Fall is the perfect time to get on the water and explore the beautiful colors! From rivers to ponds, being on the water is the number one way to view the beautiful fall foliage in the Rockford region…
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When we think about fall we think cozy sweaters, hot lattes, pretty leaves, apple cider and more. Well come to find out, we perfectly described the Rockford region! If you haven’t yet, you will fall in love with the 8-1-5 this autumn…
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As a college student, trips home are always the best. I get to see my family again, relax, and I’m back in the 815. I recently got to come home for Easter weekend, and one of my favorite people to hang out with (my mom) and I decided to check out Rock Cut State Park. Neither of us had been there despite being lifelong citizens of the Rockford area, and let me tell you, we have been missing out…
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We’ve been “All In for Illinois” during the pandemic, but as we hit the unofficial start of summer, we’re ready to enjoy our state safely. Check-in every Tuesday for an Illinois Road Trip Round-Up on themed topics showcasing sixteen destinations across Illinois. This week, we’re touring some of the state's top public gardens! So pack up the family, bring your masks, and get ready for a road trip…
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We’ve been “All In for Illinois” during the pandemic, but as we hit the unofficial start of summer, we’re ready to enjoy our state safely. Check-in every Tuesday for an Illinois Road Trip Round-Up on themed topics showcasing sixteen destinations across Illinois. This week, we’re bringing you the state’s top hiking and biking trails! So pack up the family, bring your masks, and get ready for a road trip…
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The forest preserves are filled with fascinating sights, sounds and scents as spring emerges. Woodland wildflowers are beginning to bloom, hundreds of bird species are migrating through and nesting, frogs are calling, streams are babbling and insects return. What can you discover in your 43 Forest Preserves of Winnebago County…
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Now that summer is in full swing, everyone in Rockford is itching to get outside and enjoy the warm…
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It’s nearing the middle of July and that means TWO things … (1) There are LESS than 5 months until…
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Every year around the middle to end of March, there are two little groups of daffodils that start to…
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When people talk about the spectacular fall colors in the Forest Preserves of Winnebago County, many times they are referring to our maple forests. The maple trees’ yellow, orange and red leaves create swaths of blazing color among the oaks’ subtler browns in our woodlands. Prior to settlement in the early 1800s, maple trees, which are fire intolerant, grew only in areas protected from natural fires, such as river corridors. As a result, maples were relatively scarce. In the last 200 years of human fire suppression, maples have become much more abundant throughout our wooded lands…
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