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!

Interesting place - I had no idea it was even there. I would suggest checking it out if you are…read moreinteresting in checking out the trees and such. It was a warm day when I went - so it made me walk less and rush through it. But this is a pretty nice place - I will probably check it out again when it is a little cooler.

First time visitor Free parking, no fee…read more Dog friendly Jogger stroller runner walker friendly Kid friendly Plenty to see with open clean trails that wrap around go on a hill and connect back Many trees both sunny and shady Fall was showing its colors Christmas trees in a small area Felt safe indeed - would certainly return and recommend to taking a stroll in this hidden gem

Wonderful park with plenty of space to enjoy nature and pay tribute to our brave armed forces…read morepersonnel who fought and died in several wars during the last century. Awesome statues, pretty rose gardens, and picturesque surroundings all contribute to an uplifting experience worthy of those who "gave their all" for our freedoms.

I had attended this park for a sorority charity event and the space was LOVELY. The rose garden was…read morestunning with some mid September blooms. The greenery is very well kept and lush. We were able to take pictures with our family for Christmas cards featuring the greenery from the grass, bushes, and trees. This was a lovely space and I was happy it was very well kept!

Stumbled upon here doing a self- led tour of Omaha. Nice space to think and soak in the sun. I…read morewould love to visit again and experience whatever else Omaha has to offer.

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!

I was on this side of town picking something up and had a little time to spare so I decided to pop…read moreover to the lake and see what the trail was all about. I spent about 10 minutes walking in one direction and then had to turn around to make my appointment but in that 20 minutes, I fell in love with this place. The trail itself is really lovely. You can tell that it is very well maintained and not overgrown next to the path. The small bridges for pedestrians to walk over along the path are a nice touch as well. So much of the trail is shaded and this was a particularly cool day which made me excited to come back in the fall and see the leaves change. I saw two deer while I was there both somewhat close to the path and completely visible, and I passed a handful of other people, enjoying the trail that day, including a handful of leashed dogs which are allowed on the trail. The trail is six or 7 miles long so definitely plan for a long day if you plan to do the whole Lake, but there are two loops that you can do in a shorter amount of time or you can do what I did and park at one of the parking lots do a small walk and then turn around and go back.

Lake Zorinsky in Omaha is such a great outdoor spot -- so clean and well-maintained, with plenty of…read morespace for biking, walking, and enjoying the lake views. One of the highlights is the new fully inclusive playground -- it's thoughtfully designed with ramps, wheelchair-accessible swings, and fun features for kids of all abilities, making it a great destination for families. Cyclists will appreciate the addition of air and tools for on-the-fly bike repairs, which makes stopping here even more convenient. I also love the recent trail improvements at 168th Street -- the updated sections make riding and walking around the park feel smoother and safer. Whether you're out for a spin, a stroll, or a family day, Lake Zorinsky is a must-visit outdoor escape in West Omaha!

Well, this place truly blew me away, so I must talk about it. Make sure to put the Hitchcock Nature…read moreCenter in the Loess Hills on your list of places to visit this weekend if you haven't already. Iowa isn't exactly known for its "mountain views," so I wasn't expecting much, but this place totally made me reconsider. You can sense the tranquility as soon as you pull in. All of the trails here have breathtaking views that will make you forget you're in the Midwest. Some of them are easy, while others will raise your heart rate. It's one of the few places that simply resets you; the sounds are quieter and the air feels cleaner. The maps of the trails are well done and have easy, medium, and hard trails marked on the maps. The trails themselves are very well marked as well so you won't get lost. The observation tower? Unreal. When you are to the top, you can see miles of undulating hills and valleys, and on a clear day, you can even make out Omaha in the distance. Grab your camera (or your phone, let's be real)--the photos from up there are next-level. Additionally, they've done a fantastic job of keeping things accessible. There is a boardwalk trail which was closed for renovations but I'd think it is super easy to walk and perfect for families, strollers, or anyone who just wants a chill nature stroll. The Loess Hills Lodge at the main entrance also has a small shop, plenty of information about the area, and clean restrooms. It's obvious that the volunteers and employees genuinely care about the location. This is paradise if you enjoy wildlife, especially birds. The hawk-watching here is legendary during the migration season. It's amazing to see enormous raptors flying directly over your head, even if you're not a birdwatcher. Camping spots are surprisingly well-maintained, quiet, and clean. Stayed a night and woke up to the sound of wind through the prairie grass and not much else. 10/10 peaceful vibes. Only The $5 entry fee is paid with cash only through a drop box, so please bring exact change. That's the "downside," if you can call it that.lly worth it for a full day of hiking and exploring. Well, Hitchcock Nature Center is one of those locations that reminds you to slow down, take a deep breath, and appreciate the joys of being outside.her you're into hiking, photography, birdwatching, or just need to escape for a bit, this is your spot. Would recommend it always.

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.

This is a "must see" place in Omaha! The heroic-sized statues are beautifully done with intricate…read moreand lifelike details. The park spans over several city blocks as buffalo stampede from the pioneer wagon train and then geese fly off from a pond and through a nearby building. The entire scene is a visual masterpiece that simply must be experienced in person and up close.

This is a small but neat little park that features a bunch of life sized sculptures of early…read moresettlers and pioneers. There is metered street parking within a reasonable walking distance, but this is not a destination park and most people won't be traveling here just for the park. It is touted as one of the largest sculpture parks of its kind in the US. The bronze and stainless steel sculptures are the work of Blair Buswell and Edward Fraughton. They give a very life-like and accurate depiction of westward expansion with statues families and animals, with wagons, venturing into unfamiliar territory. First National Bank commissioned the large project, which was headed by landscape architect Jim Reeves. This was one of two parks that were commissioned by the Bank. The sculptures are divided into sub sections including one titled Wagon Master, which represents the wagon that guided the rest of the pioneers and was responsible for supplies and management of the group. There is also the Hunter Group, which represents the wagon trains that were responsible for hunting and providing food provisions. You will also see the Trail Boss, waving his hat in the air and a Native American sentinel . The sculptures are very detailed. You can really feel their struggle. Viewers are able to mingle about and in between the sculptures. On the back side of the sculptures is an overlook area with some cement benches and some information placards along the wall. There is also a paved walkway and a decent patch of green space that I saw some people with their dogs. This is a nice park and definitely catches your eyes, but I do not see people making this their primary destination. Most visitors, such as myself, will be passing by or on their way to another destination and then are drawn in by the magnificent sculptures. Still, it is something that you must see while in Omaha. I highly recommend checking it out.

Levi Carter Park is in a crescent shape. It is quite a large Park it is across the street from the…read moreOmaha airport. I found it full of beautiful trees incredible grass and lots of small lots to park and I should go around bathroom seem to be at a premium as there were only a few to be found. The lake is beautiful there are geese both on the ground and in the air and at Sunset they really come down and Chow Down on the lawn I think. The coolest thing is across the street from the airport is small Lots parking lots that is make wonderful cell phone waiting blogs when you are expecting someone at the airport very handy indeed

This park is located on the opposite side from the Iowa border on Carter Lake. The pavilions can…read morebe rented through Omaha Park and Recreation for a nominal fee. This place has baseball fields besides a replay area for young kids. Boats and other watercraft are allowed to be used here. Bathrooms are the portable ones and parking is convenient. Swimming is not allowed on this side of the lake.