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The snow has melted, the sun has begun to shine, the sounds and smells of summer have started to permeate the air and I finally get to fire up my grill. The days are growing longer, the sun warmer and the children are beginning to stir. These are the tell-tale signs that summer is near.

So let me ask you. What are you going to do this summer?

Here are a few suggestions that can make summer in Hastings, Nebraska an enjoyable and memorable one.

My personal favorite would have to be the Hastings Aquacourt. Nothing can top going to the pool on a hot summer day. Plus, the Aquacourt is no ordinary public swimming pool. The Aquacourt features a lazy river, a wave pool, numerous water slides, a children’s water playground, diving boards, canopies to get out from under the sun and full concessions. The Aquacourt is open seven days a week starting May 29 through August 22, 12pm to 8pm daily. If you haven’t been to the Aquacourt make this year the year to check it out. You won’t be disappointed.

Hastings Aquacourt

2200 W. 3rd Street

Hastings, NE

(402) 463-1016

So maybe water isn’t what you had in mind. Not a problem. Hastings has many beautiful parks to spend the day in reading a book or having a picnic with the family. I suggest checking out Heartwell Park. It is over five city blocks long and can be accessed by the local bicycle trail. You can also drive there if riding your bike is out of the question. Heartwell Park also features a pond that is the home to a vast duck population. So bring some bread and just maybe you can make some new feathered friends.

Chautauqua Park is also an excellent choice, especially if you need a covered picnic area. This is one of the more historic parks in Hastings and features the Chautauqua Pavilion. This park also features a handicapped accessible play area and is located right by the Hastings Aquacourt.

These are just two of the great parks that Hastings has to offer, so I encourage you to spend time in all of the parks and find your favorite.

Maybe you are all parked out. If this is the case than take the family out to Lake Hastings to enjoy the scenery or try your hand at the challenging disc golf course. I can tell you I am going to check out the disc golf course this summer because I have yet to do so and it is a great opportunity to try something new and different and fairly inexpensive to play.

You can pick up a disc at Walmart. They have a vast assortment of disc golf discs.

Maybe you did or didn’t know but Hastings also has a skatepark. Many of the city’s youth spend hours upon hours perfecting their tricks here in hopes that someday they to can be in the X-games, the twelve year old version of myself included. I have been skateboarding for almost 15 years and was very excited to learn that Hastings had a skatepark when I moved here because not every town has one. So if you are just starting to skate or are a seasoned veteran the skatepark is a great place to improve your skills and enjoy the summer. The skatepark is also located near the Hastings Aquacourt and I do believe it has lights for those late night sessions.

So now we have gone swimming, went to the park, played to disc golf and practiced our ollies. What is there left to do?

Well you can go to the farmer’s market on Saturday mornings. This is a great place to by fresh produce that has been locally grown. My wife and I frequent the farmer’s market because we don’t have room to grow our own garden and sometimes you just never know what you will find at the market. We enjoy visiting with the vendors and shucking the sweet corn when we get home. Make the farmer’s market a family outing and don’t forget to let your kids help shuck the corn when you get home.

I hope I have been some help and remember there are many, many more things that you can do in Hastings this summer that I haven’t even begun to touch on. Try something new this summer and remember one thing.

Have fun.

About the author: Scott Miller

Art, design, music, espresso and all things retro...these are the things that make Scott tick. A graphic designer who lives and works in Hastings. Scott has a variety of hobbies and interests he enjoys sharing. His ecletic experiences come from being an artist, creative thinker, child of the 80s and his brief stint as a bass player in a punk band. Scott is married to his wife, Kelly and shares "parenthood" of their tuxedo cat Dart.