Jetsettersblog

If you’re planning a trip to Chicago and are looking to keep the costs down why not include a day or two in the city of Rockford. Located just 90 minutes from the cosmopolitan area of Chicago lies the hidden gem of Rockford with a host of free activities available for ages.

Rock Cut State Park
Rock Cut State Park is set in 3,092 acres containing two lakes; Pierce Lake, with 162 acres ideal for fishing, ice fishing and ice skating; and Olson Lake, with 50 acres ideal for swimming. The park is open all year round and as such has activities available whatever the weather.

There is an array of fauna and flora perfect for photographers, with the opportunity of seeing an array of birds; deer; fox; muskrat; woodchuck and beavers, to name but a few.

Rock Cut State Park also offers an extensive trail system with 40 miles of hiking; 23 miles of mountain biking and 14 miles of equestrian trails. With so much on offer follow the link to find out more http://www.dnr.state.il.us/lands/landmgt/parks/r1/rockcut.htm

Rockford Art Museum
Every Tuesday Rockford Art Museum is open for free to the public. As one of the largest gallery spaces in the state, Rockford Art Museum will provide hours of interest with its numerous galleries including Funderburg and Kuller galleries featuring mainly regional and national artwork and Anderson Gallery featuring the changing displays of the museum’s permanent collection. For further information visit http://www.rockfordartmuseum.org

Tinker Swiss Cottage Museum and Gardens
Tinker Siwss Cottage Museum is a treasure trove of the 1800′s. Robert Hall Tinker built the home in 1865 and it is one of only a handful of these Swiss-style homes remaining in the country. The house and its belongings are all, as they were, when they were left to the Rockford Park District after 75 years of residence. Tuesday is donation day, which means that there is no fixed admission price, but you can leave a donation if you like. http://www.tinkercottage.com

Kegel Harley-Davidson® Motor Cycles
Pay a visit to Kegel Harley-Davidson®, the world’s oldest family owned dealership, which is coming up to 100 years of business with Harley-Davidson®. The shop sells a wide range of motorcycles; motorclothes and parts. For those in need of a break there is Kegel’s motorcycle themed diner, which offers a range of favourites including pizzas; porketta (layers of pork stuffed and then rolled before being slow cooked) and pasties. http://www.kegelmotorcycles.com

Severson Dells Nature Center
The Severson Dells Nature Center is situated within a converted Deer Lodge on a 369 acre county forest preserve. It is free to walk around the preserve, which features two and a half miles of self-guided nature trails and a 2/3 of a mile hard-surfaced trail. A booklet is available at the trailhead, which explains points of particular interest and guided walks are held frequently throughout the year.

For further information on the activities in Rockford visit www.gorockford.co.uk  or like Rockford on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RockfordIllinoisUK

For a free Rockford visitors guide contact Cellet Travel Services Ltd on 08456 020 574 or email info@cellet.co.uk