Meet Daniel
When did you move to the Rockford area?
Born and raised in Rockford. Moved back in 2013.
What are your hobbies or interests?
Riding at West Rock, hanging with my family, staying outside—doing something fun and active with friends.
What is your favorite restaurant in Rockford?
Too many to list. Rockford is a solid town for food.
What’s the best place to grab pizza in Rockford?
Primo's is our favorite. It’s in our neighborhood and is consistently great pie after pie.
What’s one piece of advice you’d give to someone new to Rockford?
It has its challenges (that you’re likely already aware of), but very few cities can boast what we can in terms of strategic location. Live and make your life here, but make the most of the fact that you’re so close to some incredible natural resources and big, amazing cities.
What’s your favorite fall activity or attraction in the area?
One of the many orchards. Having lived in the Northeast for many years, ours compete with any orchard in the U.S.
What’s your favorite winter activity or attraction in the area?
We’re a basketball family, so we spend a lot of time in the gym. But we also love getting out in the snow to make the most of winter—visiting regional ski resorts.
What’s your favorite summer activity or attraction in the area?
Duh. West Rock! @westrockwakepark
What’s a fun or random fact about you?
I majored in Biology and Chemistry, was going to go into medicine, but ended up working in fashion. I still work in the fashion industry to this day.
What do you think makes Rockford such a great place to live?
Its location is so great: Madison, Milwaukee, Chicago, Galena, the Driftless area, etc. There are so many amazing places within a few hours away, and Rockford is right in the middle of it.
What is your occupation?
Fashion model & cable park owner.
What is your ethnicity?
A mutt.
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?
(Not my quote) "There’s no such thing as bad weather, just bad equipment." Get out and enjoy it with the right gear.
What is your favorite local event or festival?
Stroll on State!
What’s the best place to go for a night out in Rockford?
A show downtown, dinner, drinks, etc.
What’s one hidden gem in the Rockford area that you’d recommend?
All of the forest preserves and parks that are amazing for hiking and getting into nature.
What’s your favorite thing about the Rockford community?
Diverse and motivated to continue to improve our town.
If you had a free day in Rockford, what would you do?
Most of the year, it would be laps at West Rock. The community is diverse and so fun. All walks of life and ages on the dock.
Where’s the best place to enjoy nature in or around Rockford?
One of many parks in the Park District, Forest Preserves, Rock Cut, etc.
What’s your favorite local small business or shop?
As a small business owner, I’d get in trouble for leaving someone out here. So many good ones doing "their thing!"—making Rockford better every year.
What’s the best way to get involved in the community?
Simply show up to what’s already going on. Too many folks get into their rhythms of life and don’t try what our community has to offer. Check out @gorockford and just say "yes" to showing up to things you wouldn’t typically do. Our faith is important to us, so if you are a person of faith, then get involved in one of many great churches. We attend Redemption City and have such amazing families to do life with.
What’s one thing you wish you knew when you first moved to Rockford?
Get out and try what Rockford has to offer sooner rather than later, and then explore what is just a car ride away in Illinois and Wisconsin.