Rockford’s Nicest Neighborhood to Walk Through in Fall — What’s Your Pick?

There's something about fall in Rockford that just hits different.  The air is crisp, the trees start showing off, and suddenly every neighborhood looks like it belongs on a dang postcard.

If I had to pick one neighborhood in Rockford that has the best scenic route, I'd definitely have to pick Shaw Woods.  Easy choice, every time.

From age four to twenty-two, I grew up on the east side of Rockford by Guilford High School.  My parents lived near the Shaw Woods neighborhood, and I always loved going for bike rides through that area.  You could literally hear the crunch of every leaf underneath your feet, and the whole area smelled like fresh air mixed with bonfires, which were really people burning leaves down the street.

This is the kind of neighborhood that makes you want to slow down time and take the long way home.  You know what I mean?

Whenever I return to Shaw Woods and drive through, I always make sure to have my windows rolled down during fall.  In October, it feels extra, extra special.  The colors are unreal, it's so quiet that you feel like you're in Narnia, and it's tucked away from traffic.  So Shaw Woods would be my pick.  In the winter?  Oh, game over.  Hands down the best neighborhood to drive through in Rockford.  It transforms into a winter wonderland and you truly feel like you're in Narnia.  It's a whole different world you get to experience!

Now it's your turn.  What neighborhood in Rockford is your favorite during fall?