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You know Nebraska for its wide-open spaces, endless horizons, and friendly folks. But a trip to the state will reveal a bigger picture — natural wonders, renowned attractions, living history, and agricultural adventures just waiting to be discovered.
The great outdoors
Peaceful prairie, rolling sandhills, rugged buttes — you'll discover unspoiled natural beauty at every turn. State parks and recreation areas provide outdoor adventure across Nebraska with hiking trails, wildlife viewing, fishing, and so much more. For those who like to take in nature on two wheels, Chadron State Park and Fort Robinson State Park boast miles of renowned single- and dual-track trails.
If you're ready to hit the water, spend an afternoon canoeing or tubing down one of the state's picturesque rivers. Recognized as a canoeing hot spot, Niobrara National Scenic River is a great place to start. Looking for something different? Try tanking. That's right, pile the whole family in a stock tank and take a leisurely float downstream.
World-class attractions
Looking for top-notch family fun? You'll find it here. Reader's Digest voted Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo the best zoo in America for good reason. It is home to some of the world's largest indoor habitats including a rain forest, a desert, and a nocturnal exhibit.
Nebraska also gives you the chance to take to the skies in a big way at the Strategic Air & Space Museum. Stand in awe of the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird, explore two aircraft display hangars, and check out the interactive gallery.
Time travel
This is also your chance to travel back in time ... all the way back to the days of prehistoric animals. Significant paleontological discoveries have been made in Nebraska soil, and you can see them at Agate Fossil Beds National Monument, Ashfall Fossil Beds State Historical Park, and the University of Nebraska State Museum of Natural History.
Interested in the era of the Oregon, California, and Mormon Trails? Watch pioneer history come to life at the Stuhr Museum of the Prairie Pioneer, or visit Homestead National Monument of America to set foot on the first tract of free land claimed through the Homestead Act of 1862. You can even get a taste of the Wild West at Rock Creek Station State Historical Park, where Wild Bill Hickok's gunslinging career began, and at Buffalo Bill Ranch State Historical Park.
Farm and ranch getaways
Nebraskans are very proud of their agricultural heritage, and they want to share it with you. Many guest ranches are scattered throughout the state, ready to give your family a genuine cowboy experience. Jump right in and mend fence, drive cattle, and even help with branding. Or tour area farms to get a glimpse of the diverse ways to make a living off the prairie.
So go ahead, expand your view of Nebraska. You may find more than you bargained for, and it just might be your best adventure yet.
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