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.

Open space that is well managed and beautiful. Hiking, camping, and so much more available if you…read moreare looking for activities.

Love this for a place for hobby and go to escape the crud. Take the tops off the JEEP and driveread more

I've been visiting Fontenelle Forest since the early 80's, but it has been almost five years since…read morethe last visit. Buying entry tickets was fast and easy with friendly service. The boardwalk systems has expanded since our last visit so it is possible to do several miles just on boardwalk. The dirt trails are better marked than our last visit. With all the recent rain the forest was very green, with lots of flowering plants. We visited the raptor area for the first time and enjoyed seeing the various birds and reading about their history. We'll be buying a membership and hope to hike the trails this fall and winter.

I was pleasantly surprised to see how busy it was during a week day! The space in the nature center…read moreif very well organized and is set up for a great flow of customers. I ended up going for a hike which was very nice! The paths are well maintained and well marked. Definitely recommend if you need an outdoor fix!

Rented a cabin for a family reunion and we had a lovely time! The park is beautiful with plenty of…read moretrails and activities. My family enjoyed the disc golf, driving range, and nature center. The park was fully booked as it was Father's Day weekend, but it never felt crowded. I really enjoyed painting ceramics by the lake when it started raining and hiking the various trails. The cabin was clean and simple. I am rating four stars instead of five because there were a few things that could be easily improved. It was very hard to figure out what amenities were available in the cabin theough the web site, which made it kind of difficult to know what to bring with regards to cooking supplies and linens. I appreciated the cooking utensils, but I would have liked some form of skillet or griddle. We made do, but it was kind of oddfeying eggs in a pot. I was able to navigate the park without much trouble, but some of my family had a hard time finding the cabin, so maybe the signage could be more clear.

What a cool spot! There's something for everyone here -- one of the biggest indoor play structures…read moreI've ever seen. Plus multiple rock climbing walls, fresh food and snacks, drinks, an ice skating rink and more. It was my first time coming here and it did not disappoint. We love how cheap entry is and all the activities you can do. It's a great place to go to, especially during winter time. I'm looking forward to coming back here during spring and summer months when the water park is open. The pizza wasn't bad either! I'd totally order it again. No outside food or drinks are allowed here. There's plenty of parking outside.

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.

Wildlife Safari is a great place for the grandkids. They get to see Elk, Deer, Cranes and Buffalo…read more We can have a lunch there or bring our own. There is currently a Dinosaur exhibit. Don't forget the goat petting area.

This is a great place to check out if you're in the area. While they don't have a ton of wildlife,…read morethe one they do have create a very immersive experience. The elk and bison were sitting right next to the path. The dinosaur exhibit was fantastic. The animation and sounds really pulls you in. The kids couldn't get enough. I do wish they had some more options for snacks. Ended up skipping it this trip. The bathrooms are also surprisingly nice. If you in the area, highly recommend.

Cute kids playground Good spots for the campers. It's quiet…read more The bathroom facilities are great! Nice loop for rent camping. Easy to find Privacy is good.

This might be a great park, but the RV camping area is not safe! Our family had a terrible…read moreexperience here on August 13, 2026. We will never return and would tell others that the park staff and park management were less then responsive to a potentially dangerous situation. Because there is zero security or check-in procedures with real people, anyone and everyone can come in off the road, day or night and set up camp. There was one camp host site at the park, but no one was manning it when we were there. When we contacted the park staff about a person that was camping at the park that was harassing us for money and cigarettes, their reply was "this happens all the time." We ended up leaving before night fall and when we contacted them in the morning to let them know we left (we also asked for a refund because of the safety issue) they said no. I would never take a chance of camping here again.

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.

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.