Watch the video to get a sneak peek of the Arbor Day Farm.

Nebraska City’s Arbor Day Farm was another stop on the Nebraska Passport list. I had been to the Lied Lodge a couple of times but never fully explored the Tree Adventure area. We visited the Farm on a Saturday during a heat wave, but the trees and lush surroundings kept us a little cooler.

We started with a look around the Discovery Ride Depot and Lied Greenhouse. This is the area where the tractor picks you up for a ride around the Farm. While you’re waiting you can check out an area with boxes that have all sorts of different seeds in them.

Photo: There are beautiful flower gardens around Arbor Day Farm.

Photos: (Left) Lied Greenhouse, (Right) Discovery Ride Depot

In front of the benches there’s a little tree that you can play ring toss onto the branches. It was such a beautiful area with flower gardens and areas where seedlings were growing.

Photo: In the greenhouse there’s a refrigerator area where you can pick up your free tree and we also ran into “Farm Kitty,” who comes from a long line of mouse hunters.

After visiting with the cat and picking up our free tree, we headed out on the Tree House Trail. Along the path, there are a bunch of different interactive displays and games. The trail took us to the Canopy Tree House, which is 50 feet above the ground. Around the Tree House there’s a cabin with other learning displays and interactive games. Thankfully the climb to the top wasn’t too grueling for the hot day.

Photo: 50 feet to the bottom of the Canopy Tree House.

On our way back we stopped in the Nature Explore classroom. The classroom was designed by Dimensions in a collaborative effort with Arbor Day Foundation. This was a really fun outdoor classroom. We played drums and other large instruments, and checked out the colorful Nature’s Tree House.

Photo: Nature’s Tree House

When we got back to the main building, Woodland Pavilion, we watched a hologram of J. Sterling Morton, (Founder of Arbor Day), welcoming us to the property. There are also educational displays and a movie about trees.

After we finished looking around the Pavilion and the gift shop, we ventured down to the Apple House Market. Here they sell all sorts of local products and food. There are wine tastings, frozen slushy drinks, and of course apple pie.

Photos: (Left) Apple House Market, (Right) eating an apple slushy.

September and October are the most popular times to visit the Farm. You’ll be able to pick your own apples, go on a hayrack ride out to the corn maze, and also see the pumpkin patch. To check the schedule of events, check the Arbor Day Farm website.