Forest City Queen at Riverview Park, Rockford

The Forest City Queen operates every summer on the Rock River. The Park District offers a dinner cruise which always sells out. Last night was the inaugural cruise of a ride focusing on the local history of the people and places along the Rock River in Downtown Rockford. This ride was jointly sponsored by the River District Association and the Park District. The local editor/publisher of the Rock River Times shared his love of local river history with everyone gathered. This ride was also sold out and if demand continues, the rides will continue. The time flew and everyone wanted to hear more history! The cost of the cruise was $15 per person, with appetizers and a cash bar. It was very interesting and a great value.

The boat was comfortable and stable, the scenery excellent, commentary from Captain and First Mate informative and funny. Even though I'd grown up an hour away, I had no idea of some the the history they mentioned associated with the Rock River. I'd go again!

The trip was pretty interesting, we learned a lot about the area. It was relaxing, and the price is so low that it is worth the time. Evidently they also run dinner cruises, so we want to try that the next time. We got some great ideas of other places to visit, like the museum that was on the river as we went by. The boat staff was very helpful.

We went to see the "Forest City Queen" hoping for an enjoyable river boat experience to take my mother and father in-law on who will be visiting from out-of-state. They are very low key people, not demanding at all, but I was glad we made the drive over to check out the "Queen" first. Its just a small shallow open scow-like boat with a canvas canopy, my wife said it looked like a cookie sheet, I don't know that its that bad, but I really felt sad for this wanna be boat, but perhaps it was rescued from garbage duty. Anyway, we did not take the trip, but doubt we'll ever make the effort....

We had a nice time but the day we went, it wasnt very clean. it looked like a dump truck had exploded!

great place to go with your kids no worries about bad neighborhoods cheap hotel and food and world class service