vignettes, 102 S. Cody Rd., ☏ +1 563 289-3428, agtomary@yahoo.com. M-Sa 10AM-5PM, Su noon-4PM. A gift boutique with home decor and gifts.

## Eat

* Bierstube, 1001 Canal Shore Dr., ☏ +1 563 289-2121. M-Th 11AM-10PM, F Sa 11AM-11PM, Su noon-10PM. Authentic German food, sandwiches, soups and a full bar. $6-17.
* Big Dave & Holly's Dairy Sweet, 1204 N. Cody Rd., ☏ +1 563 289-4070. M-Sa 11AM-8PM, Su closed. Home made soup, sandwiches, daily specials and soft serve ice cream. $3.50-6.
* Blue Iguana Mexican Cantina, 201 N. Cody Road, ☏ +1 563 729-1015. Su-Th 11AM-10PM, F Sa 11AM-11PM. Blue Iguana provides a fresh take on Mexican cuisine. $4-30.
* 41.5967-90.34481 Crane & Pelican Cafe and Gift Shop, 127 S 2nd St, ☏ +1 563 289-8774. Th-Sa. Cafe and bar that features comfort food for lunch and dinner served in an 1851 river pilot's home. Antique and gift shops on second level. $25–40. (updated Mar 2023)
* The Faithful Pilot Café & Spirits, 117 N. Cody Rd., ☏ +1 563 289-4156. M-Th 5-9PM, F Sa 5-10PM. Fine dining with a river view; monthly wine dinners. $6-32.
* Happy Joe's Pizza and Ice Cream Parlor, 119 N. Cody Rd., ☏ +1 563 289-3305. Daily 11AM. A Quad City original. Pizza, sandwiches, pasta, ice cream, buffet, carry-out and deliveries.
* Hungry Hobo, 1109 Canal Shore Dr., ☏ +1 563 289-1506. Daily 11AM-8PM. A Quad City original. Sliced and grilled-to-order sandwiches, baked potatoes with a variety of toppings, chef-prepared soups, shredded-lettuce salads, and desserts from The Hobo Bakery.
* Steventon's Restaurant & Bar, 1399 Eagle Ridge Rd., ☏ +1 563 289-3600. Tu-Th 5-9PM, F Sa 5-10PM; Su brunch 10AM-2PM, dinner 5-9PM. Fine Cuisine with a view of the Mississippi River. $9-45.

## Drink

* 129 Coffee, Martini and Wine Bar, 129 N. Cody Road, ☏ +1 563 729-1035, 129coffeeandwine@gmail.com.
* Riverview Roadhouse Bar & Grill, 701 N. Cody Rd., ☏ +1 563 289-9969. Bar & grill.
* Wide River Winery, 102 N. Cody Rd., ☏ +1 563 289-2509. Daily 11AM. Le Claire Tasting Room where you can sample local award winning wines and keep the souvenir wine glass. $6.

## Sleep

* Comfort Inn & Suites Riverview, 902 Mississippi View Court (I-80 and US Route 67), ☏ +1 563 289-4747, fax: +1 563 289-5535, gm.ia062@choicehotels.com. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: noon. Hotel features free hot breakfast, free wireless high-speed Internet access, indoor pool, exercise room.
* Holiday Inn Express Le Claire Riverfront-Davenport, 1201 Canal Shore Dr SW (I-80 and US Route 67), ☏ +1 563 289-9978. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. Hotel features Express Start Breakfast Bar, high-speed Internet access, business center, and indoor pool.
* Latimer Bed & Breakfast, 127 N. 2nd St., ☏ +1 563 289-5747.
* Super 8, 1552 Welcome Center Drive (I-80 and US Route 67), ☏ +1 563 289-5888, leclairesuper8@gmail.com. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. Hotel features SuperStart breakfast and high-speed Internet access.

## Go next

* Bettendorf and Davenport to the south offer more in the way of night life and bigger city amenities.