Mount Vernon and the Region

In Mount Vernon, quintessential small town life moves to a modern beat. Here you'll find tree-lined streets, Victorian homes with big front porches, friendly residents, and cute kids walking to school. You might even join them on the playground as part of our popular Lunch Buddies program, or for winter sledding down Third Avenue -- better known as Pres Hill.

You'll also discover a thriving local art scene and an eclectic variety of businesses in our historic and happening downtown.  Whether you're in the mood for gourmet coffee, tasty food, imported gifts, or a great movie, you're likely to find pleasant surprises here. You're also bound to meet some of the creative folks from many places and backgrounds who've chosen to live here.

Mount Vernon lies in the midst of Iowa's Cultural Corridor. In May, the uptown streets become a palette for inspired art during the annual Chalk the Walk festival. Meanwhile, the farmers' market and community theatres thrive.

And if you think Iowa is flat as a pancake, think again. Mount Vernon sits atop a large hill and is surrounded by the rolling landscape that made Grant Wood famous. And five miles away you can climb or hike the limestone bluffs of beautiful Palisades-Kepler State Park.

Need more nature?
Lake MacBride and the Coralville Reservoir offer boundless water and woodland opportunities just 10 miles away.

Need more sports or entertainment?
Iowa City, thriving home of the University of Iowa 20 miles south, offers many opportunities for young people.

Need more shopping?
Coralville's Coral Ridge Mall is one of the largest in the Midwest, and Cedar Rapids boasts many additional options.

Need a big city outing?
Chicago is just four hours east.  Minneapolis, St. Louis, Milwaukee, and Kansas City are all within five hours.

Want to know what students do for fun off campus?
Read "Beyond the Hilltop" for some tips, written by Blake Rasmussen '05 in 2006.

And check out these sites for more information:
Mount Vernon-Lisbon Tourism  
Mount Vernon Chamber of Commerce   
Cultural Corridor    Iowa City    Cedar Rapids