This is a nice place to take a break and relax. One wish is for dog owners to pick up after their…read moredogs. It would make for a much more pleasant experience on and off the bike/walk path. There is a botanical garden along the river front. We'll have to check it out next time.

Awesome spot for toddlers. My 1yo loved it! The slide was super easy for him to navigate and I was…read moreable to stay in a comfortable spot while being within arms reach.

I've been hearing about this place for nearly a decade and I finally got here! So glad to finally…read moreexperience the gorgeous Japanese gardens full of peace and serenity. There's even a lovely gift shop and restaurant that changes the menu seasonally I'm told. There are so many waterfalls, creeks and a large pond full of Koi fish and foul. I highly recommend and would love to go back.

This nice area to walk garden. Unfortunately our visit did see any flowers. Mostly trees and…read morebushes. The visit required fees. Our visit is on the way to Wisconsin Dells. The attraction is away from highway interstate. The visit takes 30 minutes to one hour. Small pond, decorated bridge, or statue can be found in the park. There some Japanese style building surrounding the garden. Overall is a very neat garden. I think the fees are a bit high for this garden. Parking is available on site.

Me and my wife recently stopped here to go on a little walk in the area. This place is perfect for…read moreall sorts of outdoor activities since there's a beach nearby and plenty of trails though I recommend and not walk through them when it's wet outside because they are very muddy and nothing is paved. Plenty of dogs are running off leash as well which isn't an issue. Please check to make sure you know what time the park closes because they will close on you as well. Highly recommend stopping here

Decided to take a drive from Evanston on a beautiful Spring day (70 degrees in Evanston, but 80…read moredegrees in Rockford - it was balmy!) I had found this place searching online for nearby state parks that weren't TOO far of a drive and still had ample hiking trails. The park was easy to find, had plenty of parking and lots of paved and dirt trails for both hiking and biking. Picnic areas scattered throughout and a nice large lake for fishing/boating/canoeing (there were prices posted in the concessions area for renting a boat with motor for the day as well if you don't have your own to bring with you!) Small selection of snacks and beverages (non-alcoholic) were available for purchase, however they did not have any paper maps (there were boards posted by trail entrances and we did take photos of those). It looks like there is a restaurant next to the concessions area that opens after Memorial Day weekend for the season. We saw and heard many different birds while hiking and it was very peaceful (and not very crowded, as we were here on a Tuesday). My husband particularly enjoyed seeing the turkeys roaming around

Decent park with fun trails. Trails are a little slippery and rocky so recommend hiking shoes. Many…read moreof the trails are for mountain biking as well.

This is a mountain biker's fantasyland!!…read more I am from Southern California, where all the mountain biking is up, up, up and then down, down, down. Here there are perfectly prepared trails that are cut into the woods with gentle ups and downs, and banked turns like on those videos from Instagram.!!!!!! I have been riding forever and would never dream to take my wife with me because she would become frustrated and exhausted... but here I actually purchased a bike for her. She joins me on these rides..... I set her up on a loop, which is challenging for her, and then I race around it to get a great workout. I lap her several times before she does one lap. This place is absolutely gorgeous!! I have been here eight times in the last month (end of June through July 2025) and ZERO MOSQUITO BITES!! They also have all sorts of tools to use as well as a bike washing station!!!! Last week they had a mountain bike race here and I participated in it!! My first ever!! I can't believe it is free to ride here!!

I say this about a lot of parks but, this is definitely one of the best parks I have ever been to…read more There are 6 areas for different sports, including: basketball, baseball, soccer, tennis, volleyball, and ping pong. In addition to the sports, there is a very nice playground, pavilion (with electricity and a grill), and a walking trail.

The Forest Preserve Headquarters of Winnebago County is by far my favorite underrated park in the…read moreRockford area! Lots to explore and so many different, unique areas within the park. I love the view over the quarry in all seasons but it's especially beautiful in fall/winter. The walk through the woods and around the ponds and river on the other side of the forest preserve are gorgeous in spring with frogs and other small animals to find and lots of mossy pathways. It feels like a fairytale! (Photos by Figment Photography)

Great place to hangout and have a few beers and go on nature walks…read more I've never camped here, but I heard that its cool. There are a lot of nice shelters and a respectable playground. You can pick morel mushrooms here during the early-mid spring. There's a fair amount of wildlife (deer, turkey, woodpeckers, toads, etc.) as well. The conservation sheriff cruises through every once in a while to make sure no one's doing anything retarded. Its a popular hangout for delinquent kids during the day, so check your grills before you cook. There was piss on one of them once.

This is a very nicely kept park. Although owned by the park district, it really is a…read moreNeighborhood park due to no parking available. They have two sets of swings (one for younger kids and one for older), a small playground area, and a small shelter area with two picnic tables. Surrounding the park is a large green space that many of the local kids play sports on. This park does back up to houses and does not have any large shade trees.

Such a fun and small park! There is a great covered area with seating, and benches surrounding the…read moreplayground but far enough away that you're not in the action. The equipment on the playground is well maintained by the park district, and both my 2 and 4 year old can play fairly independently on most of it.

I have been coming to this park since I was a kid and the growth I have seen in the last 5 years is…read moreincredible. More animals, more events, upgraded facilities. I would highly recommend this park for anyone who wants to hike, enjoy a beautiful playground, see some adorable animals or ride horses.

Obviously this is one of those things that is way better in one's childhood memory than in current…read morereality. I remember walking through the covered bridge over to the children's farm and petting all sorts of animals and riding ponies. We took my 18 month old son today, and found about 4 barns with their windows and doors closed and locked. There was one duck that ventured out of a barn into a fenced area and looked at us. There was one sad horse behind a fence that had an oozing wound on it's leg. There were no employees anywhere in sight. I read on their website that pony rides are only available on Saturdays, and that's fine, but we won't be back. The only reason I gave them 1 star was because they did have one of the largest playgrounds in the area that is good for kids of all sizes, and my son did have a really good time there. Good thing he isn't old enough to be disappointed in what this place has become.

My husband and I visited the Nicholas Conservatory and Gardens on a hot summer day. When you enter,…read morethere is a check-in desk in front of the gift shop and the indoor Conservatory. The indoor area has a lot of plants to look at as well as a lake to enjoy. After touring this garden, you have to go back to the lobby to leave the building to get to the outdoor gardens. This is a terrible traffic pattern. Outside behind the Conservatory are more large gardens. These are well cared for. I caution against going on a hot day because there is very little shade in these gardens. Take the signs posted seriously, I was attacked by a bird while in the garden (thankfully not injured).

On a dreary Sunday in January we came from the Chicago suburbs primarily to see the garden train…read moreexhibit inside the conservatory. Although kind of small, the greenhouse did not disappoint. It is very lush, packed with a lot of tropical plants, trees and flowers. It also has water features, ponds and streams that have fish (koi?) in them. The train displays are super nice. They have miniature Rockford landmarks scattered around and trestle bridges made from sticks and limbs. This place is peaceful, relaxing, and very photogenic. $10 admissions, a bit less for seniors and kids.

First time wakeboarder here. I've skied many times but never got up on a wakeboard. After failing…read moreseveral times I'm happy to report, with the help of the talented and patient staff, I got up and rode for my first time! Came here with my family and we had an absolute blast. Very cool park set up with a cable system. It's tough to initially get the feel of taking off from a dead stop on the dock, but I do like the fact you're level with the water. Once you get a feel for it, the turns are also difficult (for a newbie) but not impossible. For the advanced riders, they have tons of features to ride on (or jump off of). As mentioned, the staff are friendly and helpful. They are all VERY good wakeboarders so they know their stuff. You can bring your own gear or rent from them. They have slow speed sessions or normal sessions, so if you're a beginner, go for the slow. A few small criticisms I had that would be easy to fix: -We came for a slow speed session and I was bummed they bumped up the speed halfway through the session right when I started getting the hang of it and I started falling again. I wish they wouldn't advertise a speed and then change it midway. They did bump it back down at the end of the session, which was good. -I think they need a little more padding on the shore by the first turn. If you fall there, to get onto the shore, you need to walk over rocks and they're painful on bare feet. -Our two younger nephews got a small burn on their shoulder from the life jacket rubbing against them? the adults were fine so not sure what that was about. All in all, a very positive experience for us and Rockford is very lucky to have a place like this! Can't wait to come back!

West Rock is a prime example for how EVERY cable park (and business) should be run. The staff are…read moreall-time, the park layout is incredible, the locals are very friendly, and the vibes simply can't be beat. This family owned & operated business does wonders with the community and is beyond passionate about the wakeboard industry. We travel from CA every season because we LOVE this place so much. I wish it was closer to the west coast, but the location is what makes this place beyond special. If you're looking into trying wakeboarding for the first time, West Rock is BY FAR the most affordable and provides the best experience for any ability level. Ask about their never ever (first timer) classes if you've never ridden before. A private coach will go above and beyond to get you riding and loving the sport as much as we do! Thanks for always delivering a 6 star experience for every day we ride your park!