Burn off excess energy at these parks and nature centers!

Eugene T. Mahoney State Park

Ashland

I-80 Exit 426, 28500 W. Park Hwy - Restaurant and lodge open year-round. Located along the Platte River bluffs with housekeeping cabins, lodge rooms, fee camping, horseback trail rides, nature trails, marina, fishing, sports fields, indoor theater, water park with slides and wave pool, crafts, miniature golf, driving range and winter sports. Kountze Theater offers shows year-round. Park activities seasonal weather permitting. Arts and crafts, game room, activity center and gift shop open year-round. Conference facilities all year. Ice skating facility open Nov 1-Mar 31. Park permit required. Activities have variable admission fees. 30% discount on lodging Oct-April for Sun-Thu stays excluding holidays and special events. Dinner/Theater package offered. 402-944-2523

Fremont Lakes State Recreation Area

Fremont

4 mi. W. on US Hwy 30 - Twenty sandpit lakes offer a variety of outdoor activities from fishing, swimming, boating, camping and picnicking. Open year-round. Memorial Day-Labor Day all services available. Handicapped fishing pier and picnic area, modern shower building, 175 new asphalt pads for camping and 200 total electrical sites. Park permit required. Camping fees: $15 electrical site, $11 non electrical site, pay showers. 402-727-3290

DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge

Blair

5 mi E. of Blair on US Hwy 30 - Located along the Missouri River, the refuge provides a haven for wildlife and a historic treasure of the past. Enjoy picturesque views of DeSoto Lake and more than 200,000 cargo artifacts from the 1865-era steamboat Bertrand. Fishing, photography, mushroom gathering, interpretive programs and nature trails. Refuge open during daylight hours. Visitor center open daily, 9am-4:30pm. Closed federal holidays. Admission: $3 per car, $15 annual pass. Group rates by reservation 2 weeks ahead: $20 commercial vans and buses, $30 for groups of 21 or more people. 712-642-4121

Platte River State Park

Louisville

15 mi. S. of I-80 on NE Hwy 50, 2 mi. W. on NE Hwy 66 - Scenic park in the woodlands of the Platte River Valley. Enjoy the spectacular vistas from atop the Lincoln Journal Tower. Bison specialty items are on the menu at the lodge, which operates Memorial Day-Labor Day, daily. Cabins and tipis operate May-Oct, some are available year-round. Grounds are also open for day use year-round, but no camping available. Park office is open 8am-5pm weekdays during off season, daily during recreation season. National Trails Day will be held the first Sat in June. Park permit required. 402-234-2217 Partially Handicapped Accessible.

Boyer Chute National Wildlife Refuge

Fort Calhoun

3 mi. E. along the Missouri River - Restored 3-mi. river channel surrounded by 4,000 acres of grassland, woodland and wetlands. Two short nature trails and a 6-mile hiking loop. Fishing, photography, bird-watching and picnicking. The Lewis and Clark Expedition paused near here August 1-3, 1804 to hold the first council with American Indians. Open daily, daylight hours. Headquarters open Mon-Fri, 8am-4:30pm. Free. 402-468-4313

Fort Atkinson State Historical Park

Fort Calhoun

201 S. 7th St, 1 mi. E. of US Hwy 75 at 7th & Madison Sts - First U.S. fort W. of the Missouri River played a major role in the western expansion and fur trade. This was the site of the council between the Lewis and Clark Expedition and the Otoe-Missouri tribe and is now home to the ""First Council Sculpture."" Visitor Center and interpretive facilities open Memorial Day-Labor Day, daily, 10am-5pm. Grounds open in summer season 8am-7pm; rest of the year, 9am to sunset. Living history events portraying life in an 1820s military fort May 5-6, June 2-3, June 30-July 1, Aug 4-5, Sep 1-2 and Oct 6-7 from 11am-5pm. Pre-arranged tours from mid-April thru mid-Nov. Park permit required. 402-468-5611 Facilities are marginally designed to serve the handicapped at this time.

Fontenelle Forest Nature Center

Bellevue

1111 Bellevue Blvd N. - Enjoy 1,400 acres of woods, prairie, wetlands and waterways, featuring deep ravines, loess ridges, more than 40 varieties of trees and more than 200 species of birds. Nineteen miles of trails lace the site, including two barrier-free boardwalks.The Katherine and Fred Buffett Forest Learning Center offers permanent historical and children's exhibit galleries, including new exhibits featuring history of the Lewis and Clark Trail. Hundreds of nature programs and environmental education classes are offered year-round for the general public, schools and youth groups. Open daily, 8am-5pm. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas & New Year's Day. Admission: $7 adults, $5 ages 3-11, $6 seniors, free admission for members. Group rates. 402-731-3140

Pioneers Park Nature Center

Lincoln

3201 S. Coddington, W. section of Pioneers Park - Enjoy 668 acres of prairie, wetland and woodland habitats, 8 miles of hiking trails and 2 interpretive buildings. Outdoor exhibits include bison, elk, deer, nonreleasable raptors and gardens. Open year-round, Mon-Sat, 8:30am-5pm; Sun, noon-5pm. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas & New Year's Day. 402-441-7895

Neale Woods Nature Center

Omaha

14323 Edith Marie Ave - A nature preserve of 550 acres of forests, hilltop prairies and riverside woodlands along the Missouri River. There are excellent opportunities to view birds, wildlife and natural vegetation. Featuring bird-feeding stations and a seasonal butterfly garden. Scheduled nature programs are offered for all ages, including stargazing and other astronomy programs at the Millard Observatory. Nine miles of rugged trails lead through the hills and along the river. The visitor center offers exhibits, live animal displays, gift shop and visitor services. Open seasonally, call for hours. Admission: $5 adults, $4 seniors, $3 children 3-11, free for members. Group rates and memberships available. 402-731-3140

Schramm Park State Recreation Area

Gretna

NE Hwy 31, 7 mi. S. of I-80 Exit 432 - Unique geologic and botanical area was the site of the state's first fish hatchery, now a museum. Spectacular views of the Platte River Valley. A 3-mile nature trail winds through rugged woodlands. Home of Aksarben Aquarium. Park open for day use only, year round. Museum open weekdays, Memorial Day-Labor Day, 10am-4:30pm; 10am-6pm weekends. Wed after Labor Day-Nov 30, 10am-4:30pm, Wed-Mon. Park permit required. 402-234-6855

Lincoln Saline Wetland Nature Center

Lincoln

Jct of I-80 & US Hwy 77 - Learn about one of the earth's rarest ecosystems. Historic Wyoming Bridge, once located in Otoe County Nebraska, now spans a pond at the wetland. It is one of only a few bowstring bridges located in Nebraska. Recreational opportunities including nature observation and hiking along woodchip trails. 402-476-2729