Running over the Jamaica North Trail is an abandoned train trestle which marks the site of the 9…read moreAug 1894 Rock Island train derailment. The crash and massive fire resulted in the deaths of eleven passengers and crew. Running across this historic site during a run up the trail was an unexpected surprise. The area, although close to suburbs is nonetheless filled with deer, sampling corn from adjacent fields and dashing across the trail back into the wilderness when disturbed. I recommend the Jamaica North Trail and a visit to the Rock Island Wreck Site if you're hiking, biking, or jogging.

Pioneer Park is one of the best attractions in Nebraska…read more This park has it all (puts on SNL Stefon voice): -History (the pillars that were part of the original treasury building) -Culture (the statue and story of Red Cloud) -Nature (the beautiful scenery and ponds) -Wildlife (the buffalo/deer/etc) And it is just a few minutes from Lincoln and a short drive from Omaha! I would definitely recommend this place to anyone who is looking for a relaxing, but still adventurous, activity!

I was looking for another fun park to do some exploring. I found this and decided to check it out -…read morethere is so much here to see. I really wish I had known and found the older exploratory part of the park earlier in the day - I spent too much time on the picnic-y parts of the park, but I enjoyed it. The signs were a little bit misleading - there are parts of the exploritory area that are closed to the public but there was no warning of that when you were heading that way. I actually really enjoyed the bird observatory and the bridge. It was such a hot day but I thoroughly enjoyed myself.

A wonderful State Park along the valley of the Platte River that provides amazing views in the…read moredrive there. The bottom area provides a place to stop and have a picnic, feed some fish and check out a "archaeological" area. It also provides some great hiking trails. They provide 2 trails that can be combined to give you a nice 2 mile hike. The trail follows down to a cool suspension bridge and you can get down into the creek area and explore the rocks. The trip back takes you through the forest to a high area of pine trees. They also have a nice playground and picnic pavilion up the hill as well. Take a moment on your road trip and stop and visit this amazing place.

This is a wonderful center for kids of all ages. The tinker/maker space is fantastic. There is also…read morea campsite creative play area that has great props to promote play.

Beautiful rolling hills, nature and water. The East Butler High school clears a path for the cross…read morecountry team that is great for walking or running. It's a nice uphill 3 mile loop. I saw deer, turkeys, butterflies, and a ground squirrel. Nice breeze.

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.

This is a beautiful gravel trail. You can ride horses, ATV, run, walk, bike, etc. there are wild…read morefruit trees along the trail. We stopped and ate some wild plums. There is a little covered bench stop for a rest too.

In my opinion this is the most beautiful place on Earth. It is beautiful lush and magical in the…read moregreens and blues of the summer. Lots of beauty and nature and a great trail. We have never seen other people here when we go during a weekday getaway.

Amazing views! My kids and I love to have picnics here and hike the trail. You can see all the way…read moreto Nebraska, absolutely beautiful.

Absolutely gorgeous park with stellar views of Iowa and Nebraska!…read more Easy to navigate and offers a lot of great trails. Parking is all over with multiple trail head entrances. Offers peaks and valleys and I was lucky enough to see a sunset, and really enjoyed my time here. I would come back again.

We had a lovely hike thanks to all trails. Only a $5 fee and you have access to this beautiful…read morenature center. We took the chute and heritage trail loop. A little under three miles and brings you to the top of a ridge for panoramic views, deep forestry and ends with an awesome "chute" trail. The trails were marked clearly and maintained. I felt very safe and had service the whole time. It's also dog friendly. Can't wait to return for more adventures.

This spot is made for all hikers, adventurers, and those who may not want to hike, but want a quick…read moreday trip for some scenic views. Murray Hill Scenic Overlook is just an hour North of Omaha up I-29. I discovered Murray Hill after a few quick Google searches for hiking spots. Murray Hill is one of two trailheads for Brent's Trail, which is a challenging hike across 8 miles. Be careful though, this is not a loop trail so one trailhead to the next is 8 miles alone. We hiked 5 miles total, turning back at 2.5 miles. The 5 miles alone was a great workout and featured some amazing views. I can't recommend this scenic overlook enough! Can't wait to return in Spring!

A great place to do a little hiking with a beautiful view. Picnic table to eat lunch or supper…read morewhile enjoying nature and gazing over the hill for a quite breathetaking view.

First hike of the season turned into an amazing adventure! First, you will get lost unless you type…read morea physical address you find from their website. Don't type Loess Hills State Forest in your maps. You will find an "Hills Have Eyes" or "Wrong Turn" type of atmosphere. This is after you drive by the tarp covered shed with a spray painted sign stating, "Enter Here!!!" Ohhhhhhh snap!! The State Forest is comprised of 4 sections so do some research prior to going! We found an awesome trail (close to the overlook area) which runs by two ponds and was a total of 1.8 miles. Had some steep inclines and some open fields, it worked decent for 7kids who enjoyed the adventure. The overlook observatory area has its own trails and has great views extending miles out! Hint: take a picture of the map sign- it's easy to navigate! Bathrooms were accommodated at the trailhead!

Beautiful rolling hills and nature. A great place to take a walk while enjoying nature.read more