City of Gardens: Day 2

Springtime! The perfect time to see the City of Gardens in Rockford, Illinois.

NEIGHBORHOOD GARDEN TOUR

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DAY TWO

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STOCKHOLM INN – BREAKFAST
Start the day with some of Rockford’s Scandinavian heritage and a plate of delicious Swedish pancakes. It’s all at the Stockholm Inn, where every meal is made from scratch and everyone leaves with a smile on their face. Costs range from $5 - $10 pp.

NICHOLAS CONSERVATORY & GARDENS, SINNISSIPPI GARDENS & RECREATION TRAIL
Next you’ll be driven to the cheerful riverside garden spot, Nicholas Conservatory & Gardens with an 11,000 square foot exhibition area with water features, seating areas and sculptures in a tropical setting, and Sinnissippi Gardens, whose attractions include an annual garden meticulously planted with colorful bedding plants, a floral clock planted each year with thousands of annuals and an accredited rose garden. All this is adjacent to a beautiful 10-mile walking path along the Rock River. Benches line the path so you can walk as much or as little as you’d like. No charge, allow 1-1/2 – 2 hours

LUNCH

NATURAL LAND GARDEN – MIDWAY VILLAGE MUSEUM 
Stretch your legs with a walk through the Natural Land Garden at Midway Village Museum. This fascinating replication of the native grasses and plants found when the settlers arrived in the upper Midwest will not only be interesting but is lovely to view. While you’re their, enjoy any of the many permanent and traveling exhibits at the museum including the “Socks, Monkeys and Rockford’s Industrial Past” exhibit. Costs: $5 pp for groups of 20 or more, $3 for ages 3-17 (Allow 1-1/2 – 2 hours; Escorts and drivers are complimentary)

ROTARY GARDENS (Beloit, WI)
Expand your tour across the state line to Beloit, WI, and visit the Rotary Gardens, a 15-acre botanical garden. The Gardens are dedicated to international peace and friendship, signified by the 20-foot sculpture at the garden entrance and showcase a variety of internationally themed and specialty gardens. Tulips, tulips & more tulips welcome spring in all its glory. You may choose a guided tour, or if you prefer to have your group go at its own-pace, a self-guided tour is also available. After exploring the ‘world’ gardens, make sure to leave time to browse the wonderful gift shop located in the new visitors center.

POETRY GARDEN (Beloit, WI)
The Poetry Garden is located on the campus of Beloit College (the oldest college in continuous service in the state of Wisconsin). Designed by world-famous public artist Siah Armajani, the garden features specially designed benches and tables among beautiful flowers. In the spring there are hundreds of flowering tulips lining the paths of the 14,000-square-foot garden. You and your group will be able to relax and renew your souls. A wonderful ‘potted’ lunch, complete with a seed packet, will greet your guests.

ANGEL MUSEUM (Beloit, WI)
With more than 7,500 angels on display, the Angel Museum is considered the largest privately-held angel collection in the US, possibly in the world. The museum also includes over 500 angels donated from Oprah Winfrey’s private collection.

Click HERE to go to Visit Beloit.

Depart for home or stay another night and monkey around at our other great attractions. Additional stops might include:

 

 Forest City Queen

Tinker Swiss Cottage Museum

For assistance in planning your trip to Rockford, contact
Lindsay Whale, Group Tour Sales Executive
Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau
800.521.0849 or lwhale@gorockford.com

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