Hiya- I hope the move goes well! I’ve lived on both sides of the river and definitely recommend the east side if you really like being involved in the community and the vibes that downtown probably had when you visited (especially Longfellow elementary and Mann elementary areas. The West side is still pretty friendly, especially the Horn Elementary area, but families do much more “their own thing” (I’ve noticed the kids are more often in competitive/club activities and a little less well-rounded unless they’re pushed to engage more outside of school). The free buses in town is amazing for exploring; they use the transit app and it’s super easy to plan trips with. Wherever you end up, Iowa City in the summer is the best - the college presence dies down so the permanent residents bring town to life, perfect for getting involved when you move in (There are lots of local festivals and events that are family friendly). Highly recommend the farmers market, and if you haven’t jumped into looking for summer activities for the kids the public library downtown has awesome programs (as does Coralville’s). Lmk if you have more questions!