Rockford, IL, Is More Than a Pit Stop. Here’s Where to Play, Eat, and Stay.

One and a half hours from Chicago, Rockford is a fraction of Chicago’s size but offers vibrant threads of history, art, and design (not to mention food, drink, and scenic appeal) that warrant its own place on your next road trip itinerary — and not just as a pit stop.

Things to do in Rockford, Illinois

Frank Lloyd Wright’s Laurent House

You don’t need to be an architecture fan to appreciate the functional elegance of the Laurent House, which 82-year-old Frank Lloyd Wright designed while he was working on the Guggenheim in New York City.

The house, football-shaped and modestly sized compared to other Wright structures, uses windows and edges to bring elements of the outdoors inside and extend the inside to the outside. A window-lined walkway facing the backyard allows sunlight to reflect off a small water feature upward to shimmer on the red tidewater cypress wood-paneled walls and ceiling.

Perhaps most distinctively, the home was proportioned for accessibility, not just style. It was the only house Wright designed for someone who used a wheelchair — Rockford statistician and Navy veteran Kenneth Laurent — so all doorways and passages are at least three feet wide, which made it possible for Laurent to comfortably navigate his home and entertain guests.

Finer details are intricately tied to Rockford’s history. Custom furniture in the house was designed by Wright and made by Rockford artisans. The door hinges throughout the home are actually full-length piano hinges, coming from the three piano manufacturers in Rockford at the time of construction in the early 1950s.

Laurent House Visitor Center: 4627 Spring Brook Rd., Rockford, IL 61114

J.R. Kortman Center for Design and Kortman Gallery

This is not a store of cheap trinkets or pretty but useless home decor. It’s a highly curated selection from diverse design inspirations, where style meets function. The art gallery upstairs features paintings, sculptures, mixed media, books, and more from local artists and select creative minds around the United States.

J.R. Kortman Center for Design and Kortman Gallery: 107 N. Main St., Rockford, IL 61101

Nicholas Conservatory and Gardens

Don’t let this conservatory’s small footprint fool you. Each curve of the walkway inside the Nicholas Conservatory takes you from one continent to another: ginger plants from Asia leading to flowers from Africa, then the cinnamon tree from Sri Lanka to the rainforests of South America. Scan QR codes to get extra details — like quick history, origin, and uses — of various plants around the conservatory.

Nicholas Conservatory and Gardens: 1354 N 2nd St, Rockford, IL 61107

Burpee Museum of Natural History

Fair warning to fans of geology and paleontology: the sands of time pass quickly here. The natural biologist you dreamed of becoming will have more than enough to peruse at the Burpee Museum of Natural History, where multiple floors of exhibits take you through eons of Earth’s geological history. Find corresponding representations of prehistoric flora, fauna, and dinosaurs, plus multimedia on the museum’s fossil excavation discoveries in southeast Montana. Most notable among them are “Homer,” a young triceratops, and “Jane,” the world’s most complete juvenile Tyrannosaurus rex, which you can see in adjoining exhibits on the main floor.

Burpee Museum of Natural History: 737 N Main St, Rockford, IL 61103

Historic Attractions

What does it feel like to walk through eras of American history and culture under one roof? See for yourself in the vast assortment of themed collections at the Historic Attractions museum. It’s a massive study in fascination with the things and the events that have helped to define and shape American history in the past 150 years. Cars, presidents, pop culture icons, wars, entertainers, criminals — they tell a vibrant if wildly disjointed story that is perhaps a very fitting way to synthesize American history.

Historic Attractions: 13825 Metric Rd, Roscoe, IL 61073

Where to eat and drink in Rockford, Illinois

27 Aluna

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27 Aluna may be the restaurant you didn’t know your city needed — especially for late night eating when you want more than salty bar food. Filipino American dishes feel familiar enough for comfort while offering distinct expressions, like the local art decorating the walls.

The food and cocktail menus here intentionally feature fresh juices and fruity flourishes to connect to the Filipino cuisine from which the restaurant draws inspiration. The beef flank mechado (beef stew), with braised potatoes and roasted onions, is savory and rich, counterbalanced by the Aluna Daiquiri’s citrusy ginger kick. The autumnal dessert, red kuri squash brûlée dusted with graham cracker crumbs and Demerara sugar, offers subtle sweetness for a cool fall evening.

For brunch, ube pancakes with toasted coconut and cinnamon whipped cream appeals to the sweet tooth, while pancit umaga morning noodles with sesame chicken, bacon, scrambled eggs, and parmesan cheese may tempt you to rethink what breakfast can be.

27 Aluna: 124 N Main St, Rockford, IL 61101

The Norwegian

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From the outside, The Norwegian is reminiscent of a Scandinavian Christmas market decorated with pine boughs and sparkling string lights. The distinct yellow, white, and red row houses remind you of the waterfront in Bergen, Norway, a clue for the culinary options inside.

Nordic waffles and æbleskiver Danish pancake balls are popular choices on the extensive menu. But the Sea Bord transports you to Scandinavian fresh ocean air, deep green of trees, and salt-crusted fishing boats. The board offers not one but three kinds of fish: pickled herring garnished with mustard seeds, smoked salmon dip, and bright pink slices of gravlax arranged as a rose with sprigs of dill. Build bites of each with house-made chips or rye bread. If you’re inclined, pay homage to Scandinavian ancestors by washing down the salty fish with a shot of traditional caraway-forward aquavit.

The Norwegian: 1402 N Main St, Rockford, IL 61103

Hidden Creek Estates Restaurant and Wine Bar

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You’ve driven north out of Rockford and parked on the gravel lot before a renovated yellow barn. From the winding path, enter the cellar level of the barn and find not horse stables but a dark wood-grain bar, floor-to-ceiling wine storage, an eclectic assortment of dining chairs, and soft lights hung with herbal and floral bouquets.

The family that runs Hidden Creek Estates brought its love of Italian and French wines to the farmland of northern Illinois, highlighting small producers along with dishes that go well beyond expected farm-to-table fare.

The menu is small and seasonal, but your choices will be difficult. For the umami-seeker: mushroom and chestnut royale pâté with figs and charred sourdough. For rich fall spices: empanada del huerto (veggie empanada) with pumpkin mole and pepitas. For a unique and memorable potato preparation: thinly sliced Yukons compressed into a golden yellow brick and dressed in crème fraîche and crispy shallots.

Savory lamb shoulder with house-made pizzarelle pasta, mushrooms, and root vegetables will vie for your attention, as will pork two ways — tenderloin with bean ragout and pork-belly-stuffed black garlic steam bun with baby bok choy. Country dining, in this case, brings a charm and quality of execution any city would be proud to have.

Hidden Creek Estates Restaurant and Wine Bar: 13276 White School Rd., Roscoe, IL 61073

Lino’s at the Mercato

When this family-run restaurant of 50 years saw an opportunity to expand from its primary location by opening a second spot near the enormous sports complex and new medical facility on the northwestern side of Rockford, it took it.

Nostalgic Italian dining amid repurposed shipping containers and an industrial second-level balcony may sound like a juxtaposition, and it is. But you may be more amused than confused as you reach for a slice of Caprese pizza cut tavern-style, baked lasagna smothered in rich tomato basil sauce, and other timeless Italian American dishes.

Survey the large wine list or opt for non-alcoholic Italian beverages, such as the Hugo Spritz made with elderflower. Do not finish dinner without traditional Italian amaro, a diverse array of bittersweet digestifs (Lino’s selection includes orangey Montenegro, Nardini Rabarbaro made with Chinese rhubarb root, and the bracingly minty Fernet-Branca).

Lino’s at the Mercato: 8400 E Riverside Blvd, Loves Park, IL 61111

Prairie Street Brewing Co.

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A historic brick building with green stained-glass windows makes you feel like you’ve entered a brew hall from a bygone era. In a way, you have. Survey the menu to find prominent European styles (Belgian dubbel, dunkel, hefeweizen, kolsch, English stout) alongside contemporary American staples (Midwest IPA, lactose-added sour ales, American lagers) with some brews that dance between Old World and new (like the bourbon barrel-aged barleywine).

A full menu with salads, sandwiches, burgers, pasta, fish, and plant-based options means you can invite a group with diverse preferences and spend the better part of an evening in one of its several spacious rooms, or take in a summer afternoon out on the dockside patio along the Rock River.

Prairie Street Brewing Co.: 200 Prairie St, Rockford, IL 61107

Where to stay in Rockford, Illinois

Embassy Suites Rockford Riverfront

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Stay in a building with historical significance to the region. Embassy Suites Rockford Riverfront inhabits the Ziock Building, which was a manufacturing building dating back to 1912. Once a knitting mill 11 stories high, it was the tallest structure in Rockford. Renovated and reopened in 2020, it’s connected to the Rockford Conference Center and houses Rockford Roasting Company at street level, which means you’re only an elevator ride away from excellent single origin coffees, espresso, and pastries in a bright, modern space.

Walking through its hallways doesn’t feel like walking through a hotel. In suites and rooms, industrial design aesthetics meet warm brickwork and contemporary decor. Multi-paned windows provide expansive views over the river and beyond. Below, waterfront Founders Landing construction will provide multi-use path improvements, a playground, a skatepark, parking, and event space to further establish the riverside as a destination and interconnected hub for the city.

Embassy Suites Rockford Riverfront: 416 S Main St., Rockford, IL 61101

Guest Houses at Hidden Creek Estates

Among the fields and wooded groves 30 minutes outside Rockford, Hidden Creek Estates is the place you go to feel like you’re coming home, or coming to the home of someone who’s invited you to a curated gathering. Or it’s where you invite a family or friend group to celebrate a wedding or special event and stay on the premises without sacrificing charm or sophistication.

Four guest homes sit in close proximity to the Hidden Creek Estates restaurant and events venue, offering convenient and elegant comforts to families and groups. Choose from the three-bedroom Cottage, four-bedroom Oak View with a hot tub and game room, four-bedroom French Hen country estate, and six-bedroom That 70s House to take a groovy step back in time.

Walk the paths connecting several of the properties and notice chickens, goats, and bees, which you may think of while eating eggs, honey, fresh fruit, and pastries from the morning breakfast platter — delivered to your doorstep in a fine touch of hospitality.

Hidden Creek Estates: 13276 White School Rd., Roscoe, IL 61073

How to get to and around Rockford, Illinois

Rockford plays host to a small international airport (RFD) while Chicago’s larger O’Hare International Airport (ORD) is a little over 70 miles and one hour away by car.

Downtown Rockford is walkable and fairly compact. Start on State Street and the riverfront. About one square mile of exploration will bring you to entertainment venues (Coronado Theater, BMO Center); museums (Rockford Art Museum, Burpee Museum of Natural History); breweries (Prairie Street Brewing, Carlyle Brewing Co.); and numerous bars, restaurants, art studios and boutique shops.

Driving around Rockford is quick and easy. Parking is plentiful and usually free. Public transit coverage is sparse, but Uber, Lyft, and taxis are available (though they may be hard to find if you’re out late).

However, to arrive or get around Rockford, it’s a place that weaves a noteworthy tapestry of art and culture. And it’s worth making a destination, not just a stopover. Come hungry and curious.