Manawa State Park – Council Bluffs, IA

This campground has 1500 acres around the lake. It was a busy campground with a playground and beach facilities for the children to enjoy. Our campsite was nestled among the trees on one side, which lent privacy when we sat outdoors.

The area was only 25 minutes from Omaha, Nebraska which was great since we met up with one of Mitch’s co-workers for brunch. We visited Omaha and were treated to a local market which is always fun, and then strolled the Old Market. This neighborhood hosted shops and restaurants and an old-world flair. I especially enjoyed the candy store. I have never been in a store that supplied almost every type of candy you could think of, and it was all stored in what was once a warehouse. Next stop, Joslyn Art Museum. Big disappointment as the museum was going through reconstruction, and the opening date was sometime in 2024.

We visited Bob’s Bridge which is located in two states. Of course, Mitch had to capture his moment of being in two states simultaneously. The next day we decided to ride our bikes from the campground to the bridge passing through downtown Council Bluffs. Unfortunately, there was construction before we reached the bridge, and we had to turn around. It wasn’t a total bust, as we recorded 24 miles. Not a bad trek for a day.

I convinced Mitch to take me to a Lavender farm, a 40-minute drive through farmland. When we arrived, we were surprised to see only eight bushes. It seems they experienced a cold front the month before, which affected the plants. Mitch made the best of it, eager to experience the lavender ice cream they sold in the store. The flavor met with his approval, but he could have any ice cream daily.

The campground boasted some of the most beautiful sunsets as the orange and yellows swirled around in the sky, creating unique formations each evening.

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