DOG-FRIENDLY PARKS IN CEDAR RAPIDS, IA

Cedar River meanders through Iowa's second-largest city, where 137,000 residents occupy rolling terrain in the state's eastern region. Continental climate brings temperature extremes—winter lows around 11°F with 33 inches of snow, humid summers climbing into the mid-80s—across four distinct seasons. Devastating floods in 2008 reshaped downtown development and flood control efforts. Agriculture, manufacturing, and insurance drive the economy in this regional center where Midwestern work ethic and practical values remain strong despite ongoing demographic change.