'''Chicago O'Hare International Airport''' ({{IATA|ORD}}) [http://www.ohare.com/Ohare/OhareHomepage.shtm] is the nearest full-service airport and is directly connected to Rockford by Interstate 90.
'''Dane County Regional Airport''' ({{IATA|MSN}}) [http://www.msnairport.com/], in Madison, Wisconsin, is about an hour and 20 minutes north of Rockford in Interstate 39/90 and is served by six airlines.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.