| Think Downtown Janesville is only for grown ups? Think again! There's plenty of fun for the whole family. Downtown is fairly compact and you can cover it on foot or by bike. The Ice Age Trail runs through downtown as a paved, off-road trail along the west side of the river, with a riverwalk along a portion of the east side. Part of Wisconsin's 1,000+ mile trail, the Janesville segment is the southern-most portion of the trail. Between the Ice Age Trail and Janesville's other trails, there are more than 30 miles of trails connecting parks and neighborhoods throughout Janesville. Wake up with fresh squeezed orange juice at Citrus Cafe, where you'll have a hard time choosing from their extensive menu, including omelettes, French toast, skillets, and Swedish pancakes with lingonberry butter (or Nutella). Another great breakfast option is the Bodacious Brew, a coffee shop in the Bodacious Shops of Block 42 that serves hand-crafted espresso beverages including lattes and cappuccinos, as well as cold brews and non-coffee beverages. Grab a breakfast sandwich, wrap, açai bowl and more! Saturdays from May through October, the Janesville Farmers Market is a can't miss experience with produce, crafts, live music, food trucks, and games encompassing both sides of the river in Town Square, connected by the beautiful Blain Gilbertson Family Heritage pedestrian bridge. This Wisconsin- producer-only retail market offers a little bit of everything, from cotton candy and apple cider donuts, to sweet corn and tomatoes, to handcrafted art and practical products. Food trucks are on site with coffee, breakfast and lunch options. Well-behaved leashed dogs are welcome. Explore more than 25 murals in a three block radius, plus numerous sculptures, statues, historical markers and monuments that are part of Janesville's Public Art Trail. Be sure to get a selfie next to some of the murals and public art, such as the Doty Mill Alley Janesville mural or the Feathers and Feet mural. Click here to download the Public Art Trail guide or stop in our office in Olde Towne Mall, 20 S Main St, Ste 11 to pick one up. History and architecture buffs should tour the Lincoln-Tallman Museum on the Rock County Historical Society campus, where the kids will get a kick out of the indoor, three-hole privy. Also check out several exhibits including Parker Pen, Pauline Pottery and Picard China, and Rock County Legacies, with stories and memorabilia from the Janesville GM plant. You can't miss the 100 millionth vehicle built by General Motors in the US, a 1967 Chevrolet Caprice Custom Coupe built at the Chevrolet-Fisher Body Assembly Plant. Their gift shop features locally created items from books and toys to pottery and jewelry. Rotary Botanical Gardens is just a mile south of downtown, and offers 20 acres of themed gardens, most of which are wheelchair and stroller accessible. Don't miss the Nancy Yahr Memorial Children's Garden, with the fragrant Popcorn plant and plants that attract bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. Look for their StoryWalk from June through October. This outdoor exhibit is a children's book displayed on posts so you can stroll through and read with your little one. Their annual Garden Art Exhibit, on display from mid-May through mid-September, features ladybugs, which ties in with the StoryWalk book. Around 30 owls, beautifully decorated by local artists, are on display throughout the Gardens and will be auctioned in September. Get off your feet for a while and enjoy lunch at one of over 20 uniquely Janesville restaurants. Check out the best Reuben in town (and a Little Leprechaun's menu) at O'Riley & Conway's Irish Pub, or climb the stairs to experience Wisconsin's oldest Chinese restaurant, Cozy Inn, which celebrated 100 years in 2022. The kids will love the round booths, and it's never too early to introduce them to the best egg rolls around (the special ingredient is peanut butter). If you need a breather, or just want to get out of the hot sun for a few minutes, check out the Hedberg Public Library for fun for all ages. While you'll need a card to check out material, there are many programs and activities that you can enjoy on site. They have a fantastic children's room, Teen Central, and plenty of seating for adults to enjoy a quiet corner with a book or magazine. Look for their gallery wall with new exhibits monthly. Grab a snack downstairs, and purchase a pre-loved book to take home with you. Downtown has so many shopping opportunities for all ages. Shop for your little ones at Classy Rascals Children's Clothing Boutique, offering boys and girls clothing size NB-12 as well as accessories and gifts. Explore with teens at Adorn, where you will find unique, stylish, eco-friendly and ethically sourced goods from both local and fair trade artisans, as well as recycled clothing in "Verna's Vintage" section. Visit Blondie's Bling and Things for all things sparkly, including jewelry, handbags and handmade items. Looking for a gift to commemorate your visit to Janesville? Stop in Raven's Wish Gallery, an eclectic showcase for the creations of more than 70 local and national painters, jewelers, photographers, and wood, glass, textile, and mixed media artists. Check out Mood for stationery, quirky gifts, and housewares including Janesville glasses and coasters. Want to take home a piece of Janesville? Wisconsin Wagon Company is the place to visit. They create handmade coaster wagons in several sizes and other wooden gifts that can be shipped directly to you. Also check out Mystic Moraine Minerals, where you can find a world-class selection of rare and beautiful rocks, minerals, crystals and fossils, and beautiful creations by their talented consignment artists. We haven't forgotten the outdoorsy folks - check out Kurt Buggs' Signworks for custom signs, antique duck decoys, and antique and contemporary original art. Lured Inn Outdoors offers vintage and contemporary hunting, fishing and camping gear. If you aren't sure exactly what you're looking for, there's a little bit of everything at several downtown vintage and consignment shops. 608 Vintage is an antique mall that offers more than 13,000 square feet of vintage goodness, with over 100 vendor spaces featuring antiques, primitives, handmade items, oddities, and so much more. Just Us multiple vendors, located in Olde Towne Mall, offers handcrafted items by more than 20 local vendors. Carousel Consignments is a can't-miss shop crammed with antiques, collectible, housewares, and anything else you can think of, from figurines to furniture to the occasional actual carousel horse. Now that you've caught your second wind, it's time for entertainment! You'll find live music throughout the summer, including Music at the Marv on Tuesdays from June through August at the Marvin W. Roth Pavilion in Lower Courthouse Park. Grab dinner from a food truck or local restaurant, kick back on your blanket or lawn chair, and enjoy the jams. Catch area bands on the patio at the Bodacious Shops on Friday evenings, and watch their Facebook pages for music on the Looking Glass or Genisa Wine Bar patios. Finally, settle in at Traxler Park to watch the Rock Aqua Jays water ski show team perform Wednesday and Sunday evenings from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. With more than 60 tournament victories and more than 20 National titles, this is a can't miss show. Grab a bite from their concession stand or watch for Food Truck nights for more choices. |
