From art museums to frontier military posts, prehistoric elephants and rhinos to a world-class zoo, the list of things to see in Nebraska is as broad as the state's horizons.

Pioneers Park Nature Center in Coddington offers more than eight miles of hiking trails on 400 acres of woodland, wetland and prairie habitat. Indoor and outdoor plant and animal exhibits interpret the flora and fauna of Nebraska. Bison, elk and deer herds, as well as non-releasable raptors are available for viewing on site. Free guided hikes, public programs, outreach and school activities are offered year round.

Nature enthusiasts from around the world enjoy the annual sandhill crane migration that takes place each spring. It is a spectacle to behold as nearly 500,000 cranes gather along the Platte River for rest and rejuvenation.

The Lewis and Clark State Recreation Area is situated seven miles north of NE Hwy 121. In the area, the Missouri River Reservoir offers visitors six recreation areas and the newly renovated Weigand Burbach Area with asphalt camping pads, electrical services, cabins, a convenience store and marina with boat docks. Park areas are open year round.

Chimney Rock National Historic Site and Visitors Center is located one mile south of the junction of NE Hwy 92 and US Hwy 26. "Towering to the heavens" is how one pioneer described Chimney Rock, the most recognized landmark along the Oregon Trail. Today an interpretive center operated by the Nebraska State Historical Society pays tribute to those who traveled the trails, and features original maps made from Captain John C. Fremont's 1842-43 exploration of the Oregon Trail.

The FunPlex in Omaha is a great place to let the kids run. The park includes a motion ocean, water slides, lazy river, kiddy pool, go karts, slick track, bumper cars and bumper boats, tilt-a-whirl, spider, swings, batting cages, Red Baron and the paratrooper.

Oregon Trail Wagon Train is located two miles south of Bayard on Hwy 26, then one and a half miles west on Oregon Trail Road. Enjoy a chuck wagon cookout and songfest with a 15-minute covered wagon tour of the Oregon Trail. Three-hour covered wagon tours to Chimney and a Sunday morning breakfast cookout also are offered as well as a four-day adventure (times are seasonal). RV and camping sites are available for those who want to stay.

Niobrara State Park, located one mile west on NE Hwy 12, offers scenic views of Missouri River bluffs country. Cabins operate mid-April through December. Guided Missouri River raft tours occur mid-May through September. Supervised horseback trail rides, a swimming pool, hiking, picnicking, fishing and cross-country skiing also are available. A bison stew cookout takes place on Saturday evenings. Missouri river access is nearby and the grounds are open year round for day use and primitive camping.

Folsom Children's Zoo and Botanical Gardens, located along 27th and B streets in Lincoln, offers a wild experience for the entire family. More than 300 animals representing 95 species, including threatened and endangered, are on display. Explore the Butterfly Pavilion with hundreds of live North American butterflies, or enjoy train and pony rides as well as a petting zoo. Special educational events are available throughout the season.

There is much to see and enjoy at the Museum of Nebraska Art. Visitors can experience 175 years of great art from the 19th century to the contemporary scene. Artist explorers of the American West include George Catlin, Karl Bodmer and Albert Bierstadt. Such masters of 20th Century art as Robert Henri, Thomas Hart Benton and many more, also are represented in the collection. The museum is home to one of America's outstanding collections of John James Audubon's artwork. The Museum of Nebraska Art is jointly administered by the Board of the Museum of Nebraska Art and the University of Nebraska at Kearney.

The Museum of Major League Baseball at 619 Howard Avenue in St. Paul, displays Nebraska Baseball Hall of Famers -- G.C. Alexander, "Wahoo" Sam Crawford, Dazzy Vance, Bob Gibson, Richie Ashburn -- as well as other Nebraska players. The museum is open year round with group tours available.

The Andrew Jackson Higgins National Memorial at 2001 A.J. Higgins Road in Columbus, features a full-size steel waterline replica of a LCVP (Landing Craft, Vehicle, Personnel), the "Higgins Boat," which serves as the centerpiece of the monument. The memorial is dedicated to native son Higgins, designer and builder of the boats, and all members of the armed forces. Three life-size bronze statues representing soldiers of World War II, Korea and Vietnam are seen emerging from this flat-bottom boat that carried American soldiers ashore during those wars. The memorial is wheelchair accessible and group tours are available.

Along the Little Nemaha River in Syracuse, the "Germanfest Village" provides family fun, food and music on the last full weekend in September. There is German fare, an antique car exhibit, hands-on children’s activities, souvenirs, a volkswalk, worship service, German sing-a-longs and plenty of authentic German dancing.

After examining some of the excellent museums and monuments documenting the history of the trails and the Old West, modern travelers craving solitude might like to wander north of the Platte River to the desolate, but scenic Sand Hills. Those interested in more social entertainment might wish to visit Omaha or Lincoln, especially if there's a rodeo going on, but nearly all of Nebraska's small towns offer a diner, a tavern, an inn or some other gathering spot where great conversation can be found. No matter what, make sure you give a big "hello" to as many Nebraskans as you can, because the unique beauty of Nebraska's landscape is complemented by the welcoming warmth and kindness of its people.

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