Nebraska City

At the Arbor Day Farm visitors can climb high up among the trees and explore wooded trails, enjoy nature's simple pleasures, and much more. The expansive 260-acre grounds include an array of attractions and activities, including the Tree Adventure, the Lied Lodge, Porter’s, the Apple House Market, and the Arbor Lodge State Historical Park. There is something for guests to discover with every season, such as touring the Lied Greenhouse, playing in the educational, yet fun Nature Explore Classroom, riding through the forest on the Discovery Ride, climbing a tree house, and picking apples in the Arbor Day Farm’s orchard.

2611 Arbor Ave, Nebraska City, NE 68410, Phone: 402-873-8717

The Arbor Lodge State Historical Park is a beautiful estate and the former home of the founder of Arbor Day, J. Sterling Morton. Beginning as a four-room frame house in 1855, the Nebraska City mansion expanded over several renovations to a total of fifty-two rooms, many of which feature historical artifacts and authentic furnishings today. The Arbor Lodge State Historical Park also consists of a tree-themed playground, over two hundred lilac varieties, walking trails, a log cabin, an Italian terraced garden, and an arboretum. The mansion is usually open daily during the spring, summer and fall, along with weekends in the winter.

2600 Arbor Ave, Nebraska City, NE 68410, Phone: 402-873-7222

The Missouri River Basin Lewis and Clark Visitor Center gives visitors a chance to explore the footsteps of the famous explorers Lewis and Clark, as well as Seaman the dog, across the nearly eighty-acre grounds. Guests can also climb aboard a 55-foot, full size authentic replica of their Keelboat used more than two hundred years ago and enter a Plains Indian Earth Lodge. The adventure of Lewis and Clark comes alive with a number of different interactive exhibits, such as running with American Bison, burrowing with Prairie Dogs, and listening to the call of the many birds documented during their expedition.

100 Valmont Dr, Nebraska City, NE 68410, Phone: 402-874-9900

Romantic Ideas:

The Kimmel Orchard & Vineyard is a place for locals and visitors alike in Nebraska City to find locally grown and fresh produce, as well as many other homegrown Nebraska products. A wide array of items can be found inside the Kimmel Orchard’s historic Apple Barn, from honey and marinades to salsas to jellies and jams. With every season, the property also hosts a festival celebrating the harvest, such as pumpkins and apples during the fall, peaches and cherries in summer, and strawberries during the springs. Wine tastings of a dozen different varieties are offered as well.

5995 G Rd, Nebraska City, NE 68410, Phone: 402-873-5293

The Kregel Windmill Museum is housed within a one-store, modest structure along Central Avenue and gives visitors a look into the world of making windmills and their role as modern technology tools since 1902. The unique museum has been compared to being a time capsule showing the shop-type manufacturing of the early twentieth century. Many everyday items like pens, pencils, and a telephone on the desk and ledger books on bookshelves still sit where they were used last. The Kregel Windmill Museum still looks mostly as it did back during the 1930’s and gives people a feeling of the manufacturing business.

1416 Central Ave, Nebraska City, NE 68410, Phone: 402-873-1078

The Nebraska City Museum of Firefighting highlights the history of the state of Nebraska’s oldest fire department, the 150-year-old Nebraska City Fire Department. The museum is suited towards visitors of all ages and is home to one of the oldest and largest fire equipment collections in the state. Children of all ages can dress up in some of the fire gear before climbing into a fire engine. There are several antique pieces of fire equipment displayed at the Nebraska City Museum of Firefighting, as well as an 1884 coal fire steam engine, many interactive exhibits, and a 9/11 exhibit.

1320 Central Ave, Nebraska City, NE 68410, Phone: 402-873-4403

The Wildwood Historic Center offers a look into Victorian country homes in Nebraska City, Nebraska. The restored 1869 brick home showcases a variety of local artifacts, including some that are rather unusual. Guides dressed in Victorian period clothing lead guests through the ten-room house. Inside the Historic Barn is the Wildwood Gift Shop, where an array of items made by regional craftsmen and artists are available for sale. In addition to the mansion, the Wildwood Historic Center also includes the Barn Art Gallery and a Victorian garden and is open from late April to October, seven days a week.

420 Steinhart Park Rd, Nebraska City, NE 68410, Phone: 402-873-6340

Where to Eat

Valentino's Grand Italian Buffet started out with many family recipes that have been passed down through generations of family members, as well as when the restaurant changed hands back in 1971. Offering a comfortable and clean environment, friendly service, and quality delicious food, the restaurant offers a buffet-style dining experience consisting of eight different food spreads and over seventy options for guests to choose to eat. The various buffet areas include the Fresh Salad Bar, The Italian Bakery, the Pasta Bar, the Pizza Bar, Pasta Salads and Fresh Fruits, American Favorites, and the Dessert Bar.

1710 S 11th St, Nebraska City, NE 68410, Phone: 402-873-5522