From the moment you walk in, you feel a sense of peace and calm surrounded by lush greenery, flowing water, and stunningly designed landscapes. Every path leads to something picturesque — from the koi ponds to the bridges and waterfalls, it all feels so thoughtfully crafted. The garden is well-maintained, and it’s clear how much care goes into keeping everything so pristine. Whether you’re looking for a quiet place to relax, take photos, or just enjoy nature, this place is truly a gem.

Experience these gardens as soon as you get a chance. These photos were taken on one of the last days it was open for the season, a day when summer skies shine upon the last bursts of autumn. Stunning, no filters or editing required. Although you pay to enter, the prices are reasonable and parking is free. After you enter, you can enjoy the beauty at your own pace and spend as little or as much time as you want. Highly recommended.

I have not seen other japanese gardens or places like these so i cant make better judgement here. I visited 19 oct 2025. Trees were fairly in color. Not too cold. Wasnt too crowded either. I felt it was small and i was able to completely explore in a little more than an hour. Whole garden is stroller friendly which was nice. It was certainly a beautiful, calm serene place. I will visit again nxt year in spring

I’ve been there twice and it’s very serene there. The scenery is beautiful and when I went recently to see the fall colors it was so peaceful. You can just sit and meditate with peace and quiet. People there are very relaxed and friendly. I would highly encourage you to go there. I didn’t try the food there yet but heard that it’s very good.

What a beautiful place! I decided to spend my birthday (late September) soaking up the tranquility and serenity. This was the perfect place to roam around and enjoy all the beauty. It was very peaceful, and I love that I could take my time around the gardens, and take photos at my own pace. It was so peaceful that I felt like I was the only one there, even though it was a quite busy day. They had a wonderful area where you could eat inside also. I highly recommend adding that to your experience. They have bathrooms inside the building, as well as outside. The property is cared for and well maintained. I'd love to come back again when it isn't so hot! My phone kept giving me warning errors because of the heat, and I couldnt access my camera during those times... that is how hot it was. The heat allowed me to sit in the shade, journal, sip water and enjoy the area with zero distractions 🙂 If you love photography, and serene settings, mixed with a brilliant layout and landscaping, this is the place. Great for all ages! The colors were just starting to change. I imagine it's close to peak by now, if it hasn't peaked already. Can't wait to return. There is a lot that I didn't get to see!

Very beautiful gardens, although I wish it was a bit bigger for the price. Easily traversable in an hour without rushing. I'd like to see less grass and more ground covering plants. It was nice to see some aesthetics I recognized from my time in Japan. The teahouse is beautiful and water features are all very peaceful. It was incredibly crowded for a wedding when we were there within visiting hours, which for me made it less enjoyable because the parking lot was completely packed and many people were there to witness an event and not necessarily to enjoy the serenity of the gardens. I wish they'd hold events like they separate from park hours. (I specifically waited for people to move out of the shore to try and get less people in my photos.)

Great place to hike around and meditate! Yes cover charge,but worth it! One of Rockford hidden Gems! Seasonal operation,and a restaurant to go to after Ward's and concerts in the summer! Put this place on your bucket lists, for me best times to visit may and October!

Great, little museum! They have fossils of ice age animals and dinosaurs. There are some modern animal mounts as well. You can see gem and minerals displayed as well. It's still being set up as of my visit Aug 1 2025 so it isn't a 5 star review yet. Probably a 3 star review however, for what they've done, I'm giving it 4 stars.

🦖✨ Just visited the Burpee Museum in Rockford and WOW! ✨🦕 From walking alongside life-size dinosaurs to watching real scientists prep fossils in the lab — this place is an absolute gem! “Jane,” the juvenile T. rex, was a total showstopper, and the Native American exhibit was both powerful and beautifully done. The museum is super clean, well-organized, and full of interactive exhibits for all ages. I especially loved the live reptiles and the ancient sea displays (seriously cool for both kids and adults). Staff were so friendly and helpful — you can tell they love what they do. :) Plan for at least 2 hours — there's so much to see! Tickets were affordable, and it’s totally worth it. ($15 for adults) IL residents might get a discount. Tip: Wear comfy shoes and bring your curiosity! Highly recommend if you're in the Rockford area. I’ll definitely be back! 🌍🦎💫

I've been coming to Burpee Museum my entire life either with family or for school field trips and it's always been such a great experience. I brought my 2 kids, my niece, and one of my kids brothers Friday afternoon. Everything was very clean and maintained beautifully. There is still a large variety of items, artifacts, fossils, specimens, and more. We were INCREDIBLY lucky and while we were in the Windows to Wilderness room, two of the teen workers (I did not catch their names but they are in the photos or videos attached to this review) came into the room to clean enclosures and ended up getting quite a few of the creatures out for us to see, learn more about, and pet. All the kids with me and myself thought it was the coolest experience we could ever have. This was my neices first time at a museum and I know she'll never forget it. Everyone enjoyed our time there. Thank you SO much! Please let those two kids know that they made everyone's summer with that opportunity, they were both so kind, knowledgeable, great with kids/the public, very polite, and just altogether amazing.

It was my first time visiting this museum and it was awesome! The amount of fossils and dinosaur replicas were my favorite. We went on a Wednesday afternoon and it was nice, quiet and peaceful. Also a great place to learn about the natural history of Rockford and surrounding area. The staff was super friendly and knowledgeable! Highly recommend!!

Was a very lovely jazz and blues concert in the amphitheater behind the museum. There was wine and beer and a food truck. Music was great and the atmosphere was lovely.

We did both the museum and the Haunted Historic mansion tour. The tour guide was AMAZING. She was so enthusiastic and knowledgeable. The house was phenomenal to walk through. I also loved the triceratops room in the Burpee museum. Every adult needs a favorite dinosaur, and this totally tickled me with mine. The love put into this museum is felt by all the guests. It was so cool to see the workers and volunteers interact with the children that were present. Just an all around great night!

Was incredible we did the two guides tours one with Claire for the animal encounters was incredible and she was so informative and nice , stew was very informative and made dinosaur come alive for us as he explained all the ways dinosaur fossils are found and the process.

Very cool lake for fishing, kayaking, boating and sailing. Launch ramps and docks are in very decent shape. Like other reviewers said, only complaint would be the vault toilets. They do need to be remodeled.

Always enjoy my hikes at Rock Cut. The park is beautiful with plenty of bird life to enjoy and relaxing views to sit and enjoy on benches to rest at on our hikes. The lake is beautiful and has rental kayaks. It's a perfect place to relax and enjoy nature. The park is clean and well kept and the snack shop has ample choices to have a snack or a smoothie after your day if hiking or fishing!

Rock Cut SP has so much to offer. It is a wonderful place to spend some time. We camped here for three nights during the last week of June. The people at the permit station were all very kind at check-in and the multiple times we drove thru. There are many campsites available on separate loops. Most, from what we saw, were leveled, and many had a decent amount of shade. Some were wide open and had no privacy. There are also some sites right by the lake. The bathrooms were a disappointment, however. No toilet seats? Just a toilet bowl. The showers were okay, but the shower curtains looked so dirty. The facility itself looked very old and definitely in need of updates and repairs. Also, while there are separate campground loops , there are only two flush toilets/ shower buildings. Driving around the park, we saw many picnic areas and trail heads. There are many benches situated around the lake to sit and enjoy the beautiful views. Near one of the boat launch areas, there is a concession store and cafe. We had great customer service at both. At the café we tried some smoothies, fries, and chicken nuggets. All very good. This park is undoubtedly beautiful. Unfortunately, visitors do not seem to care about it enough. We saw a lot of trash just scattered about. In one area where my husband was fishing, he filled an entire plastic bag with empty bottles he found within just a few feet. Plan to come back and explore some more!

Rock Cut State Park – Illinois Rock Cut State Park offers a solid workout for those looking for a good walk or hike. The trails are well-marked with clear directions, making it easy to navigate. While the park doesn’t have an abundance of scenic viewpoints, there are a few nice spots worth stopping for. It’s a pleasant experience for outdoor exercise and a refreshing nature escape.

Nice campground but watch out for nearby dumpsters! Sites are pretty level and many are shady. Lot of big rigs in the electric loops. Dark and quiet at night at least in our loop. Hiking isn't very challenging but nice trails. Few skeeters for June.

Large state park in Illinois near the Wisconsin border. Water sports rentals available such as paddle boards. Concession building where food can be purchased. Restroom in building and also stand alone. Campground. Hiking trails. Picnic benches.

Beautiful views at this State Park , Entrance is free, They do have a camp ground , trails, fishing pond for kids, and a different area for adults, charcoal Grills picnic tables benches are also available.

First time going today. 5/25/25. Myself and nephew went. $12 a person. Lots and lots to explore! Love the hands on experience. The open floor rooms. It was pretty busy but still had areas where me and my nephew could play and be alone not feeling rushed out of one thing and Into the next. The outdoor playground is cool. Feel it’s a little more big kid related. There are sand zones and rock/construction area that he played in . We spent about 2 hours here. So I definitely feel it was worth the price and had lots of fun! The kid was happy and sure enjoy the nap after! Thanks Rockford discovery center !!

Great museum! Staff are very nice and helpful. It has variety of different displays and interactive activities. It has a big outdoor play area along the lake. My kids love discovery center and we spend almost 5 hours there. Highly recommended.

We have lots of fun every time we go. We enjoyed the new exhibits. One of which is the calm room. My son realy enjoys that space. Thanks for keeping it clean and fun.

I bring my daughter here about twice a month, and it’s always a wonderful experience. The staff are attentive and engaging, the atmosphere is welcoming, and the activities — both indoors and outdoors — provide great opportunities for fun and learning.

We've been members for the past several years. My kids enjoyed so many days playing and learning here. Tons of fun, interactive things for kids of all ages to see and do. I would recommend a membership if you are local and bring the kids often. They have areas for baby on up including an outdoor play area too! I would suggest a weekday morning or early afternoon for the least amount of crowds especially if you have young children.

My kids and I recently attended an event at this museum for cub scouts. It was so fun and the guides were amazing. So patient and accommodating! Will be back for sure!

Such a fun spot for kids! There’s so much to do inside, plus an outdoor playground too. Always a great time. Guarantee a good nap afterward 😉

Always a great time. Good local food, music, beer, and crafts. What else do you need in life??

We went to Bop Bop very nice people. Excellent food. Plenty of seating.

The Edgar Allen Poe speak easy was awesome! The actors did an amazing job it reading the work so you felt the words written so long ago. The cocktails were good too.

We had our wedding reception here and could not be happier with how everything turned out. It was the first place I thought of because of the location, and I'm so glad it all worked out! We had around 175 guests, so I wanted to have a space that allowed people to step outside if they wanted to, so the back alleyway had cocktail tables and a lot of people utilized the space. Maya was great to work with- timely responses, explained everything, leaving no surprises. Even though there was a lot of construction, Maya kept us updated and told us places for guests to park. The location is also a 10 minute walk to Embassy Suites which was very convenient. I'd recommend this venue to anyone.

We really enjoyed the atmosphere, variety of food, drink and gift vendors, and live music! Also nice to take a short walk along the river. Was our first time to Rockford and we really enjoyed the market and would definitely go back!

Went for my first time today love the atmosphere and also lots of good food the pizza, corn, and egg rolls were really good. Will be back next year!!

Fantastic! We were thoroughly entertained. Creative & moving deliveries of Poe’s works. I would’ve changed a few minor things to improve the overall experience, but we would definitely go again!

I will be back so you know its good. Food was very tasty, the while family loved it. I do think the shakshuka should come with another slice of toast. Everyone at the table liked their food and wants to go back. Service was good, but I did not feel the most welcome as I've felt in other places. Could have been an off day, I hope next time I can give them a 5 star review.

Came here with my friend & they said they had tried to eat here about 5 diff times & they never got in! Apparently it's best if u have a reservation🤷🏽‍♂️ Thankfully we just walked in & there was availability it was about 1pm on Friday afternoon😅 I did see at night or late day you'll always need reservation to get in. I liked the decor, there wasn't much room for seating inside & there's an outside area as well which would be nice on warmer nights. I did see smokers🚬 outside so if that's not your thing beware The food was decent & the prices were average for restaurant. Big parking lot in back & I really liked that okay area for toddlers🤗 Kinda have off hippie vibes which I thought was cool & it's a nice area for family, friends, date or even business

Great place, I just happened to be in Rockford, and found this place online, it's a very nice and comfortable atmosphere to be in, it seems to be a gathering spot for neighborhood. I had breakfast, bacon, eggs, smashed fried potatoes, toast and coffee, however all of those items are at above average fare. Great meal, thick bacon, perfect fried potatoes, bakery fresh bread, tasted like homemade jam, and a great cup of coffee.

Oops, we dug into the cake before I remembered that social media eats first... but, honestly, can you blame us? We've been here twice now for brunch, and let me tell you: the food, drinks, and service never disappoint. The mimosa flight? Chef’s kiss. The dessert? I’d fight someone for it. The main course was delicious too, but I unapologetically live for dessert and Sunday brunch mimosas, and this place delivers both like a dream. If you're looking for a spot that hits every mark, this is it.

This place is great! I went for brunch and got the quiche, coffee, and mimosa flight, and the ebleskiver for an appetizer. All of them were fantastic, unique, and delicious. I will definitely return here, one of my favorite restaurants in the area!

Made a short day trip to Rockford to check out The Norwegian. What a delight. I ordered the Sea Bord (gravlax, smoked salmon dip, and pickled herring) and the apple chai latte. So, so fantastic. Tusen takk to the team there!

Food is great! Everyone is friendly! Atmosphere is good too! I highly recommend the salmon and corn cheese chips

Always an absolutely amazing experience. Best Sazerac I’ve had outside of New Orleans and better than any you will find in the French Quarter. Staff is friendly, experienced and down right amazing. Food is insanely flavorful. A one of a kind vibe you either get it….or you don’t.

Great spot for an intimate gathering with close friends. They have a sublime craft cocktail menu, great atmosphere, and friendly/attentive service.

What an amazing experience at this restaurant/bar! Their charcuterie boards were outstanding, and we were all thrilled with our selections. After it, I also ordered the burrata dish, which was spot on. While some dishes weren't as impressive, I was very pleased with my burrata. The cocktails were a hit with everyone in the group.

Everything throughout our entire evening was PERFECT! Food, drinks, service ... EVERYTHING! Thanks for a wonderful experience. I WILL return!

WOW!!! Where do I start. We had been here years ago and loved our experience. So, when the opportunity arose to come back with a group of 4 other couples we gladly did so. Once again, we had such a great experience. It's a smaller bar, nestled in downtown Rockford within walking distance of numerous other establishments. It's warm and cozy atmosphere can't help but put you in a relax mood. They got us sat a little before our reservations and we quickly ordered a plethora of small dishes to share. The charcuterie board was a bit expensive... However, it did prove to be worth it based on the variety of delicious items that came with it. We also shared their take on tacos and fee other items that I didn't can't their names. The drinks were fantastic and the presentation was on point. I had a few old fashions and topped it off by ordering a drink that not only was exceptional.... but the manner in which it was made was awe inspiring. Flames and liquid nitrogen smoked up the room.. We had so much fun and were planning our return before we even had finished our time there.

Stopped in for a drink while in town on vacation. Had some of the NA cocktails which were great. Always nice to see bars have a non-alcoholic option. Ate some of the small plates. All of the food was amazing. Adam was bartending that night and provided excellent service and recommendations. Our whole experience there was fantastic.

Stopped in for a couple (2) of drinks. The cocktails were fine. The atmosphere was nice enough—clean and modern—but nothing particularly special. What really rubbed me the wrong way was the automatic 20% service charge for just two drinks. I always tip accordingly based on service, but this isn’t Chicago or New York. Adding a set service fee here feels unnecessary and out of place. Prices were Chicago-level, but nothing about the experience justified it. I didn’t try the food, but from what I saw at other tables, it looked appealing and well-presented. Overall, decent drinks and atmosphere, but the pricing and automatic gratuity policy will likely keep me from rushing back.

are second time here... wonderful service wonderful food we will be back. I loved the goat cheese rolls I had the beef rib at ravioli.. marvelous.... we will bring friends back next time

We came here for birthday because of a recommendation from a dear friend, and it didn’t disappoint! Our server was Marilyn, who was attentive and friendly, always came checking on us and made sure everything was going great. The foods were delicious, we especially like the duck nachos, very flavorful and tasty. Entrees were great too, salmon was cooked in the way it melted in your mouth. Menu selection might not be extensive compared with others but if you like seafood you should be able to find something you like. We had an awesome dinner. Yes, they added 20% service charge and Marilyn explained it when she gave us the check, which was fine and it wasn’t done sneakily at all, after all their service deserved it.

Confused by the high reviews here, we had the displeasure of dining here last night. New to the area and were looking for a nice higher end place to frequent. Menu is uninspiring and quite confused very bare bones dishes nothing groundbraking here. People saying this is the best food they've had need to venture out more. Ordered the Hamachi, Steak Romesco, and Tiger Shrimp, execution fell flat on all dishes. Hamachi was the best dish we had flavor wise I'll give them that, but the fish was so think sliced it fell apart when trying to wrap up into a bite, not worth the price point of dish for maybe 2oz of fish. Steak Remesco was extrmely rough, "roasted potatoes" were clearly dropped into the deep fryer raw, they were dry outside and undercooked and hard in the middle. Steak was ordered medium rare, came out medium. And the most bizarre of the dish was the half grilled leek, partial root left on, thrown on top. Leeks are delicious when done right, however they're stringy, was pretty difficult to cut the half leek down with the cheao knife provided. Leek was also a bit slimy. Whole dish lacked seasoning. Black Tiger Shrimp was a let down on a simple dish, shrimp was overcooked, pasta was overcooked. Whole dish lacked flavor and there was at least a tablespoon of oil/grease on the plate half way through. Couldn't even get through that one. On a good note server was polite, atmosphere was nice and the drinks were good, maybe this was just a bad night for the kitchen but based on our first experience here last night we won't be back. $200 dollar dinner, not worth half that.

Vibez prob the best thing. I had the steak was definitely more like roast beef. 45$ for skinless baked potatoes and an okay-ish steak. Devils eggs was good 6/10.

Abreo has wonderful artisan cuisine downtown Rockford with friendly staff who are happy to explain their dishes with locally sourced ingredients. The best way to experience is to order a bunch of plates to share. The winter menu had some wonderful choices to satisfy everyone and the drinks were creative with great flavor profiles.

Very enjoyable - beautiful design, friendly service, tasty food. The kitchen is stretching to make interesting dishes and we enjoyed most of them. Duck nachos weren’t really nachos, as the chips were soft from being piled high with toppings, but flavor was great. We ordered all small dishes, with the Asian Noodles the consensus favorite. Leave room for dessert! Recommended.

Fancy but not uppity. Great atmosphere/vibe. Staff is always friendly, helpful and quick to offer suggestions. Nice selection of cocktails, beers and wine. The duck nachos and the butterkase cheese nuggets are a must for appetizers!

Well I got the scallops (they were AMAZING) paid $40 for literally 4 medium large-ish scallops with an okay risotto & NO vegetable. The plate looked honestly kind of sad. If the risotto was really good maybe that would have helped make up for it but it was just okay. I would probably go back it was a nice place but I defiantly wouldn’t order that again! French onion soup was good & very traditional. My honey liked his tavern steak & I likes the Demi glaze it came with. Overall a good experience had to get dessert as there was not enough food on plate & the crème brûlée was perfect.

The service was outstanding. The food was great. Everything was generous and appetizing. The location is convenient and the atmosphere is clean and calming. My only concern was price. For basically a bar-food lunch, it was really expensive.

Food was very tasty, and service was kind. We had the whisky shrimp and then the Lobster and Filet. It was a very large portion of pasta and a surprising amount of shrimp! It had a wide range for the atmosphere, some were on date night or celebrations and others were very casual travelers. The music didn’t quite match the toned down lighting haha

Very nice afternoon on the patio under an umbrella with breezes. Waitress was friendly and attentive. The lamb-bacon wontons were delicious, and the bacon-egg BLT onion burger was very satisfying, with good fries and slaw too.

Great food! We sat at the Bar and the service was good. A few craft beer selections on tap. We got there just before it started to get busy but it was still a nice atmosphere. My shrimp was good perfect.

The food was amazing and the service was great! Some of the best lamb and risotto I've had in the area without a doubt. The drinks were good too.

I felt pampered spoiled they were very tentative. The food was great even offered dessert. Great service I loved the experience.

Lovely, clean restaurant. Swedish pancakes were just how I remembered them. So, so, so good!!! Tabitha had the most joyful, caring attitude with every table. She was a jewel! Beautiful private rooms and gift shop. This is a MUST DO when you visit Rockford.

Was looking for some place different and found this long established restaurant in Rockford. We went for the buffet which was economical and great! Loved the Swedish pancakes and lingonberry sauce. They went perfectly with the Swedish meatballs. Nice decor and good spacing between the tables. Friendly attentive staff and a pleasant crowd of people. They have a big gift shop and all things sock monkey. Next time I'm in the mood for pancakes, I won't hesitate and be there for the Buffet Saturday or Sunday. $14.99 per person.

Really delicious Swedish pancakes! Also had eggs and some bacon. I enjoyed the interior of the restaurant and the Swedish theme. Overall I would recommend this place!

This is my third time eating at this restaurant and the third time by far was the best! The breakfast buffet is worth the $16 price and just ordering off the normal menu is delicious as well. They are well known for their Swedish Pancakes for a reason and they are my favorite. The waitress Caroline is the best service I have had here and I highly recommend requesting her section especially on a slower day. She is very attentive, friendly, and efficient. If you are in the area I highly recommend this establishment!

This is my favorite breakfast spot. The decore of very cute. The staff is friendly enough. The food is always 100% perfect. We have tried it multiple times and everything has been great. I really enjoy their cinnamon roll. The weekend buffet is worth the money. Food is fresh & hot.

Been going to this restaurant for years it was amazing until today I order biscuits and gravy also for egg whites with spinach and mushrooms. The egg whites were cooked with yoke in them. The biscuits and gravy were horrible i took 1 bite of each and didn't touch either plate after I tasted the horrible food. I said something to my waiter which she didn't do anything about it. I went to pay the $42.00 bill and said something at the pay counter and she ask did you say something to server? I replied yes and she says ok sorry rung my ticket up and charged me for food that was not edible. I will never eat here again. Its off to Alpine Veiw to eat a real breakfast. Its a sad day that they charged me $42.00 for 2 bites of food that I wouldn't feed to my pet dog. I am sure his dog food tastes better. My dog wouldn't eat that garbage food. They don't even deserve one star.But they had no place.You could leave zero stars cuz.It was a zero all the way around!

Stockholm has been around for decades and their quality, service, and decorum has always been 110%. I have dined wirh these fine folks for 40 years and i will continue to do so. Stockholm is my Saturday morning breakfast choice for several years. Eating inside is like diving into Swedish culture with the decor they put on display. As you eat amazing food you also learn something new about Swedish art and culture. Maybe i am being biased here because i, myself am swedish, but then again my taste buds dont lie... its definitely the food. The wait staff is very friendly and attentive. The food is made efficently and always cooked to order. I have never once sent a dish back to the kitchen. Thank you Stockholm for being a staple in our city!