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https://maps.app.goo.gl/4hHbHAvVP3pmXDEx5

https://maps.app.goo.gl/NYHUtGGDvoohkNow8

if you like to ride bikes, i guess the olympic hosts a huge ride every year.

norweigan has a good christmas thing, complete with sleigh rides. also farmer markets near there (but smallish).

your immediate area is great. but rockford has many troubled spots not far. just west of route 2 and then south to downtown can feel dicey after dark. good library downtown. good riverfront and bars and shops on the other side.


drive route 2 along the rock for a nice windy ride to castle rock or the blackhawk statue. stop by hairy cow's in docwalks old berg (from byron, right?) it has good beer and decent food.

go farther to oregon for a nice october art fair. and farther still to dixon and say hi to my boyhood home.

rock cut state park is huge and nice. you're on the outter edge of the beautiful driftless region as you go up to wiscy. house on the rock isn't far and worth a day trip.

rockford has about the worst "stroads" along state and alpine. but that means you can shop at about any big box store.

one of the best thai places in chicagoland isn't far (zaab thai in elgin). fried dried beef with sticky rice and catfish salad are great there.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/3WvNkDdybGTMrzc59
my brother lives on the other side of the river in loves park off riverside. mostly smallish homes but he has a river view, unfortunately no access.