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Rockford is the third-largest city in Illinois, set on the Rock River about 90 miles northwest of Chicago. Founded in 1834 at a rock-bottomed ford on the river, it grew into a major manufacturing city known for furniture, machine tools and later aerospace parts. Its many tree-lined streets earned it the nickname Forest City.
Today Rockford has about 145,000 residents and is best known for its outstanding gardens. Anderson Japanese Gardens is considered one of the finest Japanese gardens in North America, with ponds, waterfalls and a teahouse, and the Klehm Arboretum and Sinnissippi Park's rose garden add more color. Nicholas Conservatory on the riverfront has tropical plants and a lagoon.
The city also has strong museums. The Burpee Museum of Natural History displays Jane, a young Tyrannosaurus rex, and the Discovery Center Museum is a large hands-on science center. The Tinker Swiss Cottage, a Victorian home built over a creek, and Midway Village Museum preserve local history, while the Rock River Recreation Path offers miles of riverside trails.
Often ranked among the best Japanese gardens in North America, this 12-acre garden has waterfalls, koi ponds, stone paths, a teahouse and carefully pruned pines. It is beautiful in every season, especially autumn. Allow about an hour, and visit on a weekday morning for quiet.
A modern glass conservatory on the Rock River with a tropical plant collection, a lagoon, outdoor gardens and the nearby Sinnissippi Park. It is among the largest conservatories in Illinois. It is a pleasant warm stop on cold days and admission is affordable.
A free formal rose garden in Sinnissippi Park on the Rock River, with thousands of roses, a lagoon and a greenhouse nearby. It is part of the Rockford Park District's riverfront gardens. June and early summer bring the best blooms; walk from the Nicholas Conservatory.
A 155-acre arboretum and botanic garden in southwest Rockford with labeled trees, themed gardens, a children's garden and paved paths through rolling woodlands. It is lovely in spring blossom and fall color. There is a small admission fee; allow an hour or two.
A natural history museum on the Rock River famous for Jane, a young Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton found in Montana, plus exhibits on Native Americans, geology, the coal forest and local wildlife. It hosts the PaleoFest event each year. It is great for children; allow two hours.
An art museum in the Riverfront Museum Park with collections of modern and contemporary American art, outsider art and photography, plus changing exhibitions. It is one of the larger art museums in Illinois outside Chicago. Combine it with Burpee and Discovery Center next door.
A hands-on children's science museum in the Riverfront Museum Park with more than 250 interactive exhibits, a planetarium and an outdoor science park. It is designed for young kids and school-age children. Allow two to three hours, and consider combo tickets with the Burpee Museum.
A Swiss chalet style house built in 1865 by Robert Tinker on a limestone bluff over Kent Creek, with original furnishings, a spiral staircase and painted ceilings. Guided tours show the Victorian interior. Gardens and a suspension bridge are outside. Check tour times in advance.
An outdoor history museum on Rockford's east side with a recreated early 1900s village of homes, shops, a school and a hospital, plus an indoor museum about Rockford's industrial history and the Rockford Peaches women's baseball team. It is open seasonally; allow two hours.
A lavish 1927 atmospheric movie palace downtown with Spanish and Italian decor, a starry ceiling and a theater organ, now hosting Broadway tours, concerts, comedy and symphony performances. Even a show you are lukewarm about is worth it to see the interior. Book ahead.
Rockford's downtown on both banks of the Rock River has restaurants, breweries, bars and shops in restored historic buildings, plus the summer City Market on Fridays. The riverfront is good for a stroll. Parking is easy, and many events take place in warm months.
A paved multi-use path along both sides of the Rock River through Rockford, linking downtown with parks, gardens and the Nicholas Conservatory. It is flat and popular with cyclists, runners and walkers. Bring a bike and connect with other regional trails heading north.
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