Welcome to my fantasy summer

There’s a certain kind of summer that doesn’t show up on Instagram stories. It lives in quiet moments, on bikes, with lemonade, within the community and during long afternoons that feel unhurried. The sun lingers long past dinnertime and laughter echoes like a mixtape on rewind. I found this in the Quad Cities (QC) where slow living isn’t just an aesthetic, it’s our rhythm.

My summer smells like river air and grilled corn, sounds like cicadas and cassette tapes, and moves at the pace of a slow car ride while admiring the reddish sunset. It’s my 1980s fantasy summer.

Moving like it’s 1985

There is a kind of movement that only occurs in the summer. It’s not hasty or fast. It captures the beauty of the unhurried glide of a bike along a quiet trail, the soft dip of a paddle in still water, the slow movement of a ferry across a river. That beat comes naturally in the QC. There is no need for a destination. Just follow the wind, the sun and whatever comes next.

Biking along the Mississippi River carries that perfect mix of sun, sweat and summer grass. You’re not commuting, you just glide. The world blurs as trees whip past and the sunlight dapples through their branches. Maybe you’re listening to Fleetwood Mac, or maybe you’ve left your headphones at home just to hear the click of the gears, the rhythm of the tires on pavement – symphony of peace.

And then there's the Channel Cat Water Taxi, the QC’s hidden gem of public transportation. It’s more than a boat and more like a secret passage. You board at Riverbend Commons, and suddenly you are crossing the Mississippi feeling the breeze as the skyline shifts behind you. It’s like discovering a ferry ride in a forgotten travel guide.

I sometimes long for more solitude. I can’t help but rent a kayak and take it to the Rock River. Out there it’s just me and the current. It’s peaceful – almost meditative – the kind of solo adventure that rewires your brain. You paddle past banks overgrown with green, herons stalking the edges, dragonflies darting through golden light. The river doesn’t ask you to hurry, it just wants us to be present.

The soundtrack of the summer

Every great summer has a soundtrack, not just the songs on your playlist, but the sounds that define the moments. Laughter during a riverside concert. The crack of a baseball bat. The splash of water skis cutting across water. My mixtape of the summer never seems to go out of style in the QC.

On the riverfront, it’s not uncommon to stumble across a free summer concert, locals spread out on lawn chairs, sipping lemonade, kids dancing in mismatched shoes. The water sparkling behind the stage while swallowing the sun setting. No ticket needed, just time and joy.

Then there’s the unmistakable energy of a River Bandits baseball game. You don’t even need to be a sports fan; you just need to love the atmosphere. Something is so unapologetically retro about it: the bleacher seats, the excitement and the smell of popcorn in the air. It's like the ’80s again – all-American, all summer and completely unforgettable.

For a splashier entertainment and more Midwestern charm, check out the Backwater Gamblers water ski show. Yes, real people doing flips and forming pyramids on water skis. The show is pure spectacle and the music is part of the fun; upbeat, cheesy, full volume fun. Think Footloose, “Music Sounds Better With You” or even a little Beach Boys for good measure. It’s a show where you’ll clap hard — and sunburn just a little.

Taste of the season

Summer doesn’t just look or sound a certain way, it tastes like something too. Summer tastes fresh. Summer tastes organic.

Every Saturday and Sunday, the QC Farmers’ Market and the Freight House Farmers’ Market bloom like gardens. Early risers stroll with coffee in hand and canvas totes slung over their shoulders, pausing for strawberries, honey, flowers and handmade soap.

Something makes it feel like a sacred ritual; the clink of produce being weighed, the crunch of a pickle sample, words floating around through the morning air. Everyone’s a little sun kissed, a little sweaty and entirely content.

Little adventures, big vibes

Things unfold at a lovely pace. When the sun slips away and the world begins to glow in new ways, nothing is better than catching an outdoor movie at The Last Picture House. Even the name feels like a scene from an old movie, poetic, slightly faded, impossibly romantic.

The projector flickers on. Laughter, adventure and heartbreak on the screen, and you are surrounded by strangers sharing a collective breath. Then the movie ends, you carry something with you besides the plot; the feeling of having paused time.

Own the QC

The QC doesn’t demand attention, it invites it gently, patiently like a friend saving you a seat on the bench. It isn’t built for checklists. It’s made for authentic moments, simplicity, reality and richness that feed the soul.

So whether you are here for a day, a season – or maybe even the next four years – let yourself wonder: What if this is home?

Because it’s definitely mine.

Schedule your campus visit and feel the sincerity of life in the QC!

Imagine yourself here. Stay. Let it become your summer too.