I'm still in my cabin fever stage... where I just want to get out of the house and go! I spend so much time organizing our upcoming calendar, because I just can't wait for adventures and trips and warm weather! Until then, I thought it'd be fun to explore a few towns close to us! Rockford is just 15 minutes north of Grand Rapids, and the perfect place to hang out for an afternoon. We love to bike here in the summer on the White Pine trail too! Saturday was clear blue skies, but unfortunately it's a bit too chilly to get away with bare legs. I'm SO over tights... but it's okay. At least I got to break out a floral dress, and a new cozy cardigan I got on sale!

ROCKFORD DAM OVERLOOK

Our first stop was the Rockford Dam Overlook, which was built in 1843. Eric and I came here when we first started dating! The overlook is located on Bridge Street right downtown. It's the perfect spot for a picnic and people watching, especially fisherman! It provides a nice view of the Rogue River, which eventually leads to the Grand River in Grand Rapids. The White Pine Trail runs right past the dam too, so you can't miss it if you end up biking! This is definitely a fun view if you're in Rockford.

BAILEY & JAMES BOUTIQUE

We decided to stroll and check out some of the cute boutiques downtown. I've never been into any of them, so I was pleasantly surprised when we walked into Bailey & James! It was adorable! They had a lot of items from Rifle Paper Co. (which is one of my favorites) so I instantly fell in love. They have everything from cards, decor, prints, journals, notepads, mugs, various gifts, etc. I ended up getting a fun "Don't Worry, Be Happy" print in bright colors and a yummy smelling lemongrass candle from the Kalamazoo Candle Company. This was my favorite boutique in the area, for sure!

JADE CLOTHING

Next, we stopped into Jade after a recommendation from a friend! They specialize in clothes, accessories, bags, shoes, and fun gift items. They had a surprisingly large inventory too for a boutique! I wanted to try a bunch of things on, but unfortunately they were so busy, the waiting rooms were packed! I'll have to try and go back on a less busy day, because there is a super cute mauve crochet dress calling my name!

KAYLA RAE CELLARS

I've been really excited to try Kayla Rae Cellars. I've only heard good reviews about this place! Plus, I just love wine and wine tasting. They had a fun and unique set up too! You first went to the bar, chose your 'flight' selections and they brought them to you all at once. Most places in Michigan, you stand at the bar and they pour you one at a time. So we took a seat, and tasted a few wines. My favorite was the Blackberry Cider. Super good! I also liked their Sangria Wine too. They also have a cheese and crackers platter available, and chocolates too, if you're looking for a drink and a snack!

We also quickly popped into Sweetland Chocolates & Coffee. They've been in business for over 90 years, and serve up homemade candies and drinks! I got a small bag of a few of my favorites, which include the milk chocolate sea salt caramels and the milk chocolate pecan turtles. Yum.

ROCKFORD BREWING COMPANY

Our last stop before heading home was Rockford Brewing Company. They opened up in 2012, and are located right on the White Pine Trail, next to the Overlook Dam. This is the perfect end stop if you're biking from Grand Rapids. They have an outdoor patio, and collaborate with Vitale's to offer up pizza, grinders, salads and appetizers if you're hungry. I'm also not a huge beer drinker, so I'm always thankful for breweries that offer up additional options. Their Cherry Cyser, which is a blend of apple cider with honey and tart cherry juice, is absolutely delicious.

If you have any additional recommendations in Rockford, let me know in the comments, especially places to eat! We're so close that there's no reason to not pop over there more often for shopping or dinner. Plus, I really want to take a bike trip there this summer! It's a bit of work, but it's so much fun.

Outfit details:

H&M Cotton-Blend Cardigan
Topshop Floral Dress (similar)
Urban Outfitters Sunglasses (similar)
School of Walk Bootie in Fallow c/o ModCloth (similar)

Afternoon in Rockford