Fun things to do in Rockford: 22 fun attractions and activities

A conference I was speaking at was using this venue and had an opportunity to walk the grounds prior to our session. The atmosphere is totally peaceful and did not expect to find such gem in the middle of Rockford Illinois. From waterfalls to Zen Gardens to meandering streams, this is definitely not a place to miss for a few hours of solitude and peace in this very bustling world.

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.

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.)

My first time here and I was blown away! I almost didn't go because I wasn't sure if it would be worth it in the Fall, but OMG that's got to be the best time to go! The way different colors of the trees were interspersed was so beautiful. I was lucky to be there when the sun was shining and the colors were so bright. I actually walked around it twice. Highly recommend visiting when the colors are at peak. My only complaint is constant traffic noise detracts from the peaceful experience, but not a lot they can do about that.

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.

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 !!

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.

First time visiting this museum and it was wonderful! So many hands on activities for my daughters to enjoy. My 13 year old is getting a bit old for many of the activities, but she still enjoyed herself. She spent time on the climbing wall and on the pinball machine. It was a rainy day, so we weren’t able to check out the outdoor activities. Will have to come back on a nicer day and check out the playground!

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 😉

We brought two of our grandkids there. It was our first time. We really didn't know what to expect. The place is incredible! Our grandkids loved it. There are two floors filled with display, exhibits, and educational activities organized and arranged in thematic areas. The themes included agriculture, electricity, medical fields, auto mechanics, bubbles and viscosity.

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!

We camped here for 4 nights. Some things were nice. Like being able to camp near the water. Others campers were very quiet that we were near. Other things could use a little more T.L.C. Like some of the pit toilets being out of toilet paper. The shower/toilet area could also use a little updating and more diligent cleaning. For the most part, we really did like our camping experience and would camp here again.

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.

A very beautiful park! I enjoyed a lovely afternoon hike and saw a ton of wildlife! I can't wait to go back!

This is a very nice and well-maintained arboretum and botanical garden. There are lots of paths varying from grass to pavement, all of which are easy to follow with a simple map. Many of the trees and flowers are clearly labeled with their species. The visitor center is nice facility as well. There are ample bathrooms on the property. I would Klehm recommend to family and friends!

My daughter's wedding ceremony and reception were held here in September. It's a gorgeous venue- beautiful area for an outdoor ceremony and many great places for photos. There's a building that can be used by the bridal party to get ready- so convenient! Jocelyn and Michelle from Franchesco's did a fantastic job of helping plan the wedding and making sure everything went smoothly the day of. The food was delicious and served hot to over 100 guests. Overall, it was a magical event!!!

Great place to take the family from out of state. Went late April and still had plenty to see. All the trees had labels for identification as well.

We visited the area from out of town and have an arboretum in our city, so we went here to have some outdoor time with our young son. The children’s garden / play area was 10/10! Walking in the water with our son on a hot day was a huge win, other families there were kind and everyone was respectful of space. It was a really well thought out area for kids and adults to just be & enjoy. We walked the longer trail around the garden and didn’t run into anyone - it was sort of eerie that the arboretum wasn’t busy on a nice Sunday morning. Nice to have the space to walk at our own pace but just interesting, as out of towners. Grounds were well maintained and bathrooms were clean! Ample parking. If we visit the area again, we’d definitely come back!

We brought two of our grandkids recently. They really enjoyed the children's area. Their favorite part was the water area. They really loved running in the creek. The landscaping and trails were great! It is well worth the price.

Beautiful walking paths. Great foliage and lovely wedding venue.

It is an amazing escape. Also lots of fun for the kids.

3 Stars – Nice but Not Worth the Long Drive We visited the Nicholas Conservatory to see the Dino exhibit. The facility itself is well maintained, and the ticket prices are reasonable ($10 for adults, $8 for kids and seniors) and easy to purchase right at the door. The plant displays are lush, and the dinosaur figures—crafted from recycled materials—were a creative touch. That said, the conservatory is very small. If you walk straight through without stopping, you could see everything in about five minutes. The rose garden outside was pleasant but not particularly memorable. Overall, while it was a nice little stop, it definitely wasn’t worth a three-hour drive from Chicago.

Beautiful space for a walk. Walkers and cyclists also use zoom past on the Riverwalk. The Gardens are gorgeous in the summer, and roses hold on in the fall. Great spot to make a stop when in Rockford. Responsible dog owners can walk their canines. Don’t forget to explore the nooks and crannies.

The dinos made of all plant parts was really cool. The gentleman who worked that day was a wealth of info!! All staff so friendly. It's really worth your time to!

My first time visiting. Very nice. We enjoyed the dinosaurs the Cory's the waterfalls it was all just beautiful and it was a beautiful day for all the flowers outside

This was so great my big girls and little one all loved this Dino experience! The plants were amazing to me a gardener!

It looks bigger from the outside than it does the inside and I thought there would be a lot more plans but my toddler did enjoy the dinosaur exhibit but it did only take like 5 minutes to walk through. We were able to use our other membership to get in so thankfully we didn't have to pay because if I did I would have been disappointed. The outside is nice but it's unclear if it's all connected or if its free.

I loved it there. I have to boys 10 and 5 years old. They didn't want to leave. Definitely will go back

What a wonderful, wonderful, wonderful place... I've only been here twice, but it's great there. The WWII days event is quite interesting. It was kind of... "nostalgic" when I went the second time, but the first time made me feel a bit nostalgic, too. I like how you can look in houses and check out what people used to do. I definitely do not regret coming here, and maybe you'll have the same experience as me. Also, a little off topic, but can I use this place as inspiration for part of a video game I will make as an adult? I'll credit you! It will be fun making it, I know.

First time there. It was the roaring 20's theme. It was awesome. Seen some old record players and vintage cars. An old hospital. The doctor was hilarious. Also toured the inside museum . A lot of interesting facts about Rockford. However I was expecting some food stands. There was none. The day I went was very hot and humid. I wish they had more buildings that provided air conditioning. But I had a great time.

Fabulous event. The reenactors are so dedicated to spend their time and money on the event. Also, they are so incredibly knowledgeable about the equipment, their units and the history. Truly a joy to attend.

WW2 weekend is outstanding. Everyone is willing to explain their weapons and uniforms.hands on experience

On Saturday, 9/20 I visited with my daughter and grandson. Unfortunately, we didn't get the name of the young man who gave us the tour. He was a wealth of knowledge, and made for a very informative and pleasant morning. I'm sure when he completes college, and enters the teaching profession, he will make an excellent history teacher. Job well done, Sir!

Other than the employees giving dirty looks for some weird reason it was a nice family wedding. Re: People pay for services rendered on a very special day in there life's not to be looked at like you hate your job, understandable employees get busy but didn't see another wedding the hole time we were there n driving around on a golf cart with phone playing music picking up garbage bags doesn't seem very hard. I work 7 days a week and haven't had a day off in 20yrs. Maybe just teach your employees good demeanor and smile 😃 is all I was trying to say! Customer's not always right but to reply and say I'm wrong just shows what I'm talking about changed to 1 star would've gave 0!

Wonderful and absolutely astounding the time and effort put into this event. Aces! The willingness of the participants to share their knowledge and engage with you really made for an interesting and an educational entertaining experience. The grounds and buildings were a great backdrop to explore and to really help with the whole immersive atmosphere. The battlefield reenactment with the speaker explaining was very enlightening, but didn't take away from the heart racing action near the end. Brilliant!

I loved this museum!! The history on it is so interesting all the furnishings were owned by the Tinker family! It is so beautiful inside very nicely renovated and preserved. If you r ever in Rockford, il. Look this place up you will be impressed.

It was beautiful! The fish(were huge!) and ducks followed us for food!(which you can buy inside). Enjoyed the beautiful view and "long" stroll!😁

Tinker may have been mayor, but he got ahead by sleeping with the boss. This quirky house is odd, sometimes charming, and well preserved. Our tour guide was knowledgeable but sometimes a little hyper-focused on small details. Reservations recommended even for small groups.

Our tour guide was amazing! She had such interesting information and delivered it with enthusiasm. We learned a lot and enjoyed ourselves.

I've been to the Tinker Swiss Cottage many times to investigate the spirits there. It's always an interesting experience. The staff there (Samantha) is very knowledgeable and super friendly!

My husband and I did the 3pm tour on Sunday and it was amazing! We started in the barn which is also a cute gift shop. The rest room was clean and the whole place smelled like fresh lumber. We were the only ones on the tour which gave it an extra spooky vibe which we loved. The tour guide was super knowledgeable and friendly. He pointed out neat things and explained local history. I love learning about eccentric people that just did their own thing- probably neurodivergent but nobody had the language back then. If you’re in Rockford, definitely check this place out!

More interesting than anticipated. Visit in February so missed the gardens which I would enjoy. Update Oct 22 Enjoyed it even more the 2nd time. It was staged for a funeral which they only do in October.

Every time we go, we are impressed. We have brought family members from all over the States, and we all have always enjoyed our time. Neat exhibitions that are changed quite regularly and are almost always free, connections to local artists and movements, and a well-maintained space.

We came here after going to Discovery. Just to see how much it was. It was free. So we stopped and seen some art. The first picture is my favorite art in the entire place.

A smaller but completely free art gallery. Nice space with some interesting items inside and a friendly staff in the little gift shop at the entry.

The art museum had some new AMAZING artwork. They also had two first solo museum exhibitions called "How the West was Won" by Jonah King and "Memory Access" by Veronica Soria Martinez. Everything was wonderful and exceeded my expectations.

The Rockford Art Museum is put together very well and is kept exceptionally clean and temperature controlled. With few exceptions they focus on more modern art. I am not a huge fan of modern art, but I respect how they present their exhibits and I always find a piece or two that I really like. Admission is reasonably priced and it is a nice way to spend an afternoon if you are seeking a bit of culture.

I love this art museum! It is well kept, nicely maintained, and they always have interesting pieces in their gallery. Its a cozy museum with two main gallery floors. I recently visited their Art in Bloom exhibit which I thought was fantastic! I would definitely recommend!

We really enjoyed the museum. We were the only visitors on a Sunday. Because it's not big, we were able to take our time and enjoy each piece of art.

Really great local history museum. They are open Sundays 2-4pm for guided tours, but you can always call to arrange a visit during another time. Each of the 6 galleries covers a broad range of culture for each ethnicity, including transportation, fashion, art, and contemporary history. Definitely worth a visit! I will be back soon to share the experience.

Interesting to see the diverse population of Rockford. Worth the time. Opening the Graham-Ginestra house next door for tours soon. Great history.

The tour guide us very intellectual about everything in the museum. It was larger than I expected, but not too roomy. The historical house next to it held a lot of affluent material. It was also really historically rich as well. Very interesting architectural amenities.

Intimate setting and beautiful exhibits reflecting the diversity heritage in Rockford, IL. Enjoyed the opportunity to visit.

Wonderful museum celebrating all of the ethnicities emigrating to Rockford and getting their start on the southwest side.

Very interesting little piece of Rockford history tucked into the south side location. Quite enjoyable.

Very interested and informative. They have displays in different ethnic focused rooms.

Living with so much Swedish history in your own town is priceless!

(Translated by Google) Exciting to discover Sweden's history in Rockford. (Original) Spännande att upptäcka Sveriges historia i Rockford.

Came here countless times (20+) throughout the 2024 season. We purchased the diamond pass, and we got front row parking, but the issue is there is very little security or employees guarding the parking lot. They don't even guard the lot or charge for parking most of the time, which isn't a big deal for us due to us having the season passes, but for the people visiting the park once or twice a year, they didn't even have to pay a penny for parking. The park itself is nice, but it's just so small. They have lots of rides of different thrills. They don't keep the slides and stairs very clean, though. There is bird poop everywhere on the Bermuda Triangle and Riptide rush area. Even on slides, there is bird poop everywhere. Lots of debris in the lazy river, but it's Rockford so what do you expect. I overall enjoyed all of my time here, but the place could use better management.

We had so much fun here. We went on a Friday and it was not packed at all. No wait for rides and barely any wait for food. I will say that the number one ride we drove an hour for was closed down (Typhoon) and of course the food was overpriced but that’s expected. Staff was friendly and my family enjoyed themselves.

Haven't been here for Years and So wanted to celebrate a birthday here. The price was definitely not what its worth. And on top of the 15 plus tickets we purchased for the birthday package it does Not come with a designated area for a party, so you have to purchase an area as well. Its not a bad place but for as much as they charge for EVERYTHING including parking. The money received should upgrade the park & slides. Some Haven't been opened due to a sensor that doesn't exist for a slide thats still standing but they cannot operate it. Maybe six flags needs to update this water park before they charge more and nothing works...and then no $$ is spent there or to be made ..

Had a great time. ( pleasantly surprised) Friendly staff, lifeguards were paying attention not socializing. Lots of things to experience for all ages. Yes, the food is overpriced. $17 dollars for a cheeseburger is almost reasonable compared to the $7 small bag of Doritos.😶Bathrooms were clean, lots of lounge chairs and seating opportunities. Will come again. Best part was that the parking lot doesn't feel like it's far away it was right there so you dont have to walk miles. 😊

Years ago when this was magic waters it was so nice, with a fun entrance. Over the years since 6 flags took over it has went downhill. We recently spent the day there and although the wave pool, lazy river, and slides were lots of fun, this place was disappointing. The bathrooms were so gross and no toilet paper or soap to wash our hands. We went for food and drinks just to wait in line forever and be told the registers are down and we couldn’t purchase anything. Thirsty and hungry kids wasn’t very fun. I then tried the pop machine and paid $5.60 for one drink that did NOT dispense. On top of all of that, we went to ride the slides but had to wait a solid 20-30 minutes for a double tube. They don’t have enough double tubes available and pretty much want you to spend more money to rent one. The Price at the gate was $50 per person, on top of paying for parking. We had fun but for the price and having to leave early because everyone was so hungry and thirsty, the wait for the tubes, the dirty bathrooms, etc. I will never go there again. It’s not the same bright pretty place it used to be.

Brought my girlfriend here for our 5 year anniversary. It was such a terrible experience and I regret taking her there. The tickets have doubled in price since the last time I’ve been here and they had 1 or two of their very few slides shut down. They charge $20 for parking and $20 for a locker? Absolutely ridiculous price gouging. This was the least of our worries. We were on a slide waiting to go and the two workers up at the top were too busy flirting to actually do their job. We waited a good 5 minutes and then the person that was waiting at the slide looked at me and my girlfriend and shrugged his shoulders. We just told him go for it and he did and the workers still didn’t turn around. So then me and my girlfriend just went immediately after. This put all the guests waiting for the slide in a dangerous situation because they didn’t know when they were actually supposed to go. I wish this was the end of it but the stairs going up to one of their slides was covered in bird poop from bottom to top and you had to step in it to get to the top of the slide. It smelled so bad that we avoided the slide after a few goes. So this meant we were down another ride leaving us with maybe two different water slides. We had to walk maybe 20 minutes to get to the park because we weren’t aware they charged for parking and weren’t about to spend $20 just to park our car at a business we were already spending so much money at. We also were worried about our stuff the whole time because we also didn’t want to spend the $20 for a locker. For spending $100 this was not worth it at all what’s so ever. I used to always go here with my family when I was little and was so excited to bring my girlfriend here because she’s never been. I don’t think either of us could have been more disappointed by our experience and to make it worse it was on our 5 year anniversary. Will not be revisiting this location, but might give a different location a try in the future.

Park was not super busy. The water had quite a bit of leaves and other debris floating around. I'm assuming that's only because it's early in the season. Lines had little to no wait. Again, it's early in the season. Overall my little ones had a great time. They were able to go down just about every slide.

It was so great that Frank Lloyd Wright designed this house to meet the needs of a person in a wheelchair (way before ADA compliant was even considered). We were thinking that we want to live there also. Wonderful experience was had by all on the tour.

It is quite the experience to visit this house made by the famous architect. It is very unique and made especially for a guy who was in a wheelchair almost all his adult life. Everything in that house was used by the Laurent family, and it makes the visit more lively. Congratulations to the docent Patrick for such a great visit.

I was traveling to Rockford last week. I had an amazing tour with Dan. He was so patient in educating us about everything he knows regarding Frank Lloyd Wright's Laurent House. He told us that he explains things the way he would like to understand them himself. He shared many stories related to this property. I am thankful for what I learned during this tour. He seems to know a lot about Mr. Wright. I really enjoyed the tour with Dan.

This house is spectacular, well laid out. You almost feel that the original owners are there. Also my wife was in a scooter and she had no problem going through the whole house.

Excellent all around. Guide was extremely knowledgeable about Wright at the Laurent family. Definitely a must see in the Rockford area.

This was a unique Wright property. This home has a great story as to why it was constructed and the design process.

Well organized and informative tour. Would have been nice to have a little time to walk the property and home ourselves.

Benefiting from being one of the only games in town definitely a decent place to come kill some time. Drawbacks the mini golf course is not maintained well. The carpet is falling apart all over the place. Other than that batting cages are fun. Laser tag is decent. Go karts are decent.

I'm not sure how many stars VF get because my grandson and I've never been before, but I wanted to take him go cart riding so that was what we did. I didn't expect it to be a small track or even a small park. There's not much to do so I got an unlimited pass which was $35 for 3hrs.! So at my age, I felt rushed! I drove the go cart because I bought myself an arm band which let's you do ONLY 3 THINGS... GO CART, LAZER TAG, AND MINI GOLF! So I wanted to get my money's worth, since I loved go cart riding in my young years, in my 60's it was a bit difficult getting up out the cart...lbvvs! Anyways, unbeknownst to me as we went to find the laser tag, we had to go through the arcade room which was not part of the wrist band, but I wanted him to enjoy himself so I spent ANOTHER $35 /200 TICKETS to play the arcade games, which were on average 6 tickets per play except one I know he played 4 or 5 times for 20 tickes each, BUT HE WON 250 on that machine! Then we did mini golf, which he really enjoyed and I did too, but it's really exhausting because there's stairs, ramps, and uneven ground! It's cute, and fun, but everyone needs to STEP CAREFULLY!!! We seen the batting cage but wasn't interested in it and there is another go cart track for little ones, and that's about it! I gave it 4☆ because everything is expensive these days and he did have fun with the golf and I with the go carts and we will go back for the game room before he goes back to his state!

The place is so amazing and breathtaking.. I wished the day would never end.. We all had a great time.. The kids were so happy.. It was worth every dollar we spent on it. thanks.

The staff was knowledgeable and friendly, the spaces were clean and accessible. The signage was clear and the arcade was super fun!

We did some of the arcade games inside, played laser tag, rode the go carts, batted in the cages (plenty fast for the boys and I), and played miniature golf as well. Staff was super friendly, the facility was clean. Laser tag course seemed a bit small and less competitive than we had hoped as we felt just a bit too close to each other during battles. Not bad enough to ding it a star though. The go karts were pretty fast, well maintained, and fun enough to go multiple times. Bottom line is that we had a great time. Very good experience!!

Went to a company picnic there. It was so fun. The mini golf course is really fun, and people of all abilities are able to play.

Miniature golf was fun, staff were great. Attended a birthday party for 9yr old. Playing video games and riding go carts made me be a big kid. Recommend birthday parties for young kids and adults going to have fun to. Enjoyed myself great place

I attended the paranormal conference there and wow ,awesome building. So much to look at and staff was nice.

Beautiful and stately building from the outside, I hope to go in someday.

I love this venue and if you knew the history of the building and the connection to Rockford wartime history you would too!

Lovingly maintained collection of military history in a beautiful building near the downtown area

If you know that the luckiest day of your life was when you were born in this country and you love history...put this place on your go to list. 100 years old structure. The architecture alone will take you back. This is part of Rockford history. Most people don't even know it's there. Come downtown and catch up.

Went for a Committee meeting in a small basement conference room. Large room on second floor.

Very cool museum! Definitely stop in!

Beautiful little park along the river in Rockford. The road is close, so there's traffic noise, but the river is lovely, and the rose gardens are beautiful.

Peaceful and beautiful. Lots of other things to see within walking distance

Beautiful place! Small but full of very pretty flowers and plants. The butterfly house is VERY small but still fun. I like that they give us a little sugar stick to be able to pick up the butterflies and see them up close. It's definitely geared towards kids. The people here were super knowledgeable and friendly. I enjoyed our visit a lot.

Such a beautiful local to take a walk and enjoy the scenery.

I love sinnisippi gardens. soooo beautiful. the butterfly exist is a must!

What a lovely place. Walking paths and beautiful swans swimming in the pond and coi fish right beneath them. Plants and trees of different sorts. There was even a 👰 and groom getting their pictures taken and what a nice place to do that. Also, a nice path that runs along the Rock River. Beautiful place.... enjoy!

I absolutely love taking my walks next to the river

A great place for indoor and outdoor soccer. My daughter's team had a wonderful time there at a soccer tournament.

Whose idea was it to place glass at the spectators? The divider frames restricts all viewing down the field. Reflections from vending machines also don’t help. No chance to take any photos of videos. I’ve been in plenty of indoor facilities and have never seen the need for such a barrier. Crazy.

I love going to the craft shows there. I wish they had them more often. They definitely need a bigger parking lot with all the soccer games going on at the same time. I got there late so I didn't have a lot of time to shop. However I did get a lot of business cards so I can buy things later from people and when I have money to buy them. So of the stuff was really amazing. Alot of talented people their. Their was also a booth that made bowl holders. I have a friend that makes them so I didn't get any. However I had shipped some to my family in Florida. They had never seen such a thing. Lol that person needs to go farmers markets in Florida and sell them!

Soooo disappointing! Poorly organized and run baseball tournament. $40 per person for the weekend baseball tournament. What are we paying for? Fields are all turf so it’s not like we’re paying for mowing. Only one building with real bathrooms (which the toilets don’t flush well at all), far from the back fields, and three porta potties for the fields further away. It’s 90°, they’re disgusting. Fences that make the back of the field are all down today-dangerous. They showed up 45 minutes after the games started to put them up. Why wasn't this done beforehand? So we played a few innings with the fences laying down and the metal poles standing. The pitcher’s mound has an 2-3 inch gap between it and the ground in the front. Only one umpire on our second day of games. He’s young and green so not very good. 40 minutes after the game started our second one showed up. Concessions are far from the back fields. There’s a food truck but never open. (Second day they had a snack cart driving around-positive) No scoreboards. Trash all over along the fences. Flooded dugouts-why aren’t they squeeging it out? Upon arrival there were capable employees sitting around doing nothing. So frustrating. Would never return. Waste of money. Wish I could post pic.

The walk is slightly far from parking lot. If you come for the soak station and playground it was a bit of a let down. The soak station only has 3 spouts that you have to repeatedly turn on by pressing the buttons. The red and blue sprayer were really hard to press the buttons and get them started. The one umbrella shade has zero chairs underneath. There isnt much shade and the playset was scolding hot. This is truly for kiddos that need entertainment while siblings play outdoor sports. It wasn’t worth the drive or hype from back when we heard about it being built. The loves park and machesney park area really need more water play stuff for kids to do or go to.

Decent place for outdoor soccer tournaments, but I can't really speak much to the inside facilities or concessions (we were fairly close to our hotel so didn't really need anything else).

My little pictures do not do the place justice. I am not a professional reviewer so I just review away without much thought. There is only one thing I really want to say. When you walk in here you basically feel like you made it. Whatever "it" is you have found it. To your true blue futbol player this is Xanadu. If you do not know what Xanadu is you should be happy you are still so young.

Our visit to Alpine Hills Adventure Park for snow tubing was an absolutely fantastic experience! The park provided endless fun for the kids, who couldn't stop smiling and laughing the entire time. The staff was incredibly friendly, helpful, and attentive, ensuring everyone had a safe and enjoyable time. One of the highlights was how affordable the experience was—perfect for a family outing. The park wasn't overly crowded, which made it even more enjoyable, allowing us to make the most of our time on the slopes. A tip for future visitors: Be sure to reserve your spot ahead of time. They only have so many slots for every 90-minute time slot. We’ll definitely be coming back. Highly recommend Alpine Hills Adventure Park for a fun and memorable snow tubing adventure!

Snow park in the spring time. Easter egg hunt was a huge success. Thanks to all volunteers and alpine hills adventure park. 2024 eggstravaganza!

Had a great time tubing until the employees showed up, lol. Fun hill but some of the fun slowed for safety. I miss the old days when you just grab your sled and go. Waiting in line is boring.

Snow park at Alpine hills was an absolute blast. Great for younger kids and an extremely good price. For older kids or those with more experience this park may seem a little tame. But by far one of the best deals around Rockford area.

It was so fun! Thanks a lot, great location and low prices ❤️ See you soon again 🫶

Loved the bike trails. We brought our young family for their first trail ride BUT we had to leave after one lap bc there was no restroom. If the bathrooms were available I would rate this place 5 stars.

Daughter has summer camp there and loves it

My daughter went to this park district for a basketball tournament. When we signed up it said masks required. They didn’t enforce the rule. When I talked to the man, who is the head of the tournament, he got angry and in my face. He kept interrupting. He scared me and others around. We will never participate again at this facility. Don’t participate at this facility if safety and/or kindness is important to you.

Summer 2025. $12.00 per person to swim at Sand Park Pool in Loves Park is to costly. I don't know how familys can afford this price. If you are a YWCA member you get in free! Perhaps a YMCA member could pay a little something so the price for nonmembers could pay less. In my tax payer view, you have priced out alot of families from enjoying the pool. Shame on the Rockford Park District.

.... i dont know if im being a karen.. but at this point.. i think that hurricane harbor is not running honestly. Because when i went to get in with my Y pass they would not let me.. And THIS IS A ROCKFORD PARK DISTRICT POOL. So why cant i get in? If they dont accept our Y passes then they shouldn't get extra help from OUR city. They have really ruined magic waters. And i know for a fact they dont make nearly as much. Even with their greedy prices. What a way to ruin everyones summer.

The staff at the park district are very very friendly and helpful. Came here get my dog registered for canine corners. Quick and with a smile. Thanks to all that work there!

This was the office location, but the parks around Rockford are AWESOME!

Everything was clean in the shelter house. The playground was varied with activities for the children. Everyone we dealt with when making the arrangements was courteous and helpful.

The Rockford Park District is one of the top in the country. They operate parks, golf courses and the sports facilities in town. If you're looking for an activity in Rockford, Illinois talk to the people at the park district because they most likely have a program for you.

My sisters and I traveled from Milwaukee to enjoy an evening of dinner and gambling. Unfortunately, this visit did not meet my expectations, especially as it was my first time at the casino. I will admit that the casino itself is very clean and visually appealing. However, I received a FaceTime call and was informed by security that there is a no FaceTime policy. This was a first for me; I have never been told that at a casino, especially when I wasn't gaming at a table or sitting at a machine. After playing, we decided to dine at the restaurant. Both of my sisters had dining comps. When we placed our order, we asked the hostess about the exact amount of the comp so that we could plan our meal accordingly. Cassidy, the hostess, claimed we did not have a comp, but we knew this wasn’t true. Her host had already informed her that a dining comp would be added to her account for the month. My sister then went to the players' club booth to speak with a host. The host reiterated that they were unable to see any comp but didn't seem interested in listening to my sister's explanation. Eventually, my sister asked to speak to a manager, who came out and found the comp immediately. Upon returning to the restaurant, we finally placed our order. I requested a Messi chicken sandwich without cheese, with the sauce on the side, and requested pickles to be added. I also asked if we could have bone-in traditional buffalo wings fried extra crisp as an appetizer. Our waitress, Hannah, said no. Unsure if she was joking, I asked again if they could fry the wings longer, but she repeated that they could not. When we received the wings, they were uncooked. We asked Hannah to send them back, explaining that we like our wings fried extra crispy. At this point, I decided not to have them remake my chicken sandwich because I was already frustrated. The waitress seemed upset when she had to correct the mistakes that were clearly made on her part. The strawberry lemonade was overpriced, containing too much ice and basil, which left me feeling like my drink was gone after just a few sips. For dessert, one of my sisters ordered the caramel apple pie, but it came out without any caramel. We asked Hannah to bring a side of caramel. To top it off, there were no utensils in the to-go bag, leaving us with no way to eat our dessert. Overall, my impression of the casino is that the entire staff could be friendlier. Customer service is not a strong point at the Hard Rock Casino.

Very nice facility with a nice variety of several slots and table games. Multiple bars and music spread out makes it very convenient from almost anywhere on the casino floor. Unfortunately, the only downside on my visit was lack of toilet paper in the restroom; however, it was on the weekend, so I understand these things happen. Overall, would definitely come again!

Attended an event catered by the casino. Firstly, the staff was very polite and professional and did an excellent job keeping the event going. Next the food was fantastic, the kitchens outdid themselves and had a creative and tasty spread for our buffet lunch. Everyone talked about how great the carrot cake was, and I really liked the mac'n'cheese. Overall was impressed.

Awesome place. It's really nice. It has all the newest casino games and a h Great setup that includes some really great musical relics. I would absolutely recommend it.

Modest casino, table prices are a little high. Craps 15, I think i saw 10 texas hold. Bubble craps min $3. No bingo slots if your used to that. No outside beverage/containers. No water fountains and water bottles 12oz $4. It's very clean which is nice and non smoking. But not really my preferred casino.

Decent casino. No self serve beverage stations for soft drinks. You must wait for a waitress. Casino is Clean. Staff was nice. Food was ok . They have a Hard Rock casino Rockford gift shop

Ate at the Council Oak Steak and Seafood at the casino. The food was outstanding. I had the Fillet and it was very tender. The Pistachio cheesecake was very delicious. My wife loved the Crème brûlée. The best part was it was free due to being new members to the casino. We definitely will be back

The woman working with super friendly and immediately got off and offered me a drink when I walk in I was super tired while driving and pulled off the road with only $5 in my pocket. I figured I would drink some coffee and make a $5 donation. Instead, 30 minutes later I walked out with $12. Not a huge win but I didn't lose, either!

I have played here 5 times now. And every time, I lost a small fortune. I have tried different games and different machines all with the same outcome I can never ever hit a bonus and when I play I always play on Max this is the second place in town that that is happened I will not be returning back here this place is just junk and I hope when the casino opens in Rockford all of these little places trying to make their money now shut down because I will not be going to any of them

The first time here was pretty nice. The second time I went they tell me they cant except my id? I asked the owner of the place why did the women let me play last time. She tells me that they didn't look at it right. So she pretty much tells me the Secretary of State prints out fake ID. They also took about one minute and a half to check the ID which makes me think they didn't want me playing there, so I've come to the conclusion that this old women is racist against minorities. Please do not play at such a trash, low down place. Go to the DMV, pick up a pamphlet, and educate yourself instead of being impudent. By the way my one star is a no star.

Not all the staff but a few especially the one on state by dennys poor service been there 3 times no good customer service attitude like they don't want to be there didnt greet us each time so we going to stop going if the workers are working we go else where its alot of slots places here so ok service is important and most of time we loose money its only a few that win !

They pick who they want in there with the let me see your ID for 3 min straight oh naw I need the other type of ID Idk if there racist or just want older people in there

Nice little parlor to play a little slot machine with your pals. Good service. Very friendly.

Nice and peaceful place to go. Enjoy the slots. Must check it out.