Rockford is the quintessential Midwestern town, it has a vibrant, but also small town feel at the same time. It has a population of about 6100 people and has many things to do in the area. It is located along the Rogue River, which is great for fishing or just sitting by the water and enjoying the day.
It is only 15 minutes north of downtown Grand Rapids and 20 minutes south of where I have lived my entire life. I’ve enjoyed many days strolling around the shops and enjoying the many restaurants this town has to offer.
Whether you are looking to go walking on a trail, go to the dam and eat a lunch from one of the restaurants or coffee shops nearby or enjoy a little shopping downtown. This is the perfect place to spend your time.
I’m going to be filling you in on some of the best things to do and see in Rockford, MI no matter the time or the season. There’s always plenty to enjoy here in this beautiful town that I love exploring.
Sports Complex in Rockford MI
The Meijer sports complex was built in 2014. They have facilities batting cages and a picnic area you can rent out. If you’re having a wedding, company event or any other special occasion you can pay to rent out their facility.
If you want to go to the batting cages for the day or just enjoy a picnic in the area, you can rent those out too. Just another fun thing to do the next time you’re planning a visit, an event or just a fun day.
Discover Art and Music
Believe it or not, in this small town there are art galleries and even places to enjoy live music. In September, they have Art in the Park, which features Michigan artisans selling paintings, clothing, pottery, photography, jewelry and much more.
This town also features live music, they host a Rogue River Blues Series that takes place from June to August. It is a free event from 7pm to 9pm every Tuesday. It takes place in Garden Club Park, where you just bring your own chairs, food, blankets, and drinks.
There are also a lot of restaurants in the area that offer live music for you to enjoy. Rogue River Tavern, Bostwick Lake Inn, Rockford Brewing Company and many more. There is so much to choose from in this small town, you will have no shortage of things to do.
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Fun Family Things To Do
There are fun things to do for the whole family, If you want to go bowling, fishing, kayaking, canoeing or walk on a trail by the water. There are so many activities to choose from.
You can go bowling at Rockford Lanes right downtown, rent a Canoe, Kayak or Tube from AAA Canoe Rentals behind Peppermill Grill. Go fly fishing in Rogue River or fish for Steelhead.
The Rogue River Nature Trail is 8.7 miles long, it starts in Peppler Park in downtown, near the dam. It has a wooden boardwalk and is surrounded by trees on either side, giving it a relaxing feel. I love going for a walk on this trail, it is a great trail for the spring and fall months when the weather is not so hot. It is great in the summer too, but I would use caution, and not go out when the humidity is super high. Remember to bring your sunscreen and some sunglasses with you to make those warm day a little more bearable.
Along the way are different parks for your Kids to play in with slides, seesaws, swings and other fun things. There are dog parks too.
You can stop along the way to enjoy these parks: Richardson-Sowerby Park and Dog Park, Pickett Park.There are benches along the way if you want to sit and enjoy joy the nature around you.
There are so many parks and trails here, a few others you can enjoy are Glen Park, which winds through White Pine trail State Park that used to be a railway line but is now a paved line to Grand Rapids Fifth Third Park.
These are great parks and trails for walking or biking. For the Kids there is Rotary Jaycees Park and Memorial Park with the Rum Creek nature and fitness trail.
If you want to slow things down for an afternoon there is a library downtown where you can browse around, sit and enjoy a cool and quiet day. I enjoy going to this library a lot. There are comfortable chairs to sit in and read a book or a magazine. There are also places to sit and work on your laptop, which I love because it’s quiet in the library.
Outdoor Adventure
Rockford offers a variety of outdoor adventure activities that cater to everybody’s interests, no matter what you are into. Here are some activities for you to enjoy on your next trip.
Hiking and Biking
The White Pine Trail State Park is a major draw, offering miles of scenic trails suitable for hiking and biking. The trail runs through Rockford and provides beautiful views of the surrounding nature. This trail runs through Rockford and stretches for 92 miles, connecting Grand Rapids to Cadillac. It’s perfect for both hiking and biking, with scenic views of forests, rivers, and small towns along the way. The Rockford segment is particularly popular due to its picturesque surroundings and accessibility.
Fishing and Boating
The Rogue River is a great spot for fishing, especially for those interested in fly fishing. The river is also suitable for kayaking and canoeing, providing a peaceful way to explore the waterway. Known for its excellent fly fishing, the Rogue River runs through Rockford and is a haven for anglers seeking trout and steelhead. There are several access points for fishing along the river. For boating and kayaking, the river offers gentle rapids and calm stretches, making it ideal for a relaxing paddle. Rockford Dam Overlook Park is a popular spot for launching kayaks.
Parks and Nature Reserves
Rockford has several parks and nature reserves perfect for picnicking, bird watching, and nature walks. The Luton Park is particularly notable for its well-maintained trails that are great for mountain biking and hiking.
Located on 10 Mile Road, Luton Park features a network of well-marked trails that cater to hikers and mountain bikers. The park is known for its diverse terrain, including wooded areas, meadows, and wetlands, providing a variety of natural habitats to explore.
This is one of my favorite outdoor activities to do, I love hiking, listening to the birds and being able to identify them on an app I recently downloaded called Merlin Bird ID. This is a great way to spend an afternoon in nature, in wonderful West Michigan
Rockford Dam Overlook Parkd offers scenic views of the Rogue River and the historic Rockford Dam. It’s a great spot for picnicking, fishing, and bird watching, with walking paths that connect to the White Pine Trail.
Golfing
The region has a number of golf courses for people looking to enjoy a day on the green with their friends or family.
Blythefield Country Club is located just south of Rockford, this private club offers a beautifully maintained 18-hole golf course. While it is a private club, there are sometimes opportunities for non-members to play, such as during certain events or by invitation.
Silver Lake Country Club is another nearby option is this public golf course in Rockford, which offers a challenging 18-hole course in a picturesque setting.
Winter Sports
In the colder months, Rockford offers opportunities for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing, particularly in the trails around the White Pine Trail State Park and other local parks.
White Pine Trail State Park is great for winter fun, the trail is converted for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. The flat and well-maintained trail makes it an excellent choice for winter sports enthusiasts.
A short drive from Rockford, Cannonsburg Ski Area offers downhill skiing, snowboarding, and tubing during the winter months. It also has trails for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.
Camping
There are campgrounds in the area that offer a chance to immerse yourself in nature, whether you prefer tent camping or RV camping.
Located about 15 miles from Rockford is Wabasis Lake Campground, this campground offers a range of facilities including tent and RV sites, a swimming beach, and boat rentals. It’s a great place to enjoy the outdoors and spend a night under the stars.
Pine Ridge RV Campground is located close to Rockford and offers a variety of amenities for RV campers, including full hook-up sites, a pool, and planned activities.
These activities provide a range of options for enjoying the great outdoors for adults and kids of any age.
Best Places for Shopping
If you love to support local shops, then this is the place for you. There are so many small-town businesses to choose from. There are toy stores, clothing, food, antiques and so much more. All within a 7-block radius, so it’s easy to get around while still having a lot of options to choose from. I love shopping the many stores downtown and supporting the local businesses. There are so many cute shops you can browse around to pass the time and maybe find a little something for you or a loved one.
Some of my favorite places to shop are Paperdoll Boutique, Gild the Lily, Lee & Birch, Haven Creek, Squire Creek Mercantile, Local Basket Case, Gliks, Jade, Aunt Candy’s Toy Company, Old World Olive, Epilogue Books. With so many choices it’s easy to see why people love this town.
What if I need a Grocery Store in Rockford MI?
If you need to pick up something from the grocery store for a picnic or an essential item, you forgot to pack there is a Meijer store not far from downtown. Meijer offers everything you could need from clothing to medicine, books, camping equipment, exercise equipment, food and much more. Meijer is my favorite grocery store to shop at, they always have a great selection of food, clothing, books, and anything you would need. If you’re in the area definitely check it out.
Here are some fun facts about the Meijer store: The first store opened In Greenville, MI and is a staple of Michiganders and the Midwest that has expanded to many other states like Ohio, Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin.
Festivals All Year Round in Rockford MI
There is fun to be had all year round for kids and adults. No matter the season there is always something going on.
Start of Summer:
This the 55th year of the Start of Summer celebration This event that features food, fireworks, parade, entertainment, crafts. It is held in June every year. There is a carnival you can buy tickets to, also a children’s booth with laser tag, magic show, kiss a pony and much more. For the adults there is a beer tent, live music, karaoke and a lot more fun things to do.
Farmers Market:
The farmers market runs from May to October every Saturday from 8am to 1pm. It has many things like homemade bread, desserts, fresh fruit and much more. I love going to this farmers market early on Saturday mornings, it’s fun to just walk around the area, to see what they have to offer that day. There are always an array of local artisan food and crafts.
The Harvest Festival:
An annual event held every September kicks off the Fall season with hayrides, a beer tent, chili cookout off, petting zoo and much more. They also have a classic car show every year, food and craft vendors are also available to enjoy.
Winter Festival:
The winter festival has many things to do throughout the holiday season. Like, a holiday lighting ceremony, carriage rides, music from the high school choir, Santa parade and much more fun to be had during the Christmas season.
Winter Wanderlust Festival:
This festival is a great way to support the local shops and restaurants. It is held in February. You can purchase a ticket and get discounts from the local shops, also the ticket gets you some samples of food and drinks from participating restaurants.
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Best Places to Eat
There are many different types of food in Rockford MI, depending if you want some casual, more expensive or something quick to grab so you can sit down by the river. You can choose from Mexican, Italian, pub fair, sandwiches to hotdogs. Whatever you decide it’s all right there for you, which is why I love coming to this town. It’s not far from where I live and I can always get a delicious meal.
They even have Rockford Outdoor Refreshment Area or RORA. You are allowed to carry your alcoholic beverages around from noon to 10pm from designated restaurants participating in the fun. You can even enjoy sitting by a cozy firepit that they light every weekday at 2pm and 11am on the weekends. For more information Click here.
There are 11 restaurants that participate in RORA, they are:
Cinco de Mayo, The Corner Bar, Grill One Eleven, Kawa Sushi & Grill, Kayla Rae Cellars, Marinades, Quickwater Coffee Roasters, Rockford Brewing Company, Rogue River Tavern, The Toasted Pickle, Uccello’s.
If you’re in the mood for hot dogs, Dam Dogs is right across from the water, pick up your food and sit at a picnic table to enjoy your food.
Right next door is Custard by the Dam, once you’re done with your hotdogs you don’t have to go far to enjoy an ice cream on a hot summer day.
There are so many other places that are great to get a bite to eat, there’s Burger Shack, Arnies, Jodys, Peppermill Grill, Bostwick Lake Inn, Timbers Inn Restaurant and Tavern and so much more. I personally love all these choices, everything is so delicious, and the staff are always amazing. You really can’t go wrong with anything you choose.
If you’re looking for something a little more nutritious, check out Nourish. They serve healthy shakes, coffee and tea.
Bakeries
Bostwick Bakery
Bostwick Bakery is a local bakery that is a favorite of mine and many others. There are many things to choose from including donuts, cookies, pastries like danish and turnovers. You can also enjoy a breakfast sandwich, lunch items such as hotdogs, fries and sloppy Joes. There are also a variety of soft drinks for you to enjoy.
Herman’s Boy
Herman’s Boy has been in business for over 120 years, and has an assortment of coffee, baked goods and a deli menu. At Herman’s they make their own delicious breads, meats in cheeses. If you want a homemade experience, I suggest coming here to enjoy their delicious food.
Coffee
Quickwater Coffee Roasters
There is Quickwater Coffee Roasters, which is a great place to pick up a coffee and a gluten free sweet treat. You can sit outside or inside and work on your laptop or just enjoy the ambiance.
Sweetland Chocolate and Coffee
You can go to Sweetland Chocolate and Coffee, they offer delicious homemade candy. Their company was founded over 100 years ago. You can buy from their store in downtown Rockford, online, in some gift shops around Grand Rapids.
Ice Cream
Custard by the Dam
Custard by the Dam is a great local ice cream shop right across from the water. They have a lot of different custard flavors to choose from. You can also get slushies, shakes, malts, sundaes, smoothie and much more. You can choose to put Your ice cream in a cup, or a waffle cone dipped in chocolate, which is my preferred choice. It’s a great place for the whole family to enjoy.
Rocky’s Dairy Depot
Rocky’s Dairy Depot offers many different types of ice cream, including some vegan ones for those that are looking for that option. Their ice cream is all homemade and they offer many seasonal flavors throughout the year. They are owned by MI Cones LLC and have a couple other locations, they have KC’s Kones and Coney’s in Cedar Springs, MI an also my personal favorite Dairy Bear in Howard City, MI. These are great locations for a small hometown feel.
Breweries in Rockford MI?
Rockford Brewing Company
Breweries are becoming a well-known destination in Michigan. There are great Breweries all over Michigan and 3 in particular in Rockford MI that you have to check out.
Rockford Brewing Company offers different beers, cocktails and delicious food. Its also a great place to keep you entertained from live music, eating compensations, open mic night, trivia night and so much more fun activities.
Third Nature Brewing Company
Third Nature Brewing Company tagline is “where Craft beer meets nature”. It’s a family-owned brewery that was a Best of the West finalist, where people of West Michigan choose the best bars, musicians, restaurants, attractions and much more.
They have a biergarden, patio and Igbrew, which is a covered structure with heaters so you can sit outside in the Winter. This place is great to enjoy year-round.
Depot no. 36 at Kayla Rae Cellars
Depot no. 36 at Kayla Rae Cellars opened In 2012 where you can enjoy beer, ciders and wine. You can enjoy a drink or have a wine tasting. You can order a cheese and cracker plate as well. They also have discounts on bottles of wine, then more you buy, the more you save.
They also have an event room you can rent out. This is a great place to relax and enjoy a drink. One of the best things to do in Rockford MI.
Best Places to Stay
There are a couple interesting places to stay in this beautiful town. There is a bed and breakfast called Grandma’s House that is perfect for your next stay. The house was built in 1860, has 4 bedrooms and 2 shared baths with an affordable price.
There is also the Colonial Motel dates back to the 1950’s. It may not look fancy, but it’s clean, quiet and in a safe area. The rates are cheap and the front desk staff are nice. It is in a prime location, and close to everything you would need. Before my parents bought their generator, they stayed here at the hotel for a couple days when the power went out. It’s a perfect place to stay for a couple days.
If you want to stay in a hotel there is one not far in the town of Cedar Springs, which is about 15 minutes north of Rockford, it is the Holiday Inn Express and Suites, if you still want a small-town feel. If you do want to stay in a bigger city like Grand Rapids, which is only about 20 minutes away, you can stay at Tru by Hilton in Comstock Park, which is only about 10 minutes from downtown.
Conclusion
This town is perfect for the whole family. A great place to spend a day or even a couple days exploring the area. This is my list of the best things to do and see in Rockford, MI from someone who has been here a lot in the last 20 years. I hope this has inspired you to visit this small town and enjoy all it has to offer.
This small-town packs a big punch and a lot of fun things to do and see in Rockford MI. However, you want to spend your day Rockford is the place to do it.