York is a city with small-town charms, where you can find heritage museums and an exciting local theatre scene amid parks and wetlands thriving with wildlife. As the seat of the county of the same name and situated on the crossroads of two of the nation’s arterial thoroughfares, the city of York has a bustling atmosphere despite its reasonably small population. Check out the city of York’s collection of family-friendly and free attractions to learn about this pastoral region, instantly recognizable for its multicolored water tower shaped like a hot air balloon.
Explore the city to find its local museums and galleries. Over a million collectable glass marbles are on display at Lee’s Legendary Marble Museum. See 19th-century furnishings, Native American cultural relics and memorabilia from the Nebraskan link to the Rough Riders at the Anna Bemis Palmer Museum. Wessels Living History Farm and the York Area Children’s Museum feature family-friendly interactive exhibits that help history to come alive. Learn about the local Mennonite heritage traced back to Holland and Russia at the Heritage Park. Friesen Gallery and the Yorkshire Playhouse showcase some contemporary local talent in the arts.
Encounter some of the region’s wildlife in the surrounding parks and wetlands. The Kirkpatrick North Wildlife Management Basin puts on a show of thousands of migrating ducks and geese in the spring months. Recharge Lake is a great spot to fish or take out a non-motorized boat. Check out the hiking and biking trails at Beaver Creek or work on your swing at one of three county golf courses.
The city of York is located in Nebraska’s southeast, approximately an hour’s drive from Lincoln and its municipal airport. You’ll find plenty of options for accommodation in the city and vicinity, including comfortable hotels and motels. Temperatures in this region can become very cold, so come prepared if you are visiting in winter. See the city come together in fall for the annual Yorkfest celebrations.
