Just about 300,000 people live in Nebraska's capital, Lincoln. The city covers over 100 square miles and was originally named Lancaster. When it was appointed as Nebraska's capital in 1869, the city was renamed for Abraham Lincoln. The University of Nebraska was founded in Lincoln that same year and is now home to over 26,000 students.
The city is known as a haven for music and musicians. There are three major arenas, which are Pinnacle Bank Arena, the Bourbon Theater, and the Lied Center for the Performing arts. All three venues host performances of all musical genres all year long. The Sheldon Museum of Art is committed to American artists of all schools and styles, and it also has a sculpture garden.
The University of Nebraska participates in 22 sports in Division I college athletics. Lincoln has a minor-league baseball team. Tickets are available in the spring and summer. For a change of pace, you can even get tickets to the roller derby.
The university has a botanical garden and arboretum. Tours are available through the university, and the garden and arboretum provide family-friendly educational programs throughout the year. Outside the campus, there is also the Sunken Garden, which has free admission. Each year, the garden features 30,000 plants and flowers.
Campgrounds Near Lincoln, Nebraska
Camp A Way is just five minutes from downtown Lincoln. The campground has 30-amp and 50-amp hookups along with water and sewer hookups. There is a pool and a hot tub, and the Wi-Fi is free. Current members of the military and veterans get a discount as do AAA members and Good Sam members. During the warm weather, the campground's water park is open.
The 1,800-acre campground at the Pawnee State Recreation Area has 199 sites. The sites all have full hookups, including water, sewer, and both 30-amp and 50-amp electricity. The sites cost as little as $10 a day. The park is pet-friendly as long as you keep your pets leashed and clean up after them. There isn't a pool, but there are showers. If you have a boat, then you can use the boat ramp. You can also fish or water ski.
Pine Grove RV Park is 20 miles away from Lincoln. It doesn't have a hot tub, but there is a pool in the park. There are 102 RV sites, and each one has all the hookups: 30-amp, 50-amp, water, and sewer. Not only do military personnel and AAA members get discounts, but so do members of the Family Motor Coach Association. Feel free to bring your pets to Pine Grove RV Park. You must keep them leashed at all times, however.
State Parks Near Lincoln, Nebraska
Waubonsie State Park is just an hour away from Lincoln. It sits upon the Lewis and Clark trail. The park has two eight-mile-long trail systems, some of which trails retrace the two explorers' steps. The first one is for hiking, biking, and horseback riding, and the second one is only for hiking. Lake Virginia has great fishing. You can also use electrically powered boats on the lake, and such boats are available for rent. The Wa-Shawtee Lodge is available to rent for gatherings of up to 160 people.
Lewis and Clark State Park is also about an hour away from Lincoln, Nebraska. Boating with Both electrical and gasoline-powered motors is allowed on the lake. Both the lake and streams in the park are stocked with northern pike, bass, catfish, and panfish, so anglers will enjoy their time in the park. The park has actual boats used by Lewis and Clark and replicas on display.
Tuttle Creek Lake lies 123 miles from Lincoln, Nebraska. The lake covers 11,000 acres, and Tuttle Creek Lake State Park, which surrounds the lake, covers an additional 12,000 acres. The park provides a disc golf course and horseshoe pits on the shores of the lake. There is a combined archery and shooting range that is open two days a week. Aside from disc golf and shooting, three of the most popular activities in Tuttle Creek State Park are fishing, swimming, and hiking.
National Sites Near Lincoln, Nebraska
It's not even an hour's drive to the Homestead National Monument of America. The monument commemorates homesteaders who went west in the 1860s. Explore the Palmer-Epard Cabin from 1867. Among other things, the park's education center teaches you about the Homestead Act of 1862. Walk across the Daniel Freeman Homestead, which was the first homestead. There are three miles of hiking trails in the park. The visitor's center has trail maps, and your children can earn a Junior Ranger badge at the site.
Scott's Bluff National Monument comprises 3,000 acres. On the half-mile-long Oregon Pathway, the original trail still exists in part. There are three prairie schooners there for you to explore too. You can hike other easy trails, such as the North Overlook Trail, the South Overlook Trail, and the Saddle Rock Trail. There is a single bike path that covers 2.4 miles round trip. The monument also holds the William Henry Jackson collection of art.
Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Site is in Topeka, Kansas, about 170 miles from Lincoln. The park comprises Monroe Elementary School and its grounds. The nearby Landon Nature Trail is a moderate hike of 38 miles. The Shunga trail is easier and shorter. At nearby Gage Park, your children can ride a miniature train.
National Forests Near Lincoln, Nebraska
Among the ubiquitous corn fields, there lie 140,000 acres of the Nebraska National Forest. The forest is actually in two parts, the Pine Ridge Ranger District and the Bessey Ranger District. The Bessey Ranger District is dedicated to the conservation of wildlife. The two districts, which are 200 miles apart, have many miles of hiking trails, and bird-watchers can see many local and migratory species.
Samuel R. McKelvie National Forest covers about 116,000 acres of prairie land. Visitors can enjoy mountain biking, hiking, and horseback riding. The wildlife of the forest includes both mule deer and many species of birds. Fishing within the forest requires a permit for most locations. Motorized boats are disallowed, but canoeing and kayaking are both popular. Canoers and kayakers can set out from the Niobrara canoe launch.
Black Hills National Forest is 526 miles from Lincoln, Nebraska. It's called "The Island in the Plains" because the hills rise up from the flat land surrounding them like pine-covered islands. Black Hills National Forest contains more than 400 miles of hiking trails. The moderately difficult Deerfield Trail is one of the longest at 23 miles. The 76 Trail is just 0.8 miles long, but it's one of the most difficult in the forest. You must make reservations beforehand if you plan to stay overnight at one of the 30 campgrounds within the forest.
