My family rents a spot here every summer, and it's one of our favorite places to relax on the…read morewater. The swimming area is always the perfect temperature, and our campsite comes with a little private beach which is great for laying out in the sand or just enjoying a swim. The campsites are generally clean and well-maintained, and there are plenty of picnic tables available. They also offer public swimming areas with buoys for safety, which is great for kids. However, I'm giving it 4 stars because the public beaches could be better maintained they just aren't as nice as the private spots included with the campsites. Overall, if you're looking to camp or park your RV close enough to Omaha for convenience but still want to get away, this is a great place. It's never been too crowded when we've visited, and it's perfect for soaking up the sun, enjoying the outdoors, and spending quality time by the water.

Went tent camping here on a spur of the moment decision one Friday evening so we only had a few…read morespaces to pick from as they were almost booked up solid. I don't know why this place is so popular. It was pretty gross. The sites for tents were mowed ok but there was garbage everywhere. Garbage in the grass, garbage in the trees, and garbage floating in all of the lakes. Even the swimming beach was covered in trash. It was way too packed to feel any sense of seclusion either. We were listening to kids screaming at their parents, parents threatening their kids, and blaring stereos all evening. I guess if you owned a boat or a jet ski and somehow couldn't afford to drive it anywhere better then this place might have some appeal but there are so many nicer places in eastern Nebraska to camp at and spend time outdoors.

Lake Manawa State Park in Council Bluffs has something for everyone who loves the outdoors. Have a…read moreboat? Launch it in the 753 acre oxbow lake for sailing, canoeing, or water skiing. Paddle boats are available to rent. Swim at the lifeguard protected swimming beach. Fish from the dock or from a boat in a quiet backwater. The campground offers modern bathrooms. There are hiking and biking trails that connect to the trail system in Council Bluffs. The picnic area has shelters for bigger groups and the Dream Playground is a wonderful place for kids with abilities and disabilities to really let loose and have fun. Lake Manawa is truly a great spot to enjoy being outside with family and friends.

This is probably the best park we've been to in a while! I love all of the slides and hidden…read morefeatures! Our kids are 2 and 3 and they loved it!

I enjoyed the disc golf course at this place! It is not directly location on the lake site, but…read morejust one road over. It's an open area with a fun course with lots of obstacles and the occasional turkey crossing! I wish the parking lot was a little bigger as when it gets busy it's hard to maneuver. Overall good course for Omaha!

Prairie Queen Rec Area is wonderful, a nice little 4 mile loop around the perimeter with no forks…read morein the path that will confuse you (talking to you, Walnut Creek and Chalco Hills, hah). This a perfect place for a run, walk, or bike ride with nice wide paved paths. The lake is good for small boats, kayak, paddle boarding, and fishing. There are some exit points around the perimeter that clearly go into the adjacent suburbs. Not many trees (aka little to no shade), but a nice peaceful walk regardless.

One of Omaha's signature parks. Nice playground for kids…read more Lots of picnic tables and grills. A pavilion. Quaint if slightly sketchy grotto. A baseball field. Lots of mature trees and a walking path. Even a pool and a golf course! This is a great space for public events, such as an Earth Day celebration I recently attended. It is by UNO campus and that can impact traffic and parking sometimes. Still, a really nice green space here in the city.

My review of the this park may be a little weird because I'm not reviewing it as a public park…read morereally, I'm reviewing it as a wedding venue. But also the beauty of the park itself will be discussed many times - don't worry. We wanted a short (but still beautiful) outdoor wedding in October, and realized that the City of Omaha actually rents out parks for events. And the gorgeous Elmwood Park Grotto was the first thing I thought of! Just a note, you can't reserve a park location more than a year out (so a year to the day out from our wedding date, we called and snapped it up). We reserved the grotto, and went to look at the space to be sure it could fit our large guest list. It was exactly the right size - we decided to rent some nice chairs to put in a little semicircle design in front of the fountain, and we had the wedding take place at the front of the semicircle at the center of the fountain. The fall foliage was in full bloom and made our special day so perfect. The gorgeous greenery of the park also made the most beautiful backdrop for our formal photos once the chairs had been cleared out! The only negative thing I would note if you decide to rent the grotto, is that they don't put up any signs or anything that it's closed/rented for a private event, so I would recommend doing that yourself and placing signs at each entrance. We almost had someone walk their dog through our wedding because we didn't do this. All in all, It was perfect for our needs. A gorgeous (and very affordable!) outdoor location with a fountain to wed in front of, some pretty steps so you can still "walk down the aisle" - and a huge space to fit our 100+ guests!

What a great way to spend a sunny Sunday afternoon! Well maintained and easy to navigate. Awesome…read moreway to spend a day with nature.

Great trail, 63 miles long, all the way to Missouri! Very fun for walking or cycling. Also, many…read moregreat stops along the way (small towns, churches, landmarks, etc). Also, we stopped at Tasty Treet at the beginning of the trail for ice cream and thoroughly enjoyed it. Definitely recommend trying different sections of this trail or doing the entire trail! Also, many groups do "taco and margarita" rides starting in Council Bluffs, talk with your local bike shop to find out more. There is a small box at the trail asking for a $2.00 donation for adults to maintain the trail. Awesome tree coverage and nature for a fun day out in Iowa.

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.

I don't know what to say aside from Omaha knows how to do a riverfront…read more Living in Kansas City our riverfront is really underdeveloped and I left here dreaming of what I wish could happen in my own hometown. This area boasts an urban beach, some really nice and fun swings and chairs, and what I would consider to be one of the best playgrounds I've taken my kids to. It feels safe, it's clean, and it's filled with families enjoying these free amenities to the city. My kids loved it and I left really impressed. Next time we are in Omaha with the kids this will be a must stop for us!

This is one of the 3 Riverfront parks that recently received a multi-million dollar renovation. And…read moreit looks amazing. Some of the parks features include sand volleyball courts, a restroom facility, water fountains, fire pits, Adirondack chairs, and an urban beach, the Labor Statue, a nice marina, an amazing playground, glider swings, and paved walkways. They also have umbrella tables and chairs for visitors take advantage of. This park is relatively new, being dedicated in 2020 and it spans about 23 acres. The park leads to the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge. The fenced in playground is awesome. It has a few water features, a couple of towering rocket themed jungle gyms with slides and bridges, a couple of spinning net climbers, a trojan horse, a pile of tree trucks to climb on, and a zip line. There is also a sand area for kids to get messy. It is a very impressive playground. It is on artificial grass and gravel and there are benches placed around the area for caregivers to sit while their little ones play. This is a very nice park that overlooks the Missouri River and not only give you a scenic view of the River, but of Iowa, across the river and the Kerrey Bridge (which is extra awesome at night). The investment in this park was money well spent. I really enjoyed this park. I stopped here on my way the the Kerrey Bridge and chose to hang out there a bit. This park hosts special events on occasion. I hear that it can get crazy during some of them and to avoid the park, if possible. There is a huge open cement pad behind the Kiewit Luminarium. It has a few tables, but is otherwise pretty open. I spent about an hour here and could have easily spent a half day or more. Omaha has some awesome parks. I highly recommend checking this park out and spending some time here.

The new and improved River Front is a neat little area in downtown Omaha, with lots to do and see,…read moreespecially since it encompasses Heartland of America Park, Lewis and Clark Landing, and the Gene Leahy Mall! There are always fun things happening here, like festivals, farmer's markets, music events, food trucks, and holiday celebrations like the lighting of the trees in Gene Leahy each year. There is a skate ribbon, lots of public art like sculptures and landscaping, and a discovery/playground area for younger kids. The River Front actually also includes the Kiewit Luminarium Museum which is SO fun for adults and kids of all ages. The gorgeous bridges of the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge and the Farnam Pier are super cool spots to check out if you want to see the Missouri River in all its action below you. One thing I really appreciate, though, on these bridges is that there are signs about suicide prevention and how to get help, with contact information included. The River Front is great for families, couples, kids, and anyone else who enjoys the outdoors!

The river front is a nice outside space for everyone. I normally visit the park at least 3 times a…read moremonth especially when the weather is nice. Whether I'm reading a book by the water, taking my kid to the park or just taking a walk with my family when they visit in town. I always come to the river front for a good and safe atmosphere. Currently the parking is crazy due to the construction the parking for the park is non existent so finding somewhere to park especially on the weekend can be frustrating. I recommend going earlier in the day for convenience.