So much to do, so little time! What interests you? How do you like to spend your free time? Do you like to relax? Well, close your eyes and imagine yourself surrounded by tall Pagoda's, shimmering ponds and verdant greenery. Believe it or not, you aren't in Japan. You're standing in The Anderson Japanese Gardens, ranked the "top Japanese garden in North America" and located in Rockford, Illinois! Twelve full acres of paths, gardens, streams, waterfalls and more make the Anderson Japanese Gardens a sight to behold. The fact that it is located in the Midwest and not the Orient just adds to its allure and is another reason why Rockford Illinois is not the city it seems!
But Rockford Illinois isn't just an area for hiking and picnics although certainly you can find all of that and more. The city is a shopper's paradise for anyone who wants to visit rockford il. If you're interest is in antiques and second hand items, you'll want to pencil in an appointment at the semi-annual antique show conducted at rockford illinois' Winnebago County fairgrounds. There you can find antiques that run the high and low end of fashion. The history of rockford illinois may only span a couple of hundred years, but in that time a lot of quality antiques have circulated among the hands of dealers and collectors alike. If you want a more organized setting perhaps the East State Street Antique Mall will be more to your liking. Or if it's a flea market you're looking for than check out the Rockford Flea Market.
Are the kids tugging t your sleeve? Do you need to come up with something fast that will satisfy your children's appetite for fun and excitement? Don't worry because you'll have your hands full with activities for the kids when visit rockford il. How about the nation's second-largest public water park? Or how about the thrills and chills of NASCAR racing? Or maybe you enjoy water sports? If that doesn't quite hook your child's interest than maybe standing face-to-face with a 65 million year old tyrannosaur sound? From the Badlands of Montana to a museum in rockford illinois, nicknamed "Jane the dinosaur" by scientists, she's one of the most significant finds in the world of paleontology. Better your get your camera's out because you're going to need it!
Well b now maybe you're realizing that rockford Illinois isn't your typical small Midwestern town. It is in fact a melting pot of diverse cultures. Would you believe that there was a time when the Swedish language was spoken almost as fluently as English? It's true. Other cultures have been readily embraced and are broken down accordingly:
German - 18%
Black or African American - 17%
Irish - 10%
Swedish - 9%
Mexican - 8%
English - 7%
Italian - 6%
Norwegian, Polish, French, Dutch, Scottish and Scotch-Irish represent between 1 - 3 percent respectively of the local population of Rockford Illinois. It's easy to see that the city of Rockford has an ancestral heritage that is worth being proud of!
Rockford Illinois may not have the glitz and glitter of nearby Chicago. But what it does have are people who have joined together to make this city worth finding, visiting and living in!