Rockford, IL: Klehm Arboretum

One of the biggest surprises on our recent weekend getaway to Rockford, Illinois was how much we enjoyed Klehm Arboretum!  Being huge fans of botanical gardens I knew we would like Klehm, I just did not expect it to be as stunning as it turned out be be.  Especially in Rockford, which is known to many as The Forest City and is filled with more botanical gardens than I have seen in anywhere else, Klehm really stood out as a gorgeous oasis of natural beauty.

Klehm Arboretum & Botanical Garden

We were fortunate that the day before our arrival Rockford had a heavy & dry snowfall.  Snow usually keeps the crowds away from outdoor attractions like Klehm, which is tragic as under heavy snow is when I find botanical gardens at their best.  In Japan they actually consider snow a flower (and if you ever make it Chicago or St. Louis during snow, be sure to visit their Japanese gardens as they really shine during winter), so snow and botanical gardens have always been a natural fit in my eyes.

Gorgeous snowfall at Klehm Arboretum

Ironically we began our visit indoors as the 2nd Saturday of each month is known as Klehm Family Days, a themed day that provides activities and educational events for kids.  We works on some arts and crafts by making a snowman, all while sipping on the complimentary hot chocolate and eating cookies inside the Klehm Visitor's Center.

Klehm Family Days

After bundling up for the wintry weather we headed outdoors and explored Klehm under a gorgeous snowfall.  Klehm has two large paved trails around the garden, along with numerous unpaved hiking trails throughout.  We started by walking along the smaller of the two paved trails, where the children's garden, fountain garden, and demonstration gardens (among many others) are located.

After our wintry walk, we boarded a golf cart and drove around the larger of the two paved paths, where we were continually stunned by the magazine-like beauty of the arboretum.  If we had been a bit better prepared (and perhaps without a toddler) I am sure we would've spent all day actually hiking the trails!

I think my son like the golf cart the best...although the scenery was stunning

I would imagine Klehm Arboretum is equally as stunning in the spring (it is covered in crab apple trees, which we were told during May blanket the gardens in color) and summer months (where it is a popular place for weddings), but certainly after a winter snowfall like the one we experienced during our visit truly made Klehm an amazing place to visit.

It was simply a beautiful winter day at Klehm!

Disclosure: Our family's visit to Rockford including admission to the Klehm Arboretum was provided by the Illinois Office of Tourism. As always, all of my thoughts are my own, unbiased, opinions based on my first-hand experiences.