Sarpy County – Nature, Recreation and Family Experiences

Sarpy County is located between Omaha and Lincoln, offering a diverse mix of nature, recreation and regional experiences. Access to Interstates 80 and 29 makes it easier to get your bearings when planning your trip. When choosing a vacation apartment or vacation home, it is especially helpful to consider how you would like to spend your days: on forest trails and waterways, on outings with children, at sporting events, exploring culture or enjoying regional cuisine.

Experience Nature and Choose Your Trails

Fontenelle Forest in Bellevue offers 17 miles of well-maintained trails. Its nature attractions also include the Raptor Woodland Refuge, which operates as a sanctuary for injured birds of prey. Those who want to combine nature observation with a visit for children will find Habitat Hollow there, a covered, nature-themed play area with sensory exhibits and hands-on activities. The Riverview Boardwalk is accessible to mobility devices and strollers.

Schramm Park also offers a variety of ways to spend time outdoors. The park provides access to the Platte River water trail and has two loop trails: a 1.5-mile loop and a larger route of nearly 3 miles through wooded slopes. The Schramm Education Center presents interactive exhibits about Nebraska's aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. The park is also home to the site of Nebraska's oldest state fish hatchery. The different trail lengths help you plan your day around your interests.

Outings with Children and Shared Activities

Vala's Pumpkin Patch is an agri-entertainment farm in Sarpy County. Its offerings include a hayrack ride to the pumpkin patch; you can also choose to pick a pumpkin. The site also features the Pumpkin Creek Train Ride. A three-acre corn maze rounds out these attractions. This makes it possible to plan a day that combines different activities in one location without limiting your visit to a single experience.

For a different kind of entertainment, Smash Park La Vista offers board games, food and entertainment. Werner Park is home to the Omaha Storm Chasers and Union Omaha Soccer Club's home games. Sarpy County also offers fishing, boating, hunting, camping, hiking and cycling as recreational activities.

Culture, Reflection and Regional Impressions

Holy Family Shrine consists of a chapel and a visitor center and is intended for prayer and reflection. The Nebraska Vietnam Veterans Memorial is open daily from sunrise to sunset. The Nebraska Vietnam Veterans Memorial Foundation also offers the “SHARE YOUR STORY” project, featuring recorded interviews with veterans. Those interested in the region's history can also consider Fontenelle Bank: It was built in 1856 and is described as Nebraska's oldest public commercial building.

The MoPac Trail is an important link in the 50-mile recreational trail between Omaha and Lincoln. The regional atmosphere is also shaped by the Sarpy County Fair, a popular event for more than 80 years, as well as a dining scene featuring American and family restaurants, barbecue, buffets, pizza, international cuisine and frozen desserts. Whiskey, wine and beer are also available in the county.

Places to Consider for Further Selection

If you would like to organize your trip around individual locations, you can also view the pages for La Vista, Bellevue, Omaha and Papillion. For additional regional orientation, you can also explore Sherman County, Cheyenne County, Saunders County and Kimball County.

When searching for a vacation apartment or vacation home in Sarpy County, it is worthwhile to use your preferred daily routine as a starting point. Nature trails, family-oriented outings, water activities, culture and events each offer a different reason to shape your stay.

For the broader travel overview: Nebraska.