Recreation - see also individual community listings 

There are over 1,770 acres of parks, including two native wildlife areas, over 400 acres of public hunting and the 661-acre Prairie Rose Lake State Park, which offers a 218-acre lake featuring boating, picnicking, camping, swimming, fishing, walking and snowmobile trails. The many other parks in the county offer swimming, walking, jogging, fishing, picnics, bike trails as well as a wide range of athletic facilities for volleyball, softball, basketball, soccer, flag football, swimming and baseball. Two nine-hole golf courses, tennis courts and a bowling alley provide more recreational variety. Residents may share in the excitement of professional sports with the Omaha Golden Spikes (baseball) and the Lancers (hockey) or college sports at either Creighton Univ. or the Univ. of Nebraska, Omaha. Other annual sporting events include the NCAA College World Series, Nike Golf Tourney and the Hoop-It-Up contest.

See County and State Parks

Cultural - see also individual community listings Shelby County is known for it's ethnic diversity and popular tourist attractions. It is the proud home of The German Colonies of Defiance, Earling, Panama, Portsmouth and Westphalia which feature their 19th Century Gothic German Catholic Churches and annual ethnic celebrations. 

The largest rural Danish settlement in the U.S. is located in Elk Horn. It is the host to the Danish Immigrant Museum, an International Cultural Center; Bedstemor's House, a fully restored Danish home of the late 1800's; and an authentic 1848 transplanted Danish Windmill. Shelby County also offers historical museums, virgin prairies, ethnic celebrations, extensive county parks and recreational facilities welcome you to the area. Nearby cultural facilities include Joslyn Art Museum, Orpheum Theater, Omaha Symphony, Omaha Ballet Company, Rose Blumkin Children's Theater and the Omaha Opera Company. More than 80 theater screens serve the area and annual ethnic cultural events are held throughout the region such as the annual Council Bluffs Renaissance Fair. The area includes a diverse array of restaurants; the world-renowned Henry Doorly Zoo, Simmons Wildlife Safari, SAC Air Force Museum and the Omaha Children's Museum.

Annual ethnic and tourism events during the year:
Defiance - St. Peter's Parish Picnic (June)
Earling - St. Joseph's Parish Picnic (July)
Elk Horn - Tivoli Fest (May)
Harlan - Log Cabin Day (June); Shelby County Speedway Dirt Track Racing; Shelby Co. Fair (July); Tiny Lund Festival (September) & Christmas Lighting Ceremony (Nov.)
Panama - St. Mary's Parish Picnic (August)
Portsmouth - St. Mary's Parish Picnic (July)
Westphalia - St. Boniface Parish Picnic (July)

National historic register sites:
Defiance - George Rewerts home, 306 8th Avenue
Elk Horn - Chris Larsen home, 4215 Main Street
Jens Otto Christensen home (Bedstemor's House) 2105 College Ave.
Harlan - Floral Hall, Shelby County Fairgrounds, Shelby County Courthouse, Downtown square & St. Paul's Episcopal Church
Jacksonville - Chris Poldberg farm, 1/2 mile so. of Hwy 44 on Wolf Creek
Shelby - Rock Island Old Stone Arch Nature Trail
Westphalia - St. Boniface Catholic Church & surroundings

Cultural and recreational facilities within 50 miles
Museums 18
Parks 150
Art Galleries 30
Spectator Sports & Facilities 12
Performing Arts 3
Libraries 30
Zoo 1
Shopping Malls 5
Restaurants 800
Fine Dining Restaurants 110
Private Dining 100
Hotels 90 with 9,000 rooms