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.
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 Street 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, large mouth 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:
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. Exhibits display bones still embedded in the rock. The museum contains a large collection of Plains Indian artifacts.
Nebraska Vacations Idea #10:
The Great Platte River Road Archway, in Kearney, Nebraska, is a unique and fun history museum. The Archway is a link that lets America see the mark of respect to the perseverance and ingenuity that developed our amazingly diverse culture and active American heritage and future. The Archway's wonderful educational programs for children of all ages, the exceptional Chuckwagon Restaurant, a gift shop that offers a variety of Nebraska-made products and a selection of themed items.
A trip to the Great Platte River Road Archway is an interactive adventure that uses life-size dioramas, antique cars, computers, movies and more to teach and entertain at the same time. The Archway is also embarking on a new tradition. Starting in June, 2009 the Arch will be having an annual Pow Wow to celebrate Native American history and culture.
