Jumer’s Casino and Hotel is one of the premier places to play in Rock Island, Illinois. But if you’re in the area for an extended stay, look beyond just what you will find at the casino. You have a plethora of hot locations to get excited about. So, when you’re in the area, go out and explore.
Today’s post will cover a few popular locations near Jumer’s Casino and Hotel that won’t take too much time out of your day. So, if you’re looking to spend a few hours or even an afternoon away from the casino, today’s list will give you plenty of fine options to choose from.
Ready to see what Rock Island and the area offers besides Illinois casinos? Let’s get started.
Rock Island Arsenal Museum
You’re looking at the US Army’s second-oldest museum right here in Rock Island. The Rock Island Arsenal Museum boasts a compelling story of Rock Island Arsenal and Arsenal Island, covering 205 years of history dating back to 1816.
It’s a fantastic place if history fascinates you or if you’re looking to see one of the largest firearm collections in the nation. Firearms range from the muskets used in the American Revolution to the Battle of Little Bighorn and Custer’s Last Stand.
Oh, and you’ll find more than a few experimental firearms from Rock Island Arsenal’s nearby Rodman Laboratory. If you’re in town between noon and 4 PM from Tuesday through Saturday, Rock Island Arsenal Museum is a must.
Quad City Botanical Center
The Quad City Botanical Center boasts the most breathtaking outdoor gardens and displays in the area. It’s a family-friendly experience that also serves as a fine educational tool. If you’re on the road with your family, be sure to stop here when you’re not on the floor at Jumer’s Casino.
So, if you need to recharge your mind and body from all of the gambling at Jumer’s Casino, immerse yourself in nature here. Go ahead and learn the names and functions of the area’s plant life or even some wildlife. And if you’re in town during one of the major holiday seasons, they decorate the center accordingly. You’re in for quite the show if you’re in town in December!
Mississippi River Visitors Center
The Mississippi River Visitors Center is, in part, a lock and dam. And many may not find this location attractive. But hear me out on this one, because it’s one of those gems you will find fascinating.
You will head out to the center and head onto the top deck. From there, you can watch the barges as they pass through the locks. This is a great attraction if you’re coming in from an area lacking a river, giving you a solid idea of how the lock and dam operation works.
But the visitor center also has a few displays inside, so it operates like a small museum—one of which displays a graphic of all the lock and dam locations on the Mississippi River. The graphic also shows differing elevations to bring the barges to the dam level.
Reviewers on TripAdvisor have also stated that they enjoyed the trip to the Rock Island Arsenal when they visit the Mississippi River Visitors Center. It’s one of the area’s most historic locations,. So, if you’re looking to take an afternoon off, why not visit both?
Hauberg Museum
You’re looking at a smaller attraction, so it won’t take you all day to get through this museum. The property features Native American artifacts from the Sauk Tribe, Fox, and Black Hawk tribes.
The museum provides an excellent experience of a year within the life with the tribe. Reviewers on TripAdvisor have raved about the knowledgeable staff, attention to detail, and the overall interactive experience you will get.
If you’d like an educational experience regarding the area’s local tribes, this small and vibrant museum has what you’re looking for. A few reviewers have even stated they also pack this museum wall to wall with interesting artifacts, including a model of what the area looked like when the tribes inhabited it.
You’ll find the museum on the banks of the Rock River and near the confines of a park. Reviewers have cautioned that you must go out of your way for a visit, but it’s more than worth doing so.
Whitewater Junction
Whitewater Junction is a fantastic waterpark in the area to frequent if you are on kid watch while the rest of your travel group is having fun with Jumer’s casino games. It’s an easy find in the area and both admission and food prices are affordable, so you don’t need to go out of your way for lunch.
Reviewers have cautioned that the place will get busy, so it’s best to go early when it opens if you’re looking for a good place to sit and avoid the crowds. It’s not the place to relax and unwind but rather for the up-tempo group looking to embrace the park’s water activities.
Sunset Park
Looking for one of the area’s finest hidden gems? Sunset Park is where you will find it. You’re looking at a fine spot for walking, snapping pics, and interacting with tourists from all over the country. A few reviewers on TripAdvisor often state Sunset Park is rarely crowded because even most locals aren’t aware of its existence.
More for you, right? It’s a great place for a walk or a run, and an even greater place to catch stunning views of the sunset right on the lake. Given the number of walkways, you can go for a long walk, hike, bike ride, or run. So, in the warmer months, it’s a phenomenal place to burn some much-needed calories.
The park puts on family gatherings like reunions and other events. Plus, its picnic and play area will make it a hot location to frequent if you’re looking for a few outdoorsy options outside the casino.
Mississippi River Lock and Dam No. 16
This is the first lock built on the Mississippi River and it’s an excellent place to take a tour and get a behind-the-scenes look on how the lock and dam industry operates. Best yet, if you didn’t hit the jackpot or win anything of value at Jumer’s Casino and Hotel, there’s no need to worry. They offer free tours here.
And if you took a trip to the Mississippi River Visitors Center, chances are you will have already spotted this attraction. And reviewers on TripAdvisor will tell you how deceptive these two attractions are, as I noted earlier in the post.
Since it’s the lock and dam industry, you will walk in thinking you’ll be in for a half-hour tops. Wrong. Most reviewers have stated that they spend between one and two hours at this magnificent attraction. Best yet, they have also stated how well the place caters to both children and adults.
If you’re looking for yet another family-friendly activity when planning your casino trip, head over to the Mississippi River Lock and Dam No. 16.
Rock Island Arsenal
On the National Register of Historic Places, Rock Island Arsenal remains the largest government-owned arsenal on an island known as—you guessed it—Arsenal Island. The 946-acre location is always a hit with those coming in from out of town, and it’s a must-see if you’re in the area to visit the lock and dam.
You’ll find many historic buildings at the site, including arsenal factories, the lock and dam, original bridge sites, the Davenport House, and so much more. It’s a history lesson worth taking the time off for if you need a break from the casino floor or if you’re just in the area.
Explore the Attractions Near Jumer’s Casino and Hotel
Jumer’s Casino and Hotel is one of many gems in the Rock Island, Illinois, area. And as you can decipher from this list of eight hot locations, none of them will take all day to explore unless you’re looking to explore the arsenal museum, island, and locks on the same day. That’ll take a few hours.
Most of what you see up here are also family-friendly. So, if you’re on kid-watching duty, far from the casino floor, you can take the entire family to almost every one of the above attractions.
Have you been to Jumer’s Casino and Hotel? If so, did you visit any of the surrounding attractions on this list? Did you go anywhere not mentioned? Let us know in the comments and tell us about your experience. We’re looking forward to hearing your stories.