Working in Rockford this week and I just happened to find this beautiful park beside the river…read more There were quite a few people enjoying the park on this weekend afternoon, and the weather was beautiful. Bike trails, picnic tables, and many benches along the river. This park is very well maintained. The Nicholas Conservatory is at one end of the park, and while I didn't have time to visit it today I hope the next time I am in Rockford.

Beautiful area along the river in Rockford with a lot to do and look at. It should be on the list…read morefor anyone coming here to hang. Sinnissippi Park is one of the most visited places in town. For sure it's no surprise because there's so much in it. The Rockmen Guardians, Nicholas Conservatory, and the gardens are the biggest highlights but there's lots more to it to come do stuff. At the western end are the Rockmen Guardians. It's worth going along the riverfront path to get some pictures. The Conservatory is the grandest thing in the entire park though. Inside there's plenty of plant life including flowers and trees, as well as animal life, including butterflies, koi fish, and swans. They charge an admission though. Just north of this is the lagoon, where there's a rose garden. The east side of the park has a golf course, and there's also a Scandinavian cemetery if you're looking for history. Have to visit this park if you're seeing what's in the city. It's got a lot of the best stuff that's around here. This is great for getting some exercise or whatever.

Midway village is great. They have a free walking path and grassy field area open to the public,…read morewhich is beautiful in the spring, summer and fall. The walking path is about a mile around which is a great distance for us. They also have a veterans memorial off the side of the path. Next door they have a museum which I've never been to, but I have been to a wedding nearby and it was a really nice backdrop. I know they have lots of events here throughout the year, including a WWII re-enactment that people from all over the state and region come to. Definitely a place worth checking out.

Worth a visit and we didn't even see everything here!…read more If you're a fan of "A League of Their Own" you need to come see the exhibit about the Rockford Peaches and the All American Girls Professional Baseball League. There's also info about the history of the sock monkey and red heeled socks which are from Rockford, in addition to information about Camp Grant and other local history. We didn't go through the historical village part, but we did check out the dollhouse museum (apparently the collection of one person, but there wasn't really any information about them in the building and no one manning this space). The gift shop is small but well appointed (they need a penny smasher, though!) People can also rent spaces/venues here; there were two weddings happening here the day we were there! A nice smaller local history museum.

This is a lovely little park on Decatur Lake, at the Dam. There are some really impressive bluffs…read moreand cliffs. Be careful, they're easy to fall down! It's a nice place for a picnic lunch if you are in the area. Hint: On the other side of the dam, to the east, is the mill race park. This is a beautiful long mill race that used to deliver water to the old mill and hydro plant down river in the city of Brodhead. It's a great place for a walk, dog friendly, and very nice kayaking! Just lovely

nice beach right by botanical garden, water isnt too dirty, perfect for kids. definitely will go…read moreback

This beach could be beautiful and from afar, it is! However, once you set your foot in the sand,…read moreyou spend the whole time trying not step in goose sh*t. I hope they get someone to clean the beach before it opens officially. They have nice places to sit which are surrounded in goose poop, unfortunately. There is a concession stand and a dock for kayaking. Also, it's right next door to the botanical gardens!

Decent Disc Golf Course! It's the only 18 hole course in the area so I have frequented there quite…read morea bit! It's pretty well kept up! During the summer, BRING BUG SPRAY! It gets bad being so close to the Rock River. I couldn't believe Lustig wasn't already set up on Yelp before I created it!

Best place there is in Rockford to bring a dog. It may not be that big of a park, but for dogs it's…read moreenough. Searls Dog Park is located along Central Avenue and is a part of a larger park. Has a few amenities including water and poop bags. There's a few things to do before visiting. A thing to know about using this park is that it costs money to bring a dog. It's about $30 a year for residents. Those coming from outside the city can get a daily permit. A permit is good for all the dog parks in the city. In addition, dogs need to be vaccinated from rabies. Amenities are a good thing, and there's a few for the dogs. There's a few water fountains, and poop bags can be found. Great place for a dog and their companion. It's got plenty more than just a grassy area to poop in. There's also a few trails.

Great spot to take our little guy! He loves it here. A very spacious main area with lots of trails…read morebehind it. They have water available on site, as well as many tables and a shelter to congregate with any two legged friends we may have here. We didn't realize awesome spots like this existed in Rockford before having a dog. And it's surprisingly affordable! You can either get a year-long membership ( That includes all three parks) for I think $30 or $40, or you can come once and try it out for around $3. This kind of place is just another reason to love Rockford and it's park district!

This is a really nice trail just south of the Wisconsin border. The Badger State trail connects to…read morethis approximately 17 mile long cinder trail. We rode this recently after an early morning of rain and the trail was in great condition with no puddles anywhere. A well drained trail. There are only a few benches along the trail and one area with more seating about 3/4 of the way south of the border. There are a few parking spots along the route but the largest is at the south end of the trail with a large area and a bathroom. Nicely done.

I was doing some research for bike trails in NW IL and wanted to find one that would be suitable…read morefor my nine year old. He's a decent biker but I didn't wan't a trail with swooping hills that would make it tough for a longer ride. The Jane Addams trail is as flat as can be without any hills in the section we biked, which was from the Wes Block Trailhead up to Orangeville, IL. The Jane Addams trail is 17 total miles in length and can be picked up at numerous streets and towns along the way. Two popular starting locations at the south end of the trail are Tutty's Crossing in downtown Freeport and the Wes Block Trailhead on the northwest side of town. From the Wes Block parking lot we proceeded north. We quickly found the trail to be exactly what we wanted. The path is smooth and easy to ride, and pretty well maintained (very little debris). The majority of the trail has tree canopy but you can also find the sun in many spots. Farmland, ponds, marshes, forests and rivers primarily envelope the trail on both sides. Four small communities are found directly along the path heading north from Freeport. The trail itself is beautiful. It's very flat and very smooth, and works well for children. You're one with nature on this path and will likely spot numerous birds, insects and animals along the way. We crossed paths with a frog (which my son nearly rolled over) a hummingbird, cows and some other stuff. There are other interesting sites to see including some old barns and structures, a train car, twenty+ bridges, and a few sections where you're between rock walls, which was one of our favorite parts of the trail. The JA trail didn't have a whole lot of traffic when we went. I believe we saw maybe four other bikers during our 11 mile ride north to Orangeville. Despite the lack of riders we saw several benches along the way, even a port-a-potty at one stop. Bring your own amenities (food/water) though, as the only two places you'll find either are in Freeport and Orangeville. If you're looking for a quiet and peaceful ride with a great escape into nature this is a great trail to experience. We rode the balance of the trail including over 22 miles and found every stretch of it to be perfect. Cheers!

I've been here twice. There are a different kinds of trampolines, foam pit, and obstacle course…read moreclimbing area. The price is reasonable for two hours of fun. I like that they allow adults to use the trampolines also. Highly recommended.

Do NOT go here! I purchased 7 jump tickets via their website and, upon arrival, the ENTIRE site is…read moreunder construction and half closed down, but their on-line site is charging their full rate without an explanation that they are rebranding or changing ownership to a new concept with half the place shut down. That practice is a racket, dishonest, and reprehensible. They are, I guess, trying to transition to Ninja Kidz--but I will never come back here. And it was dirty and gross.