Dodge County: Lakes, History and Family Experiences

Dodge County combines expansive bodies of water, historic sites and a variety of experiences for shared days on vacation. Particularly impressive is Fremont Lakes State Recreation Area: 20 gravel pits are spread across approximately 40 acres of land and nearly 300 acres of water. If you would like to be active on the water, Dead Timber State Recreation Area offers opportunities for camping, fishing and boating with non-motorized boats across a 200-acre recreational area.

Lakes, Trails and Nature Experiences

The trails in Dead Timber State Recreation Area lead to wildlife observation blinds and benches. This allows you to shape your stay there in different ways: You can make observing nature the focus or combine the trails with a day by the water. At Franklin-Cotterell Greens Arboretum, you can expect thousands of species of trees, shrubs and plants, as well as newly paved paths for walking. There is also a special option for families in winter: Fremont's Clemmons Park offers opportunities for sledding.

Bryson's Airboat Tours offer another experience on the water with airboat rides on the Platte River. When choosing your vacation rental, it may therefore be useful to first consider whether you primarily want to include lakes, wildlife observation, walks or a river excursion in your travel plans.

Historic Sites and Museums

The Louis E. May Museum is open from Wednesday to Saturday. Tours begin at 10:00 a.m., and the last tour starts at 3:30 p.m. The building was originally constructed in 1874 in the Italianate Revival style, later received a Georgian or Classical Revival design, and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The grounds are also designated as a Nebraska Arboretum Site.

In Fremont, the Barnard Park Historic District encompasses 187 upper- and middle-class homes built between 1870 and 1929. The historic district in downtown Hooper was developed in the 1890s and preserves the original street lighting. Those interested in smaller, unusual collections can visit the Harold & Leona's Antique Toy Museum in North Bend by appointment. It displays historic toys, dolls, machines and glassware from the past 50 years. At the Musbach Museum in Scribner, you will find German agricultural machinery, medical equipment, kitchen china and glassware.

Festivals, Regional Cuisine and Special Excursions

John C. Fremont Days began in 1987 and includes events throughout the city of Fremont. North Bend's annual Old Settlers Days takes place over a weekend in June and combines historical events with a road race, a carnival and a parade. The Dodge County Fair is held annually in August in Scribner; it includes a carnival, a food area, children's games and a demolition derby.

There are also specific culinary destinations: The Eat in Dodge serves dishes inspired by the homemade recipes of the owner and his mother. At the Apple Barn at Fontanelle Orchard, visitors can pick fresh, tree-ripened fruit themselves. For travel, Fremont and Dodge County are within a relatively short driving distance of the metropolitan areas of Omaha and Lincoln.

The Right Location for Your Stay

The variety of destinations suggests choosing your accommodation according to the focus you want for your vacation. For days in nature, the lakes, wildlife observation and walking trails provide useful points of reference; for culture-focused days, museums, historic districts and events take center stage. Since the experiences mentioned are located in different places, you should decide before booking a vacation rental which excursions you actually want to combine. As part of your regional orientation, Fremont should also be included in your plans.

For further regional comparison, you can also consider Thomas County, Sherman County, Dawson County, Colfax County, Holt County, Jefferson County and Cuming County.

For the broader travel overview: Nebraska.