Nebraska Vacations Idea #1:
At the
Buffalo Bill Ranch State Historical Park, near North Platte, you can see the home of the man who made the famous "Wild West Show" back in the late 1800s. The preserved house, barn, and outbuildings sit on 16 acres of land and are full of memorabilia and artifacts from Buffalo Bill, The Wild West Show, and Chief Sitting Bull. There is a theater that shows an original 1898 movie of the Wild West Show that was made by Thomas Edison. Camping and horseback riding are also available.
Vacation Ideas in Nebraska #2:
The Henry Doorly Zoo, in Omaha, has the largest cat complex in North America. You can see rare Sumatran Tigers, Asian Snow Leopards, and Siberian Tigers. The zoo is home to
The Lied Jungle, the world's largest indoor tropical rainforest. The huge
Scott Aquarium is an 850,000 gallon coral reef tank with a glass tunnel through it. You can feel as if you are really under water. The
free-flight aviary with its more than 500 exotic species of birds, is the second largest aviary in the world.
Nebraska Vacations Idea #3:
For excellent fishing and birding try
Box Butte Reservoir about 10 miles north of Hemingford. You can catch northern pike, walleye, largemouth bass, yellow perch, and channel catfish. Over 200 species of birds have been spotted. The dam and this 1600 acre reservoir is also a great place for boating, swimming, wind-surfing, and sail-boating. Nearby Hemingford holds the third largest County Fair in the state.
Nebraska Vacations Idea #4:
The Environmental Adventure Company offers a tour of the Platte River valley in south-central Nebraska to see the
Sandhill Cranes. Each spring 500,000 sandhill cranes spend five weeks here getting ready for their yearly migration. Special blinds are set up designed for observing the sandhill cranes. There is also plenty of opportunity to observe other wildlife and bird species of the Platte River basin .... it's a
bird watching paradise.
For more information on how to enjoy a bird watching vacation try my friend Gene's bird watching site.
Nebraska Vacations Idea #5:
The town of McCook, in Southwest Nebraska has adventure in the heart of beautiful Republican River Valley. Here's a few things for the family to try. Pumpkin picking, cattle cutting, a championship golf course, pheasant and deer hunting, balloon festival. How about storytelling of the last great buffalo hunt. Or antiquing along historic brick streets.
Nebraska Vacations Idea #6:
If your vacation plans take you to Ogallah, you will the find most popular recreational areas in the state. Here you can see
Boot Hill, famous as the final resting place for gunfighters and cowboys who "died with their boots on". There's an 1880's style Main Steet with a western stage show. The
Main Street Historic Walk of Fame guides you to outdoor markers that chronicle the history of Keith County. For a variety of water activities you can hit nearby Lake McConaughy, Nebraska's largest reservoir, and Lake Ogallala.
Nebraska Vacations Idea #7:
The Folsom Children's Zoo & Botanical Gardens enables visitors of all ages to get up close and personal to their over 300 varieties of animals and 400 species of plants. It’s both fun and educational. The Folsom Children's Zoo & Botanical Gardens is committed to wildlife conservation and breeding programs for endangered species. They go out of their way to meet the needs of all people, regardless of financial constraints, language barriers, or physical barriers. One way they do this is with their Sensory Safari for people with visual handicaps. This provides the blind with ways to experience the animals utilizing their other senses.
Nebraska Vacations Idea #8:
The Bruce L. Anderson Recreation Area, is home to the 50-acre Recharge Lake. It was named in honor of the conservation advocate and longtime director of the Natural Resources District. You can enjoy fishing, boating, picnicking, and hiking. The lake is stocked with bluegill, largemouth bass and catfish. Boating is allowed but only up to 5 mph. Facilities include a boat ramp, picnic tables, cooking grills and fire rings, hiking trails, outhouses, playground equipment, and an ice skating pond in the wintertime.
Nebraska Vacations Idea #9:
Pioneer Village, near Kearny, comprises the largest private collection of Americana anywhere. With more than 50,000 pieces of historical memorabilia in the 28 buildings it is one of Nebraska’s top attractions. You can see history unfold before your eyes as you try to take it all in. The Frontier Fort…the Pony Express Station…the home made of sod…17 historic flying machines…these are just a couple examples of the incredible wealth of memories and history here.
Nebraska Vacations Idea #10:
Agate Springs Ranch, near Harrison, Nebraska, is a major archeological site that has revealed much of our knowledge of animal species that lived 20 million years ago. There are walking trails that enable you to tour the quarries where the bones have been uncovered. Ehibits display bones still embedded in the rock. The museum contains a large collection of Plains Indian artifacts.
