Bellevue, NE

In 1822, the president of the Missouri Fur Company, Joshua Pilcher, set up a fur trading post in the area that is now Bellevue. In 1828, another fur trader named Lucien Fontenelle purchased the post. Fontenelle's Post was the first home of Moses and Eliza Merrill. These Baptist missionaries arrived around 1833 and lived at the post temporarily as they built the Oto Mission. Today, little remains of the mission aside from some cottonwood trees planted by Eliza Merrill and the remains of the original chimney. The site is on the National Register of Historical Places and features a historical marker. French Canadian trappers named the area Bellevue because of the river views from the bluffs.

Fort Crook was built around 1890 and was named for Civil War veteran Major General George Crook. In addition to conflicts with Native Americans, troops from the fort participated in the Spanish-American War and suffered heavy casualties during the Battle of El Caney in Cuba.

Some of the buildings constructed around 1894 are still in use as part of Offutt AFB, which replaced Fort Crook around 1918, when it served as a balloon field. Today, Offutt AFB is the headquarters of the US Strategic Command, the Air Force Weather Agency, and the 55th Wing of the Air Combat Command.

Bellevue contains more than 100 restaurants, ranging from B&B Classic Dogs near Bellevue University to Sina Way Chinese Cuisine, just west of the air force base on Capehart Road. Located in the same plaza as Sina Way, Scooter's Coffeehouse provides a variety of coffee drinks as well as smoothies and pastries.

When you're in the mood for a tamale and a margarita, head over to Lil' Burro Mexican Restaurant, located off South 29th Street. They grow their own peppers for their salsa -- they have over 100 pepper plants located in their garden just outside the restaurant. They were also voted the area's "best margaritas" in 2013.

Blink and you might miss the little log cabin with the big, red "BBQ" letters on an iron fence -- and that would be a shame. Swine Dining BBQ, according to locals, offers up the best pulled pork sandwich in town. (The ribs and chicken also get rave reviews!)

When you feel like having pho, head to IPHO-The Noodle House, located on Towne Centre Drive. In addition to this popular Vietnamese dish in a variety of forms (with sandwiches and other items also available), you can enjoy some bubble tea.

When you want to extend your evening to include entertainment in the form of live shows and slots, one of the area's riverboat casinos provide terrific nightlife. Ameristar Casino Hotel in nearby Council Bluffs has a casino and five restaurants -- make a weekend of it and enjoy the beautiful rooms, the indoor pool, the bar, and the gym. Harrah's Hotel and Casino has three restaurants and two lounges in addition to more than 500 slot machines and a gift shop. Horseshoe Casino Council Bluffs provides restaurants, a disco/concert venue, and dog and horse racing.

Getting around Bellevue is easy! The 95 bus leaves from the Metro College Transit Center and takes you directly to Downtown Omaha. If you prefer to drive, take US-75 to quickly reach Omaha, I-80, and I-480.

The Keystone Trail, a fantastic urban-to-rural corridor, makes walking easy -- and you'll get to enjoy terrific views of the Papillion Creek. In Bellevue, the Keystone Trail becomes the Bellevue Loop Trail. Parking is available just off Harlan Lewis Road.

The Fontenelle Forest is an amazing destination. This vast forest covers 1,400 acres and is a National Historic District and a National Historic Landmark. This will easily become your favorite place once you move to your Bellevue apartment. The forest includes picnic areas, hiking trails, a nature center, and a gift shop. Lewis and Clark camped here in 1804, and it was the location of Pilcher's trading post. In addition to beautiful hikes, you'll be able to bird-watch -- the Fontenelle Forest is considered one of the best bird-watching locations in the country. The park hosts special events, including day camps, Family Sundays, and Campfire -- an event that includes roasting s'mores and listening to campfire stories.

If that isn't enough park space for you, Bellevue has an impressive 36 city parks. These parks include Swanson Park, which has a playground, a basketball court, a picnic area, walking trails, and a sand volleyball court; Stonecroft Park has a playground, walking trails, and tennis courts; McCann Park has ball fields, a playground, and tennis courts; and American Heroes Park has football/soccer fields and walking trails.

Gifford Point WMA is wrapped by a large bend in the Missouri River and is a popular destination for hunting and fishing. Just across the river from Gifford Point in Council Bluffs, Lake Manawa State Park is a popular resort area for the entire region. This park features the large Lake Manawa, which provides opportunities for swimming, boating, and fishing. This park has campgrounds, hiking and biking trails, a beach, a boat launch ramp, boat rentals, a dock, and a playground. In winder, visitors can enjoy cross-country skiing.

If you prefer to get your exercise indoors, Bellevue features several health clubs, including Fitness FAST 24-Hour Gym and Farrell's eXtreme Bodyshaping, located on Capehart Road.

Apartments in Bellevue average about $855 a month. If you decide to buy a house, homes in Bellevue are slightly higher in value than the state average. In Bellevue, a home will cost around $134,000, compared to the state average of $132,700.

While many residents commute the eight miles to Downtown Omaha for work, there are plenty of employment opportunities in Bellevue for a true live-work-play lifestyle. Bellevue is home to Bellevue University and Offutt AFB; it is also home to Bellevue Medical Center.

With hundreds of stores to choose from, you'll enjoy shopping in Bellevue. For world-class Meads (honey wines), you'll want to visit Moonstruck Meadery. This is Nebraska's first meadery, and it is award-winning, taking home gold, silver, and bronze medals from international competitions. All of the Meads are made from pure Nebraska honey.

Tabletop gamers will love the Game Shoppe, which provides a huge selection of board games. Visitors to the store can visit the game library, which houses demo copies you can play in-store. The Game Shoppe also hosts events.

If you prefer to be pampered, head to Ilynn's Nails and Spa for a manicure or pedicure. Ilynn's offers classic, deluxe, and queen manicures and pedicures for the ultimate spa day.

Grocery shopping is easy in Bellevue. You'll find plenty of corner markets, such as the Speedy Gas Station and Walgreens, and you'll also find specialty stores like Mison's Oriental Food Mart. No Frills is a popular neighborhood grocery store -- it is located off Wall Street.

Of course, for extended shopping excursions, you'll want to visit the nearby Old Market in Omaha. Less than seven miles from Bellevue, the Old Market contains a variety of specialty shops, boutiques, art galleries, antique stores, cafes, and restaurants. Stores here include the Old Market Habitat, the Old Market Artists Gallery, Imaginarium, Homer's Music, the Old Market Candy Shop, and the All About Me Boutique.