Nebraska has endless acres of state parks, and they are all worth visiting. But one Nebraska state park was ranked number three in the nation by the website ReserveAmerica, making it - in somewhat subjective terms - the top park in the state. Eugene T. Mahoney State Park near Ashland took this honor, and it's not just ReserveAmerica that thinks so. It happens to be the most heavily visited and highest rated state park in all of Nebraska.

Mahoney State Park covers 700 acres along the beautiful Platte River. The modern park is open year-round and has something for everyone - whether you like to rough it, sleep in the lap of luxury, or just get out for a fun family day.

The park features a tall observation tower which you can climb to get an unparalleled view of the Platte River, the park itself, and the surrounding area. On a nice day, you can rent a paddleboat, play some putt-putt golf, or enjoy some fishing in one of the park's two lakes. Hiking and biking trails crisscross the grounds, providing an ideal way to get some exercise while enjoying the park's truly magical setting. You're sure to spot some wildlife no matter what you do, including the ducks who hang out at the marina begging for lunch scraps.

Trail rides are one of the park's highlights, especially for Nebraskans who don't have the opportunity to ride horses very often. The horses know the trail well and are very well-behaved, but once in a while you'll encounter a spirited horse that needs a bit of coaxing to stay on track. That's when city people get to feel like real cowboys.

The park's activities don't slow down much in the winter. Even when there's snow on the ground, you can sled down this big hill, do some ice skating, or practice your cross-country skiing. Accommodations are available all year, making it possible to take your family vacation when the ground is nestled in a thick, beautiful blanket of snow.

But one of the main reasons Mahoney State Park is as popular as it is today is its huge water park complex. The wave pool and other fun water activities are wildly popular in the summer months. If you get tired of swimming and splashing, the park is convenient to several other great attractions like the Air and Space Museum and the Lee G. Simmons Conservation Park and Wildlife Safari.

If you plan on making a weekend (or more!) of your visit to Mahoney, there are plenty of accommodation options. The modern, very comfortable Peter Kiewit Lodge is about as far away from roughing it as you can get. The Lodge restaurant offers up tasty meals, no fishing or hunting required. The cabin rentals are nicer than you might expect: each comes with heat/air conditioning and all of the comforts of a modern hotel room...but in a beautiful wooded setting. And for those who prefer tent camping, there are hard surface pads with shower and laundry facilities nearby.

There is so much to see and do at Mahoney that it's no wonder the park sees more than a million visitors each year. The family-friendly destination is affordable enough to spend several days there, and you'll never run out of things to do. A park entry permit is required to get onto the grounds, and many of the activities (like the waterpark and paddleboats) require additional fees. However, even if you do it all you'll end up spending less than you would at an amusement park or one of the big-name waterparks.

Keep an eye on Mahoney over the next year or so - there is a huge revamp planned that will add tons of amazing attractions to the park like an alpine slide, zip lines, and much more.

We strongly recommend that you visit as many Nebraska state parks as possible...they all have their own character and charm. Have you spent any time at Mahoney? Tell us about your experiences in the comments!