Live the Valley

The Waterloo-Cedar Falls metro region of Iowa, also called the Cedar Valley, is what you might call a Midwest oasis. Comprising six counties in northwest Iowa, this gem of a region is home to Waterloo, Cedar Falls and a collection of standout communities. Together, these communities provide residents with a thriving arts scene, fun family-friendly activities, an exciting nightlife, exquisite eateries and a list of must-attend concerts and festivals, among other things.

Residents of the Cedar Valley enjoy an excellent quality of life, and that includes plenty of recreational opportunities. More than 100 miles of trails exist, including the popular Cedar Valley Nature Trail that offers beautiful views of the Cedar River and rolling prairie land. Also available to residents are state and county parks, several public golf courses and a hockey rink that schedules many open skating opportunities.

The economy here is also strong, with multiple sectors experiencing success. That includes advanced manufacturing led by companies like John Deere, TriMark Corp. and Bertch Cabinet, and insurance and financial services led by CUNA Mutual Group. Other sectors are fintech, IT, app development, aerospace, logistics and higher education.

And when the weekend rolls around, you’ll find plenty of exciting things to do, from fine dining to fun festivals. Great events to attend include the Sturgis Falls Celebration, Fredericksburg Dairy Days, New Hampton Heartland Days and the Waterloo Open pro-am golf tournament. Also, on the Fourth of July, Celebrate Indee in the city of Independence is a nationally recognized event, known as one of the best places in the region to catch fireworks.

Livability Live the Valley is sponsored by Grow Cedar Valley and the Cedar Valley Regional Partnership.