The Go Rockford Convention & Visitors Bureau set me up
with a full schedule of things to do in Rockford. Fortunately, I had Brittany
and Amanda to help me out.
One of the facts we were learning about Rockford is about
the large Norwegian and Swedish population that came here. There was a direct
link from Ellis Island to Rockford, Illinois, because of the industry here and
many of those immigrants established
themselves and remained in the area.
Our breakfast was at The Norwegian, known for authentic
food, homemade jams, and even their own mocha sauce (delicious in a mocha
latte). They also have a stage for music.
We had our first taste of Æbleskiver, Danish pancake balls. They
were quite good, as was the omelet and steak & eggs.
After breakfast we drove to Riverfront Museum Campus. We started at the Discover Center Museum. It’s a great family
outing as the exhibits appeal to all ages.
There are also plenty of hands-on
activities to keep kids busy, such as a two-story maze and rope climbing.
The Discover Center Museum also honors Astronaut
Janice Voss, a Rockford native, and has learning experiences about hospitals
and agriculture.
I set Brittany and Amanda to explore
the Burpee Museum of Natural History. They are most known for their dinosaur
exhibits, some of which were created by skeletons found by the museum’s own
researchers.
Rockford’s Museum Campus also has an
Art Museum, but we didn’t have time to go there.
Our next stop was the most anticipated
of the day: West Rock Wake Park. I had never heard of wake boarding in Central
Illinois and this place has it organized for all ages and skills.
The activity is best described as a
combination of water skiing, surfing, and ziplining, as you are holding on to a
rope as you balance on a board in the water.
According to my companions, it is
easier than it sounds, and I have to agree with their assessment since they
were up riding within a short time of their lessons.
Both loved it and definitely want to
do it again. After taking lessons and
mastering the ability to stand up on your own, you can by a season pass at West
Rock Wake Park and come as often as you’d like. You do not need to buy any
equipment as passholders can use the boards, vests, and helmets at the park.
I was impressed with the attention to those
with special needs here, as told to me by a mother who brings her autistic son regularly for
lessons. She said he has thrived since the regular wakeboarding.
After showers and rest time back at
the Radisson Hotel and Conference Center, we had dinner at Lino’s. The
family-owned restaurant, which has been in Rockford over 40 years, gave us an
amazing, authentic Italian meal, something I don’t get a lot of in the Midwest
(unless I cook it).
We started with a liter of their house
Chablis and Lino's salad, which included Italian sausage, along with garlic
bread. Brittany and Amanda raved over the Shrimp Dejonghe Appetizer, followed
by spaghetti and meatballs and chicken parmigiana. I thought the lasagna was
wonderful.
It was another full and fun day in Rockford, and we were looking
forward to another one coming up.
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