5 Family-Friendly Things To Do in Ashland, Nebraska
Jump in the car and head west over the Missouri River to a little town called, Ashland, Nebraska. Ashland has been listed as one of the best small towns to visit and I could not agree more! Sometimes the best places for a family road trip is a small Midwest town. Ashland offers a lot of opportunities for adventure, education, shopping, eating, and much more. The Ashland area offers great family fun all year round. Plan a long weekend getaway and make sure you cross off these 5 Family-Friendly Things to do in Ashland, Nebraska.
Lee G. Simmons Conservation Park (aka Wildlife Safari Park)
My first trip to the Ashland area was to visit the Wildlife Safari Park. We made our first trip during COVID because we needed to get out of the house for a fun adventure. The Wildlife Safari Park is a part of the Omaha Henry Doorly Zoo. My kids still talk about this fun attraction to this day!
This is a great family-friendly experience where you can take in different animals such as Sandhill Cranes, view an Eagle Aviary, watch the bison roam, and more. As you drive through you will be in awe of the natural beauty and forget you are in the middle of Nebraska. While this is a safari park there are opportunities to leave your car and explore. They offer a simple, shady hiking trail to see grey wolves and black bears.
Eugene T. Mahoney State Park
State parks are always filled with fun things to do, but Eugene T. Mahoney State Park is a giant Nebraska State Park filled with fun things to do all year round. Located right along the Platte River this state park offers biking trails, an aquatic center, miles of trails to hike, an activity center with an indoor playground, a crafts center, indoor rock climbing, an ice skating pavilion, and so much more. Mahoney State Park is a popular tourist attraction that many visitors plan to stay for several days and explore everything it has to offer.
After a morning spent at the Wildlife Safari Park, grab a picnic lunch to snack on in one of their many picnic areas, hike the trails and climb to the top of the Walter Scott Jr. Observation Tower for a beautiful look.
Platte River State Park
Platte River State Park is another great spot for the whole family to enjoy the outdoors. This park is known for its waterfall, spray park for kids to cool off, two observation towers, hiking and biking trails, and more. This is also a great place to camp if you are in the area!
Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum (SAC Museum)
The Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum (or as many call it the SAC Museum) is a highlight for many families traveling to the Ashland area. Our family has made a visit to a few aviation museums and this by far is one of our favorites! You can easily spend hours walking through looking at all the space vehicles, historic aircraft, pictures, memorabilia, and so much more. They even have a simulator for families of all ages to test out being a pilot!
Downtown Ashland, Nebraska
Grab the family and head into downtown Ashland, Nebraska to Silver Street. This little town offers the cutest shops including the sweetest bakery. You will love all the gift shops including Postscript, Salt Creek Mercantile, The Gift Niche, and more. If you are thirsty, make a stop at Glacial Till Cider House & Tasting Room and if you love sweets, Fariner Bakery is the sweetest in town. Spend an afternoon walking through town and supporting a local, small town in Nebraska.
