I visited Branch Oak in Spring (when it was a little too cold for water sports, but not too cold…read morefor walking around and enjoying the nature). It's quite a large body of water (the 9th largest in Nebraska!), so there's a lot of space to boat and fish when it is the season. The last time we were there, we saw a duck migration and got some cool photos from that, so there's definitely some cool naturey things to see. Aside from that, there's not too much to do here, but it's a nice place to relax and get some light exercise (or do some boating, swimming, or camping when it's nicer out!)

We don't own a boat, so we weren't able to boat like a lot of revieweres, but we did find a big…read morepublic beach and set up shop for the day. We did have a seadoo, which was able to be put in near by and then we anchored near our spot. It was warm, and had a lot of shallow areas. Be aware of the sand/mud as it can pull you in and if you're not a great swimmer and cause panic, so just be careful. We camped across the lake and it was very pretty to watch the sunset and sunrise from our site. I look forward to coming back.

Our experience at Beaver Lake Marina was unreal. Great people with a lot of knowledge. Took time…read moretoo show us everything about boat and went through everything with us. Very honest people as well. One of the best experiences I've had in costumer service.

Lived in lake communities most of my adult life this marina takes care of my boat & trailer. Has…read moregood techs, organized and reliable. Takes care of the storage of my work trailer. Can't expect any better!!

NP Dodge park is sort of a hidden gem of a park. Tucked away near Hummel park it's vast green and…read moreit's location butted up to the Missouri river make it a versatile park for multiple uses. Since living in the area for the past few years I've visited several times for different reasons. The park is large enough to take a nice stroll and walk your dog, there's trails near by that you can begin in the park and keep exploring. There are several soccer fields and open spaces to let children play as well. I also like that this park has several different parking lots so finding a spot is easy. One of the things I was wondering was how security is and if the police drive through to make sure there's no issues going on. I hope so! The park is kept in great condition. It's clean, there are a few different restrooms and the people I've come across seem respectful. Most recently, my boyfriend and I did the Florence Days 5K that began at NP dodge park! It was such a fun run and great to see the community come out to this area of Omaha! There's so much history out here as well as natural beauty that's easy to miss with the hustle and bustle of daily life. If you have yet to trek down this area I highly suggest that you do. Especially in the morning, it's absolutely gorgeous!

(NOTE: The NP Dodge Park Pavilion is currently closed because of the riverfront flooding. I called…read morethe parks department and they said it may be reopened in the future, so I wanted to sing its praises for when it reopens!) We held our wedding reception at the NP Dodge Park Pavilion. It has a wood cabin ambiance that fit perfectly with our naturey/rustic theme, and the best part - it was HUGE. It easily accommodated our 100+ guests, tables, chairs, dance floor, Photo Booth, etc! The best part is that it's literally just the venue rental, which may sound weird to say that's the "best part" - but it means that you can use your own caterer and decor, and not have to get stuck with all the set vendors that so many venues only allow you to use. There is also a cute little pond outside, that was perfect for a few more formal group shots, during golden hour. They allow you to have beer and wine for your event with the license you get, but that was fine with the guests we had. There's also a whole kitchen and bar area that was perfect for our caterer's needs. If they do open up the Pavilion again in the future, and you're looking for a cost-effective and beautiful event space, definitely check it out!

Very nice park! Beautiful lake to kayak one. We love to bring out our camper from Omaha. They have…read moreabout 17 electrical sites for campers and then plenty more sites with no electricity. Sites do not have water or sewer but he park does have a dump as you leave that you can use at no cost. There are spigots around that have potable water to fill your tank if needed. Very quiet and beautiful!

Love this little lake Treasure located just outside Ashland (between Omaha and Lincoln). It's got…read moreamazing primitive tent campgrounds on the lake with wonderful views and relaxing spots. Also has camper spaces. It doesn't get the traffic like big camp grounds in my experience so it's more peaceful and costs significantly less- only $8 for primitive camping ($5 more for vehicle permit if you don't have state park pass). When I was there in May I had the whole camp ground to myself save one other camper on the edge of the park. Camping is self-sign up with slips around park. Has fire pits and wonderful lake with tons of birds and avian wildlife to see and listen too. Hundreds of baby geese. Good fishing and local Dons Bar is the only food stop in Memphis so don't be afraid go on in and try a cheeseburger or fish- the bartenders super friendly-Also get fire wood there too. It isn't a far drive from Omaha- 35minutes if there's no road construction and is better than most campsites in platte or Mahoney. Take a trip there it's worth it!

This quaint community is next door to the city limits of Omaha and the Omaha airport. Several parks…read moreopen to the public is available. If you want to have a good view of the lake, barbeque, have kids play basketball, use the skateboard park, or BMX bike course, visit Mabrey Park located on the corner 9f Willow Drive and 18th Street. They close by 10 pm and allow watercraft to be lowered by the ramps into the lake. Outdoor picnic seating is also available around the park area. No swimming is allowed at this park. You will have to visit Wavecrest Park for that.

Carter Lake is a former channel of the Missouri River and was formed by flooding of the Missouri…read moreRiver in the summer of 1877. The city of Carter Lake, Iowa takes its name from the lake and there is an interesting background story to this lake located near the Omaha Airport. In 1930, Carter Lake was incorporated as a city in the state of Iowa, a status it has retained ever since but there has been lots of fighting over it. Carter Lakes Colorful History states that "Carter Lake was once called Cut-Off Island - a fitting name for a place torn between two cities and two states, yet connected to neither." Iowa and Nebraska constantly battled for the city named Carter Lake and it's water feature born of a change of course of the Missouri River. The ensuing legal battle over whether Iowa or Nebraska had jurisdiction over Cut-Off Island went to the Supreme Court. In a 1892 ruling, the court sided with Iowa on the basis that state lines remain the same when a river avulsed, or dramatically altered, its path in 1877. Therefore, the land had never left Iowa, despite its position on the Nebraska side of the river. It is weird driving through the area, as you are in Nebraska one minute and Iowa the very next. Carter Lake has not escaped water pollution problems and in 2005, the lake had reached a crisis level. Due to a number of factors, the lake water level was both dangerously low and polluted with toxic algae. Placed on Nebraska's Section 303(d) List of Impaired Waters for elevated concentrations of nutrients, the lake was no longer a place for recreation and beauty, but a haven for floating contaminants. Interested citizens formed the "Carter Lake Environmental Assessment and Rehabilitation Council," and a community based watershed plan was organized to help improve the water quality. Now Carter Lake is a recreational hub for the area. The park is a great place to launch a boat for water sports and fishing, and also has baseball and football fields, basketball courts, and areas for picnics and larger gatherings. It is a beautiful gem of a lake and worth 5 YELP STARS.