There are parks all over the Cornhusker State, but there are none quite like the Riverside Park and Discovery Center in Scottsbluff. This western Nebraska gem is an ideal destination for people who want an immersive experience that will let them learn, play, and relax in a beautiful setting.

In the shadows of the Scotts Bluff National Monument sits a park that's unlike anything else in Nebraska.

It's got the amenities you might expect to find in a small city park, like hiking trails, a campground, a dog park, disc golf course, and even ponds for fishing.

But the unusual part of this destination is that it also houses a zoo - Riverside Discovery Center.

A wide variety of animals are housed here, and each and every one is given plenty of loving care from the keepers and other zoo staff.

Just look at that sleepy face! That's the face of one contented big cat. You can see some of the behind-the-scenes action when you visit; there are always classes and other events happening to help enrich visitors, both young and old.

The park and zoo are also very popular party spots. There are tons of things to do in the Discovery Center and the surrounding park, so your guests are all sure to leave with smiles on their faces.

The exotic animals are always fun to see up close, and the informational placards all through the zoo will teach you more about all of the species represented here.

The petting zoo is another incredibly popular destination for visitors. Get up close to the gentle animals and maybe even feed them a zoo-approved snack. What a fun activity for the kids!

But that's not the only kids' activity that the little ones will enjoy. The Discovery Center also features a pop-up children's museum with a different theme every month.

Kids get to learn by exploring and trying out new things. The multi-sensory displays offer unique experiential learning opportunities - and your kids will have so much fun that they won't even realize they're learning!

Other kid-friendly places abound, like this fun water-flow experiment.

Kids are sure to love the Dino Dig, a covered "excavation site" where they can dig to find bones - and learn more about the animals they would have belonged to, of course.

After a long day of exploring and experiencing new things, it's always fun to cool off in the splash pad. Grownups can get in on the fun here, too!

Whether you decide to camp at Riverside Park (which we highly recommend, by the way) or not, there's enough at this large park and zoo to keep the entire family busy and happy all day.

For up-to-date information on admission prices, when the zoo is open, and tons of fun news about classes and animals, visit Riverside Discovery Center's website or like its Facebook page. Have you ever stayed at this extra-fun campground or visited the zoo and Discovery Center? Tell us your favorite part of each in the comments!

You can't visit Scottsbluff without exploring the breathtaking Scotts Bluff National Monument. It's even got some great hiking trails for those who like to combine exercise with exploration.