Meet Allie
When did you move to the Rockford area?
Born and raised here. Left for college and then moved across the country to Portland, OR. After 10 years away, I moved back to Rockford in 2014.
What are your hobbies or interests?
Cooking from scratch with minimally processed whole and local foods, hunting for the best hiking trails in our numerous forest preserves, baking with my kids and licking the spatula, filling our calendar with awesome family events in and around town, supporting live music, etc.
What is your favorite restaurant in Rockford?
Home 🤣
What’s the best place to grab pizza in Rockford?
Haven't really found "the one." We keep trying. There are dozens of pizza places, and we've barely skimmed the surface. Lino's pizza served fresh in the restaurant is fantastic, especially paired with live music!
What’s one piece of advice you’d give to someone new to Rockford?
As with most things, you get out of it what you put in. Look for the good and you will find it. Focus on the bad and it will cloud your lens. Ever heard of Ugly Fruit? Rockford is kind of like that. 😉 Might not look so great on the outside, but give it a squeeze. It's cheaper than other options, and the juice is still sweet.
What’s your favorite fall activity or attraction in the area?
You-pick apples at Valley Orchard, cider and apple slingshot at Curran's Orchard, and warm cider donuts at Edward's Orchard!
What’s your favorite winter activity or attraction in the area?
Stroll On State, specifically writing letters to Santa (and receiving one back in the mail!).
What’s your favorite summer activity or attraction in the area?
Nancy Olson's Children's Garden at Klehm Arboretum. Also, the fireworks are stupendous, and I've seen fireworks in many different cities and states. Rockford still takes the cake.
What’s a fun or random fact about you?
I can still do a standing split. I used to ride motorcycles across the country until I had my kids. My husband and I once slept on the rim of the Grand Canyon and woke up at sunrise to an entire busload of international tourists in "our living room" aka the rock clearing overlook. In college, I ran on top of a moving train in heels in the dark and obviously lived to tell the tale. Oh, and I am extremely good at catching kids' puke and saving furniture or car/airplane seats from getting sprayed.
What do you think makes Rockford such a great place to live?
The people. It really is a big small town if that makes sense. You can strike up a conversation with anyone, and before you know it, you'll mention a so-and-so and turns out you've gone to school with someone's little brother, and boom—you have a connection.
What is your occupation?
Teacher turned SAHM (Stay-at-Home Mom).
What stage of life are you in?
Professional/school-age children.
How do you prefer to meet or connect?
Hybrid (a mix of both).
What’s your best advice for someone experiencing their first winter in Rockford?
This winter is projected to be mild, so you picked a good year to ease into it. Always leave extra drive time and extra space between you and the car ahead of you if the temp is near freezing. Black ice is no joke.
What is your favorite local event or festival?
Boone County Fair is pretty great.
What’s the best place to go for a night out in Rockford?
Oh gosh, I wouldn't know—we hardly go out anymore.
What’s one hidden gem in the Rockford area that you’d recommend?
You-picks all summer! Don't miss Skelly's in Janesville for strawberries!
What’s your favorite thing about the Rockford community?
It's incredibly diverse, and everyone can find their group here
If you had a free day in Rockford, what would you do?
Sleep. Sorry, that was just the mom of young children answering before thinking.
Where’s the best place to enjoy nature in or around Rockford?
Blackhawk Springs, Atwood, Severson Dells, Rock Cut—to name a few.
What’s your favorite local small business or shop?
Right now, it's Great Harvest Bread Co. because their bread is freaking amazing. It smells like heaven when you open the door, heck even in the parking lot, and they give you a free slice of bread, too!
What’s the best way to get involved in the community?
Join a church, volunteer at your kid's school, introduce yourself to your neighbors, ask coworkers for recommendations.
What’s one thing you wish you knew when you first moved to Rockford?
That 40 years later, I'd still be here.