The capital city of Lincoln is filled with outdoor adventures that are perfect for a day trip that the entire family will enjoy. One of our favorite day trips in Lincoln, Nebraska is the Sunken Gardens – a 1.5-acre garden in the heart of the city that’s full of beautiful blooms. And you know what those beautiful blooms attract? Butterflies!

Lincoln’s iconic Sunken Gardens were first established in 1930.
Utkarsh Hardia/Google
The area was actually a dumpsite before turning it into the beautiful garden you see today. Talk about a rags to riches transformation!
The perfectly manicured garden is free to enter, and open from April to October.
Sunken Gardens/Facebook
Donations are accepted, and your generosity will go right back into the garden’s maintenance so that future generations can appreciate this lovely space for years to come.
There are over 30,000 different annuals peppered in between the sculptures, lily ponds, and walkways.
C Kone/Google
The tulips in the spring are especially enchanting.
As you stroll the peaceful grounds, you’ll come across three specific gardens.
Sunken Gardens/Facebook
The Annual Garden features annual plants that are planted every year with a different theme that’s revealed each spring, so it changes every year! The Perennial Garden and the Healing Garden both feature their own beautiful blooms, including hostas, hydrangeas, and more.
Wildlife especially love the garden, and butterflies are commonly seen fluttering between the blooms.
Sunken Gardens/Facebook

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Look at the colors on this beautiful Eastern Tiger Swallowtail.
Sunken Gardens/Facebook
See how many butterflies you can find while you're there!
After spending some time in the garden, continue on with your outdoor adventure with a stroll down the Antelope Creek Trail in Holmes Lake Park.
Derrick Hensel/Google
The park is about five miles from the garden.
The loop trail is just shy of 2.5 miles and takes you all around the beautiful Holmes Lake Park.
John Allen/All Trails
You'll have plenty of beautiful waterfront views along the way, plus the opportunity to see some wildlife.
Doug64n/Google
Ducks, geese, and other birds are commonly seen on the lake, so keep your eyes peeled!
If you can time it right, you'll be rewarded with a sensational sunset over the water.
Ben Brown/All Trails
What a way to end the day!

Have you ever visited the Sunken Gardens or hiked the Antelope Creek Trail? Is it one of your favorite day trips in Lincoln, Nebraska as well? Let us know in the comments below! For more outdoor adventure, check out these awesome hiking trails in Nebraska.

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Featured Addresses
Sunken Gardens, 2600 D St, Lincoln, NE 68502, USA
Holmes Lake, Lincoln, NE 68506, USA