Day Trips in Cass County

HISTORIC PLATTSMOUTH MAIN STREET

Thirty minutes south of Omaha and sixty minutes east of Lincoln is the city of Plattmouth, where you will find a treasure trove of antiques and specialty shops on Plattsmouth’s Historic Main Street. Wildhorse Antiques & Pirates Cove, Antiques off Main or River House Antiques and Soda Fountain (www.riverhousecafe.com). For specialty shopping you won’t want to miss Main Street Jewelers, jewelry, gifts, flowers & more at one location, Aaron James Book Sellers and Stephanie’s Wine Cellar (www.aaronjamesbooksellers.com), Seams to be Quilt Shoppe (www.seamstobequilts.com), or the Gift Nook.

The Cass County Historical Museum (www.nebraskamuseums.org/casscountymuseum.htm), on Plattsmouth’s historic Main Street, takes you on a historical journey dating back to when the town was settled.

Call ahead for an appointment at the All About U Massage & Day Spa. A wide variety of lunch experiences can be found, from down home cookin’ at Mom’s Café, River House Soda Fountain (www.riverhousecafe.com) that serves a wide variety of sandwiches and soda fountain treats or the Chocolate Moose Café that specializes in gourmet lunches and decadent desserts.

Golfing enthusiasts will want to check out the three area golf courses, Bay Hills Golf Club (www.bayhillsgolf.com), Plattsmouth Country Club or Lake Ridge Golf Course (www.lake-ridgegolf.com).

Your welcome to stay the night at either the Bankers House Bed & Breakfast (www.bankersbedandbreakfast.com), a Queen Anne brick Victorian on the National Register or the Parmele House Bed & Breakfast (www.parmelehouse.com) a 1905 Dutch Colonial built by Charles C. Parmele, a prominent banker of the day.
Just east of Plattsmouth, bordered by the Platte and Missouri Rivers is Schilling Wildlife Management Area (www.ngpc.state.ne.us). Enjoy fishing, picnicking, nature observation, wildlife photography and hiking. Here you may also visit the Confluence of the Platte and Missouri Rivers, a site visited by Lewis and Clark on their trek west.

SCENIC WEEPING WATER VALLEY

Thirty minutes east of Lincoln north of highway 34 on 84th Street is Slattery Vintage Estates (www.svevineyards.com) a vineyard in a rural setting where you can enjoy Nebraska made wines in their tasting room, or sit outside in the courtyard. Just a few miles west you will find Bloom Where You’re Planted (www.bloompumpkinpatch.com) where you will find a big dose of fall fun. Turn north on 108th Street from Highway 34. From there you can continue west on highway 34 and north into the town of Weeping Water to the Heritage House Museum Complex including four buildings with pioneer and archaeological displays. Tammy’s Soap Shack (tammyssoapshack.com) features all natural soap, lotion and bath essentials and Soy Glo candles. Grandpa Snazzie’s (www.grandpasnazzys.com) features a selection of Victorian gift items. Mary’s This and That, offers a variety of sandwiches and beverages, check out the gift selections. Just east of town is Cryin’ Creek Candles
(www.cryincreek.com) that offers a large selection of candles, potpourri and aromotherapy while there have a glass of Nebraska wine in the Farmhouse Lounge and Tasting Room. Just north of Weeping Water on highway 1 is the Lofte Theatre (www.lofte.com) with productions May through December.

Just west of Weeping Water and north of highway 34, is Elmwood, home of Bess Streeter Aldrich, one of Nebraska’s best-loved authors. The Bess Streeter Aldrich House and Museum (www.lincolnne.com/nonprofit/bsaf) contains original furnishing and a video history of Aldrich. While in Elmwood you will want to check out Bits Pieces and More. Just a few miles north of Elmwood on highway one is the town of Murdock where you will find the Murdock Historical Museum (www.murdockmuseum.org). While in the area check out Grandpa’s Woods Golf Course. The popular Mo-Pac Trail (www.gptn.org/mopac.htm) also runs through the area.

Two miles east of Eagle on highway 34, Eagle Raceway (www.eagleraceway.com), has weekend races April through September.

INTERSTATE 80-EXIT 426 and SURROUNDING AREA

On Interstate 80 midway between Omaha and Lincoln at Exit 420, be sure to visit the Platte Valley Antique Mall (www.plattevalleyantiquemall.com) and the World War II Museum. Also if you are a race fan you will find Nebraska Raceway Park (www.neracewaypark.com), a NASCAR-sanctioned semi-banked half-mile oval dirt track with Sunday races April through September. You may also want to park the camper at Pine Grove RV Park (www.pinegrovervpark.com). Just north of Exit 420, in the town of Greenwood you will find Bakers Candy (www.bakerscandies.com), manufacturer of fine chocolate, including their famous chocolate meltaways. The Depot Museum is also there. East on highway 6 toward Ashland is the Ashland Country Club (www.ashlandgolfclub.com) an 18-hole semi private country club.

On Interstate 80 at exit 426, you can spend the day visiting the Strategic Air and Space Museum (www.strategicairandspace.com) that houses a world-class collection of aircraft, missiles and spacecraft or golf at Iron Horse Golf Course (www.golfironhorse.com). Across Interstate 80 is Mahoney State Park (www.ngpc.state.ne.us), truly a park for all seasons. While in the area check out Lee G. Simmons Conservation Park and Wildlife Safari (www.omahazoo.com), a four-mile drive through a variety of North American wildlife.

From exit 426 travel east on highway 66. There you will find Quarry Oaks Golf Course (www.quarryoaks.com) recognized by Golf Digest Magazine as one of America’s greatest courses. Just east of Quarry Oaks Golf Course you will discover Timber View (www.TimberViewNE.com) with a wide variety of unique gifts, handcrafted product and specialty foods. From there travel east to Platte River State Park (www.ngpc.state.ne.us). Activities there include hiking and biking rails, lake paddleboats available for rent, guided horseback trail rides, archery and swimming. East of Platte River State Park follow highway 66 to highway 50 and travel north to Louisville. Art Chicks (www.nebrartchicks.com) where women go to play, features lunches by appointment. Coop-de-Ville and Feathers right next door is every “chicks” dream. The Louisville Art Gallery (www.louisvilleartgallery.com) features over 3500 square feet of varied artwork. A variety of dining establishment can be found in Louisville, the Main Street Café, Gambino’s Pizza, Subway, Legion Club and Blakes’s Soda Fountain, an old fashion soda fashion soda fountain with hand dipped ice cream. On the north edge of Louisville is Louisville State Recreation Area (www.ngpc.state.ne.us) where campers can enjoy picnicking, swimming, fishing, non-power boating and canoe access to the Platte River.