Traveling to Rockford for Club Nationals? MeanMachine's got your guide to dining, shopping, sights, nightlife, and more!
Note: The information below is 100% factual. IRL.
Restaurants
There is more to Rockford dining than just McDonald’s and Taco Bell’s. Below are some of our favorite options for just about any occasion in Rockford:
- The Culver’s on Wansford Way
- The Culver’s on N Phelps Ave
- The Culver’s on Benington Rd
- The Culver’s on E Riverside Blvd
- The Culver’s on Cannel Puri Dr
Sights
- "Gertrude" the Guernsey Cow
- In downtown Rockford, at 19 feet tall, she's one of the biggest of America's fiberglass big bovines.
- Hobo Fire Pit
- Just south of Rockford, in Rochelle, IL: A viewing platform, picnic tables, gift shops, restrooms -- and of course that Hobo Fire Pit -- so you can watch trains cross each other at a rare railroad intersection.
- 1967 Tornado Disaster Monument
- Just east of Rockford in Belvidere, IL, a stainless steel tornado, over six feet tall, engraved with the names of all 24 people who were killed by its swirling counterpart.
- Tractor on a Silo
- Tasked by some higher calling, a farmer used a crane to hoist an old tractor to the top of his silo.
- Replica Liberty Bell
- Why travel all the way to Philadelphia to see the Liberty Bell when you can see an exact replica in Rockford? No waiting in line here!
Shopping
- Walmart on E State St
- Updated 9/26: Permanently Closed
- Fashion Nation on S Alpine
- Updated 9/26: Permanently Closed
- Circuit City on E State St
- Updated 9/26: Permanently Closed
- Macy’s on Harrison Ave
- Note: Soon to be Closing Permanently
Performing Arts
- AMC Showplace Movie Theater Rockford 16
- Tiger Tail Lounge
- Ambitiously billed as the finest gentlemen's club in the entire Northern Illinois/ Southern Wisconsin area.
Nightlife
- U-Save Liquor Mart Parking Lot
- W hile technically located in Machesney Park, this long time Rockford establishment has provided a central location for party goers of all ages.
- Wrigleyville Bars
- Just 2 hours and 5 minute outside of downtown Rockford, the bar scene here is lively and bustling.
- Note: Due to its proximity to the stadium, crowds can be heavy after games for Rockford’s baseball team, the Chicago Cubs.
- Just 2 hours and 5 minute outside of downtown Rockford, the bar scene here is lively and bustling.
- Top Golf Naperville
- An hour and half skip from Rockford, this multi-story driving range offers food, alcohol, and great times!
