Anderson Japanese Garden

Coming into Rockford, Illinois from I-90 along a strip of motels and big box stores, one would not imagines that a few miles further one will come to a magic spot near the Rock River - a Japanese garden said to be the finest in North America. We sipped sake at the Garden's Seasons restaurant as we watched a fierce but brief thunder storm. We also enjoyed an excellent dinner as the sun set.

In daylight, we shall take a meditative walk in the Garden. Will it please us as does the Japanese garden in Portland Oregon? The answer is that our memories are failing us and we cannot make the comparison. They were both designed by Hoichi Kurisu. This Japanese Garden is beautiful and induces one to enter a meditative state of mind. We recommend it to all who travel through this part of the country. We also got some exercise riding our Marin bikes along the Rock River bike path.

Tonight, September 22, we ate at Brio, a small plate restaurant in an antique 1879 building in downtown Rockford. Highlights of the dinner were Roast Elk and Tempura Asparagus. All six plates were delicious.