Burn Calories, Not Cash

Do you need a getaway, but don't actually want to leave town?   Hartman Reserve Nature Center is the place for you!!!

Photo by RMHL2012

Hartman Reserve Nature Center is a 300 acre wooded "wonderland".  It is located right between Waterloo and Cedar Falls in the middle of town.  Yes, that's right, in the middle of town!!  Weird, right?!  You certainly no longer feel like you are in town once you enter this wooded "wonderland".

I have been to Hartman Reserve Nature Center many times since moving to the area.  New discoveries make each visit better and better.  I never get sick of this place.  It is so peaceful.  My hike today was near perfect.  It was a beautiful Fall day with temperatures in the lower 60s. With the 1st of October being tomorrow, the leaves are just starting to change colors.  This place is going to become even more beautiful in the upcoming weeks with leaves changing and making their way beneath hikers' feet.

I personally enjoy hiking on the walking trails that Hartman has to offer.  Here are a few other things you can do at Hartman's:

• Snowshoeing
• Geo-caching 
• Mountain Biking
• Cross-Country Skiing
• Bird Watching
• Fishing

The nature center also has an Interpretive Center where you can learn more about what the center has to offer.


Hartman's offers both public programs and school programs.  I am excited to check out the Halloween Hikes next week!  (October 8-10)

Words cannot even describe how beautiful Hartman Reserve Nature Center is.  I promise it is worth your time to check out!  I'd love to hear about your experience!

Not Your Average Cup of Joe

Looking for a morning pick-me-up?  A study spot?  A place to relax?  The CedarValley is home to many coffee shops- Starbucks, Cabin Creek, Caribou, Sidecar, Cottonwood Canyon.  Each shop offers a variety of products, some more uncommon than others.  However, none of these coffee shops offer such charm and character as Cup of Joe.

Photo by MookieLuv

Cup of Joe is a one-of-a-kind espresso bar with a 1950's flair, located  in Cedar Falls at the corner of 1st and Main.

What makes Cup of Joe so charming?

• 1950's flair
• Vintage furniture
• Board games
• Direct trade, fair trade, organic and shade grown beans      
• Proud supporter of local food sourcing-Hansen's Dairy products are used in drinks
• Local musicians provide entertainment every Thursday and Saturday evening
• Support of charitable organizations
• A green certified business
• Remarkable customer service

What's even better than the Cup's charm?  THE DRINKS and THE FOOD!

Each time I go to Cup of Joe, it takes me about 5 minutes (at least!) to decide what I want.  There are SO MANY yummy options to choose from.  Yesterday, I opted for the Pumpkin Spice Latte and a Carmel Apple Cinnamon bar.  YUM! It was the perfect  combination!  Cup of Joe never has the same selection of food day-to-day.  In the mornings, they have a selection of quiche, muffins, cinnamon rolls, biscottis, etc.  Then, as the day goes on, they swap out for some sweet treats.  They have a variety of cookies, bars, cake, cheesecake, etc.  Some of my favorites are: Oreo cheesecake, Ho-Ho bars, and the bar pictured above.  All of their food is made in house from scratch!  They even have vegan options!  As for the drinks,  Cup of Joe has over 15 years worth of experimental recipes!! You are sure to leave with your taste buds more than satisfied!!  I usually choose a drink off of the chalkboard.  The chalkboard contains their current "spotlight" drinks.  Their current spotlight drinks feature Pumpkin Spice Latte, Carmel Apple Cider, Sugar-Shack Mocha, and Cable-Knit Chai.  I love the creative names they come up with for their drinks!  I have had 3 of the 4 on the current board.....they were all delicious!       

Are you hungry yet?  If you haven't already, check out Cup of Joe.  You certainly won't regret it!!  

Do you have any favorites from Cup of Joe?  I would love to hear about them!! 

Eliptigo GO!

Check out this funky looking.....bike?!?  What is this you ask??  It is called an Eliptigo.  Runner's Flat, on Main St. in Cedar Falls allows you to rent an Eliptigo for a whole day!!  For a low price of just $20 (plus tax), you can take this baby out on a stroll around town!  You of course do not have to go on a whole day excursion to rent these!!  Runner's Flat has 4 different Eliptigos to rent.  You can call ahead and reserve them to ensure your rental at your specific time/date.  Otherwise, rentals are based on a first come first serve basis.  

My friend and I rented 2 Eliptigos last week.  We had SO MUCH FUN!! Runner's Flat is at a convenient location in which you can hop right on the bike trails out behind the shop.  We ended up riding for 3 hours!! Time flew by!  You definitely have to get used to riding the Eliptigo.  Once you get used to it, it is quite comparable to riding a bike.  It's all about balancing your center of gravity.  You do have to take turns a little bit wider.  Also, make sure to keep both hands on the handlebars at all times while in motion.  After a little bit of practice, you get going so fast that you kind of forget that you are even standing!  I absolutely recommend giving the Eliptigo a try! 

EXPLORE ON!

Welcome CedarValley Dwellers!

Hello!!

Welcome!! Are you new to the Cedar Falls/Waterloo area? Are you a college student?  Maybe you have lived here for years, but are just looking for something new to do on a Friday night?  Well then, you are in the right place!!

Photo by David Wilson

I LOVE the Cedar Valley (That's Cedar Falls/Waterloo in case you didn't know. :)) area!! I have now lived here for 5 years and counting.  I don't know about you, but I LOVE exploring.  Over the past 5 years, I have discovered many "hidden treasures" that the Cedar Valley has to offer.  

Each of my blog posts will highlight a location/place in the Cedar Falls/Waterloo area that I consider to be a "hidden treasure".  I hope to provide at least one, maybe even a couple posts each week.  The objective of each post is to hopefully expose you to a new place that you have never been to.  I will post A LOT of photos and videos to provide a very visual representation of my adventures.  After reading my posts, I hope that you too will check out the many"hidden treasures" that the Cedar Valley has to offer.    

EXPLORE ON!