I need information on Cedar Rapids, Iowa. DH is flying in next week for his second face-to-face so I now have to face the fact that this might be happening.

Anyone familiar with the area? Fabric shops, quilting shops, cross stitch shops, fabric shops, quilting shops, etc.

Here in NE NC, I am in the middle of the desert as far as retail. My closest Joanns is 1hr20min away. The nearest fast food (NONE in our county) is 25 min away. No place has pizza and there are only two restaurants in the entire county and they are both closed on Mondays.

One of things I really miss about Indianapolis is that I had 4 Hobby Lobbys, 4 Joanns - including a Etc., 4 Hancocks, and lots of independent shops. Now I have nothing - even all of the Walmarts have taken out their fabrics.

So I guess I am going to come to terms with moving again. Oh well, at least it is only 7 hours away from Indy, instead of the 17 we are now.

Thanks for any help you can give me.

Cedar Rapids is within short (less than an hour) driving distance of Cedar Falls, Iowa City, the Amish Colonies, etc. The one shop I've been to is Pine Needles. The are wonderful people and very helpful and the shop is gorgeous!

Someone from that area will fill you in more but personally I love that area.

Well, you will be closer to me, lol!!!!!
I have only been to Iowa a few times, but I really love it. Very nice people. Just wanted to say, Good luck!

My son lives in Cedar Rapids and works at the hospital there. You will like the area. It is close to big cities, but has a small town atmosphere. I am in Ames (about 2 hours away). Cedar Rapids is a beautiful place and close to the Missississi River area. Industry is good for jobs and plenty of quilting and craft shops. Anything else? Welcome to Iowa (smile).

Iowa has wonderful quilt shops all around. There are shop hops that come into Minnesota and Nebraska. Also it is very friendly. I am from Minnesota but have been to many shops in Iowa.
Good Luck

It's a nice town, but after the flood of 2008 I'd want to look for a house on a hill!

You will be welcomed into Iowa with open arms by the quilters. I am in South Dakota, both of our to older teens we are raising have gone to school in Iowa. Blessings

My son used to live in Cedar Rapids and we would visit often...they have a wonderful Pine Needles Quilt shop along with a couple Hancock Fabric shops when I was there last. He was transfered up to northern Iowa, so get to see him more often, but do miss all the great places to go out to eat and things to do around there. Marion, IA is what I would call a suberb of Cedar Rapids, and they had a great Quilt shop along their main street too. So I am sure you will find lots of great places to buy fabric. Good luck to you both! Claudia

I don't know the area, but I wanted to wish you good luck on your move! I hate moving, myself, so I wanted to send good thoughts your way!

Short note here "Amish Colonies " (non existent) - It is the Amana Colonies (our family is from there). It is about 25 miles from Cedar Rapids. The Amana Colonies consists of seven villages. Amana has a super great quilt shop - Heritage Designs. There also is another shop. Unfortunately I am a Heritage Designs fan and haven't been to the other one. But there is another one in the Colonies. And while you are at the Colonies, try some wine samples, check out the lace shop, the Broom and Basket Shoppe (all brooms and baskets made there), the furniture shop and the Woolen Mills, not to mention the Bakery in Middle Amana.