5 Reasons to Move to Council Bluffs, IA
From free public Wi-Fi and fun community events to outdoor activities, there are a plethora of reasons to relocate to the region.
From free public Wi-Fi and fun community events to outdoor activities and historic and artistic exhibits, the region boasts a long list of positive qualities that retain residents and attract visitors. Eager to learn more? Here are five reasons you should move to Council Bluffs, IA.
In This Article
1. Free Connectivity in Council Bluffs, IA
Last year marked a major milestone for BLink, a free community Wi-Fi network for Council Bluffs Community School District (CBCSD) students and city residents. Its coverage area measures more than 20 square miles, reaching more than 40,000 people in all CBCSD buildings as well as many neighborhoods and outdoor spaces. And it’s still expanding: It’s currently being rolled out to the city’s Lewis Central Community School District.
2. Outdoor Offerings in Council Bluffs, IA
No matter the season, there are outdoor activities aplenty here. Hit the links at one of the handful of local fairways in the spring – there are also courses for mini golf and disc golf – and during the summer, take in a performance at Stir Concert Cove, a 4,000-guest venue that brings in performing acts in a variety of musical genres. Ditmars Orchard & Vineyard is the perfect autumn apple-picking spot, and while there, visitors can enjoy a glass of apple cider, hard cider or wine made with the orchard’s fruit. Just 20 minutes outside the city, Mt. Crescent Ski Area offers affordable skiing, sledding, snowboarding and lessons from December through March. And, throughout the year, explore the region’s more than 40 miles of hiking and biking trails.
3. Plenty of Fun in Council Bluffs, IA
There’s always a party happening in Council Bluffs. Celebrate CB, held in May, is a week filled with community events that culminates with a carnival and parade, and the annual Summerfest at River’s Edge offers family-friendly activities like face painting, pickleball and an after-dark drone light show. During the summer months, Fire Hydrant Parties, where kids can cool off by running through portable splash pads, are held around the city. In the fall, various Oktoberfest celebrations bring out bier, and Winterfest kicks off the holiday season in November with a lighting ceremony and an appearance by the Clauses.
4. Past Tense Pastimes in Council Bluffs, IA
History buffs love the city’s historic locations and museums. Union Pacific Railroad Museum, which is located downtown, offers tours for school-age children and adults. (Who wouldn’t be intrigued by the Scams, Scandals and Railroad Crime tour or the Bespattered with Blood: Death and Medicine on the Railroad tour?) Railroad pioneer Grenville Dodge’s Victorian mansion is also open to the public.
Other great spots to explore include the Lewis and Clark Monument Scenic Overlook, which offers great views of the Missouri River and serves as a tribute to the explorers’ 1804 meeting with the Indigenous Otoe and Missouria tribes. Additionally, the region’s Historic Squirrel Cage Jail is a rare example of a revolving jail from the late 1800s.
5. All About the Arts in Council Bluffs, IA
Pottawattamie Arts, Culture and Entertainment is upping the arts ante in Council Bluffs by strengthening, developing and promoting arts, cultural and historical institutions and organizations as well as activities in the region. Plus, it has formed alliances with performance partners like the Chanticleer Community Theater and Kanesville Symphony Orchestra.
Get to Know Council Bluffs, IA
Want to learn more about living and working in Council Bluffs? Check out the latest edition of Livability Greater Council Bluffs, Iowa.