Home l Lifestyles l Business
& Retail l Location
& Transportation
Government
l Recreation l Community l Education l Healthcare
l Information
Fun
for All
Rockford
offers a variety of family fun and leisure opportunities
Located
about 70 minutes northwest of Chicago, the Rockford region has been
widely recognized for a variety of features since its settlement in
1834 on the beautiful banks of the Rock River. As Illinois’ second
largest city, Rockford offers endless recreational and tourism activities
at its forest preserves, unique garden spots and multiple shopping sites.
With 195 sites totaling more than 6,500 acres, the Winnebago County
Forest Preserve and the Rockford Park District offer countless recreational
opportunities, including picnics, walking, hiking, cross-country skiing,
canoeing, bicycling and horseback riding. Rockford is also recognized
for its stunning garden spots. Among these is the award-winning Anderson
Gardens, a five-plus acre Japanese garden featuring authentic 13th Century
Japanese architecture surrounded by exquisite blossoms and foliage.
Anderson Gardens features a Sukiya-style teahouse and guesthouse, a
five-story waterfall, moon bridge, and the ornamental koi swimming in
ponds encircled with magnificent pines, flowering dogwoods and blooming
crab apples.
Rockford residents and visitors of all ages enjoy Sinnissippi Park,
home of the Illinois State Snow Sculpting Competition and the Holiday
Festival of Lights Exhibition — including the community Christmas
tree. Located on the east bank of Rock River, Sinnissippi Park offers
access to the recreation path system along the river. A lavish tropical
paradise can be found in the park’s greenhouse throughout the year.
Park visitors are surrounded by elegant floral displays, soft music,
and spectacular birds and fish, including four royal mute swans living
in the park’s lagoon.
Klehm Arboretum and Botanic Garden features over 150 acres of extraordinary
plants and trees. This “living museum” of color changes with
every season. Visitors can observe blooming crab apples, flowering perennials
and snow-capped winter evergreens. Butterflies, sculptures, a sundial,
and a maze enhance your garden experience at Klehm Arboretum.
Another recreational attraction is Severson Dells Environmental Education
Center. This natural preserve features 369 acres of woodlands, wetlands
and prairie. A cold-water aquarium and a live indoor beehive are available
for public viewing. The garden houses an exhibit with more than 50 types
of plants specifically chosen to attract hummingbirds and the 17 species
of butterflies living there. A 2/3-mile paved walking trail, accessible
year-round, guides visitors through the woods and near a pond where
deer and native wildflowers are often seen. Three additional miles of
dirt trails wind through the 369 acres of wooded areas and streams.
Featuring 40 acres of woods, meadows, hills and streams in northwest
Rockford, Lockwood Park and Trailside Equestrian Center offers wagon
rides, hayrides and equestrian trail rides. Children enjoy the pony
ring and petting corral – complete with pigs, sheep, goats and
other farm animals. Lockwood Park also provides an observatory sponsored
by the Rockford Amateur Astronomers, Inc.
Additional neighborhood parks, located throughout the Rockford area,
provide recreational paths, playgrounds, tennis courts, ball diamonds,
picnic shelters and more.
The Rockford region offers a wide variety of shopping experiences ranging
from antique shops to farmers’ markets, shopping malls and specialty
stores. An antique lover’s paradise, Rockford really delivers!
Whether you’re searching for furniture, glassware, jewelry, vintage
clothing or collectibles - you’ll find it in one of Rockford’s
30 plus antique stores. If you prefer “outdoor” shopping,
you won’t want to miss the dozens of garden shops and farmers’
markets. Not only will you discover fresh produce, plants and flowers,
but everything from honey and cider to Christmas trees, bird feeders
and delicious baked goods!
Surely, everyone will find treasures at one of the Rockford area shopping
centers. The indoor CherryVale Mall offers more than 115 retailers,
including department and specialty stores, a spacious food court, and
a delightful children’s play area. The outdoor Shops at Edgebrook
offer a variety of lavish items, such as fine jewelry, flowers, apparel,
collectibles, bridal wear and electronics. In addition to these, Rockford’s
specialty shops feature a number of unique products, including handmade
crafts, floral arrangements, Harley-Davidson goods and golf merchandise.
 PREVIOUS
– Government |
NEXT
– Community
|
