Looking for a fun and diverse getaway not too far from Chicago? Just 90 miles northwest of the Windy City lies Rockford, Illinois—a vibrant town brimming with unique attractions and activities. Whether you’re into exploring world-class gardens, delving into fascinating museums, or enjoying serene parks, Rockford offers something for everyone. This post will guide you through 15 must-see spots that showcase the best of what this lively city has to offer. From historic sites to outdoor adventures, get ready to discover why Rockford is a perfect destination for your next trip!
1. Severson Dells Nature Center
8786 Montague Rd, Rockford, IL 61102
Nature Center: Mon-Sat 8-4:30; Trails & Playscape open daily sunrise-sunset
Free
http://www.seversondells.com
Severson Dells is a serene 369 acre preserve featuring a nature center, 5 miles of trails, and The Grove Nature Playscape. If you’re looking for longer hikes, Severson Dells also connects to Howard Colman Hall, Funderburg Forest, and Colman Dells preserves. There are always tons of programs and events going on here for the whole family!
2. Atwood Park
2685 New Milford School Rd, Rockford, IL 61109
Park open daily 8am-10pm; Atwood Center open Saturday 10am-2pm
Free
https://atwoodpark.org
Atwood Park is full of unique and interesting things to see! The highlight to many people is the Atwood Center and its birds of prey. The birds are housed in an outdoor “treehouse” that you can visit whenever the park is open. There are also weekly public bird feedings every Saturday at 1pm. Beyond the Atwood Center, there is much to explore of the former Camp Grant- there are training bunkers, part of the old rifle range, and more. Atwood is also popular with mountain bikers and has a great variety of trails.
3. Klehm Arboretum & Botanic Garden
2715 S Main St, Rockford, IL 61102
Open daily 9am-5pm (last entry 4:3)
Adults $10; Seniors, Students, & Kids 4-18 $8; Kids under 3 Free
https://klehm.org
Plant lovers should definitely spend a day at the Klehm exploring all the botanical wonders it has to offer. The arboretum and botanical gardens offer a diverse collection of trees, shrubs, flowers, and more from around the world. There is a great children’s garden, lots of smaller themed gardens, peaceful water features, a large collection of rare trees, native prairies, and seasonal displays.
4. Tinker Swiss Cottage Museum
411 Kent St. Rockford, IL 61102
Tours Tues-Sun at 1:00 & 3:00
Adults $9; Seniors $8; Kids 6-17 $5; Kids under 5 Free
http://www.tinkercottage.com
The Tinker Swiss Cottage was once the home to Rockford businessman Robert Tinker. Inspired by his travels to Europe, the home is designed in a Swiss cottage style. A guided tour of the home will introduce you to the unique blend of Victorian and Swiss designs of the cottage. The grounds are also worth a walk, and you have to check out the suspension bridge Tinker himself designed. The Tinker Swiss Cottage also offers ghost programs in the fall, for all you spooky friends.
Rockford Reading List
Looking to learn more about Rockford? We put together a list of over 30 books to supplement your visit!
5. Discovery Center Museum
711 N Main St, Rockford, IL 61103
Tues-Sun 9:30-4:30
$10, Kids under 1 Free
https://www.discoverycentermuseum.org
The Discovery Center Museum is a hands-on science and children’s museum. There are two floors full of activities to do and learn from. There’s a large outdoor playground, exhibits about space, health, the environment, a large kids town, water play, technology exhibits, and so much more. We went with our nephew who’s 1 ½ and while there was plenty for him to do, a lot of the exhibits would be better for elementary aged kids.
6. Rockford Art Museum
711 N Main St, Rockford, IL 61103
Thurs-Sun 10-5
Free
https://rockfordartmuseum.org
Note: As of writing this post, August 2024, the RAM is currently closed for renovations and will reopen in late fall this year
The Rockford Art Museum (RAM) offers two floors of rotating exhibits. This free museum is small, but a treasure nonetheless. The permanent collection holds over 2,000 works and there are also always temporary exhibits too.The RAM often hosts educational programs and special events, so make sure to check the calendar when planning your visit.
7. Burpee Museum of Natural History
737 N Main St, Rockford, IL 61103
Mon-Sun 10am-5pm
Adults $15; Kids 4-12 $13; Kids 3+ Under Free
https://burpee.org
The Burpee Museum features dinosaurs, fossils, geology, anthropology, wildlife, and more! The most famous inhabitants are triceratops Bucky and young t-rex Jane. This museum is great for the whole family- there are a variety of exhibits and interactive activities. They also commonly offer educational programs and special events.
8. The Norwegian
1402 N Main St, Rockford, IL 61103
Wed-Sun 7:30am-1:30pm; Thur/Fri/Sat 5pm-9pm
https://thenorwegian.com
Start your day exploring Rockford with brunch at The Norwegian. This is one of the best brunches I’ve ever had! The Norwegian specializes in Scandinavian inspired breakfast food and is also a super charming atmosphere!
9. Nicholas Conservatory & Gardens
1354 N 2nd St, Rockford, IL 61107
Tues-Fri 10-4; Sat/Sun 10-3
Adults $10; Seniors, Veterans, & Kids 5-17 $8; Kids 3-4 $5; Kids 2 + Under Free
https://nicholasconservatory.com
The Nicholas Conservatory is a tropical paradise under glass. I especially recommend visiting in winter- the lush plants and warm tropical area is the best retreat from the cold! Highlights of the conservatory include the orchid collection and butterfly house. There’s also a koi pond, waterfalls, and rotating seasonal displays.
Bonus Activity!
The Nicholas Conservatory is located along the Rockford Public Art Trail. You can sign up for a mobile pass to earn points towards prizes when you check in at each installation!
10. Anderson Japanese Gardens
318 Spring Creek Rd, Rockford, IL 61107
Mon-Fri 9am-6pm; Sat/Sun 9am-5pm
Weekly Rates: Adults $12; Seniors $11; Students & Military $10; Kids 5 + Under Free
Weekend & Holiday Rates: Adults $14; Seniors $13; Students & Military $12; Kids 5 + Under Free
https://andersongardens.org
The Anderson Japanese are known as one of the best Japanese gardens in America. The large garden is filled with beautifully landscaped ponds, waterfalls, trees, shrubs, flowers, and more. There are also several traditional structures such as a teahouse and gazebo. You can easily spend a day here wandering the winding paths and taking in the tranquil atmosphere.
11. Frank Lloyd Wright’s Laurent House
4646 Spring Brook Road, Rockford, IL 61114
Tours Fri/Sat/Sun (reservations suggested)
Adults $25; Students (7-18) $5
https://laurenthouse.com
The Laurent House is the only home Frank Lloyd Wright specifically designed to be accessible. The original owner, Kenneth Laurent, was a disabled WW2 veteran and Wright tailored his designs to fit Laurent’s needs. Regular public tours are 1.5 hours long and available from April to December. There are also sometimes specialty tours and events where you can learn even more about Wright’s work.
12. Midway Village Museum
6799 Guilford Rd, Rockford, IL 61107
Seasonal hours vary
Main Museum: Adults $10; Seniors & Kids $8; Victorian Village Guided Tours Adults $12; Seniors & Kids $10
https://www.midwayvillage.com
Midway Village Museum offers a deep dive into the history of the region. There are indoor museum exhibits all about Rockford’s contributions to manufacturing, aviation, and the effects of WW2 on the city. Seasonally, you can also visit the outdoor Victorian village, which features 26 buildings including a general store, blacksmith shop, school, homes, and more. Costumed interpreters will help bring history to life, and there are also several popular events such as the annual WW2 reenactment.
13. Rock Cut State Park
7223 West Lane Road, Loves Park, IL 61111
https://dnr.illinois.gov/parks/park.rockcut.html
We have camped at Rock Cut many times over the years and always have a great time there. Besides a wonderful campground, there are lots of activities to do in the park if you’re just visiting for the day. Pierce and Olson Lakes are both popular for fishing and boating. Olson Lake also ha a swim beach (with a $5 admission for anyone over 48″, $2.50 for anyone under 48″, and free for all kids 3 + under). At the beach you can also rent kayaks, stand up paddleboards, and there is a concession stand with snacks and ice-cream. For the hiker, biker, and equestrian, there are 40 miles of hiking trails, 23 miles of mountain biking trails, and 14 miles of horseback trails.
14. Macktown Living History
2221 Freeport Road, Rockton, IL 61072
Grounds Open Daily; Buildings open during monthly events
https://www.macktownlivinghistory.com
Macktown Living History is the site of an early pioneer establishment founded by fur trader Stephen Mack. Today it is a living history site with restored buildings such as the trading post, cabin, school, and more. You can explore the grounds and the rest of Macktown Forest Preserve during daylight hours any day, but to actually go into the buildings you’ll want to visit during one of the monthly special events. Each month there is a different theme to the events such as archaeology, cider marking, fiber arts, and more. The fall Frenchman’s Frolic is also a very popular Rendezvous reenactment event.
15. Historic Auto Attractions
13825 Metric Rd, Roscoe, IL 61073
Tues-Thurs 10am-5pm, Fri-Sat 10am-6pm, Sun 10am-5pm
Adults $28; Senior & Active Military $23; Kids 7-17 $17; Kids 6 + Under Free
https://www.historicautoattractions.com
Historic Auto Attractions is a museum that started as a personal collection. It is much more than just autos, though, there are also collections of Presidential items, TV and movie memorabilia, and much more mixed in with the cars. This is a huge museum with over 80,0000 square feet of exhibits. Historic Auto Attractions can be a bit overwhelming, but is too unique to miss.
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