It seems like life gets a little less enchanting every year - being a grownup tends to have that effect. But there are some places that can bring back all the wonder and charm of childhood fun. One of these is Stolley Park in Grand Island.
Stolley Park is open all year, but it really shines in the summer when the plants are all in full bloom and everything is colorful.
The huge 34-acre park, on the Southwest Corner of Stolley Park Rd and Park Dr., is full of fun for the entire family. Stroll through Stolley Gardens and marvel at all of the well-tended plants.
The park might be the most scenic place in the city to take photographs. Beautiful spots can be found all throughout the grounds.
There are several playground areas, but undoubtedly the most impressive is Kids' Kingdom, a huge, multi-level play structure that was built entirely by community volunteers.
Go there on any weekend day and you can hear families talking fondly about the playground and how they or someone they know helped build this beloved play area.
There are tons of fun secrets hiding all over the Kids' Kingdom playground. From pretend-play spots to slides and steps to seating areas for tired parents, there's enough here to keep any kid happy all afternoon.
There's even a separate play area for very little ones so they won't be accidentally trampled by the older, more rambunctious kids.
After you've played in the Kids' Kingdom for a while, head over to the Sweet Tooth concession stand next door for a cool drink or a little snack, then get ready for one of the most unique and memorable experiences you'll have at Stolley Park.
It's the Stolley Park Railroad, one of the most enchanting little secrets of central Nebraska.
The sweet mini-train is left over from the early days of Stolley Park when there was a zoo here. It's straight out of the pages of a fairytale for sure.
The current operators took it over and lovingly restored it many years ago. The railroad is owned by the city, but it's cared for as though it was a beloved family business.
Tickets are just $2 for ages 4 and over and $1 for kids ages 2 to 4. Under 2s ride for free!
The trip will take you on two circuits around the track. The train is slow enough that you can enjoy the beautiful scenery but not so slow that you'll have the chance to get bored.
If you have a few extra minutes, be sure to stop and talk to the conductor. Just like a friendly storybook character, he's sure to make you smile.
After you exit the train, you'll see the Stolley House, the home that was built on this land when it was the Stolley family homestead. There's also this fantastic little stone building built into a hill.
If this lovely little structure isn't straight out of a fairytale, I don't know what is.
Go up the stone steps and walk right onto the roof for a great view of the large picnic pavilion nearby.
This little reconstructed log cabin is so charming you might swear you've stumbled into an enchanted forest. There are no bears or witches or any other characters inside, though.
There are so many other great things to discover at Stolley Park: wading pools, a disc golf course, horseshoe pits, grills, picnic shelters, soccer fields and tennis courts, and miles of walking paths. You could spend an entire day here and still have more to explore. Local events take place here throughout the summer. Art in the Park is arguably the most popular, and it's happening this year on July 16th.
The park is open from dawn to dusk all year long. Stolley Park Railroad is open only on weekends mid-May through Memorial Day; the rest of the summer, it is open Tuesday-Sunday. Be sure to check their Facebook page before you go out for a ride, though - with the recent dangerously high temperatures, they've had to shut down the train at times.
Find Stolley Park at 2822 W Stolley Park Rd, Grand Island, NE 68801.
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