Alpine Hills Adventure Park features a snow park, public trails for mountain biking, hiking, and running, and is host to one of the Rockford Park District's most popular camps, Nature Quest. Snow Park at Alpine Hills offers mountains of fun in the heart of the city! This 5-acre snow park is divided into separate tubing and terrain park sections designed to accommodate riders of all abilities. The trails at Alpine Hills are designed for mountain biking, hiking, and running. The location offers quick and easy access to all of our community to enjoy nature and adventure at Alpine Hills Park.

Open April 19 through October. Experience the peace and tranquility of Anderson Japanese Gardens, right in the heart of Rockford, Illinois. The 12-acre landscape of winding paths, streams, waterfalls, and traditional architecture in regarded one of the top Japanese Gardens in North America. Accessible flat path options are available. Enjoy breakfast and lunch onsite at Fresco Restaurant.

Check website for events and admission fees: https://andersongardens.org/

Situated along the beautiful Kishwaukee River, Atwood Park boasts 334 acres of diverse natural area, including forest, marsh, and prairieland. Previously the Camp Grant artillery range, Atwood Park contains remnant structures that are still accessible today! Atwood Park is also home to an extensive multi-use trail system and an award winning Birds of Prey exhibit.

The trail system currently includes five miles of natural surface trails for beginner and intermediate users, a parking area, trail signage, and a bike wash/repair station. Once completed, the entire project will include approximately 20 miles of interconnecting trails on both the north and south sides of the Kishwaukee river.

The free Birds of Prey exhibit features up-close views of raptors and is one of the few accessible tree houses in Illinois. Visitors are welcome to observe, take pictures, ask questions, and see the birds get fed every Saturday at 1:00 PM.

Atwood Homestead is a 338-acre preserve along the Rock River. The majority of the preserve is comprised of the golf course and clubhouse. The general recreation portion of the preserve offers two picnic shelters, boat ramp, canoe access, and two docks. Atwood Homestead extensive river frontage offers scenic views of the river. A major attraction at this preserve is the beautiful 18-hole golf course and historic limestone club house. Atwood Homestead’s player-friendly golf course opened in 1971 on land donated by Seth B. Atwood. The large stone family homestead has been remodeled and serves as the clubhouse and pro shop. The course was designed by Charles Maddox to present a variety of golf alternatives so that golfers may select the tees most appropriate for their ability. Tee times may be reserved online at playthepreserves.com.

Barnstormer Distillery, located in Rockford, IL, brings a touch of aviation charm to the craft spirits scene. With a passion for quality and tradition, they create small-batch spirits using locally-sourced ingredients and time-honored techniques. Visitors can enjoy specialty cocktails created to highlight their 22-acre specialty crop farm, tastings of their award-winning spirits and a cozy atmosphere perfect for gathering with friends. Come experience the artistry and innovation of Barnstormer Distillery.

Burpee Museum of Natural History was founded in 1942 and continues to inspire all people to engage in a lifetime of discovery and learning about the natural world, through preservation and interpretation. Burpee houses world-famous specimens like Jane, the juvenile T. rex, and Homer, the juvenile Triceratops, amongst many others. It features an impressive and extensive geology and taxidermy collection and even offers visitors the chance to get up close and personal with living reptiles! Burpee hosts field trips, workshops, and museum tours for enthusiasts of all ages. Whether you are learning about dinosaurs, the ice age, our native environment, or even bugs, the museum has something for everyone! If being a working research facility is not enough, Burpee can also host a truly unique birthday party, wedding, or corporate retreat, uniquely situated right on the scenic Rock River in the heart of Rockford's downtown.

The Carl and Myrna Nygren Wetland Preserve is a 721-acre wildlife refuge with a public entrance and parking lot at the wildlife overlook, 3714 W. Rockton Rd., Rockton, IL 61072. This is also the start of the Dianne Nora Nature Trail. Other trails are througout the preserve. Great for birding, hiking, nature photography, and relaxing in nature. Open daily sunrise to sunset, unless posted closures for wildlife or land management state otherwise.

Carlson Ice Arena features public skating sessions, lesson programs, and hockey leagues on a 185-ft x 80-ft indoor ice rink. Carlson is also home to Sapora Playworld, an indoor playground with three levels of fun. Sapora Playworld is a perfect place to bring your children to play, explore, and exercise in a safe, secure, soft play structure designed for children ages 5-12. The Tiny Tots play space is a smaller version of Playworld ... perfect for those little ones ages 4 and under.

Conveniently located just minutes off I-90 in a picturesque park-like setting, we offer a romantic taste of Tuscany, the place where true pleasure is found in quality wine, beautiful scenery and warm hospitality. With a beautiful outdoor pavilion and welcoming tasting room, DC Estate Winery is the perfect spot to celebrate a remarkable special event or just spend a relaxing weekend afternoon. You and your guests will enjoy our delicious wine as you also savor the views of our tranquil pond and vineyard.

Family-owned and operated, DC Estate Winery has grown from our own love of wine and family. Our goal is to create an experience you'll never forget - one that quenches your senses - with luscious taste and delectable aromas in a beautifully captivating setting.

We make everyone family.
Come join us,
The Wirth Family

Explore a world of wonder at Discovery Center Museum, an award-winning children's science museum located in Rockford, IL. Uncover the magic of over 250 interactive exhibits relating to math, science, and art, in addition to a special area for children 6 and younger, and our acclaimed outdoor park.

Discovery Center Museum is recognized as the nation’s 5th Best Museum for Families by USA TODAY/10Best.com and celebrated in Forbes.com's prestigious list of The 12 Best Children’s Museums in the U.S. Honored with a coveted 2020 TripAdvisor Traveler’s Choice award, our commitment to excellence in visitor experiences is unmatched.

Discovery Center Museum is located inside Riverfront Museum Park. Admission is $10 for adults and children (ages 2 and up), and free to Museum members and children aged 1 and younger. Discovery Center is open 9:30 am - 4:30 pm Tuesday - Sunday. Parking is onsite and free. For more information, call (815) 963-6769 or go to www.discoverycentermuseum.org.

Erlander Home Museum, located in Rockford, Illinois, is a beautifully preserved historic home that showcases the Swedish heritage of the area. Built in 1871, the house features intricate woodwork, period furnishings, and exhibits that tell the story of the Swedish immigrants who settled in Rockford. Visitors can explore the various rooms of the house, including the kitchen, parlor, and bedrooms, and learn about the culture and traditions of the early Rockford Swedish settlers. The museum offers guided tours on Wednesdays and special events throughout the year, providing a unique glimpse into Rockford's rich history.

Tours can also be made by appointment by calling 815-963-5559, please allow one week notice.

The Heritage Museum Park is a historical campus comprised of the Ethnic Heritage Museum and Graham-Ginestra House in Southwest Rockford. Our mission is to preserve the cultural history of Rockford's early beginnings. Known today as The Ethnic Heritage Museum it is here that you will find six fascinating galleries devoted to the primary immigrant groups that settled in southwest Rockford, IL. African-American, Hispanic, Irish, Italian, Lithuanian and Polish. The 1857 Greek Revival, Italianate architectural style Graham-Ginestra House (GGH) is on the National Register of Historic Places in Winnebago County, Illinois (1979). The house represents the homestead of two prominent families who started successful businesses in Rockford: Freeman Graham, Sr. and Leo Ginestra.

The museums are open on Sundays from 2-4 PM, or by appointment. Visit our website for special hours and events. www.ethnicheritagemuseum.org

Not just cars, but so much history! There is something for everyone at Historic Auto Attractions with over 20 different exhibit focuses, and incredible, one-of-a kind artifacts. Explore American History and World History, and even some famous stars like Elvis Presley, James Dean, Patsy Cline and many more!
You 'auto' know us by now! Journey through time and look at artifacts from the 1800s in the Frontier Land, or in Abraham Lincoln, or check out some 1930's Gangsters! There is so much to see, and experience at Historic Auto Attractions. You won't want to miss out on upcoming events or discount days so be sure to follow and like us on Facebook!

Hononegah is FPWC’s oldest preserve and one of its most popular. Purchased in 1924, the preserve is located on the north bank of the Rock River and bisected by Dry Run Creek. The preserve was once a camping area of Stephen Mack, the county’s first European settler, and Hononegah, his Native American wife. Upon entering the preserve, visitors will enjoy the drive over the Rainbow Bridge and up into the cool maple grove. The campground has campsites interspersed in a mature stand of white oaks and hickories. A launch for fishing boat access to the Rock River is available.

Hononegah’s majestic woods make it a popular spot to enjoy fall color displays and woodland wildflowers in spring.

As one of Rockford, Illinois’ top outdoor family-friendly destinations, there’s something for everyone. Our 155 acres of woodlands and botanical gardens feature a children’s garden, 1.4 miles of paved paths, 3 miles of wooded trails and much more!

Nature comes alive for the entire family at Klehm. There’s so much to see and do every day, and our calendar of events keeps families coming back time and again. Whether you enjoy splashing around in the Nancy Olson Children’s Garden or connecting with a living museum along our hiking paths, Klehm is the perfect way to spend the day.

Lockwood Park Trailside Equestrian Centre and Sarver Children's Farm is home to a variety of animals including horses, goats, sheep, llama, rabbits, ducks, a donkey and ponies. Explore over 146 acres of gently rolling hills, meadows, woods, natural areas, stream, 15-mile numbered trail system (hiking, biking, or horseback riding), playground, picnic areas, and much more.

Lockwood Park is an affordable and family-friendly facility that promotes positive interactions between people and animals. Farm life provides the opportunity for quality family time and the chance to be face to face with our farm friends. On Saturdays, May–October, we offer trail rides, tractor-drawn wagon rides, a pony experience, and you can greet our animals the Sarver Children's Farm area.

History and stories of the past come to life at the award-winning Midway Village Museum in Rockford, Illinois. We invite you to visit and explore Midwestern life as it was during the early 1900s through artifacts, exhibits, special events and tours. Costumed interpreters are available to guide you in your journey at the museum, free with museum admission. You may tour either or both our Main Museum Center or Victorian-era Village.

Situated along the banks of our beautiful Rock River, Nicholas Conservatory & Gardens brings the tropics to the Midwest! The facility is the third largest conservatory in Illinois, offering an 11,000-square-foot plant exhibition area complete with water features, seating areas, and sculptures, all in a tropical plant setting.

The beauty continues outdoors with the Eclipse Lagoon, complete with two fountains and a waterfall, pedestrian bridge, patio areas, and walkway connecting the Conservatory to the Sinnissippi Rose Garden.

Rock Cut's 3,254 acres include two lakes: Pierce Lake, with 162 acres, and Olson Lake with 50 acres, offer a retreat for people wanting to boat, kayak, paddle board, fish, and ice fish. The park offers hiking trails, horseback riding trails, biking paths, cross-country skiing, and wildlife watching, as well as seasonal hunting programs, making it a year round recreation destination. The beautiful campground has 270 premium campsites, a rustic cabin, a youth group camp, and shelters.

Severson Dells Nature Center is an environmental education community center with family-friendly trails and an interactive nature center with a library, bird-watching center, exhibits with locally-found taxidermy animals, a gift shop, and more. Severson Dells Nature Center also offers nature education programs such as guided hikes, field trips, summer camps, community events, and much more!

Seward Bluffs Forest Preserve is one of Winnebago County's most picturesque and most popular forest preserve. It boasts woodland, stream and dolomite cliffs. It is home to many northern relic species as well as a good spring wildflower display. The 400 acres in the western portion is beautiful undulating restored prairie and oak-savanna. Because of its dramatic scenery and varied landscape, it is a favorite for hiking and horseback riding. Seward Bluffs is one of three preserves which offers a campground. The overlook on the eastern edge provides one of the most beautiful views in the county.

Explore beautiful Grove Creek and cool shade of old oaks and maples in the mature woods. The restored prairie is a sea of waving grasses and flowers. Seward Don’t miss the show the fall foliage shows in October! Much of the hiking trail system can be used for cross-country skiing in winter.

Sinnissippi Park features a golf course, music shell, two playgrounds, reservable shelters and picnic areas, outdoor pickleball, and more!

The Music Shell in Sinnissippi Park is an acoustic amphitheater that can accommodate as many as 700 on benches, and up to 3,000 on the terraces and lawn. A favorite spot of many local congregations and arts organizations, the Music Shell hosts a wide variety of events throughout the summer season.

Sinnissippi Golf Course is a 9-hole course and is the Park District’s oldest, opening in 1912. This 3,230 yard course is very hilly and has stymied many golfers. Par is 37.

Tinker Swiss Cottage Museum and Gardens is a historic treasure located at the founding site of Rockford, Illinois. Built in 1865, this picturesque 22-room Swiss-style Victorian House Museum offers visitors a glimpse into the life of the Tinker family, showcasing its well-preserved furnishings and artifacts. The surrounding gardens provide a serene outdoor space to explore and unwind. Whether you are drawn to history, architecture, or simply seeking a peaceful retreat, Tinker Swiss Cottage Museum and Gardens is sure to charm and captivate all who visit.

General History Tours last for 60-90 minutes and are available six days a week: Tuesday through Sunday at 1pm and 3pm. The museum also offers specialized programs throughout the year to encourage our community to engage with history.

Tinker Swiss Cottage Museum and Gardens preserves and shares the legacy of the Tinker family and inspires visitors to connect with history.

Veterans Memorial Hall and Museum stand as a living tribute to the brave military Veterans of Winnebago County who served our county to insure our freedom. The Hall's mission is to preserve their stories, ensuring that their courage and honor resonate for generations. a place where life is celebrated, all while paying homage to the profound history that surrounds us. A sanctuary of remembrance, where the past seamlessly intertwines with the present. We honor and celebrating the legacy of our heroes to keep their history alive. Completed in 1903, Memorial Hall is one of the first of its kind in the state of Illinois to be dedicated to Veterans of all wars. The doors opened with the dedication ceremonies on June third of that year by our twenty - sixth President Theodore Roosevelt with these words: "No more fitting memorial could be erected to the men who fought, than a hall such as this.... a hall beautiful because of the uses to which it is consecrated" - Teddy Roosevelt 1903

Welcome to Victory Pickleball! Let us take you on a virtual tour of Illinois' LARGEST indoor facility with 15 courts dedicated to the sport everyone can play. Our onsite restaurant, The Kitchen Tap Wall & Grill, has a Tap Wall with over 30 options and large mezzanines overlooking the courts with TVs everywhere, so you never miss a game. But that's not all! We have pool tables, darts, ping pong, corn hole, slots, and in-house physical therapists and chiropractors. We're on a mission to be a destination spot for everyone!