Rockford

This article or section does not match our manual of style or needs other editing. Please plunge forward, give it your attention and help it improve! Suggested fixes: None specified. Please use the article's talk page to ask questions if you are not sure why this tag was added and whether it is safe to remove it. Rockford [1] is a city in Winnebago County in Northern Illinois. With a population of over 150,000 it is the third largest city in the state. Get in By air Rockford International Airport (IATA: RFD) [2] is served by Allegiant Air [3] with service to four destinations. Chicago O'Hare International Airport (IATA: ORD) [4] is the nearest full-service airport and is directly connected to Rockford by Interstate 90. Dane County Regional Airport (IATA: MSN) [5], in Madison, Wisconsin, is about an hour and 20 minutes north of Rockford in Interstate 39/90 and is served by six airlines. By car Rockford is located at the intersection of US Route 20 and Interstates 90 and 39, just 95 miles east of Dubuque, Iowa, 20 miles south of the Wisconsin border, 60 miles west of Chicago O'Hare International Airport, and 130 miles north of Bloomington. Get around By car Rockford is relatively easy to navigate by car and has little traffic congestion compared to other larger cities. Taxicab services are also available. The three most important roads in Rockford are State Street, which runs from east to west as part of US Highway 20; Main Street, which runs south from downtown to the airport as part of Illinois State Route 2; and Second Street, which runs north from downtown to the Wisconsin border as part of Illinois State Route 251. By transit The Rockford Mass Transit District [6] offers bus service in Rockford, Loves Park and Machesney Park. See When traveling in the Rockford Region, you will see the rolling hills of Northern Illinois, the Rock River and many trees and forests (Rockford is known as The Forest City). Although Rockford has the population of a larger city, it has a small-town feel. Do There are many original restaurants, sites, attractions and events that can only be found in Rockford. Family Fun The Riverfront Museum Park houses three distinct museums: The Burpee Museum of Natural History, home to Jane, the world's most complete juvenile T. rex skeleton; the Discovery Center Children's Museum, ranked fourth in the nation by Child magazine; and Rockford Art Museum, the largest art museum outside of Chicago. Other museums in the area include: Midway Village and Museum Center, Tinker Swiss Cottage, Historic Auto Attractions, Erlander Home Museum and Ethnic Heritage Museum. During the summer, Magic Waters Waterpark, operated by the Rockford Park District, offers families a fun way to cool down in the summer heat. The Rockford IceHogs [7] of the American Hockey League offer an excellent family entertainment option. Arts & Culture The Coronado Performing Arts Center is a historic "atmospheric" style theatre that was built in 1927 and fully restored in 2001. The Coronado offers a full season of Broadway shows, concerts and other performances. The MetroCentre, Rockford's downtown 10,000-seat arena, is home to music, athletic and exposition events. In the summer months, Starlight Theatre on the campus of Rock Valley College features classical and contemporary musical productions. The theatre has a unique mechanical roof that opens out like a blooming flower on clear nights. Rockford also has a symphony orchestra, dance company and several theatre companies. Outdoor Fun Anderson Japanese Gardens is open May through October and was rated the finest Japanese Garden in North America, according to the Roth Journal. Rock Cut State Park is one of the largest state parks in Illinois and features camping, hiking, biking, birding, fishing, horseback riding and kayaking. Klehm Arboretum & Botanic Garden has over 500 different species of trees, shrubs and vines. Rockford also has a large variety of low-cost public and private golf courses. In the fall and winter, locals and visitors enjoy many apple orchards and Christmas tree farms. Events During March, the Midway Village & Museum Center hosts the Sock Monkey Madness Festival featuring vendors, crafts, make-your-own-monkeys, activities, and information on sock monkey history. Rockford hosts an annual rock concert during Memorial Day weekend called Wing Ding. Notable bands such as Buckcherry, Saliva, Breaking Benjamin, P.O.D, and Drowning Pool have performed at this concert. The concert is held by WXRX 104.9FM. Every Labor Day weekend, Rockford hosts On the Waterfront, Illinois' largest outdoor music festival, featuring local, regional and national acts on eight different stages. The second weekend of October brings rowers from around the country for the Baird Head of the Rock Regatta, a premiere national rowing competition. Buy Eat JMK Nippon has decently high quality, reasonably priced sushi. The teppan-yaki is much better than that of such chain restaurants as Benihana, and they even offer traditional Japanese dishes such as sukiyaki and shabu-shabu. This is a must-eat restaurant if business or pleasure brings you to Rockford. The owner Mas, while shy, is very friendly, as is his son John. Go to the Potato Shak in near-by Loves Park, IL, for cheap, cheap, cheap breakfast and lunch options. Breakfast is simple to order: choose option A, B, or C. It'll only run you a couple bucks. And the best bus-boy in the city -Ace- will give you some friendly conversation. The Illinois Machine Shed offers reasonably priced perfectly done basic farm cooking, with huge portions. The Olympic Tavern, @ 2327 N. Main St., has been in business since 1945. They have a world class beer selection, and family-friendly casual fine dining, in a Frank Lloyd Wright architecturally award winning atmosphere, as well as the fine patio in the warmer months. The Olympic is a long standing Rockford tradition. Drink Sleep Comfort Inn Rockford Hotel, 7392 Argus Dr., (815) 398-7061. [8] Located in the American heartland, a delightful mix of sedate country scenery and exciting city life. The hotel is a deluxe three story hotel with sixty-four rooms and suites. Quality Suites Rockford Hotel, 7401 Walton Street, (815) 227-1300. [9] Located one block West of the junction of I-90 and State Street (Bus 20). We are an all suite hotel with 95 spacious and beautiful furnished guestrooms. Sleep Inn Rockford Hotel, 725 Clark Drive, (815) 398 8900. [10] Located near the intersection of US Highway Business 20 (East State Street) and Interstate 90, it is conveniently located in the hub of shopping and dining opportunities in the area. Days Inn of Rockford, IL, 220 S. Lyford Rd. Rockford, IL 61108, ☎ 815 332 4915, [11]. checkin: 3pm; checkout: noon. Fitness center, and free WiFi, free breakfast. $59.00.  edit River House B&B Getaway Retreat (River House Bed and Breakfast Getaway Retreat), 11052 Ventura Boulevard (Exit I-90 at St Hwy 173, travel W approx 8 mi, turn N before crossing Rock River onto Ventura Blvd, go to #11052), ☎ 1-815-636-1884, [12]. checkin: after 4pm; checkout: before 12noon. Happy memories made here! Two waterfront bed and breakfast lodges offer northern Illinois travelers luxury Jacuzzi and fireplace suites for romantic B&B getaways as well as child friendly vacation lodging, group retreat or family reunion accommodations, or short term weekly rental. For romantic weekend, business stay,or entire house rental, find package options for Romantic Getaway, Murder Mystery, Scrapbooking Retreat, Cooking Getaway, Weddings, Group Rentals and Furnished Apartment for extended stay. $109-$229 nightly. (42.380056,-89.053839) edit Get out Routes through Rockford Madison ← Beloit ←  N  S  → Rochelle → Bloomington-Normal Madison ← Beloit ←  W  E  → Elgin → Chicago Dubuque ← Stockton ←  W  E  → Elgin → Chicago This article is an outline and needs more content. It has a template, but there is not enough information present. Please plunge forward and help it grow!