1. Eugene T. Mahoney State Park
City: Ashland, NE
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (402) 944-2523
Address: 28500 West Park Hwy.
Description: Located between Omaha and Lincoln, Mahoney State Park is Nebraska’s most popular state park. Open year-round, the park lets visitors choose between camping in one of its campgrounds; renting one of its modern, furnished cabins; or bunking in the lodge. The Little Creek and Lakeside campgrounds both feature mature trees and a picturesque water view. Both have modern shower and latrine buildings and drinking water, and Little Creek has a coin-operated laundry facility. Lakeside campground also has free wireless Internet.Cabins are a more secluded option, and also are available year-round. The heated and air-conditioned cabins all have a fireplace, television, fridge and range, microwave, deck, and grill and offer a decidedly contemporary idea of “roughing it.” The Peter Kiewit Lodge has 40 rooms—most of which have decks with scenic views—and offers all the amenities of a modern hotel.Mahoney offers its visitors a treasure trove of stuff to do: hiking and biking, birding, paddle boating, arts and craft programs in the lodge and other buildings on-site, a driving range, a fishing pier, miniature golf, a swimming pool and aquatic center, and horseback riding are just a few of the things families and visitors can do year-round at the park.
2. Quarry Oaks
City: Ashland, NE
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (402) 944-6000 or 888-944-6001
Address: 16600 Quarry Oaks Dr.
Insider Pick:
Description: Quarry Oaks is the best public golf course, hands down, in the Lincoln and Omaha areas. The 18-hole course is actually located near Ashland, a small town that’s a half-hour drive from both Lincoln and Omaha. It’s worth the trip—this course, built in 1996, is consistently ranked the best public course in eastern Nebraska. You can also find it on Golf Digest’s annual list of the 100 best public courses in the United States. It isn’t hard to figure out why. Built next to the Platte River, Quarry Oaks has the sort of majestic elevation changes, spectacular views, and stunning scenery that most golfers simply don’t expect to find in Nebraska. The course is more expensive than most Lincoln and Omaha public courses, but not by much. It’s downright affordable compared to other golf courses of its ilk around the country. If you are a passionate golfer with an afternoon free, play Quarry Oaks. You won’t regret it.