The Riverside Discovery Center is a park and small zoo complex on the banks of the North Platte River in central Scottsbluff. It keeps a modest collection of animals including big cats, bears, and native Great Plains species, and the riverside setting makes for a pleasant walk even if you skip the zoo portion.
The park's trails run along the river and provide views across the water to the bluffs in the distance. There is a playground, a miniature train, and picnic areas. For families with young children on a road trip along the Oregon Trail corridor, this is a reliable hour's stop before or after the national monument.