Nicholas Conservatory and Gardens

Guests to Rockford can encounter the tropics at the Nicholas Conservatory. This 11,000-square-foot office contains displays of orchids, butterflies, papaya, sugarcane, and that's only the tip of the iceberg. Outside is the expansive Sinnissippi Park Rose Garden and the 500-foot-long Eclipse Lagoon. The patio nurseries are the ideal place for a restful walk around the late spring. Amid winter, the tidal pond is solidified and open ice skating and ice hockey are advertised. Lunch is accessible at the on location eatery, the Hibiscus Bistro, and keepsakes can be bought in the blessing shop. The center is open lasting through the year, Tuesday through Sunday, and is shut on Mondays.