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Rockford was - and
still is to a great degree - an industrial town. They have worked hard
to expand a limited inventory of attractions into a magnet for tourists.
Their philosophy is neatly wrapped up in this statement on the web site
of the Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau: "The mission
of RACVB is to achieve pre-eminent destination stature for the Rockford
Region." Then, toward the bottom of that page you see, "We
make smiles!" and you can't help breaking out into a smile
yourself. Now only if their web site were easier to read.
Anderson
Japanese Gardens - If you've been following our accounts from
Seattle you may have concluded that we like gardens. Our grandchildren
do, too, now. Not only are they quiet, cool and relaxing but they are a
lesson in life. It is amazing what plants can - and will - do to
survive. Our favorite kind of garden is the Japanese garden. Until our
stop at the Anderson Japanese Gardens we had thought that the best two
were on the two coasts: Portland and Brooklyn.
Twelve acres of Japanese Garden! Isn't that the antithesis of a
Japanese Garden? They're supposed to be small. Never, in your strolls
around these gardens, do you get the feeling of hugeness. And to sit in
the enchanting tea house and gaze about you seems to completely shut out
the rest of the world.
Actually, as it was explained to us, there are two gardens: one
patterned after an ancient Kamakura period garden and a newer, the
Garden of Reflection which was 'patterned' after the Japanese style
gardens. Quite frankly, it all looked 'Japanese' to us but the
'Reflection' garden did have more ponds and three golden angel statues
which, obviously, are not Japanese.
Open (May through October) 10a to 5p weekdays; 10a to 4p
Saturdays and noon to 4p Sundays. Admission is $5 for the big guys, $3
for 'students'; kids 4 and under are free.
For more information, phone 1-815-229-9390 or visit their web
site: AndersonGardens.
From I-90 eastbound, take exit 66 and turn right following
Riverside to Alpine Road. Turn left and follow Alpine (southbound)
and drive to Spring Creek Road. Turn right, stay in the right lane. The
entrance is at Park View Road which is just before the IL-251
interchange.
From I-90 westbound, take exit 63 and turn right on State Street
(US-20-Business). Drive to Alpine Road and turn right. Heading north,
drive to Spring Creek Road and turn left. Staying in the right lane,
drive westbound to the entrance at Park View Road ( just before the
IL-251 interchange).
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in column 2)
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(continued
from column 1)
Burpee Museum of
Natural History - Meet a life-size Tyrannosaurus Rex plus a Woolly
Mammoth (skeletal casts). Watch a series of animated dioramas included a
thunder storm in an ancient forest. Who says museums can't be exciting!
Open 10a to 5p Monday through Saturday; noon to 5p Sunday.
Admission is $4; For kids $3.
For more information, phone 1-815-965-3433 or visit their web
site: BurpeeMuseum.
From
I-90 eastbound, take exit 66 and turn right following Riverside all
the way to the Rock River, across the bridge and to Main Street (IL-2
which is 4 blocks beyond the bridge). Turn left on Main and follow it
southbound to Boilvin where Main becomes one way - the wrong way - so
you have to jog to the right 1 block and continue on Church Street. When
you pass Whitman Street, go 2 more blocks to Locust. Turn left, go 1
block and turn left again onto Main. The museum is mid-block on your
right at 737 N. Main.
From
I-90 westbound, take exit 63 and turn right on State Street
(US-20-Business). Drive all the way to the
Rock River, across the bridge and to Main Street. Be sure to follow the
US-20 signs because State Street makes a half turn and becomes Jefferson
Street just after Longwood. Turn right and
drive north on Main to the museum
at 737 N. Main (3½
blocks from US-20
Business.
Discovery Center
Museum - Another favorite stop of ours - at least when accompanied
by 6 to 12 year-olds - is the 'children's ('discovery') museum. And
Rockford, too, has one. Over 200 'hands-on' displays in which they can
get involved, have fun, vent some of that stored up energy, and learn
something worthwhile. Rockford's Discovery Center has been: "Recognized
as one of the top 10 science museums in the country by Child
Magazine". This is a well developed complex, - even has its own
planetarium plus a giant, multi-level playground with a hands-on twist.
Open 10a to 5p Tuesday through Saturday; noon to 5p Sundays. $4
to get in; $3 for the kids.
For more information, phone 1-815-963-6769 or visit their web
site: DiscoveryCenter.
The Discovery Center is in the same complex as the Burpee Museum
so follow the directions to the Burpee Museum (see
above) to get here.
Trolley Car #36
- You've seen them in the movies and on TV. Now you can ride one of
these old, open air trolley cars as it clangs its way along the Rock
River and loops around through the old industrial area (just like in the
movies, guys) and Sinnissippi Park.
Fare i $4; $3.50 for kids (what happened to the nickel fares?).
Departs from Riverside Park at 324 N. Madison Street.
For more information, phone 1-815-987-8894 or visit the web page
at TrolleyCar.
Note: If you visit that web page you will also see they have a boat ride
on the Rock River: the Forest City Queen. If you're interested in that,
too, you can read the details on the web page.
From
I-90 westbound, take exit 63 and turn right on State Street
(US-20-Business). Drive westbound to Madison Street which is the next
street after 1st Street. Turn right and the park - and trolley - will be
on your left.
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