Nicholas Conservatory & Gardens is located in Rockford, Illinois, along the Rock River.

It showcases 11,000 square feet of indoor tropical plants, flowers, and trees interspersed with benches, garden sculptures, a koi pond, and an infinity pond.

Outdoor paths connect to a Monarch butterfly garden, Riverview Terrace, Eclipse Lagoon, two teahouses, two waterfall gardens, the Sinnissippi rose garden, Trolley Car 36 station, and Forest City Queen Riverboat dock.

An onsite indoor garden café serves light fare as well as Wednesday night rooftop dinners on their green roof viewing deck during summer.

The conservatory hosts temporary exhibits like Lorikeet House and events like Family Botany Labs and Breakfast with Santa.

1354 N 2nd Street, Rockford, IL, Phone: 815-987-8858

Milwaukee (1 hour 35 minutes) Holland, Michigan (2 hours 30 minutes) Kettle Moraine State Forest (2 hours 40 minutes) Lake Geneva (1 hour 40 minutes) Naperville (40 minutes) Village of Oak Park (15 minutes) Six Flags Great America (1 hour) North Utica (1 hour 45 minutes) Chicago Botanic Garden (35 minutes) Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore (1 hour) Old State Capitol State Historic Site (3 hours) Apple River Canyon State Park (2 hours 30 minutes) Starved Rock State Park (1 hour 35 min) Brookfield Zoo (25 minutes) Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum (3 hours) Anderson Japanese Gardens (1 hour 40 minutes) The Morton Arboretum (35 minutes) Cantigny Park (40 minutes) Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio (20 minutes) Huron-Manistee National Forests (4 hours) Nicholas Conservatory & Gardens (2 hours) Oglesby (1 hour 40 minutes) White River State Park (3 hours) Peoria (2 hours 40 minutes)

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