24 Hours in Rockford – The Must-Do, Don’t-Miss Bucket List
If you are short on time and want to make the most of your visit, here are some must-do Rockford attractions you can enjoy comfortably in one day. The stops on this bucket list are as close as they are unique: everything is within 2 miles of downtown. So, get ready to be wowed—from finding your zen at a Japanese garden, to a step back in baseball history, to a one–of–a–kind dinosaur skeleton, to the transformation of an 1850s brewery into the perfect spot to grab a drink and catch some of the best views in the city.
Revive at Anderson Japanese Gardens
Start your day soaking in serenity at a 12–acre oasis consistently recognized as one of the best Japanese gardens in the USA. Stroll by koi ponds, rippling streams, gentle waterfalls, raked gravel gardens, stone lanterns, and beautifully trained pines. The tranquility of 16th-century Japan beckons.
Spell ROCKFORD Over Lunch
Grab lunch at Ernie’s Midtown Pub, a neighborhood tavern overflowing with tributes to Rockford history. Pulling up, you’ll see a mural of the city’s name, each letter built from symbols representing Rockford’s place in sports and industry. (Peep the sock monkey on the K.) Inside, refuel with favorites like Ernie’s pastrami Reube, and check out memorabilia from the first IceHogs game.
Dinner on the Rock River
Relax and plan your return to Rockford over dinner at the historic downtown Prairie Street Brewhouse, lovingly restored by local architects and artisans. Enjoy a house flight and locally sourced seasonal dishes inside on seats made from reclaimed 1850s timbers, or dine on the deck for incredible nighttime views of the city and the beautiful Rock River.
Photo-Op at Peaches’ Stadium
For a home run of a stop, seek out Beyer Stadium, where the real-life Rockford Peaches played. Beyer Stadium, partially restored from its 1943 to 1954 glory, honors the women’s baseball pioneers immortalized in the classic film A League of Their Own. Strike a pose in front of the historic field’s original ticket booth.
Say Hey to Jane, the Juvenile T. Rex!
The world’s best preserved and most complete skeleton of a young Tyrannosaurus rex–named Jane by the team of Burpee paleontologists that found this mega–fossil– anchors Burpee Museum of Natural History, one of three museums at Rockford’s riverfront museum campus. Learn what the discovery of this ancient adolescent means for our understanding of dinosaurs. Then, take the tunnel to the Rockford Art Museum and Discovery Center Museum; the latter is a must for families with young children.