OUTDOORS 5 WAYS TO FUN ON THE WATER With the legendary Missouri and Platte Rivers, the Niobrara National Scenic River and more than two dozen natural and man-made lakes, Nebraska invites you to jump in! 1. GO CANOEING Canoe down the Missouri National Recreational River and gain a new appreciation for the land of Lewis and Clark. Lake McConaughy State Recreation Area, Keith County SUMMER’S BETTER BY THE LAKE 2 state recreation areas // Sailing to scuba diving to sand-castle-building // Lakeside golf, eats and frozen treats When the days heat up, head to Nebraska’s Lake McConaughy State Recreation Area in Keith County to enjoy all sorts of water-based recre-ation. Sailing, paddleboarding, fi shing, jet skiing, swimming, windsurfi ng, beach volleyball, even scuba diving—you name it, we have it here at the state’s largest reservoir, which boasts nearly 35,000 acres of water and more than 100 miles of shoreline. Fish for world-class walleye, north-ern pike and wiper in Lake McConaughy, or angle for rainbow trout and yellow perch at neighboring Lake Ogallala State Recreation Area , where you can also kayak and canoe in calm waters. Wake up early for a morn-ing of birding, or play a round or two at nearby Bayside Golf Course . Pack a picnic lunch or dine at a local lakeside restaurant, such as The Cove, HOOKS Lake Bar & Grill or the Marina Landing. Then grab an ice cream cone at the Lakefront Express near Martin Bay to cool off after an afternoon of sunbathing. When you’re ready to turn in for the night, camp along the water’s edge on the inviting white-sand beaches. A number of area events, like Kites and Castles , the sandcastle-building competition and kite festival held annually in July, offer fun for all ages throughout the summer. Kites and Castles, Ogallala 2. TRY FLY FISHING Experience the beauty of nature and the zen of fl y fi shing on Long Pine Creek (access via Long Pine State Recreation Area in northern Nebraska). CREDITS: FOWLER/FARRAR/GEISER/KURRUS/CARROLL/NEBRASKALAND MAGAZINE, NEBRASKA GAME AND PARKS COMMISSION 3. MAYBE TRY KAYAK FISHING There’s no better place than Island Lake at Ellsworth’s Crescent Lake National Wildlife Refuge , where delicate sand dunes are protected. 4. REALLY: ANY KIND OF FISHING In the heart of the Sandhills near Valentine, fi sh for bluegill, crappie, muskel-lunge and other sportfi sh at Merritt Reservoir State Recreation Area . 5. SWIM, SPLASH AND SLIDE In Louisville, discover Louisville State Recreation Area ’s new fl oating playground, an infl atable obstacle course atop a sand-bottom lake. Pro Tip: You can’t do summer in Nebraska without tanking, the laziest, zaniest way to fl oat a river. Local outfi tters will hook you up with your vessel: a livestock tank! VisitNebraska.com 33
Nebraska Official State Travel Guide The Official 2020 Not-At-All What You Thought State Travel Guide: Page 33
