The Best Places To See in Rockford

What a lovely way to spend an afternoon. The gardens are beautifully manicured and there are intimate seating areas along the path to talk with a friend or have a quiet moment to yourself. I enjoyed listening to the waterfalls and watching the Koi gracefully swim in the ponds. The turtles, chipmunks, bumblebees and butterflies entertained me during my visit. The gift shop had such a unique collection of Japanese wares in addition to books and games for children.

Hands down, it's a great place for kids! There are plenty of things for the kids to see and be hands-on with. The building is two levels and on the upper level you have a special section just for toddlers called Tot's Spot where they can play with things on their level. There is a play house, play area where kids put together (play) pizzas and wear an outfit (donated by Papa John's). There is a water area where you can let your tots play with the water toys.

I love this place! The gardens are so well cared for and pruned so beautifully that they're ideal for pictures, and just a fun place to enjoy the nice weather. I've never been inside because the outside is gorgeous as is. The rose garden smells wonderful. If you walk towards the river, the bike path is right there and you can run, walk, or cycle along it with the gardens and statues/sculptures on one side and the river on the other. Such a perfect place!