Nebraska Traveler 2024

EXPERIENCE

The Essence of Nebraska 2024

At nearly 450 miles wide, Nebraska is a big state with several distinct regions, including the rugged western region, the undulating Sandhills in the central prairie and the wide Missouri River to the east. Pick a region, then flip to the appropriate page to choose your adventure.

Nebraska is the 15th largest state in America. Use this guide to discover friendly cities and towns along Interstate 80 and scenic roads and byways that cross our state.

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Diana Robinson

Photo by AJ Dahm

Sandhill crane migration, Platte River

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Family Friendly Stops

OMAHA’S HENRY DOORLY ZOO AND AQUARIUM, Omaha

Regularly ranking at or near the top as world’s best zoo, this is one of the most visited attractions in Nebraska, and home to 17,000 animals from around the world. 3701 S. 10th St. (402) 733-8401.

LAKE McCONAUGHY, Ogallala

Known as “Big Mac” to locals, 22-mile-long Lake

McConaughy is Nebraska’s largest reservoir for boating, camping and fishing. 1450 Nebraska Highway 61 N. (800) 658-4390.

GOLDEN SPIKE TOWER AND VISITOR CENTER, North Platte

Train enthusiasts roll into this attraction to watch Union Pacific trains chug in and out of neighboring Bailey Yard. 1249 N. Homestead Rd. (308) 532-9920.

CARHENGE, Alliance

Carhenge is a replica of England’s Stonehenge made from 39 classic American automobiles. 2151 Co. Rd. 59. (308) 762-3569.

SCOTTS BLUFF NATIONAL MONUMENT, Gering

Travel the Oregon Trail. Summit Road leads to the bluff’s 800-foot-high pinnacle. The Oregon Trail Museum stands at the bluff’s base. 190276 Old Oregon Trail. (308) 436-9700.

LEE G. SIMMONS CONSERVATION PARK AND WILDLIFE SAFARI, Ashland

Lace up your expedition boots and take in the four-mile, drive-through North American wildlife experience. Guests can also enjoy scenic overlooks on foot to view bears, wolves, bison and more. 16406 292nd St. (402) 944-9453.

COLUMBUS AREA CHILDREN’S MUSEUM, Columbus

Climb the two-story Corn Climber, build bridges, dam a river, design a windill and “touch” a tornado at this newly opened museum. 2500 14th St. #1. (531) 230-8091.

MUSEUM OF THE FUR TRADE, Chadron

Bringing life back to earlier days, the Museum of the Fur Trade boasts over 6,000 artifacts that paint a picture of the past for fur traders and Native Americans in Nebraska. 6321 Highway 20. (308) 432-3843.

Alan Bartels

Visit Omaha

Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium

Scotts Bluff National Monument

Historic Sites

NEBRASKA IS rich in history. Some of the best places to experience our past are at History Nebraska museums and historic sites. Travelers step back in time and make historic memories of their own at these unique attractions that preserve Nebraska’s earliest days.

Nebraska History Museum, Lincoln The Nebraska History Museum houses 135,000 artifacts dating back to the last ice age. Items in the 77,000-square-foot museum include ancient seeds, a turtle bone necklace worn by Lakota Chief Spotted Tail, pioneer quilts and antique farm implements. Nebraska First Lady Maxine Morrison’s inaugural gown and the first motorcycle to roll out of the Lincoln Kawasaki plant are recent additions to the growing collection. 131 Centennial Mall N. (402) 471-4754.

Thomas P. Kannard State Historic Site, Lincoln

This site preserves the oldest remaining building in the original plat of the city of Lincoln. Built in 1869 as the home of Nebraska’s first secretary of state, the Italianate-style house served at times as a boys’ home, boarding house and fraternity house until being restored for Nebraska’s 1967 centennial celebration. 1627 H St. (402) 471-4445.

John G. Neihardt State Historic Site, Bancroft

Poet John G. Neihardt tapped into Native American stories and legends from the period when European settlers began to populate the Great Plains. The John G. Neihardt State Historic Site celebrates the early 20th century writer. The site including a visitor center preserves the small study where he penned his most famous literary works, and the Sacred Hoop Prayer Garden designed by Neihardt himself. 306 W. Elm St. (402) 648-3388.

Senator George Norris State Historic Site, McCook

This attraction remembers the originator of Nebraska’s one-house Unicameral

Sen. George Norris State Historic Site

legislature. His home in McCook commemorates his life and the 40-year career he spent representing the people of his adopted state. The home and furnishings were donated by Norris’ wife, Ellie. 706 Norris Ave. (308) 345-8484.

Neligh Mill State Historic Site, Neligh

This attraction showcases an intact 1870s grist mill that made 98,000 pounds of Gold Medal Flour per day during its peak of production. Guided tours explore the mill, restored flume and remnants of the original mill dam along the north bank of the Elkhorn River. N Street and Wylie Drive. (402) 887-4303.

Fort Robinson History Center, Crawford

This museum at Fort Robinson State Park occupies the former military fort’s 1905 headquarters. The post began as a temporary camp in 1874. Exhibits interpret the lives of the Native Americans, white Indian agents, African American Buffalo Soldiers and German prisoners of war who contributed to the history here. 3200 W. U.S. Highway 20. (308) 665-2919.

Chimney Rock National Historic Site, Bayard

The history of pioneers traveling the Oregon, California and Mormon trails is safeguarded at this recently renovated attraction. Many of those intrepid travelers noted this natural rock formation in their diaries. Exhibits explain the lives of those hopeful settlers who stared up at Chimney Rock’s curious 325-foot-tall spire. 9822 Co. Rd. 75. (308) 586-2581.

Learn about more historic sites and events at history.nebraska.gov.

Chris Amundson

Joshua Hardin

Golden Spike Tower and Visitor Center

Carhenge

Alan J. Bartels

AMAZING Aquatic Adventures

Nebraska was once considered part of the “Great American Desert.” Early explorers could not fathom the ocean of water below our great state, the same Ogallala Aquifer feeding many of our lakes, streams and rivers. Add dozens of manmade reservoirs and the waterfall of aquatic fun overflows statewide.

THE LONGEST RIVER in America, the Missouri River, forms Nebraska’s eastern border with Iowa. Omaha’s Riverfront is an oasis in Nebraska’s largest city. The Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge is a 3,000-foot-long walkway across the Missouri River.

Climb aboard the River City Star Riverboat for tours past sites like Freedom Park Naval Yard. Visitors imagine the heart of Venice while journeying across the lake at Heartland of America Park in a gondola.

In Lincoln, public lakes abound offering fishing and floating options. Holmes Lake, Wild Plum and Homestead lakes are known for bluegill catches. Lake Wanahoo has the largest population of big bass in the area. Wildwood Lake is a channel catfish haven.

Fremont is the airboating capital of eastern Nebraska. The shallow Platte River allows these high-speed craft to soar. Twenty sandpit lakes at Fremont Lakes State Recreation Area offer fishing, swimming, water skiing and relaxation.

Scenic Park in South Sioux City provides relaxation on the Missouri River. Fenced playgrounds keep children safe, and visitors find easy access to the river and the city.

Gavins Point Dam near Crofton forms Lewis and Clark Lake that boaters and water-ski-

ers enjoy, and the turbulent downstream section is known for huge catfish and paddlefish catches.

Lake McConaughy at Ogallala is Nebraska’s largest manmade reservoir. The fishing, floating and relaxation opportunities are big here.

The natural lakes of Crescent Lake National Wildlife Refuge near Lewellen offer hunting, fishing and wildlife-viewing. Waterfowl hunting along the North Platte River nearby is considered by many to be the best on earth.

The Niobrara River at Valentine is a popular place for long floats in canoes, tubes and kayaks. The nearby Snake River feeds waterfalls and trout fishing.

Harlan County Lake spans nine miles on the southern border near Alma. The state’s second-largest lake boasts trophy fishing and annual tournaments for aspiring master anglers and interested spectators.

Johnson Lake State Recreation Area south of Lexington is a gateway to recreational opportunities just off I-80. A magnet for water sports, Johnson Lake is a 2,068-acre playground surrounded by 177 camping sites for tents and RVs.

Dip into more Nebraska water recreation options at NebraskaTravelerGuide.com.

Alan J. Bartels

Joshua Hardin Harlan County Lake Platte River

Festival Fun in Nebraska

STROMSBURG SWEDISH FESTIVAL

June 14-16 Stromsburg

Celebrate Swedish heritage with Swedish dishes, costumes and dancing.

OLD WEST TRAIL PCRA RODEO

July 3-4 Crawford

Enjoy rodeo performances each year in the Crawford Rodeo Arena.

CAMP CREEK ANTIQUE THRESHING SHOW

July 20-21 Waverly

Join this two-day show for threshing, butter churning, shelling corn and more.

NEBRASKA STAR PARTY

July 28-Aug. 2 Merritt Reservoir State Recreation Area, Valentine

Spend the week observing the stars at Merritt Reservoir. Beginner classes are available.

BRADY DAYS

Aug. 2-4 Brady

Join Brady’s annual community celebration with events throughout the weekend.

CASS COUNTY FAIR

Aug. 7-10 Weeping Water

Enjoy barrel racing, line dancing, mini golf, carnival rides, a parade and more.

KOOL AID DAYS

Aug. 16-18 Hastings

Join in Sharkleberry Fun with the world’s largest Kool-Aid stand, fireworks and more.

GREELEY IRISH FESTIVAL

Sept. 21 Greeley

Celebrate Half-Way to St. Patrick’s Day with live Irish entertainment all day long.

NEBRASKA’S JUNK JAUNT

Sept. 27-29

Join over 500 miles of garage sales, collectibles and antiques across the state.

OLD-FASHIONED DANISH CHRISTMAS

Dec. 7-8 Dannebrog

Celebrate Danish heritage with aebleskiver, horse and buggy rides, music and crafts.

GROUNDHOG FESTIVAL

Feb. 1 Unadilla

Crown the King and Queen after a parade through Unadilla’s V-shaped Main Street.

Nick Adams

Lake McConaughy

AJ Dahm

Weigand Marina on Lewis and Clark Lake

Barbara Johnston

Niobrara River waterfalls at Valentine

Eastern

Experience woodlands, rivers, lakes and cultural festivals in the friendly communities of Eastern Nebraska.

YORK

A big red barn across I-80 from York’s famous hot air balloon water tower welcomes visitors to the Wessels Living History Farm. This 145-acre working farm established by a gift from local farmer David Wessels showcases Nebraska’s agricultural history with a focus on the 1920s. The 14-foot Dempster “gold

wheel” windmill near the barn is gold plated. Volunteers portray characters from a century ago. Tractor rides fill up fast. Join educational classes, hands-on activities and special events throughout the year, including December. Open May 1-Oct. 31. 5520 S. Lincoln Ave. (402) 710-0682.

The Clayton Museum of Ancient History is a treasure trove of biblical proportions 6,500 miles from the Holy Land. The museum includes exhibits

about ancient Rome, the Near East, Mesopotamia, early Christianity and a reproduction of Jerusalem’s Western Wall. The collection includes a Roman siege machine, legionary helmet, signet rings, ancient coins and papyrus fragments. Re-enactors portray Roman Centurions during summer events. A realistic archaeological dig named Little Kingdom helps young visitors experience the thrill of unearthing antiquities.

Alan J. Bartels

Wessels Living History Farm

This museum came to York from philanthropist Foster Stanback in 2013. It is curated and housed at York University in the lower level of the college’s Mackey Center. 1125 E. 8th St. (402) 363-5748.

Lee’s Legendary Marbles has one of the world’s largest collections of spherical sulfides, onionskins, shooters, cat’s eyes, European swirls and other marbles. Owner Lee Batterton has amassed a collection of more than 1 million marbles over his lifetime. Lee’s is the place to be if you want to lay your hands on a single marble worth $25,000. He even has radioactive marbles. Admission is free to this priceless Nebraska attraction. 3120 S. Lincoln Ave. (402) 362-3320.

The Anna Bemis Palmer Museum collects, preserves, and shares York’s heritage through storytelling and interactive experiences like their newest Artwork Exhibition. Featured art displays include paintings, photography, quilting, wood working and music. A spotlight on Fred Niblo, cofounder of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences, celebrates his 150th birthday. 520 N. Grant Ave. (402) 366-2788.

Holthus Convention Center hosts community events throughout the year, including the Nebraska Bridal Show, Haunt at the Holthus and the Crossroad Junk & Vintage Holiday Market. the 12,000-square-foot Grand Ballroom can handle banquets for up to 800 people. 3130 Holen Ave. (402) 363-2675.

York Area Children’s Museum, located in the York City Auditorium, hosts several exhibits build by the York community. Since 1999, the admission fee has never changed: $1 per person. Open to the public on Tuesdays and Saturdays. 612 Nebraska Ave.

Local actors at the Yorkshire Playhouse stage five shows a year. 2024 productions include The Cemetery Club, Because Their Hearts Were Pure (or The Secret of the Mine), The Stranger and A Christmas Carol. Laugh and cry along with the players. YorkshirePlayhouse.com. 517 N. Lincoln Ave. (402) 362-7060.

The Sun Theatre shows the latest releases on three screens. 427 N. Lincoln. (402) 362-7469.

York Country Club is a semi-private 18-hole golf course with public tournaments like the two-day York Open. The dining room is open Tuesday-Saturday and is known for its tender prime rib and Sunday brunch. 1016 W. Elm St. (402) 362-3720.

Family Aquatic Center has an eight-lane lap swimming pool, water slides, artifical climbing walls, deck geysers, a zero-depth area with fun spray features and a concession stand. Open daily in June-August. 2222 E. 14th. (402) 362-2613.

Exceptional prime rib, steak, burgers and homemade soups at Hunter’s Lounge & Keno. 311 Midland St., Waco. (402) 728-5613.

Enjoy home-cooked meals, daily specials and breakfast and lunch buffets every Sunday morning at Kerry Restaurant & Catering. 119 N. 1st Ave. McCool Junction. (402) 724-2120.

Chances “R” Restaurant has been feeding travelers since before I-80 was built. What began as “The Cozy Lunch” in 1932 has grown into a restaurant

with capacity for 550 hungry diners. The labyrinth of dining rooms somehow feels like home. This is one of the most popular motorcoach stops in Nebraska, known for their fried chicken. Open every day of the year except for Christmas. 124 W. 5th St. (402) 362-7755.

McLean Beef sells freshly butchered cuts at the meat counter, as well as deli items and breakfasts on Tuesdays and Thursdays and lunches on Wednesdays. Or grab something from the beef vending machine. 3208 S. Lincoln Ave. (402) 362-0055.

Captain Red Beard’s Cafe serves fresh brewed coffee drinks, smoothies and fresh pastries downtown. 600 Grant Ave. (402) 745-6073.

La Cocina Authentic Mexican Grill & Cantina sizzles with fajitas, spicy salads, family taco packs and seafood. 928 N. Lincoln Ave. (402) 362-0356.

GoodyPop sastisfies every visitor’s snack craving with an assortment of flavors, salty and sweet. 113 E. 6th St. (402) 366-2351.

Say yesYORK

Discover York County’s museums, downtown, events and more at the Crossroads of the Midwest!

Marble Museum

Clayton Museum

Wessels Living History Farm

Explore ancient Rome, the Near East and much more. Special Bible exhibit shares the story of scripture from scroll to modern translations. Children’s interactive Little Kingdom now opened!

ADMISSION IS FREE

Open Tues-Fri, 9 am-5 pm Check Facebook page for updates!

ClaytonMuseumOfAncientHistory.org

402-363-5748 • 1125 E 8 th St • York

HENDERSON

Located southwest in York County, Henderson traces its founding to 1874 when a group of Mennonite immigrants traveled by rail from New York to Nebraska. Those 35 families lived together that first winter. Their shelter was the 20-by-80-foot immigrant house built for them by the Burlington and Missouri River Railroad. Homes, barns, farms and the town went up when spring arrived. Today, around 1,000 residents call this farming community their home. They celebrate their roots at Mennonite Heritage Park and Museum with a replica of the immigrant house, a country church and a 1911 barn, hosting the annual Heritage Day that boasts handmade apple cider and fresh baked bread. There is also a visitor center, and the gift shop sells local crafts and souvenirs. The museum is open Tuesday-Saturday, May 1-Sept. 30. 720 Rd. B. (402) 723-5694.

This spacious park is home to the annual Henderson Heritage Day in September where visitors have fun on wagon rides and watch demonstrations of chores from the old days. Homemade apple cider and fresh baked bread is reason enough to attend. HendersonHeritage.org.

Having fun and honoring heritage continues during Henderson Community Days in July. The celebration includes a kids bike and scooter rally, a talent show, a parade, old-fashioned games, food vendors and live entertainment. (402) 723-4228.

Main Street offers unique finds like Sparrow’s Branch Café, gift shop Ivy and Main, self-care boutique Rural and Well and flower shop Petal Pusher.

The Vern Friesen Gallery showcases the paintings and bronze sculptures of this hometown Henderson artist. 1053 Main St. (402) 723-4977.

Willow Station is a home decor and boutique featuring vintage finds open seasonally in the countryside. 10 Henderson N Rd. (402) 710-1433.

At 55 acres, Lakeview Park is Henderson’s largest park. Located on the southwest side of town, a mile-long sidewalk surrounds the park’s lake where anglers can catch largemouth bass, bluegill and channel catfish. Mature trees add plenty of shade to this popular destination. (402) 723-5782.

The Henderson Sports Complex on the west side of town is home to summer softball and baseball leagues, t-ball and community events. (402) 723-5782.

Henderson Aquatic Center is located at Lakeview Park. The heated pool, diving boards, slides and diving are open Memorial Day weekend through mid-August. 1100 Birch St. (402) 723-4680.

With playground equipment, a gazebo, picnic tables, a picnic shelter and bandstand, Henderson’s Downtown City Park is a popular summer spot. The park is also the site of the Farmers Market, east of Main Street. June-August, Tuesdays, 5-7 p.m. (402) 723-4228.

The 260-acre Arbor Day Farm is packed with fun and adventure for the entire family. Join us for one-of-a-kind activities that take you high into the trees, along wooded trails, into a historic mansion, and under the soaring timbers of Lied Lodge.

Your vacation awaits; start planning at arbordayfarm.org.

City | 800-546-5433 arbordayfarm.org

NEBRASKA CITY

The State of Nebraska traces its beginnings to Otoe County and the 1855 founding of Nebraska City, recognized as the first incorporated city in the state. Nebraska City is the home of Arbor Day – and it’s packed with beautiful parks, museums and firstclass accommodations.

Arbor Lodge, once the home of Arbor Day creator J. Sterling Morton, is a 52-room mansion surrounded by the 72-acre Arbor Lodge State Historical Park. The park includes an arboretum, garden, log cabin, carriage house, walking trails and more than 200 varieties of flowering lilacs. 2600 Arbor Ave. (402) 873-7222.

Arbor Day Farm encompasses 260 acres of natural beauty that inspires people to plant, nurture and celebrate trees. This national historic treasure is home to Tree Adventure and Lied Lodge. Tree Adventure is a nature-themed attraction with trails

leading from treehouse to treehouse in the 3-acre Treetop Village. 2611 Arbor Ave. (402) 873-8717.

Lied Lodge is a grand lodge popular for weddings, retreats and romantic get-aways. Its 140 nature-inspired guest rooms and suites provide a respite in a natural setting. It has an Olympic-size simming pool. The Spa at Lied Lodge pampers visitors with Swedish massages and a special “Apple Blossom” massage.

Timbers restaurant prepares seasonal meals with local produce paired with striking views of Arbor Day Farm through the lodge’s massive windows.

A fireplace and libations provide warmth in the lodge’s Library Lounge. This pub stays true to its name with

shelves of nature books to flip through while visiting with friends, both old and new.

Every aspect of the Lied Lodge is sustainable and environmentally friendly – from its recycling program to the onsite biomass heating system. 2700 Sylvan Rd. (402) 873-8733.

Historic Kimmel Orchard and Vineyard features 40 acres of u-pick produce. Visitors harvest strawberries in late May, cherries in mid-June and peaches from mid-July through August. Apples and pumpkins are popular harvests in the fall. The tasting room offers wine samples year-round. 5995 G Rd. (402) 873-5293. Union Orchard knows something about growing apples. The attraction

Arbor Day Farm

is 8 miles north of Nebraska City and has roots tracing to 1917, when the property served as a fruit farm for the University of Nebraska. Central Apple Market is the Worstrels’ Nebraska City outlet for the fruit, baked goods, wines, jellies and hot sauces. 701 Central Ave. (402) 873-1090.

Weekends are busy in Nebraska City with annual festivals and musicians, including Arbor Day weekend (last Friday in April) and the AppleJack Harvest Festival each September. As many as 80,000 people regularly attend. Apples to apples, it’s the tastiest fruit fest around. NebraskaCity.com/ festivals. (402) 873-6654.

Nebraska is big on history. At last count there were 10 museums here. Kregel Windmill Museum is one of the most recent to open. Kregel Windmill factory operated for 112 years, 88 of those from this very building. The factory closed in 1991 and appears as if the workers simply went home for the night and never clocked back in. 1416 Central Ave. (402) 873-1078.

Wildwood Historic Center includes a 10-room mansion built in 1869. It has been immaculately preserved and is filled with authentic Victorian-era furniture and artifacts. The center has a gift emporium, a Victorian garden, and the Barn Art Gallery which displays local and regional artwork. Open from Arbor Day in late April through October. 420 Steinhart Park Rd. (402) 873-6340.

Intrepid adventurers can walk in the footsteps of the Corps of Discovery at Missouri River Basin Lewis & Clark Interpretive Trail and Visitor Center. The visitor center includes each of the 122 animal species and 178 plant species that Meriwether Lewis and William Clark documented on their epic 1804 journey along the Missouri River.

A larger-than-life prairie dog display gives a glimpse of life underground. Step aboard a full-size replica keelboat and explore an earth lodge. Four trails lead to outdoor adventures. 100 Valmont Dr. (402) 874-9900.

UNADILLA

Unadilla, Iroquois for place of meeting, is famed for its annual Groundhog Day celebration. The stuffed rodent at the center of the fun is Unadilla Billie, leading the parade at 2 p.m. on Nebraska’s only V-shaped main street. Morning festivities include food, a flea market and Veteran’s room.

Mal’s Bar & Grill is where Groundhog King and Queen is crowned. (402) 828-2127. Down the street is MK Meats, famous for its brats, jerky, beef sticks and knip. (402) 828-4400.

The Nitty Gritty Gas & Thrift sells commemorative memorabilia. Unadilla Bill, famed retired prognosticator, is available for pictures.

Watch birds and see wildflowers at the Wachiska Audubon Society’s Dieken Prairie south of town, one of the most diverse prairies in the region. (402) 486-4846.

Learn more about Unadilla at UnadillaNebraska.com.

SEWARD

Every Independence Day, the skies light up over Seward, “America’s Small Town Fourth of July City.” The community of 7,200 residents has celebrated July 4 every year since 1868, rain or shine. The party kicks off at 7 a.m. Full listing of activities at JulyFourthSeward.com. (402) 643-4189.

The parade takes place on the historic Seward County Courthouse Square, which is ringed with local shops, a theater and restaurants.

Seward’s patriotism waves at the Parade of Flags. This attraction displaying military and state flags was the first in the U.S. to display the new Space Force flag. 2698 McKelvie Rd.

With over 11,000 artifacts, the Nebraska National Guard Museum displays history, accomplishments and heroes of the National Guard in Nebraska. Changing interactive displays and exhibits explain the more than a century-long history of the National Guard in Nebraska. The museum remains focused on educating both the general public and members of the Army and Air National Guard about its

heritage in both times of peace and war. Platoons of patriotic volunteers continue to share its rich history. Military vehicles outside provide strategic photo opportunities for families. 201 N. Eighth St. (402) 309-8763.

Concordia University’s Bartels Museum displays rocks and gems from around the world. 800 N. Columbia Ave. (402) 643-7254.

The World’s Largest Time Capsule has two cars and over 5,000 artifacts inside its 45-ton concrete vault. Contents will be revealed on July 4, 2025. Drive by at Davisson Furnture, 318 Hillcrest Dr.

Sports-minded travelers can target the Plum Creek Sports Complex for an exhilarating workout in Seward. Attractions include an 18-hole disc golf course, four baseball/softball fields, seven youth soccer fields, two batting cages, two playgrounds, a full-size outdoor basketball court and a lighted court for sand volleyball. The complex is also home to the Cattle Athletic Training Center, where legion of local youth train for greatness in baseball and softball adventures. 222 Karol Kay Blvd. (402) 643-2928.

Enjoy theatrical productions and community events at the Old Glory Theatre and Community Hall. Located in a renovated 1873-era former church, the theatre offers a unique chance to watch a play or listen to a concert in one of the city’s most historic buildings. Visit OldGlorySewardNE.com for upcoming shows. 348 Jackson St. (402) 304-5392.

Red Path Gallery & Tasting Room showcases over 20 Nebraska artists with artisan offerings by Nebraska’s talented vintners, brewers and distillers. 514 Seward St. (402) 641-8211.

Located in the scenic Garland Hills between Seward and Lincoln, Junto Winery makes tasty wines from nine different grape varieties grown on the land. The winery, whose name aptly means “join together,” hosts events throughout the year for communities to come together. 1356 182nd St. (402) 646-0515. Bottle Rocket Brewing Co. brews beer in tribute to Seward history with names such as Punk Lite, Wicked Spark and M-80. 230 S. Fifth St. (402) 304-5673.

NORFOLK

You might notice the residents of Norfolk, the largest community in Madison County, don’t pronounce the name of their city the way it’s spelled. Locals say “Nor-fork,” a reference to the North Fork of the Elkhorn River. At the town’s founding, Washington, D.C., was convinced Norfork was a typo and had it changed to the more common spelling.

The river still flows through downtown, now branded as the River Point District. A riverfront redevelopment project has been ongoing with recently completed trails and a whitewater rapids course near Johnson Park, one block north of Norfolk Avenue on North 1st Street. NorthForkRiverFront.com.

Launching upstream and picking up two miles later after the whitewater park, North Fork Outfitting offers North Fork River, Elkhorn River and Skyview Lake canoe and kayak trips and rentals. (402) 316-0157.

Preserving the history and heritage of the Nebraska National Guard

The River Point District is an entertainment district with recent cityscape projects, building renovations and restaurants, galleries, sculptures, murals and stores.

Former Tonight Show host Johnny Carson honed his stage skills in Norfolk as a boy before going off to make it big in California – no joke! Johnny never forgot his hometown, and Norfolk honors its favorite native son with the Johnny Carson Mural in downtown Norfolk at Third Street and Norfolk Avenue. This area is now referred to as River Point Square. The Johnny Carson Boyhood Home is a private residence. Look for the sign at 306 S. 13th St., also known as Johnny Carson Boulevard.

The three-day Great American Comedy Festival honors Johnny Carson each June. Johnny Carson Theatre at Norfolk Senior High School is center stage for hilarity. GreatAmericanComedyFestival.com. (402) 370-8004.

The Elkhorn Valley Museum displays Carson’s Emmy awards in the Johnny Carson exhibit donated

MUSEUM

Guard after World War II during Operation Snowbound in the Winter of

by Johnny’s estate. One of only four Square Turn tractors known to exist is also on display here. 515 Queen City Blvd. (402) 371-3886.

A few blocks away, the Norfolk Arts Center displays the creative work of Nebraska and regional artists. Workshops, a community board game night, First Friday gatherings and other events keep the community engaged. There is a sculpture garden on the west side of the building. 305 N. 5th St. (402) 371-7199. Skyview Park is in the northwest part of Norfolk. Walk along the nearly

two mile trail that surrounds the park’s 50-acre Skyview Lake. 1900 W. Maple Ave.

The park is the site of the Music in the Park summer concert series and Boomfest fireworks event in July, billed as the largest fireworks show in the Midwest. Colorful kayaks float across the lake’s surface in spring, summer and fall.

With a 300-foot-long raft slide and a 200-foot-long body slide, Memorial AquaVenture Water Park also has a wave pool, diving boards, dumping

buckets, water walk, octopus play station and a snack bar. 715 S. First St. (402) 844-2270.

Norfolk Lodge and Suites is a lodgestyle hotel and conference center that hosts Norfolk’s only microbrewery, Divots Brewery, and Sandbar Grill, a restaurant featuring Certified Angus steaks, prime rib and burgers, ribs, pizza and pasta. 4200 W. Norfolk Ave. DivotsLodge.com. (402) 379-3833.

Divots Downtown features local ales from Divots Brewery, plus wood-fired pizza, pasta, burgers and breakfast in a historic location. 206 W. Norfolk Ave. (402) 316-1001.

Fenders Coffee Bar specializes in gourmet coffees, teas, cocktails and all gluten-free breakfast and lunch menu items. 426 W. Norfolk Ave. (402) 370-2302.

Those looking for a sweet treat can find them easily at 4th St. Sweets. Decadent choices include a variety of small-batch fudge and barks, chocolates, caramel apples and candies. 103 N. 4th St. (402) 370-2541.

Visit Norfolk

Johnny Carson Mural in River Point Square

COLUMBUS

Visitors to Columbus can see Allied forces storming the beaches at Normandy. The Andrew Jackson Higgins Memorial in Pawnee Park pays homage to a local man who designed and built the landing craft that were key to Allied victories in World War II.

The memorial includes a replica of one of his Higgins Boats and a squad of bronze soldiers staged as if bravely storming a foreign beach. Walking trails meet here, and a bronze bald eagle surveys the scene from atop a steel beam salvaged from the World Trade Center after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks.

Visitors looking for a cool time storm the water slides and pools at Pawnee Plunge Water Park. This giant summer attraction covers seven acres and includes the FlowRider, a six-lane swimming pool, splash pad, lazy river, octopus walk, diving boards, and climbing wall. Open midMay to mid-August. (402) 562-4269.

Pawnee Park overflows with other activities for the whole family: baseball fields, sand volleyball, tennis courts, a skate park, walking track, trails, picnic areas and a disc golf course.

Three miles north of Columbus, the 31-acre Loup Park has walking trails, charcoal grills, picnic tables and access to the 200-acre Lake North. The aquatic fun grows with acess to the 600-acre Lake Babcock. Camper pads with electrical hookups and tent camping spots are available at no charge. From 48th Avenue, turn east on Lakeview Road. (402) 562-5709.

Nebraska’s longest thoroughbred racetrack opens soon at Harrah’s Racing and Casino. Columbus Exposition & Racing hosts live horse racing for a one-month fall season. 5944 Howard Blvd. (402) 562-8009.

Stroll Downtown Columbus’ Trackside District to enjoy historical murals, art sculptures, boutiques and local eateries. Summertime “Beats and Eats” features live music in Frankfort Square on Thursdays and Saturdays.

C O L U M B U S , N E

Children explore the two-story Corn Climber slide, the centerpiece of the Columbus Area Children’s Museum. Enjoy a hydroelectric station, a builder wall and a play theatre where both guests and staff perform. 2500 14th St. #1. (531) 230-8091.

Gottberg Brew Pub serves local brews in a tasting room that looks and feels as if you are sneaking a drink in a grain bin, while Dusters Restaurant is famous for its steaks, slow-roasted prime rib, and auto-themed décor. In the 1920s, Max Gottberg assembled cars here for his buddy, Henry Ford. 2804 13th St. (402) 562-6488.

Columbus Fieldhouse features a trampoline jump zone, two tennis courts, eight pickleball courts, a fullsize indoor soccer field and more. 3912 38th St. (402) 592-4900.

West of Columbus in nearby Monroe, Horn T Zoo is a family-owned petting zoo with domestic and exotic animals and is open seasonally for the summer. 37692 State Highway 22. (402) 276-0435.

SCHUYLER

Schuyler is well-known for the St. Benedict Conference Center, a nonprofit conference center and ecumenical retreat founded by Missionary Benedictines just north of town and east of Nebraska Highway 15.

The peaceful setting, with a large reflective pond and sculpture gardens, allows visitors to relax and heal. Lodging is available, and the center hosts organized retreats and Schuyler community events, such as the annual Christmas Craft Show. From Thanksgiving through December, the St. Benedict Conference Center shows a display of Nativity scenes from North America, Europe, South America, Asia, Africa and the Holy Land.

Group tours can be scheduled by appointment. Visitors explore the site via smartphone tours. Lunch is available to visitors most days. The center has artwork from around the world. A labyrinth within sight of the

center invites visitors to embark on their own sacred journeys. The bookstore includes a selection of religious items, and art from Africa, Peru and Korea. 1126 Road I. (402) 352-8819.

Two city parks, South Park and Schuyler Park, offer a total of 155 acres of recreational opportunities for residents and travelers alike, including swimming, baseball, fishing, sand volleyball, horseshoe pitching, tennis, picnicking, relaxation, bird-watching and more. (402) 352-3101.

Oak Ballroom was built in 1937 as a Works Progress Administration project and is on the National Register of Historic Places. The ballroom is used for receptions, reunions and other community events. 175 Higgins Dr. (402) 352-9972.

Schuyler Historical Society chronicles the century and a half lineage of the county with interesting and informational displays and unique items donated by local families. 309 E. 11th St. (402) 615-0857.

Schuyler Golf Course is a 9-hole course along Nebraska Highway 15, south of town. The course is located in South City Park near the cherished Oak Ballroom. Cart rental available. 295 Higgins Dr. (402) 352-2900. Railside Green Arboretum was the dream of local resident Jim Kluck and is maintained today in his memory. The nearly 3-acre site once was an abandoned railroad right of way. Brought back to life by volunteers and Kluck’s friends, dozens of varieties of trees, shrubs, bushes, grasses, and flowering plants thrive here. There is a walking path and an old caboose for visitors to explore. 1103 B St. (402) 615-3179.

Colfax Theatre keeps residents and visitors entertained on weekends with movies for children and families Friday through Sunday, continuing an entertainment tradition dating back decades. Grab a large popcorn for only $4, some candy and drinks and settle in for the show. 314 E. 11th St. (402) 352-5847.

Experience aSacred Oasis

SCHUYLER’S lush farmland surrounds Saint Benedict Center’s peaceful oasis. The center creates an escape for reflection and discovery through interactive retreats, conferences and group tours. Be inspired by a stunning state-of-the-art display on The Saint John’s Bible and beautiful architecture. Enjoy delicious meals, view religious artwork, shop cultural artwork, rosaries, books and music.

STROMSBURG

Swedish heritage is loud and proud in Stromsburg, the “Swede Capital of Nebraska.”

Swedish heritage comes alive for three days in June with Midsommar Festival. Residents don costumes of yellow and blue – colors of the Swedish flag – and welcome thousands of visitors.

Everyone turns out the first night to watch Swedish Dancers at City Square Park. Then come children dancing around the maypole and finally the crowning of the king and queen. Generations of Stromsburg’s youth have danced at the festival since its inception in 1952.

Stromsburg Lutheran Church and Corner Cave serve Swedish pancakes, which are superb, especially when slathered with lingonberry sauce. Musicians, a parade and Swedish-themed activities pack the festival schedule. Visitors enjoy

Smörgåsbord every other year. TheSwedishFestival.com. (402) 764-5265.

Many interesting businesses make their homes in Stromsburg, and a bunch are on the busy Town Square.

Economy Hometown Market is a popular grocery store for Swedish meatballs, lingonberries, pickled herring, ham loaf and lutefisk. The most popular Swedish item is the store’s potato bologna. The delicacy is known in Sweden as “potatiskorv.” 313 Commercial St. (402) 764-2441.

The Rose Colored Glass wine tasting room is in the restored Victor Anderson Building. The tasting room (with a patio and courtyard) features Nebraska beers and 60 Nebraska wines. 403 Commercial St. (402) 764-8299.

Occassions is a gift store in the Victor Anderson Building. (402) 764-7000 Frocks & Flowers is a women’s clothing boutique and flower store sharing space here. (402) 764-6655.

4th Street Coffeehouse serves smoothies, coffee drinks and teas on

Stromsburg

Stromsburg Chamber of Commerce

Buckley Park Campground

the north end of Stromsburg’s town square. 113 E. 4th St. (402) 764-6000. Spindle, Shuttle, and Needle is a colorful yarn and fabric store home to The Fiber Mill. Tour the textile mill to learn about custom milling for Nebraska sheep farmers. 214 E. 3rd St. (402) 405-1971.

City Square Park surrounds a renovated bandstand, where free outdoor concerts, activities and even weddings are held. Visitors also enjoy shaded picnic spots, benches for relaxing and a playground. Buckley Park has expanded to include 20 new camp sites on the west side. Enjoy a new 18-hole disc golf course, sport fields, fenced dog park, three picnic pavilions, a heated swimming pool, sand volleyball courts and nine camping spots with electrical hookups. (402) 764-8228.

Two Parks Trail links the two parks and gives people in town an easy route to Buckley Park. Campers at Buckley can take the trail to town to shop, dine, sample wine or stock up on potato sausage

AURORA

Located north of I-80 between Grand Island and York, Aurora and neighboring towns in Hamilton County mix history, art and agriculture to provide a truly Nebraska travel experience.

Aurora celebrates a hometown scientist at the Edgerton Explorit Center. Dr. Harold Edgerton pioneered high-speed flash photography techniques and was known to be a tinkerer. “If you don’t wake up at 3 a.m. to start testing your ideas then you are wasting time,” he would say.

Edgerton Explorit Center doesn’t open that early, but it is open seven days a week for hands-on learning about science and flash photography. Fun little explosions involving electricity, ice and sound waves are regular occurrences here. 208 16th St. (402) 694-4032.

The Plainsman Museum preserves the history of pioneer settlements, farming, communities and important figures from Hamilton County history.

An authentic log cabin originally built north of Aurora along the Mormon Trail is among the artifacts at the museum. When early European settlers came to Nebraska, many of them dug sod from the native prairie to make their first primitive homes. The museum has a re-created “soddy” exhibit.

The museum has a working blacksmith shop with an authentic pioneer “smithy” firing coal and working his steel. There’s an indoor boardwalk of historic shops and the historic Victoran-era 1870s home of Civil War commander Gen. Delevan Bates. Also on the museum grounds is a large agriculture building with farm equipment, the Burlington Northern Caboose and the one-room schoolhouse, District 66 Fairview School. 210 16th St. (402) 694-6531.

Aurora’s Town Square is anchored by the historic Hamilton County Courthouse and Veterans Memorial Park. The square has a vibrant shopping district surrounding it. Visitors will find the Prairie Plains Resource Institute on the southeast corner of the square.

The home-grown organization has been protecting and restoring native prairies in Nebraska since 1981. The 16-acre Lincoln Prairie in Aurora was the group’s first parcel. Stroll along Aurora’s first hike and bike trail at the intersection of N Street and McCullough Lane. The PPRI office is at 1307 L St. (402) 694-5535.

The Leadership Center is a retreat center owned and operated by the Nebraska Vocational Agricultural Foundation in an idyllic setting near Aurora. The grounds include a lake with walking trails, an indoor pool, lodging, catering and 13,000 square feet of meeting space. 2211 Q St. (402) 694-3934.

Susan’s Used Bookstore & Toy Shop has 20,000 used books – each for only $2 – as well as award-winning and affordable children’s toys. Owner Susan Williams, a native of Aurora, has owned the store for more than 20 years. The store donates 10,000 books each year to anyone who expresses a need – and everyone who visits the store leaves with a free book. 1124 13th St. (308) 624-0386.

The Renaissance Studio is a photography studio and fine art gallery on the south side of the square. Owner Jana Van Housen’s oil paintings on linen capture images unique to this central Nebraska artist. 909 L St. (402) 694-6210.

Specialty coffees, loose leaf teas and wireless internet attract residents and visitors to Espressions. An art gallery features local artists, while the menu features a diverse offering of lunch items and pastries. Visitors may see people playing a board game in one corner while businesspeople meet in another. 1117 M St. (402) 694-3214

Jojo’s Gelato and Grill offers barbecue on Saturdays. For the rest of the week, it’s Italian sandwiches and pastas. Enjoy a private table, or join the communal space in the center of the restaurant, where new friends are made. Guests are encouraged to save room for a homemade gelato for dessert. 1007 Q St. (Hwy 34). (402) 694-6880.

Established in 1965, the Aurora Meat Block offers a wide range of retail and specialty meat products, including

ham, jerky, bacon, sausage, ground beef, bratwurst and sides. 1001 13th St. (402) 694-2365.

One mile northeast of Aurora, Pioneer Trails Recreation Area, has a 40-surface-acre lake with fishing, boating, horse-back riding, tent and RV camping with 50 amp electric hookups. Trails around the lake are open for biking, hiking and horseback riding. 1714 E. 14th Rd. (402) 362-6601.

DAVID CITY

Nestled nicely in the heart of east-central Nebraska, David City serves as the Butler County seat. This historical hub was originally surveyed in May 1873. It was named after William Davids, thanks to the donation of land for the David City Courthouse by his daughter, Phoebe Davids Miles. David City (the S was removed from the name) can be found just 3 miles north of Highway 92, on Highway 15, and makes for a welcome place to learn more about life in Nebraska.

Bone Creek Museum of Agrarian Art draws in crowds of agricultural-art loving visitors. Founded in 2007, the space honors its home, and Nebraska, by connecting land and people. Every year, exhibitions, artist talks, workshops, poetry readings and other events seek to fulfill the museum’s goal and work to preserve the culture of rural and agricultural life.

As the nation’s only exclusively agrarian art museum, the space has permanent art collections and displays that explore grasslands, wetlands, federally protected lands, agricultural lands and urban green spaces. David City is the hometown of artist Dale Nichols, whose work is part of a permanent collection. 575 E St. (402) 367-4488.

Those passing through in search of something more active can tee up a round of 9 holes at the David City Golf Club, which features “Nebraska’s only island tee box.” The lush green fairways, roughs and greens accent the nearby park and Par IV Restaurant and Lounge. The golf course, open to the public, also features regular league play and “until dark” hours. 899 Park Dr. (402) 367-4292.

Back on the historical front, the Thorpe Opera House was put on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988. Though the last opera graced the theater’s stage in 1989, the event center and community staple often hosts trivia nights, school activities, community plays and other events. 457 D St. (402) 367-2327.

Alan J. Bartels

Bone Creek Museum of Agrarian Art

FAIRBURY

Long before motorists cruised past what is now Jefferson County and Fairbury (population 3,800), pioneers trudged through the region on their historic treks west.

Oregon Trail wagon ruts remain visible at Rock Creek Station State Historical Park. The 350-acre park is the site of Wild Bill Hickok’s first gunfight. It honors pioneers with an interpretive center and native prairie. Includes 6 miles of hiking and equestrian trails.

Rock Creek Trail Days in June includes wagon rides and a buffalo stew cookout. 57426 710 Rd. (402) 729-5777.

U.S. Highway 136, which runs through the picturesque Little Blue River valley, has been designated a scenic byway. HeritageHighway136.com

Crystal-clear spring water fills two lakes at Crystal Springs Campground. The 73-acre park includes a manmade pond for fishing and watching wildlife with 60 RV camping sites with electrical hookups. 56701 Crystal Springs Rd. (402) 729-2148.

Nearly 100 architecturally significant buildings make up the Fairbury Commercial Historic District. Visitors find fine dining, boutiques, antique shops, a historic theater, stately courthouse and much more in this four-block neighborhood.

Rock Island Depot Museum was the western division headquarters

for the Rock Island Railroad. Open weekends, 1-5 p.m. 910 Second St. (402) 729-5131.

The Fairbury City Museum preserves local history. Open weekends, 1-4 p.m. 1128 Elm St. (402) 300-1318. Frontier Fun Park is a 10,5000-sq-ft

wooden playground with an Old West theme. US Hwy 136 south to Maple St. McDowell’s Tomb is a hand-carved mausoleum two miles south of Fairbury on Highway 15, three miles west on Highway 8, then 1 ½ miles south on 566 Avenue.

Chris Amundson

Rock Creek Station State Historical Park

KNOX COUNTY

Knox County, in northeast Nebraska, is a hub for boating, fishing, hunting and outdoor recreation.

The Missouri River and Nebraska’s second-largest reservoir, Lewis and Clark Lake, border the north side of Knox County. Weigand Marina offers

boat access at Lewis and Clark State Recreation Area, which has 150 campsites with electricity and 100 basic campsites, modern showers, 10 cabins, a swimming beach, wildlife viewing, seasonal hunting, snowmobiling and other activities. 54731 897 Rd, Crofton. Niobrara State Park overlooks the confluence of the Niobrara and Missouri rivers. The park has tent, RV and

equestrian camping, plus 20 modern cabins, a modern pool and hiking/ equestrian trails. Summer months host “Buffalo Cookouts,” where historians and cowboys tell historic stories to guests. Guests also enjoy stargazing. 89261 522 Ave., Niobrara. (402) 857-3373.

Owned by the Santee Sioux Nation, Ohiya Casino and Resort is Nebraska’s first casino. 53142 Highway 12, Niobrara. ohiyacasino.com. (402) 857-3860. Tatanka Golf Club is an 18-hole course open to the public next to the casino. GolfTatanka.com. (402) 857-3504. Learn more about recreation in Knox County at KnoxCountyNebraska.com or by calling (402) 288-5619

HARTINGTON

Rural Hartington is known around the world thanks to the National Geographic Wild show “Heartland Docs, DVM,” starring local veterinarians Erin and Ben Schroeder. The Schroeders and other entrepreneurs have renovated the downtown with new shops and restaurants in historic buildings. Law was scant here in the 1870s when Doc Middleton and Kid Wade hid stolen horses and themselves in this land. The Outlaw Trail Scenic Byway crosses Cedar County as Highway 12. NebraskaOutlawTrail.org.

Middleton, Wade and other outlaws are toasted at Nissen Wines. The Outlaw Trail series wine bottles feature the outlaws’ mugshots. 88973 Hwy 57, Bow Valley. (402) 254-3426.

AJ Dahm

Lewis and Clark Lake

George Shannon found himself lost in northeast Nebraska for 16 days as the youngest member of Lewis and Clark’s expedition. Find chainsaw-carved statues of Shannon along the 240-mile Shannon Trail ShannonTrail.com

Hartington Golf Club is a 9-hole public course with lush ranges and roughs, a practice bunker and driving range. E. Felber St. (402) 254-7312. Hartington’s first fire truck and a log cabin are among the treasures at the Cedar County Museum. Open Sunday

afternoons May-August or by appointment. 304 W. Franklin St. (402) 254-6597.

WAYNE

Wayne proudly bills itself as “Wayne America.” Shopping opportunities include home decor, clothing and antiques in a trendy district with unique dining options, a renovated historic movie theater, and a brewery in Wayne’s former fire station.

BIG CITY QUALITY, SMALL TOWN VALUES

Most famously, the Wayne Chicken Show rules the roost every July. The event features a full roost of activities for adults and children alike. Entertaining show-goers will be a parade, an egg toss, the “Clucktique” Sidewalk Market, a whole-community Chicken Dance, the National Cluck-Off and more. Don’t play chicken! ChickenShow.com. (402) 375-2240.

Wayne is home to Wayne State College. The Fred G. Dale Planetarium at the college has had students and the public seeing stars since 1969. Residents, public school students and other visitors attend shows cast on the 30foot dome from two fisheye projectors. Gulliver Drive at Wayne State College. (402) 375-7471.

The town’s former fire house turned craft brewery, Johnnie Byrd Brewing Company, changes its tap offerings regularly, alongside its spirits and hard soda selections. The staff also serves sodas and hosts live music and other community events. 121 N. Pearl St. (402) 833-1522.

Jeremy Buss

Wayne Chicken Show

Metro

Nebraska’s cities sparkle with cutting-edge cuisine and inspiring art, music, theater and shopping.

LINCOLN

Lincoln is Nebraska’s capital city. It has captured the gaze of travelers since settlers in wagons arrived here in the 1850s, and it remains a shining and welcoming point of pride rising from the Nebraska prairie.

The Nebraska History Museum contains 125,000 items dating from 12,000 years ago through today. The collection

includes prehistoric tools, pioneer quilts, antique farm implements and beaded Native American items. This is Nebraska’s official history museum. See p. 7 to learn more. 131 Centennial Mall N. History.Nebraska.gov. (402) 471-4782.

The world’s largest publicly held collection of quilts is at the International Quilt Museum. Since its founding in 1997, the museum has collected, displayed and interpreted quilt folk art from around the world.

Travelers with even a thread of time should weave their way through this cherished destination on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s East Campus. See upcoming exhibits at InternationalQuiltMuseum.org. 1523 N. 33rd St. (402) 472-6549.

The Nebraska State Museum at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s main city campus is officially known as Morrill Hall, but locals also call it Elephant Hall because it contains the world’s premier

Durham Museum

Durham Museum in Omaha

collection of fossil elephants. Mammoth and mastodon remains have been unearthed in 90 of Nebraska’s 93 counties.

The star of the museum is Archie, who was discovered on a ranch in Western Nebraska. At 14-feet tall, Archie is the world’s tallest articulated mammoth skeleton. A life-size bronze statue of Archie greets visitors at the museum’s entrance. The museum is also home to Mueller Planetarium, exhibits on dinosaurs, Native Americans and other archaeological, cultural and paleontological treasures. 645 N. 14th St. (402) 472-2637.

Also on the University of Nebraska campus, the Sheldon Museum of Art houses nearly 13,000 pieces of art inside a modernist building that is itself a work of art. 12th and R streets. (402) 472-2461.

Great works of art are preserved and displayed at the Great Plains Art Museum in UNL’s Center for Great Plains Studies. It might be enough to encourage anyone to pick up art again. 1155 Q St. (402) 472-6220.

The Tonight Show host Johnny Carson donated generously to the University of Nebraska. Generations later, students learn the ins and outs of performing at UNL’s Johnny Carson School of Theatre and Film. The school’s Nebraska Repertory. Theatre features live productions. See a schedule at NebraskaRep.org. 12th and R streets. (402) 472-2567.

Memorial Stadium is the center of the college football world for Nebraska Cornhusker fans. A common refrain from Husker Nation is that Memorial Stadium itself, with a capacity of nearly 90,000 fans, becomes “Nebraska’s Third Largest City” on game day. The experience is electric, and there’s not a bad seat in the house. Stop by for tours of the hallowed halls and Astroturf. 1 Memorial Stadium Dr. (402) 472-4224.

The Lied Center for Performing Arts provides a 2,000-seat venue for dance troupes, musicians, comedians and theatrical productions. 301 N. 12th St. LiedCenter.org. (402) 472-4700.

Sunken Gardens bloom with more than 30,000 plants along its walking trail and gardens. Grab a friend and brown bag a shady spot for a memorable picnic lunch. 27th Street and Capital Parkway. (402) 441-8267.

More than 350 animals live at the Lincoln Children’s Zoo. Some are endangered species seen nowhere else in Nebraska. The zoo’s ZO&O Railroad has been cherished by residents and visitors for more than 50 years. The new electric locomotive named “Jim” ensures trainloads of fun family memories for years to come. 1222 S. 27th St. (402) 475-6741.

A mass migration of more than 100,000 German Russians to North America began in the 1870s. Their history is preserved at the American Society of Germans from Russia Museum. 631 D St. (402) 474-3363.

Lincoln’s Historic Haymarket teems with unique shops, art galleries, fine food and trendy bars. The architecture is distinct and beautiful. Start at Seventh and P streets for self-guided tours through downtown. (402) 435-7496.

Located in the Haymarket, Pinnacle Bank Arena is Lincoln’s largest concern venue with capacity for more than 15,000 enthusiastic sports or live entertainment fans. Schedules at PinnacleBankArena.com. 400 Pinnacle Bank Dr. (402) 904-4444.

Symbolism abounds in the stately Nebraska State Capitol where corn motifs blend into walls, woodwork and even light fixtures. Murals tell the long history of our state. “The Sower,” a sculpture by Lee Lawrie, punctuates the pinnacle of the capitol’s dome 400 feet above busy Lincoln streets. 1145 K St. (402) 471-0448.

Located at I-80 Exit 405, Aardvark Antique Mall has 25,000 square feet of antiques curated by 250 local dealers. Visitors peruse 600 booths of glassware, coins, vintage toys, antique furniture, old tools, historic photos, man cave collectibles, estate sales and she-shed décor.

One corner set up as a vintage diner is a popular location for a cup of coffee and to contemplate purchases. Treasures found daily, 9 a.m.-8 p.m.

5800 Arbor Rd. AardvarkAntiqueMall. com. (402) 464-5100.

More than 23,000 square feet of interactive exhibits and educational fun await young learners at the Lincoln Children’s Museum. The museum’s Prairie Dog Tunnels are favorites for active subterranean fun. Toddlers challenge their brains while having fun in the Grow Zone. 1420 P St. (402) 477-4000.

Speed demons brake for the Museum of American Speed. The museum founded in 1992 by “Speedy” Bill and Joyce Smith contains thousands of items chronicling the history of the automotive and racing industries. Some items preserved here exist nowhere else. 599 Oak Creek Dr. (402) 323-3166.

Pioneers Park Nature Center has elk, bison and deer herds outdoors, and turtles and frogs indoors. Eight miles of hiking trails wind through more than 600 acres of prairie, wetlands and woodlands near downtown Lincoln. 3201 S. Coddington Ave. (402) 441-7847.

More than 220 bird species have been identified at Spring Creek Prai-

rie Audubon Center south of Lincoln near the town of Denton. Hiking trails, birdsong, scenic views, rippling prairie grasses and a straw bale visitor center inspire visitors to conserve what remains of the prairie. Oregon Trail wagon ruts from the mid-1800s remind Americans how far we has come on this fertile, life-giving land. 11700 SW 100th St., Denton. (402) 797-2301.

Every July, Camp Creek Threshers hosts one of the biggest antique farm machinery and threshing bee shows in the U.S. Their 75-acre showgrounds are located east of Waverly, about 20 minutes’ drive from Lincoln.

On the grounds are a one-room schoolhouse, country church, general store, drug store, summer kitchen, craft barn, depot, horse barn, saddle shop, gas station, post office, blacksmith shop, mini-railroad print shop, food pavilion, and ice cream shop. They also host fun runs, flea markets and a Halloween event. 17200 Bluff Road, Waverly. CCThreshers.org. (402) 786-3003.

Lincoln’s Best

Treasure hunt 25,000 sq- -plus of antiques and collectibles. You’l nd something for everyone at the Aardvark Antique Mall. Lincoln’s best kept secret!

Located o I-80 and Exit 405. Open daily, 9 am-8 pm

FREMONT

Lighting up with history, people and culture, Fremont is brimming with options for outdoor recreation, shopping, and food and drink. Fremont is the largest community and the trade center of this farming area on Highway 275 between Omaha and Norfolk. East of Fremont along the Platte River, Fremont Lakes State Recreation Area is a 340-acre lakeland playground with 20 sandpit lakes. Lakes 10, 15 and 20 allow power boating. Some allow water skiing. Others have sandy beaches and designated swimming areas.

Most lakes have habitat for largemouth bass, channel catfish and bluegill. Large muskies lurk in Lake No. 20, but they are well-educated in anglers’ ways. Will you be lucky and lure a lunker on your next cast?

Anglers find several fishing piers in the park and great fishing from shore. The park offers 600 tent camping

spaces and 200 camping sites with electricity for recreational vehicles. 4349 W. State Lakes Rd. (402) 727-2922. The shallow Platte River runs deep with aquatic adventure. Equipping their 21-foot-long boats with 700-horsepower engines allows Woody’s Airboat Tours to cruise customers at speeds of up to 60 mph in only inches of water. 2865 Big Island Road. (402) 704-6220.

Join the residents and celebrate Fremont’s history and nameksake during John C. Fremont Days every July. Enjoy events throughout the town during the award winning three-day festival. MainStreet of Fremont is a hub of local activity for shopping, dining and festivals in the town’s historic downtown area. MainStreetFremont.com Nestled on Fremont’s historic downtown stretch, the Five-O-Five Brewing Company serves up 11 of its microbrews straight from the Heartland. It also hosts events throughout the year. 349 Main St. (402) 704-2477. Fremont’s first and only axe-throw-

Celebrate the herita ge of Camp Creek Threshers

Experience the excitement of one of the largest threshing shows in Nebraska. Featuring International

ing venue sits down the road. Buck’s Axe Throwing features a full bar and spacious lanes to bring out your inner Viking. 550 Main St. (402) 620-4014. Those looking to grab a bite to eat in the downtown can do so at the Reinita Restaurant. This colorful eatery features a menu filled with authentic Guatemalan cuisine (including breakfast), plus live music. 343 N. Main St. (402) 816-4136.

Dodge County Historical Society’s Louis E. May Museum was built in 1874 as the home of Fremont’s first mayor. The two-story house with six columns in front has an extensive flower garden. The manicured grounds are an affiliate of the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum. 1643 N. Nye Ave. (402) 721-4515.

Valley View Golf Course is a public 18-hole course with a driving range. Compact in both size and layout, the front nine has several parallel fairways. The par-4 holes are short here, averaging only 288 yards. 1126 County Rd. X. (402) 721-7772.

OMAHA

As the largest metropolitan area in Nebraska, Omaha is a cultural melting pot, filled with vibrant neighborhoods, beautiful parks, abundant arts, an ever-changing culinary scene and family-friendly fun.

Omaha’s thriving performance arts and entertainment scene owes much to Omaha Performing Arts, a nonprofit group dedicated to presenting the best local, national, and international artistic performances at the Orpheum Theater, Holland Performing Arts Center and beyond.

Holland Performing Arts Center is the home of the Omaha Symphony Holland Performing Arts Center also features nationally renowned comedians, scientists and world musicians. See the full schedule at OmahaSymphony.org or o-pa.org. 1200 Douglas St. (402) 345-0202.

The historic and ornate Orpheum Theater features Opera Omaha’s lavish

performances and touring Broadway productions in its iconic Italianate building. See the full schedule at OrpheumTheaterOmaha.com or o-pa.org. 409 S. 16th St. (402) 661-8501.

The Durham Museum, located in a former Union Station railroad depot, preserves the story and artifacts from Omaha’s prosperous railroad days. The massive 124,000 square-foot building was the first of Union Pacific’s Art Deco stations. Meticulously restored, the state emulates the strength and power of the Union Pacific Railroad, which is based in Omaha. Visiting train fans stroll through an elegant passenger car, a Benson streetcar and various galleries full of irreplaceable Omaha items. 801 S. 10th St. DurhamMuseum. org. (402) 444-5071.

Omaha Children’s Museum features two floors of imaginative and interactive exhibits. Permanent exhibits include a massive ball machine with pneumatic, hydraulic and mechanical sections; a tinker factory filled with tools and materials to build or invent; an “Art Smart”

center; a splash garden; and an imaginative play area, where kids can dress up, grocery shop, change a tire or slide down a chute in a play fire engine. 500 S. 20th St. ocm.org. (402) 342-6164.

Lauritzen Gardens, Omaha’s botanical center, is a garden oasis in the city. With 100 acres of plants, sculptures and fountains, the landscape is designed to show beauty in all four seasons. Events and programs are offered year-round and include Story Walks, painting, photography and art classes. 100 Bancroft St. (402) 346-4002.

Joslyn Castle & Gardens is the former residence of early Omaha businessman George Joslyn and his wife, Sarah. Built in 1903, the lavish 5.5 acres of manicured gardens are open to the public. Other popular events, such as drawing classes and socials, happen throughout the year. 3902 Davenport St. (402) 595-2199.

Joslyn Art Museum showcases its diverse collections of European, American and Native American art. Described as “pink marble glory,” 38

types of marble from seven countries were hand-hammered to produce the unique exterior. The museum will reopen in September after its recent renovation and expansion. 2200 Dodge St. joslyn.org. (402) 342-3300.

Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts houses gallery space for local, regional, national and international artists. Exhibits are free and open to the public. The Bemis Center’s music venue, Low End, features free live shows throughout the year. 724 S. 12th St. (402) 341-7130.

The Old Market’s historic cobbled streets come alive at night with street performers, jazz clubs and horsedrawn carriages. A new and improved Gene Leahy Mall at The RiverFront offers a green and modern oasis, art installations and a playground. Harney and 11th streets.

Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium is a must-see stop in Omaha, consistently ranked among the top zoos in the United States. It is home to the world’s largest indoor desert and largest indoor rain forest in North America.

Other biomes to explore include the Asian Highlands, Scott African Grasslands, Hubbard Expedition Madagascar and more. 3701 S. 10th St. (402) 733-8400. The Rose Theater is Omaha’s venue for family-oriented theatrical performances and classes. The former movie palace is named for Rose Blumkin, founder of Nebraska Furniture Mart. Rose helped Omaha save and preserve the theater’s unique Moorish and classical architecture. Omaha Theater Co. performs childhood classics and new favorites. See a full schedule for performances and classes at RoseTheater.org. 2001 Farnam St. (402) 345-4849.

Omaha Community Playhouse is the largest community theater in the U.S. The playhouse stages 10 or more productions annually. 6915 Cass St. OmahaPlayhouse.com. (402) 553-0800.

Brigham Young, president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, oversaw the building of Florence Mill in 1846. The main floor of the historic mill is now a museum, and the top floor is an art gallery. Live musicians

play during bustling weekend farmers markets. 9102 N. 30th St. (402) 551-1233.

Aksarben Village at 67th and Center streets is home to a diverse offering of bars and restaurants and the state’s biggest farmers’ marke. It hosts Omaha’s annual two-day Maha Music Festival every summer on the great green lawns of Stinson Park. 2279 S. 67th St. AksarbenVillage.com.

Spirit of Nebraska Wilderness showcases 67 bronze and stainless steel statues of animals, including 8-foot Canada geese in stages of flight throughout the one-square block exhibit. 101 S. 16th St.

Elmwood Park is a historic Omaha park with majestic old trees, new playground equipment, a golf course, swimming pool, covered picnic areas and ball fields. 6232 Pacific St.

El Museo Latino is a celebration of Latino culture featuring art, dance and music. 4701 S. 25th St. (402) 731-1137.

The renovated historic gem Benson Theatre stages plays, concerts and an annual film festival. BensonTheatre.org. 6054 Maple St. (402) 991-4333.

BOYS TOWN

More than 100,00 people visit Boys Town, a National Historic Landmark District, every year.

While ministering to homeless men in Omaha, Father Edward Joseph Flanagan began to feel he could make a greater difference by helping homeless and troubled boys become responsible and productive members of society. In 1917, the Irish priest borrowed money to pay the $90 rent for a boarding house that would later become “Father Flanagan’s Home for Boys.”

He purchased Overlook Farm in 1921, moved the children there, and Boys Town was born. By the 1930s the population of the Village of Boys Town had grown to care for hundreds of boys on a campus that included a school, farm, sleeping quarters and other buildings. Flanagan’s work was immortalized on the silver screen by actor Spencer Tracy in 1938. The “Best Actor” Oscar award that Tracy received for his portrayal

of Flanagan is displayed in the Boys Town Hall of History, which also offers dynamic and interactive displays of historical photos, artifacts, media coverage, art and Boys Town awards.

Travelers are welcome to stretch their legs, tour the campus, including the Hall of History, or even have breakfast or lunch in the Overlook Café. Visitors can use the Boys Town Visitor Tours app to discover the village at their own pace. 13628 Flanagan Blvd. (800) 625-1400.

CASS COUNTY

Cass County brings the best of outdoor attractions, history and home-grown Nebraska products to residents and visitors in its 15 rural communities. Some of Nebraska’s top attractions are on the western side of Cass County near Ashland at I-80 Exit 426: Eugene T. Mahoney State Park, Strategic Air Command and Aerospace Museum and Lee G. Simmons Conservation Park and Wildlife Safari

The city of Plattsmouth anchors the northeast corner of Cass County as its county seat. Corn is king every year at the Plattsmouth Harvest Festival along historic Main Street Activities include a parade, pep rally, talent show, car shows, music and entertainers. PlattsmouthHarvest Festival.com.

Baker’s Candy is a sweet Nebraska staple, and the Baker’s Candy Factory Outlet is the state’s largest candy store located in Greenwood. It features more than 500 varieties of candies, sodas and chocolates. 831 S. Baker St., Greenwood. (402) 789-2700. Pick your own apples, ride a wagon through the orchards or try fresh apple cider and fruit wines at Union Orchard. 2405 S. U.S. Highway 75, Union. (402) 263-4845.

Bess Streeter Aldrich House preserves the 24-year period in which Aldrich, an author, lived and built her literary legacy from this home in Elmwood, in southwest Cass County. 204 East F St., Elmwood. (402) 944-3835.

BELLEVUE

Visitors can hike 24 miles of trails through 2,100 acres of woodlands at Fontenelle Forest Nature Center. The Hickory Trail leads visitors to the Missouri River. The River Boardwalk is a 1-mile, ADA-accessible trail with wildlife and views of the Missouri River. The trails are open sunrise to sunset. 1111 Bellevue Blvd. N. (402) 731-3140.

Guests flock to see rehabilitated hawks, owls, bald eagles, falcons and turkey vultures at Fontenelle Forest’s Raptor Woodland Refuge, an education center with bird enclosures and walkways suspended 30 feet above the forest floor. 1111 Bellevue Blvd. N. (402) 731-3140.

Fontenelle Forest’s TreeRush Adventure Park has nine aerial trails through the treetops, some as high as 50 feet above the ground. Each course offers a different challenge for every adventurer. Participants wear climbing gear and safety harnesses as they walk

across cable bridges and netted tunnels for their three hour experience. 1111 Bellevue Blvd. N. TreeRush.com/ traveler. (402) 524-5476.

Fontenell Forest’s Acorn Acres is a one-acre natural play area that encourages unstructured play. Animal costumes and games at Habitat Hollow teach children about wild animals.

Founded in 1913, Fontenelle Forest remains one of the oldest conservation groups and largest private nature centers in the United States. FontenelleForest.org.

Bellevue was named by French fur trappers for its beautiful view of the Missouri River. It is Nebraska’s oldest continually inhabited European settlement, and it has preserved stunning pieces of its early history at the Sarpy County Historical Museum. The 4,000-square-foot facility includes military, pioneer and Native American exhibits. The 1869 train depot adjacent to the museum is Nebraska’s oldest depot.

Predating the depot by more than

three decades is the Bellevue Log Cabin, built in approximately 1835. The museum offers tours of this historic structure that most regard as the oldest remaining building in Nebraska. Open Tues.-Sat., 10 a.m.-4 p.m. The cabin is at 1805 Hancock St. Find the museum at 2402 Clay St. (402) 292-1880.

The Old First Presbyterian Church is Nebraska’s oldest surviving church. It was built in 1856 back when the city was a burgeoning hub for trade along the Missouri River. W. 20th Avenue and Franklin Street.

Experience modern and sustainable agriculture up close at the 400-acre Gifford Farm, open for hands-on educational activities and farm animal encounters . 700 Camp Gifford Rd. (402) 597-4920.

Bellevue Little Theatre relies on a team of more than 200 volunteers to build sets, work with the public and appear on stage during two musicals and three plays each year. 203 W. Mission Ave. (402) 291-1554.

Central

Central Nebraska showcases the state’s pioneer history and hosts one the world’s greatest wildlife wonders.

Alan J. Bartels

Stuhr Museum of the Prairie Pioneer

GRAND ISLAND

Speculation in the 1850s that America’s capital would relocate to the center of the nation spurred a flurry of new communities to spring up in the heartland. German immigrants set down roots in 1857 near an island between Platte River channels that French fur traders dubbed La Grande Isle. The community remains a grand destination today. More than 50,000 residents call Grand Island home, making it the largest community in Nebraska outside the Metro region.

The rich pioneer history of Grand Island and Hall County is preserved on an island. A wide moat surrounds the Stuhr Building at the Stuhr Museum of the Prairie Pioneer. This recently renovated wonder designed by architect Edward Durell Stone is the centerpiece of the more than 200-acre museum and grounds. It is one of the Midwest’s premier living-history museums, and it is dedicated to preserving and portraying the era of pioneer town builders who created communities in Nebraska. StuhrMuseum.org.

A sign at the entrance of Stuhr Museum’s Railroad Town welcomes visitors to the 1890s. The village has been the set for several movies. Annual events like Christmas Past and Present, and field trips giving students a chance to experience country school, make learning history entertaining and fun. 3133 W. U.S. Highway 34. (308) 385-5316.

Grand Island is home to the Nebraska State Fair, a statewide celebration of agriculture, concerts and all things Nebraska. The 2023 fair is Aug. 25Sept. 4 with the theme “Whatever your Flavor.” Nebraskans of all ages enjoy entertainment, vendor exhibits and food on the sprawling fairgrounds. Events like the truck and tractor pull, bull fighting and riding, demolition derby and performances by the Oak Ridge Boys, Lee Brice and Toby Mac, keep guests entertained. StateFair.org.

The fair is held at Fonner Park, a growing entertainment complex. The park hosts concerts and conventions at its Heartland Events Center, plus live thoroughbred horse racing at its Main Track 501 E. Fonner Park Rd. FonnerPark.com. (308) 382-4515.

Construction of a new hotel, casino and restaurant complex called the Grand Island Casino Resort is underway at Fonner Park. A temporary casino is currently open to the public, featuring approximately 300 of the latest and greatest slot machines and electronic table games. GrandIslandResort.com.

Also at Fonner Park, Raising Nebraska showcases agriculture in interactive displays and activities to teach visitors where food comes from. (308) 385-3967.

Grand Island is an old railroad town. The oldest part of downtown has been branded as the Railside entertainment district. Loft apartments, new businesses and renovations are giving the area a distinctly trendy look and feel. Railside Plaza is adorned with public art sculptures and hosts outdoor concerts. 224 W. Third St. (308) 398-7022. ArriveRailside.org.

Another simply grand feature of Grand Island is the Grand Theatre. Fires and economic downturns plagued this theater in its early days, but the movie palace has been restored to magnificence and plays movies again. Special events make the theater the hotspot of the city, just as it was long ago. 316 W. Third St. (308) 381-2667. GrandMovieTheatre.com.

Island Oasis Water Park offers 6 acres of cool summer fun. Fountains, slides and walkable lily pads make this

a destination for family playtime. 321 E. Fonner Park Rd. (308) 385-5381.

Grand Island has three golf courses open to the public. Jackrabbit Run Golf Course is an 18-hole championship-level course designed by Frank Hummel. 2800 N. Shady Bend Rd. (308) 385-5340.

Indianhead Golf Club is an 18-hole course on 160 acres featuring a hole surrounded by two lakes, making it virtually an island. 4100 W. Husker Highway. (308) 381-4653.

Fonner View Golf Course is a 9-hole, that feature the creekside, dogleg par 4 hole 5. 2225 S. Stuhr Rd. (308) 382-0202. Tent and RV camping spots are available at Hall County Park mid-April through mid-October. Hike and bike trails within view of scenic Stuhr Museum and the Wood River provide an escape to nature close to the city. 2447 W. Schimmer Dr. (308) 385-5087

Mormon Island State Recreation Area includes lakes, sandy beaches and the Platte River. I-80 Exit 312. (308) 385-6211.

Ten miles of hiking trails wind through tall-grass prairie and Platte River wetlands at the Crane Trust Nature & Visitor Center west of Grand Island along I-80 Exit 305. An observation tower affords breathtaking views of the valley. Visitors who come during crane season could almost interpret the call of half a million cranes as a personal welcome. CraneTrust.org.

Grand Island Tourism

Nebraska State Fair

The Trust protects and maintains more than 10,000 acres of restored prairie. Inside the center, guests learn about the Trust’s mission to protect the integrity of the Platte River’s Big Bend Reach, which is an important migratory route on the Central Flyway. This area is a rich source of life for whooping cranes, sandhill cranes and other migratory birds. An art gallery shows works by regional artists and photographers.

Guests who book a VIP Crane Experience enjoy guided tours, dinner with refreshments and elegant onsite lodging. 9325 S. Alda Rd., Wood River. (402) 382-1820.

The Nature Conservancy owns 4,600 acres and has easement on 2,800 more on land parcels west of Grand Island known as Platte River Prairies. The area is important wetland and upland habitat on the Big Bend Reach of the Platte River.

Around 1 million sandhill cranes layover in Nebraska each spring from Grand Island to North Platte on an epic migration north. Bird-loving visitors

join each year to see the spectacle. Watch carefully, and you might glimpse an endangered whooping crane.

Prairie Nature Trail is open to the public dawn to dusk. A map of The Nature Conservancy’s wetlands, grasslands and trails is available at nature. org. 13650 S. Platte River Dr., Wood River. (402) 342-0282.

Heartland Public Shooting Park offers skeet fields, trap and sporting clays ranges, handgun and archery ranges, a rifle range with target distances out to 600 yards, a dog training area, an RV park with full power and drinking water, and a catch-andrelease fishing lake stocked with largemouth bass and feisty bluegill. Shotguns and carts are available for rent. 6788 W. Husker Highway, Alda. (308) 385-5048. HeartlandPublicShootingPark.com.

Learn more about Grand Island and the communities of Hall County by contacting the Grand Island Convention & Visitors Bureau at VisitGrandIsland.com or (308) 382-4400.

WOOD RIVER

Located 16 miles southwest of Grand Island lies Wood River. Splash into the Wood River Aquatic Center, a local favorite for celebrations and summer fun. Entry remains affordable for the whole family - no more than $5. facebook.com/ WRAquaticCenter.

Heritage Bank started in Wood River in 1952 off 9th St. Now a local bank to 13 Nebraska communities, Heritage Bank also preserves the historic 1933 Gloe Brother’s Gas Station on 11th St. as their newest location in Wood River. Highway 30 and 11th St. BankonHeritage.com.

Nebraska history is preserved through Hall County’s historical markers. The Lincoln Memorial Highway Historical Marker can be found in Grand Island while markers like the Orginal Townsite of Wood River is found three miles west of Wood River. Visit HallNEHistory.com to download and discover more historical markers.

BROKEN BOW

What’s in a name? For Broken Bow there’s about 140 years of history in a shattered Native American bow the community is named for.

The only remaining fragments of the Pawnee bow are preserved at Custer County Museum at the southwest corner of Broken Bow’s City Square Park The nearly treeless Sandhills region provided little wood for pioneers, but sod was abundant and used to build pioneer homes. Solomon Butcher photographed sod homes and their families in the late 1800s. The museum features a gallery of his images regarded as one of the best visual records documenting and preserving the Homestead and Kinkaid eras. 445 S. 9th Ave. (308) 872-2203.

The big red barn on Broken Bow’s eastern edge was once a big white barn on the west. The 150-year-old barn was rolled through town, remodeled and painted as the Sandhills Journey National Scenic Byway Visi-

tor Center. Exhibits representing every county along the 272-mile byway between Grand Island and Alliance interpret regional railroad history, cattle ranching and the Sandhills region of Nebraska. The trail leads past native vegetation and interpretive panels to a working windmill and newly added authentic sod house. 44106 NE Nebraska Highway 2. (308) 872-8331.

The Tom Butler Memorial Bandstand occupies the center of City Square Park. Theodore Roosevelt spoke here, so did Nebraska statesman and orator William Jennings Bryan. Butler was a local musician. The bandstand turns 110 years in 2026.

Bison herds once thundered across Nebraska. They still do at Marty and Karen Bredthauer’s Straight Arrow Bison Ranch. Covered wagon ranch tours provide close views of the magnificent animals. Guests can purchase fresh bison meat, skulls, hides, tallow soap and dog treats. Call first in case these hardworking ranchers are out on the range. 79330 Sumner Rd. (308) 872-3066.

Kinkaider Brewing Co. honors Nebraska history in the flavorful names of its tasty brews. “Frame the Butcher IPA” pays tribute to Broken Bow’s famous pioneer photographer. The brewery has added a restaurant, a deck and a large outdoor performance stage since opening in 2014. 43860 Paulsen Rd. (308) 872-8348.

Visitors enjoy libations and fine dining at the Bonfire Grill in the 1928 Arrow Hotel. The historic hotel has 25 rooms, and the new Arrow East has 20 additional rooms and a ground level parking garage. 509 S. Ninth St. (308) 872-6662.

Wild Rose Gallery is east of the Broken Bow bandstand on the City Square. It features work by local and regional artists and hosts art shows, workshops and receptions. 444 S. 8th Ave. (308) 872-6345.

Huge omelets and buttermilk pancakes satisfy diners at the Tumbleweed Cafe. The landmark restaurant opened in 1946 as the Bow Inn. 850 East S. East St. (308) 872-5454.

The City Cafe, famous for its tall stacks of thick bacon and baked goods, serves breakfast all day. Friendly regular customers are likely to pour coffee for newcomers. 423 S. Ninth St. (308) 872-2779

Broken Bow Golf Club is a public course on the scenic western edge of town. No tee times needed. The nine-hole course features bluegrass fairways and bentgrass greens. The 430-yard, par-4 first hole is a challenging start. The double dogleg hole No. 8 is the course’s most scenic. During the off season, the club hosts two seasons of cornhole tournaments. The clubhouse has a big selection of food and drink, including a full bar. 2280 Memorial Dr. (308) 872-6444.

Located one block north of Highway 2 and 15th street is Tomahawk Park. The park is equipped with four picnic shelters, lighted sport fields, a playground, RV hook-ups and dump station, showers, restrooms and tennis courts. (308) 872-2003.

Legends Neighborhood Grill is in an 1883 building at the northwest corner of the town square. An upstairs game room has pinball machines, video games, darts and pool table. Legends’ brisket hash comes with fries and is topped with two eggs. 855 S. D St. (308) 767-2066.

The 5-acre lake in Melham Park and Sports Complex is stocked with fish. There also are soccer and softball fields, a disc golf course, a walking trail, bicycle path, picnic shelter and a heated Olympic-size swimming pool. 199 Memorial Dr. (308) 872-5831.

Strikes, spares and gutter balls all bring smiles at Pleasure Lanes bowling alley. 723 E. S. East St. (308) 872-2886.

Broken Bow’s Crazy Days transforms the downtown square into a sidewalk market in mid-July. The Rotary hosts a Chalk Art Contest, a 50/50 Cornhole Tournament and displays for guests. Guests can enjoy crazy sales, food, music and fun. BrokenBow-ne.com.

The latest blockbusters play at the Fox Theater. 317 S. 10th Ave. (308) 8722393.

Guests will be blown away by the annual Blowin’ the Doors Off BBQ in Oconto. Hosted the first weekend in June, the BBQ serves as a fundraiser for the The Oconto Volunteer Fire Department. With an all-you-can-eat menu and live entertainment, guests can enjoy highly praised specialty rubs from expert grill masters. 101 W 7th St.

A few miles southeast of Broken Bow is the annual Muddy Creek Celebration in Ansley. 2024 marks the 137th year of this three-day June festival. Guests can enjoy music performances, food trucks, sports, craft and art shows and fishing tournaments. Visit facebook.com/Ansleymuddycreekcelebration for this year’s itinerary.

The first weekend of July hosts the annual celebration of Heritage Days in Merna. Events include a pancake feed, parade, craft show, a ping pong ball drop, BBQ and fireworks. (308) 870-0165.

CALLAWAY

Callaway proudly claims the motto “Heart of the Seven Valleys” and preserves its heritage at the Seven Valleys Museum through four buildings. Household antiques and nearly forgotten agricultural tools, and military, medical and railroad collections are on display. Open during festivals and by appointment. 102 N. Grand Ave. (308) 870-2107.

The Callaway Kite Flight is held every Labor Day weekend at the 200-acre Foster Smith Field southeast of Callaway on Highway 40. (308) 870-6156.

Sports cars are about as common as trucks in this part of Nebraska during the Sandhills Open Road Challenge and One Mile Shoot Out in August. The current record is more than 224 mph, but nobody monitors how fast drivers and spectators make it to the Callaway Community Center for lunch afterwards. sorcrace.com. (308) 848-2522

ST. PAUL

Baseball-minded travelers love St. Paul in Howard County. From its modern American Legion baseball facilities on its western edge, to the baseball slugger painted on its water tower toward the east, the community of 2,300 is known officially as the Historic Baseball Capital of Nebraska.

Baseball buffs score by visiting the Museum of Nebraska Major League Baseball, which has memorabilia about every Nebraskan to ever play big league baseball. 619 Howard Ave. (308) 754-5558.

Grover Cleveland Alexander grew up pitching in Howard County before leaving home to play professional baseball. A historical marker dedicated to the pitcher stands in tribute as children play nearby in St. Paul City Park. Grover Cleveland Alexander Days keeps memories of the native son alive with a four-day July festival with baseball tournaments, a car

show, quilt show, parades, dances, pie social and steak feed. (308) 754-5558.

Located on rolling hills five miles north of St. Paul, Miletta Vista Winery provides transcendent views, premium Nebraska wines and a delightful paired menu. Mick and Loretta McDowell rebuilt after a fire a decade ago destroyed their home, their winery and their inventory. Special events attract newcomers who’ll most certainly be back for another glass – and the incredible view. 1732 U.S. Highway 281. MilettaVistaWinery.com (308) 754-4416.

Howard County Historical Village includes a blacksmith shop, railroad depot, the Farwell Lutheran Church, St. Libory School and the Cotesfield Post Office. The scenic location is across the street from the majestic Howard County Courthouse. 1005 6th St. (308) 754-4901.

Tubby’s Firehouse Museum displays firefighter Ron Tubbs’ life-time collection of firefighting equipment dating back to the American Civil War. It is housed, fittingly, in the former 1906

Historical Village, St. Paul

Batting 1000 Mural, St. Paul

St. Paul fire station. 726 Howard Ave. (308) 750-2819.

The St. Paul Waterpark is complete with slides, diving platforms and fountains. Its location near the St. Paul City Park is a great area for families and is near downtown shopping, museums and restaurants. 418 Indian Ave. (308) 754-4903.

ST. LIBORY

The other “saintly” community in Howard County is Libory Parish was established in 1876 on land purchased for $4 per acre. Sandy soil here produces watermelons

renowned for their flavor. Business is brisk at roadside stands from July through Halloween.

Thousands of children, parents and grandparents head to St. Libory each autumn for a Halloween-ish good time at The Scarecrow Patch. Pumpkin-hunters hitch rides on hayracks to the field, while the aroma of straw mixes with fire-roasted hot dogs nearby. The corn maze is mas-

DANNEBROG

The land here was the home of the Pawnee tribe long before Dannebrog was proclaimed the “Danish Capital of Nebraska.” Founded by Danish immigrants the 1870s, Dannebrog was named after the red and white national flag of Denmark.

Dannebrog Hike/Bike Trail winds through three miles of wildlife habitat and the historic Hannibal Woods Trailheads are on the east and west sides of town, while four camping sites with a playground and sport grounds are found at Village Park.

FARWELL

OPEN A LL YEAR F R I - S U N

Our scenic beauty is second to customer care, culinary perfection and wines of unparalleled excellence.

Alan J. Bartels Museum of Nebraska Major League Baseball in St. Paul

LEXINGTON

Historic aircraft, pioneer implements, railroad artifacts, home furnishings, photographs and tons of Lexington and Dawson County history are preserved at the Dawson County Historical Museum. The 1903 Baldwin train locomotive and 1915 McCabe Aeroplane are the jewels of the museum’s unique collection. Exhibits outside of the main museum building include a rural schoolhouse, log cabin and historical church. 805 N. Taft St. (308) 324-5340.

Tanks, aircraft, Jeeps, trucks and other vehicles from every military branch are displayed at the Heartland Museum of Military Vehicles. Nearly 100 vehicles have been restored and are displayed at this living museum. 606 Heartland Rd. (308) 324-6329.

One-half mile north of Lexington is Mac’s Creek Winery and Brewery, a labor of love for the McFarland family. Since 2001, they continue to pro-

DISCOVER HISTORIC

duce a variety of flavorful wines from grapes grown near Spring Creek. The McFarlands also make their own craft beer. Visitors enjoy wine and beer tastings while overlooking the vineyard. Reservable fire rings give warmth and ambiance to groups who want to relax and unwind after the sunset with friends and family. 43315 Road 757. (308) 324-0440.

The Barn Quilts of Dawson County include more than 100 brightly painted quilt blocks affixed to barns, sheds, garages, and homes from Lexington to Gothenburg and Elwood to Willow Island. Each barn quilt celebrates the area’s rich agricultural, quilting and ethnic heritage. BarnQuiltsDC.com.

Johnson Lake is in the heart of Nebraska’s Canyon Lakes Country. The reservoir provides habitat for giant flathead catfish, smallmouth bass, walleye, white bass and wipers. All types of boats permitted. Nearly 900 homes, cabins and businesses line the 11-mile shoreline. JohnsonLake.org.

HASTINGS

Hastings is a vibrant college town with bustling foot traffic along 2nd Street in its historic downtown.

Hastings Museum features a stateof-the-art IMAX theater, life-size fiberglass sculptures of animals that swam ancient seas, wildlife dioramas and an exhibit chronicling the life of Kool-Aid inventor Edwin Perkins. Weekly events, such as out-of-thisworld planetarium shows, ensure fun for all ages. 1330 N. Burlington Ave. (402) 461-2399.

Kool-Aid Days offers refreshing events, from a fun run, to Kool-Aid drinking contests and Kardboard Boat Races. Food vendors serve their best. This year welcomes the 25th anniversary of the festival, and thus features the theme “25 Flavors for 25 Years.” Additional events over the weekend include the grand parade, the world’s largest Kool-Aid stand and more. The Kool-Aid flows mid-August ever

Nebraska Wine Country

year at Adams County Fairgrounds. KoolAidDays.com (402) 461-8405

Prairie Loft Center for Outdoor and Agricultural Learning teaches youth where food comes from. The land was once a hospital where patients raised livestock and crops to feed 1,000 people. Those same productive acres cultivate young minds today with field

trips and special events. 4705 DLD Rd. (402) 463-0565.

Hastings College Arboretum began with a few plantings in 1883. More than 120 acres and 130 years later, the site is stunning. 710 N. Turner Ave. (800) 532-7642.

During World War II, the Hastings Ammunition Depot was producing

40 percent of the bombs, rockets and torpedoes used by the U.S. Navy. Concrete and earthen bunkers still stand across miles of farmland. Please stay on roads and abide by signs. Find a map at VisitHastingsNebraska.com. Those looking to hook some lunkers will find that Heartwell Lake has catfish, bluegill and largemouth bass. The biking trail is used mostly by joggers and walkers. 9th Street and East Side Boulevard. (402) 461-2324.

Bigfoot Crossroads of America Museum & Research Center is Nebraska’s only museum dedicated to Bigfoot. 1205 E. 42nd St. (402) 705-0000. Downtown Hastings breweries serve craft beer. First Street Brewing Company honors the community with creatively named beers such as an India pale ale named Haze Stings … get it? 119 N. St. Joseph Ave. (402) 834-2400. Before serving beer, Steeple Brewing Co.’s brewmaster served as a small-town church pastor. Bats in the Belfry brown ale is a local favorite. 717 W. First St. (402) 519-4205

Alan J. Bartels

Hastings Museum

GOTHENBURG

With two Pony Express stations, Gothenburg is the Pony Express Capital of Nebraska.

Midway Station is on private land south of town. The Sam Machette Station was relocated to a city park and is home to the Pony Express Station Museum. Open April 3-Oct. 24. 510 15th St. (308) 537-9876.

The museum is in Ehman Park Arboretum, a beautiful and peaceful park with walking paths.

The Gothenburg Historical Museum preserves local history. Open May 1-Sept. 30. 1420 Avenue F. (308) 537-4212. The Sod House Museum has bison made from barbed wire and a sod house. 300 S. Lake St. (308) 537-2076.

Wild Horse Golf Club is a public course with native Nebraska grasses and a serene prairie feel. Farmers built the 18-hole course on pasture ground in 1997 using their own equipment. Today, it’s a top-ranked course. Guest

accommodations includes a lodge with single bedrooms and four-bedroom cabins. 40950 Rd. 768. (308) 537-7700.

Lake Helen Recreation Area has a playground, picnic areas and a covered walking bridge perfect for a day in the sun. 22nd and Lake Ave. (308) 537-3505.

GREELEY

The community of Greeley is proud of its Irish heritage and hosts a “half-way to St. Pat’s Day” party every September.

The Greeley Irish Festival features Irish dancers, beverage and food tents, product vendors and an Irish cultural center.

The full day of fun includes a parade through town, an Irish beanbag tournament, a face painting booth, and nonstop, live Irish musicians from Ireland, the U.S. and Canada.

Enter on the town’s north side near Sacred Heart Catholic Church and the Greeley City Park. The 2023 event is Sept. 16. GreeleyIrishFestival.com (402) 428-5595.

The names and ranks of more than 1,000 area former service members are displayed on bricks at the Veterans’ Wall and Memorial in Courthouse Square. Inside the Greeley County Courthouse, the Greeley County Historical Society Courthouse Museum displays Native American and pioneer artifacts. 101 S. Kildare St. (402) 428-2705.

Greeley City Park has a playground, camping sites, ball fields and swimming pool. Railway Street. (308) 4284010. Held every third weekend of July, Greeley Days includes a rodeo, dance, softball tournaments and a car and tractor show. (402) 429-6569.

Joshua Hardin

Pony Express Station Museum in Gothenburg

RED CLOUD

One of many Nebraska cities and towns named after Native Americans, Red Cloud honors an Oglala Lakota chief. The Webster County community of about 1,000 residents is most famous for Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist, Willa Cather, who celebrated frontier life on the Great Plains through stories of extraordinary people and the immigrants who settled there. Her novels, including My Ántonia, remain timeless classics.

Many of the locations Cather wrote about are preserved in Red Cloud through the Willa Cather Foundation, which operates the National Willa Cather Center at 413 N. Webster. (402) 746-2653. WillaCather.org.

Among the historic locations on the seven-building tour is the recently restored Willa Cather Childhood Home, 241 N. Cedar St., which includes the wallpapered attic bedroom described in Cather’s story, “Old Mrs. Harris.”

The center and historic sites are open 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Tuesday-Saturday; Saturdays 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Nov. 1-Feb. 28.

Five miles south is the Willa Cather Memorial Praire, 612-acres of preserved native prairie, open all day for hiking and star-gazing.

Cather attended plays at the Red Cloud Opera House, 411 N. Webster St. Visit WillaCather.org/events for a schedule of performances.

Railroad depots often appeared in Cather’s novels, including her hometown Burlington Depot, built in 1897 along the main line of the Burlington and Missouri Railroad. 437 W. Welch St.

The Cather Second Home Guest House is available for host-free lodging through airbnb.com. It includes 6 cozy bedrooms, including Cather’s room, 2.5 baths, a full kitchen and living spaces. 541 N. Seward St.

Other features on the tour are found at the Farmers and Merchants Bank, J.L. Miner House, Grace Episcopal Church and St. Juliana Falconieri Catholic Church

People searching for their ancestry visit Webster County Historical Museum, which stores marriage announcements and obituaries dating back to the 1800s. A paleontology exhibit, “Digging Through Time,” displays unique fossil finds. Open 1-4 p.m., Monday-Saturday. (402) 746-2444.

Three murals by Great Depression-era Works Progress Administration artist Archie Musick brighten the walls of the Red Cloud Post Office, 310 N. Webster St. The murals remain open around the clock in an unlocked portion of the office. (402) 746-2800.

Red Cloud City Park is a popular spot for picnics and family get-togethers, hosting events for the city throughout the year. 2nd Avenue and Cedar Street. (402) 746-2215.

Red Cloud Streetcar Days include a 5K race obstacle course, parade, locally sponsored car show and pancake feed in early August. (402) 746-4065.

Learn more about the town’s downtown history with a self-guided tour, Walk Red Cloud. WalkRedCloud.com.

O’NEILL

The World’s Largest Shamrock is painted green with a white border by residents and visitors every March at the intersection of Douglas and Fourth streets in O’Neill, the Irish Capital of Nebraska. Volunteers are welcome to grab a roller and help.

O’Neill takes St. Patrick’s Day seriously. The party kicks off with that paint job and new inductions to the community’s Irish Walk of Fame. O’Neill’s famous Irish Dancers continue their string of annual performances dating back to the 1960s. Ever see a horse painted green? You probably will at this colorful smalltown celebration of proud culture and heritage. (402) 336-2355.

The O’Neill Blarney Stone was dedicated and blessed on St. Patrick’s Day in 2009 with prayer and Irish song. The rock weighing 13,410 pounds was inspired by a similar rock in Ireland. People kiss and take photos with the stone at Fourth and Douglas streets.

The decommissioned Fremont, Elkhorn and Missouri Valley Railroad that once rolled through O’Neill has been converted into the recreational Cowboy Trail. The route begins in Norfolk and is surfaced to Valentine. Carney Park offers tent camping along the trail. First-come, first serve. 401 Fitch Blvd.

The downtown office where early O’Neill lawyer and influential politician Moses Kinkaid worked is preserved today as the Holt County Historical Museum. The museum includes information on the community’s namesake, Civil War general John O’Neill, as well as genealogical records. 401 E. Douglas St. (402) 336-2344.

Handlebend Tap opened in 2020 in the historic Shelhamer Building at 215 E. Douglas St. Nebraska beer and wines are served, as are cocktails poured into copper mugs manufactured on site. (402) 340-2983.

Teal’s Westside Dining has home cooked American style meals and desserts, family style. New specials weekly.

49134 Highway 20. (402) 336-8422.

Douglas Street Coffee serves pastries, breakfast burritos, sandwiches and cookies. 299 W. Douglas (402) 3364535.

A new Obstacle Course Fitness Park near Seventh and Tipperary streets mirrors one in O’Neill’s twin Irish city, Wicklow. It’s one block east of Lion’s Kiddie Park. Both parks are great places for kids to run their ya-yas out. Parents could always tell their kids to look for a four-leaf clover in the grass, or search for a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. What luck awaits you?

Holt County

Where history and fun go hand-in-hand

Things to Do…

•Ewing Funfest - Memorial Weekend

•4th of July Celebrations in Stuart, Chambers and Ewing

•O’Neill Summerfest July 19-21

Relax…

Atkinson

Sandhills Guest House • 402-925-5600

Holt Creek Getaway • 402-925-2528

Oregon Trail RV Park • 402-925-5117

Eagle Springs Lodge • 402-925-5475

Mill Race Park & Campground • 402-925-5313

Chambers

Winings Guest House • 402-482-5741

•Holt County Fair in Chambers — Aug 7-10

•Atkinson Hay Days — Aug 16-18

•Irish ‘Toberfest BBQ and Brew Rib Cookoff - Sept 14

Ewing

Two Rivers Motel • 402-626-7211

O’Neill

Carriage House Motel • 888-246-6835

Golden Hotel • 402-336-4436 Holiday Inn Express • 866-366-4555 Super 8 Motel • 800-800-8000 Carney Park

Campgrounds

402-336-3640

Stuart

The Sister’s House • 402-822-0651

Stuart Village Inn • 402-924-3133

The Elkhorn River Cabin at Stuart 402-340-3329

Borg B&B • 402-340-3477

Holt County Visitors Committee 125 S 4th St • O’Neill, NE • 402-336-2355

lauri@oneillchamber.com • exploreholt.com

LOWER LOUP NRD

The Lower Loup Natural Resources District is Nebraska’s largest NRD, a state government entity dedicated to conservation of natural resources.

The LLNRD district spans 156 miles from rolling Sandhills ranches in the west to fertile farm acres in the east, including 514 miles of rivers.

Among the many natural resources under LLNRD’s management is Pibel Lake Recreation Area near Ericson in Wheeler County.

The LLNRD completed a major renovation of the 72-acre recreation area in 2016 and continues making improvements. Families enjoy a playground on the south side of the 24-acre lake, and a recently installed footbridge and trail at the north end. Anglers hook largemouth bass, bluegill and channel catfish.

Pibel Lake offers camping, picnic shelters, fishing piers, and a boat dock for boats operating at no-wake speeds. Pibel Bible Camp, founded in 1939, still overlooks the lake. Located 9 miles south of Bartlett on U.S. High-

way 281, then 1 mile east on 823 Road. (308) 728-3221.

Davis Creek Recreation Area features a 1,100-acre lake for fishing, boating and other water sports. Far from city lights, campers enjoy stargazing and connecting with nature. A new campground was installed in 2019, with 25 primitive and 42 electric hookup sites. Trails are open to horseback riding, hiking and cross-country skiing. A fish-cleaning station and WiFi are additional amenities. Located 5 miles south of North Loup on Ashton Avenue. (308) 728-3221.

Adjacent to the LLNRD’s headquarters in Ord, Lower Loup NRD Arboretum is an 11-acre home to 60 varieties of trees and shrubs, a wetland, picnic area, gazebo and a rain shelter. A paved trail connects to the Ord Hike/ Bike Trail. The ten-foot-wide trail runs along Dane Creek to the east edge of Ord Cemetery to the Arboretum. 2620 Airport Drive, Ord. LLNRD. org. (308) 728-3221.

AJ Dahm

St. Patrick’s Day in O’Neill

Western

Pine-covered hills, rocky outcrops and breathtaking sandy beaches inspire adventure in Western Nebraska.

AJ Dahm

Chadron State Park

CHADRON

The city of Chadron is in the heart of Nebraska’s scenic Pine Ridge region of ponderosa pine forests and rugged butte-studded hills arcing across northwest Nebraska.

The scenic beauty of the region is showcased at Chadron State Park, which was founded in 1921 as Nebraska’s first state park. This 974-acre retreat is 10 miles south of Chadron and is popular with campers, anglers, hikers and photographers. Mountain biking is exciting here and on adjacent Nebraska National Forest lands. Visitors also enjoy cabins, a swimming pool, picnic shelters, fishing pond, paddle boats, a disc-golf course and indoor pellet gun and archery ranges.

State park campground hosts sell firewood, and the Trading Post sells buffalo burgers, other meals, ice cream, snacks and drinks. The post also has educational displays, an aquarium of native fish and animals and an outdoor tomahawk throwing course. 15951 U.S. Highway 385. (308) 432-6167.

Pine Ridge National Recreation Area is a 6,600-acre area set aside for non-motorized recreation. There are corrals, a rider ramp, modern toilets and drinkable water. Hiking, horseback riding and mountain biking are allowed. The recreation area and trailhead are connected by the scenic 3 Mile Loop. The best entry point to the recreation area is from the Roberts Tract Trailhead, eight miles west of Chadron on Highway 20 to Eleson Road, then seven miles south to Bethel Road and then 1.5 miles east.

Chadron’s population swells from 6,000 to 9,000 when the school bell rings every fall. Chadron State College is one of three colleges in the Nebraska State College System and is the only 4-year college in Western Nebraska. The grounds are beautiful for walking and visiting – with many of the original buildings restored and used by friendly students in a campus that overlooks the city.

On the Chadron State College campus, Sandoz Heritage Trail is 1.1 miles long and rated easy for walkers and bicyclists. The route winds through Thompson Natural History Preserve,

crosses the upper dam at Briggs Pond and leads visitors to a high point overlooking Chadron. C Hill Trail leads to the 80-foot white letter “C” created in 1926. The campus landmark can be seen for miles. Five more miles of trails cross the campus.

For lovers of literature and history, the Mari Sandoz High Plains Heritage Center at Chadron State College preserves the memory of one of Nebraska’s most beloved writers. Sandoz grew up in neighboring Sheridan County. Her father, immigrant pioneer Jules Sandoz, discouraged her from writing. Later, he made a deathbed plea to Mari to write his life story. That 1935 biography, Old Jules, is a world-revered masterpiece about the settlement of Western Nebraska.

Heritage Center in the college’s Carnegie-style library features exhibits about the writer’s life and career. The archival library includes items formerly belonging to Sandoz and her family, as well as the author’s books printed in foreign languages. The center atrium also houses additional exhibits and rotating shows.

Surrounding the center, Heritage Garden features native and imported plants that tell the story of Northwest Nebraska’s history. A bronze statue of Sandoz greets visitors to the center.

Western Nebraska is cattle ranching country, so it’s fitting that the same building also contains a level dedicated to the region’s most important industry. Col. C.F. Coffee had the equivalent of a fifth-grade education but grew up to be a successful businessman, rancher and banker. Coffee Gallery features exhibits about High Plains ranching, including historical cattle brand books and a banking exhibit. 1000 Main St. (308) 432-6401.

Chadron was named for Louis B. Chartran, the manager of a fur trading post built in 1841 south of the present-day city. An earlier trading post, established in 1837 east of present-day Chadron, has been reconstructed as part of Museum of the Fur Trade. This is the only museum in the world dedicated exclusively to the frontier fur trade era.

Clothing, firearms, knives, axes, quilts, kettles, a canoe and James Bordeaux’s meticulously reconstructed trading post bring the global fur trade to life as if it had never faded. The museum has more than 6,000 items on display and adds new exhibits every year. Among them are firearms that once belonged to Kit Carson and Chief Tecumseh. 6321 U.S. Highway 20. (308) 432-3843.

Dawes County Historical Museum is located on the original site of the Nellie and Lee Card farm. The main museum building displays pioneer household goods, Native American artifacts, antique toys, historic photos, military uniforms and a model of the World War II USS Chadron submarine chaser. The quilt room houses treasured textiles. Also on site are a country school, cabin and railroad caboose. 341 Country Club Rd. (308) 432-4999.

Chadron visitors rest and recharge at the Olde Main Street Inn. The downtown landmark was built in 1890 and served as headquarters for U.S. Army Gen. Nelson Miles during the Wounded Knee Massacre in South Dakota. One of the rooms is named for the general, another for writer Mari Sandoz. The inn’s 77 Longbranch Saloon collects an eclectic clientele of college professors, writers, philosophers and travelers for cold beer and conversation. 115 Main St. (308) 432-3380.

Chris Amundson

Museum of the Fur Trade

CRAWFORD

Crawford is home to Fort Robinson State Park. At 22,000 acres, “Fort Rob” is Nebraska’s largest state park. Rugged buttes and valleys are laced with rivers, lakes and ponderosa pine forests. Lodging is available in 1800s military barracks and a 22-room lodge. RV and tent camping available. Herds of buffalo and longhorns still roam the grasslands, as do mountain bikers, hikers and horseback riders. 3200 W. US 20. (308) 665-2900.

University of Nebraska State Museum’s Trailside Museum of Natural History featured exhibit is “Clash of the Mammoths.” Two bull mammoths locked tusks and perished near Crawford more than 10,000 years ago. (308) 665-2929.

Operated by the Nebraska State Historical Society, the Fort Robinson History Center preserves the stories of the African American Buffalo Soldiers, Native Americans, Indian agents, foreign prisoners of war and others who passed through the grounds of Fort Robinson. (308) 665-2919.

The 1,000 residents of Crawford celebrate the Fourth of July with the Old West Trail Rodeo in an arena with majestic views of Saddle Rock. owtrodeo.com.

North of Crawford, Nebraska’s badlands at Toadstool Geologic Park

display the state’s otherworldly geology. Vistas reveal gorgeous panoramic views. (308) 432-4475.

Nearby, the Hudson-Meng Education and Research Center contains

more than 600 ancient bison that died mysteriously here 10,000 years ago. A hiking trail connects Hudson-Meng with Toadstool Geologic Park. (308) 665-3900.

78th Old West Trail PRCA Rodeo ~ Crawford

July 3-4, 8 pm

Enjoy the only PRCA rodeo in Nebraska at Crawford July 4th weekend. Stay for reworks after the rodeo.

TICKET LOCATIONS IN CRAWFORD AND CHADRON

July 1

Jr. King and Jr. Princess Rodeo at 9 am Kids Fun Day Rodeo at 10 am

AJ Dahm

Fort Robinson State Park

OGALLALA

Sandy beaches abound at Ogallala

The Keith County community of 4,600 is the home of Nebraska’s largest reservoir, Lake McConaughy – a water-lover’s paradise.

At full pool, Lake McConaughy is 22 miles long and nearly 4 miles wide. Kingsley Dam holds back the waters of the North Platte River.

Miles of sandy beaches attract sunbathers and artistic sandcastle creators. Water-skiers trail behind powerboats, and sailors ride the breeze. Nearly 2 million travelers visit “Lake Mac” every year. There seems to be plenty of room for everyone to stake out their own tranquil stretch of beach. 1475 NE-61. (308) 284-8800.

East of Kingsley Dam is Lake Ogallala. Often referred to as Ogallala’s “Little Lake,” the 320-acre reservoir is smaller than its big brother, but it teems with big rainbow trout and is a favorite lake for local anglers. Camp-

Explore

Keith County Visitors Committee

Lake McConaughy

ing and picnic facilities are available at both lakes. 1450 NE-61 N. Lake McConaughy Visitors Center and Water Interpretive Center has exhibits explaining the High Plains Aquifer and the Platte River watershed. Public artworks are on site. 1475 NE-61. (308) 284-8800.

L.A. Brandhoefer used local bricks to build a mansion overlooking Ogallala in 1887. The grand home is now known as the Mansion on the Hill Museum and includes the one-room District 7 country school from nearby Roscoe, and the historic O’Brien-Lute Home. 1004 N. Spruce St. (800) 658-4390.

The Wild West era lives on at Front Street Steakhouse and Crystal Palace Saloon. This replica frontier town includes a general store stocked with souvenirs. Crystal Palace Revue entertains with staged fistfights, gunfights and song and dance numbers, as it has for more than 50 years. 519 E. First St. (308) 284-6000.

Twin brothers Harvey and Howard Kenfield’s collection of rare Native

American artifacts and art made from petrified wood is displayed at the Petrified Wood Gallery, which also includes works of many other artists. 418 E. First St. (308) 284-9996.

Driftwood showcases live music and 20 craft beers on tap, as well as a delightful gastropub menu with walleye and steak entrees. Rustic décor makes for a warm, relaxing atmosphere. 118 N. Spruce. (308) 284-7053. Golfers visiting Ogalla area swing at two Keith County courses. Bayside Golf uses the natural sandhills to challenge golfers. Playing this course pays off with scenic lake views no matter how the round went. The par72 course has 18 challenging holes. 865 Lakeview West Rd. (308) 287-4653.

Crandall Creek Golf Club is a par72 course with 18 holes on rolling land. A stocked-to-the-gills pro shop can make a golfer out of anyone. 359 Rd. E. 85. (308) 284-4358.

Learn more about Ogallala and Keith County at ILoveLakeMac.com and 1-800-658-4390

PAXTON

East of Ogallala in nearby Paxton, travelers discover an iconic restaurant with a colorful founder. Ole’s Big Game Steakhouse and Lounge features Nebraska beef, cold beer and the impressive animal trophy collection of Rosser O. Herstedt, known as Ole. Residents have given nicknames to the polar bear (Boris), giraffe (Ginger) and elephant (Ellie) that Ole shot years ago. Ole hung his first mount in his bar in 1938 and welcomed visitors who came to hunt in Western Nebraska.

The chicken-fried steak at Ole’s has a mammoth following nationwide since visitors from across the country can drop in from I-80. There is a buffalo burger weighing in at a half pound, a boneless rib-eye steak and a hot beef platter topped with a mountain of mashed potatoes and gravy. Owner Tim Holzfaster keeps the doors open every day of the year

except Christmas. 123 N. Oak St. (308) 239-4500.

Hunters still flock to Paxton to enjoy the scenery and camaraderie that comes with hunting. Visiting hunters can take aim at waterfowl with Central Nebraska Outfitters. The North and South Platte rivers near Paxton provide habitat for the ducks and geese that clients target here in the heart of the Central Flyway. Hunting for deer and turkey also is available. 303 E. Second St. (308) 239-2354.

Anne Marie’s Antiques & Gifts is located on the south side of Paxton in Paxton’s 1890s Union Pacific Railroad Depot. Another building out back is full of antique furniture. When owner Leah Fotes heard in 2016 that the town’s original grain elevator was slated for demolition, she had it moved to her store where she has restored much of the building’s original architecture. Guests enjoy shopping for curated collections of antiques, vintage items and handmade goods. 111 S. Oak St. (308) 239-4400.

BIG SPRINGS

Outlaw Sam Bass and his gang’s train robbery of $60,000 in gold and currency put Big Springs on the national map in 1877, but the community owes its existence to a natural spring. The spring still bubbles in Eiler Park on First Street. There’s a historical marker dedicated to Bass’ heist there. Another marker in the park pays tribute to the 1886-era Waterman Sod House 9 miles north of town. Junction Highway 138 and First St. Phelps Hotel, known as the “House of Three Chimneys,” was built in 1885 by one of the first families to settle in Big Springs. Years later visitors stay in the same rooms where railroad crews once rested between shifts. 401 Pine St. (308) 889-3580.

Big Springs Depot Museum is in the former Union Pacific depot, now a museum of old railroad, agriculture and Big Springs history. 206 W. Second St. (308) 289-1299.

built in 1885

SIDNEY

Outlaws, gamblers and other riffraff made Sidney one of the roughest places in all of the American West way back in the 1870s: Stay on the train, lock the doors and you’ll be fine – unless there’s a train robbery.

Today, Sidney is a convenient stop on I-80, with restaurants, gas stations and stores along the interstate. A few miles down the hill into the city is a historic downtown district, with more shops, museums and restaurants.

The green-and-gold water tower along I-80 Exit 59 promotes Sidney as home to Cabela’s. Here in Sidney, the Cabela family built their business that started at their kitchen table into a national retail giant. Cabela’s Sidney flagship store became a model for the company and is still a source of pride for the community. 115 Cabela Dr. (308) 254-7889.

Located next to Cabela’s, the National Pony Express Memorial includes

a bronze statue of a horse and rider, and flags of states the express rode through Sidney. 1 Cabela Dr. Downtown Sidney is home to its fair share of historic buildings. Learn more about what makes them special by downloading the TravelStorys app –“Sinful Sidney” audio tour. Sidney began in 1867 as an Army fort named Sidney Barracks to guard Union Pacific Railroad workers. In 1870 it was renamed Fort Sidney The fort had 40 buildings before it closed in 1894.

Three buildings of the fort complex remain today as the Fort Sidney Museum and Post Commander’s Home. The complex consists of the Officer’s Quarters, now a museum, and the Post Commander’s Home, which has been restored with original period furnishings. The third building is an octagonal stone structure once used as the fort’s powder magazine. All three buildings are well preserved and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The complex is open the day after

Memorial Day through Labor Day. 544 Jackson St. (308) 254-2150.

A fourth building, not in the official complex but equally as important, is called Camp Lookout. The stone structure was built in 1867 to house soldiers from Fort Sedgwick, Colorado. It has been meticulously restored and is open for tours by appointment. 940 Elm St. (308) 254-5395.

Fort Sidney soldiers who died here were interred at Boot Hill Cemetery. As the town became lawless, victims of unusual circumstances were often buried at night. The remains of soldiers and civilians were later re-interred. Boot Hill Cemetery is now a tourist destination, complete with mock tombstones. Road 113 and Elm Street. (308) 254-5395.

The ceremonial tapping of the keg kicks off Sidney’s three-day Oktoberfest the first full weekend in October. Then the live music, dancing, comedy shows and parade can begin. There’s a craft show and plenty of bratwurst, sauerkraut and beer. SidneyOktoberFest.com.

SHERIDAN COUNTY

Sheridan County is ranch country with rich history and beautiful Sandhills scenery. Wildflowers sway in hay meadows from April to October along Highway 27 from Gordon to Ellsworth. A roadside marker on the Mari Sandoz Memorial Drive honors pioneer-era writer Mari Sandoz. Nearby is her grave site, her family’s homestead and a fruit-bearing orchard on 365th Trail.

To experience local history and culture, visit the Scamahorn Museum on West 5th Street in Gordon, (308) 3600900, the Tri-State Old Time Cowboys Memorial Museum at Gordon City Park, (308) 282-1115, and the Sheridan County Historical Museum on 410 E. 2nd in Rushville, (308) 360-0299. Call ahead for hours or an appointment. Ellsworth, population 14, began in 1888 as Spade Ranch headquarters. A historical marker in town tells its story.

During World War I, the U.S. was cut off from its supply of potash, a com-

ponent of fertilizer. Two University of Nebraska graduates discovered a way to produce it in the Sandhills, resulting in the Antioch potash boomtown. After the war, the Nebraska potash boom collapsed, but remnants of that time can be found at haunting ruins along Nebraska Highway 2 at Antioch.

MCCOOK

Storytellers and their fans come together for the Buffalo Commons Storytelling Festival in McCook. When a pair of university professors included McCook in a proposal to turn rural areas of America into an animal preserve called Buffalo Commons, residents of McCook vehemently objected.

To show that their community had staying power, they created the storytelling festival more than 25 years ago. The festival showcases storytellers, musicians and comedians in June. BuffaloCommons.org. (308) 737-6111.

Many Buffalo Commons Storytell-

ing Festival events are held at the James Beard Award-winning Sehnert’s Bakery and Bieroc Cafe. The cafe’s namesake dish, the bieroc, is a homemade roll filled with ground beef and either sauerkraut or cabbage. Sehnert’s is open all year in downtown McCook. 312 Norris Ave. (308) 345-6500.

Across the street from Sehnert’s, the Museum of the High Plains and Carnegie Museum displays artifacts from south-central Nebraska, including wreckage from a UFO. Well, maybe. Is it an artifact from an 1800s UFO crash, or is it from a 7-Up bottling plant in North Platte? Visit and decide for yourself. The museum has maps of the Heritage Square Walking Tour. The historical destinations are within easy walking distance. 421 Norris Ave. (308) 345-3661.

McCook’s downtown has been recently distinguished as a Creative District from the Nebraska Arts Council. A new mural, “Ethereal Plains,” marks Norris Alley with McCook’s history and heritage. The Art Bank, once a local bank and office building,

now features contemporary art from Nebraska artists and abroad. Nextdoor, The 6th Floor Project is on top of the Keystone Business Center and features a permanent collection and rotating exhibits for local, regional and visiting artists. This “hotspot” for creativity also includes the historic Fox Theatre, known to be a showplace for the arts. More at McCookCreativeDistrict.com.

Outdoor recreation is never far away in McCook. Red Willow Reservoir State Recreation Area has nearly 4,500 acres of recreational land around a 1,600-acre lake. Anglers cast their lines and catch smallmouth bass, flathead catfish, carp, white bass, walleye and northern pike. The fields, meadows and river bottoms surrounding the reservoir host hunters seeking pheasants, mule deer, white-tailed deer, turkeys and a variety of small game. The recreation area has 48 camping pads with 30- and 50-am hookups, showers, a dump station and areas for primitive camping. Located 21 miles north of McCook at 72718 Trail 2. (308) 345-5899.

Among the most interesting of the outdoor spectacles to observe are greater prairie chickens that dance in a mesmerizing mating ritual each spring. Prairie Chicken Dance Tours does all the work of finding the mating chickens, setting up bird-viewing blinds and shuttling visitors to and from the blinds. Tours are available in March and April. (308) 345-1203.

Back in McCook, fishing and hiking are popular at Barnett Park. There is a retired Army M60 tank on display, but the only battles here are between geese jostling for crumbs of bread, and sand volleyball players diving for the ball. Five lighted fountains brighten the fun. The Republican River flows through this park on the south edge of McCook. (308) 345-2022.

Kelley Park is McCook’s largest park, covering nearly six city blocks. McCook’s city swimming pool is here and so is a popular disc golf course. Grab your board and carve an arc at Bolles Canyon Skatepark. East 3rd and M Street. (308) 345-2022.

Golfers hunting for birdies and eagles take shots at Heritage Hills Golf Course. The 6,700-yard course offers 18 holes along with smooth greens, challenging water hazards and the occasional yucca plant growing in the rough. 6000 Clubhouse Dr. (308) 345-5032.

Learn more about the McCook area by contacting McCook/Red Willow County Visitors Bureau at VisitMcCook. com and (308) 345-1203.

VALENTINE

The Cherry County community of Valentine is basecamp for thousands of annual visitors exploring the Niobrara River

More than a dozen local outfitters are equipped to send river adventurers downstream in kayaks, canoes or livestock tanks with everything they need for a fun and memorable trip. (800) 658-4024.

The Niobrara River flows through Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge.

The 19,131-acre refuge has a self-guided auto route where visitors watch prairie dogs, bison, elk, badgers and birds. A steep trail leads through the riverine forest to Fort Falls, the tallest of the refuge’s waterfalls. The refuge museum displays animal mounts, fossils and educational displays. 39983 Refuge Rd. (402) 376-3789.

Smith Falls State Park east of Valentine is named for its 70-foot-tall cascading waterfall – the state’s highest. The park is a popular launch site for kayakers, canoeists and tubers looking to enjoy the Niobrara National Scenic River, now designated as a Quiet Trail by Quiet Parks International. 90165 Smith Falls Rd. (402) 376-1306.

A 25-mile stretch of the Niobrara River is preserved at The Nature Conservancy’s Niobrara Valley Preserve 37 miles southeast of Valentine. Visitors can explore the 56,000-acre preserve of forest, prairie, riverfront and canyons year-round. The two bison herds grazing here are a big draw. The site provides access to the river’s swift Norden

Chute. Trails takes visitors past many of the 581 plant species that thrive here. 42269 Morel Rd. (402) 722-4440.

Valentine National Wildlife Refuge protects 72,000 acres of the Sandhills region 29 miles south of Valentine. Grass-covered sand dunes rise over marsh-filled valleys. The refuge allows limited hunting. Largemouth bass, northern pike, yellow perch and bluegill are stocked in lakes. Observation blinds allow for close-ups of greater prairie chickens and sharp-tailed grouse during spring mating season. 39679 Pony Lake Rd. (402) 376-1889.

Enjoy Nebraska’s 1st International Dark Sky Park at Merritt Reservoir State Recreation Area, 27 miles southwest of Valentine. Stargaze at night and fish come morning. The Snake River and Boardman Creek fill the landmark lake with big catches of walleye, crappie, white bass and channel catfish. 88292 State Highway 97. (308) 389-0672.

Nebraska largest waterfall by volume, Snake River Falls, rushes over a 54-foot-wide Snake River Ledge. A

short scenic hike through private land leads visitors to the falls which thunder to the rocks below. To get to Snake River Falls, take Highway 97 south of Valentine for 23 miles, then follow the signs west.

Rosebud Casino and Hotel is located in the Rosebud Indian Reservation, just minutes north of town. Slot machines, table games and dining offer a taste of nightlife and culture. 30421 U.S. Highway 83. (800) 786-7673.

Several challenging and stunning golf courses are within a short drive of Valentine. The Prairie Club, a private club, has two 18-hole courses and a 10-hole course. Luxury lodging and gourmet meals soften the sting of errant swings. The club’s Stay & Play packages combine golf rounds with lodging in cabins, the bunkhouse or the main lodge. 88897 Nebraska Highway 97. (888) 402-1101.

Ten holes wind through Valentine’s scenic ridges at Frederick Peak Golf Club, named for the chalky peaks and grassy valleys along the course. 1000 Dowden St. (402) 322-2754.

Photo by Chris Helzer

CURTIS

Curtis is a community of 900 residents located north of McCook on the upper Medicine Creek. Downstream, the Medicine Creek Reservoir has huge fish, bountiful game, beach relaxation and boating at Medicine Creek State Recreation Area. Anglers find schools of crappie around the islands in this 1,768-acre lake.

The walleye fishing picks up in June. 72 RV camping pads with electrical hookups, and 238 primitive camping sites are available for rent. 40611 Road 728, Cambridge. (308) 697-4667.

Red Willow Reservoir State Recreation Area teems with large fish, too.

The Nebraska rod and reel state-record white crappie and striped hybrid bass were landed here. 72718 Trail 2, McCook. (308) 345-5899.

The same water that feeds those reservoirs flows into residents’ taps. The tap water in Curtis was judged best-tasting in the nation. It isn’t holy

water, but residents in Curtis, “Nebraska’s Easter City,” consider it a blessing. A 20-foot-tall cross three miles south of Curtis is illuminated from Christmas through Easter.

The annual Palm Sunday Living Picture Pageant uses 65 actors to portray 17 scenes including “The Living Cross” and Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Last Supper.” When the used football helmets that had been converted to Roman headgear finally wore out, the pageant was able to replace them with Hollywood props that appeared in movies such as Ben-Hur and Julius Caesar. 303 Crook Ave. (308) 367-4122.

Entertainment plays year-round at the volunteer-run Star Theater. When new technology threatened the existence of the longtime movie house, residents came together and raised $100,000 in only weeks to save and upgrade the theater. 321 Center Ave. (308) 367-4422.

Arrowhead Meadows Golf Course is a 9-hole public course with a driving range and putting green along the

beautiful Medicine Creek. The all grass, par-36 course is open daily from dawn to dusk. The course campground has six RV camping pads, each with a fire ring, picnic table and electrical hookup. 1101 Arrowhead Meadows Dr. (308) 367-4123.

Nearby is the one and a half mile Curtis Walking Trail that loops through the golf course and Medicine Creek. Visitors can start at the beginning of the trail at Curtis Pond, available for catch and release fishing.

Farm and ranch students from across Nebraska and the U.S. come to Curtis, home of the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture, to learn more about agriculture before returning to their farm and ranch homes. The school began as an ag trade school for high school students in 1913. ncta.unl.edu.

Valley View Inn is located along Nebraska Highway 23. Two suites feature full kitchens, and some rooms are designated as pet friendly. Guests relaxing in the gazebo take in scenic views of the neighboring golf course. 202 Garlick Ave. (308) 367-4580.

CHASE COUNTY

With 17,000 acres of public land, Chase County is a haven for people who like the outdoors.

The jewel of the county is Enders Reservoir State Recreation Area, southeast of Imperial near the town of Enders. The recreation area covers 3,200 acres, of which Enders Reservoir is a 1,000-acre lake for boating fishing, camping and outdoor play.

Anglers catch white bass, crappie, walleye, channel catfish and wipers. The east shore has camping with electrical hookups, picnic shelters, grills, drinking water, restrooms and a trailer dump station. Hunting for big game, waterfowl and upland game is allowed on public property west of the refuge. 73122 338th Ave. (308) 394-5118.

Enders Lake Golf Course is a 9-hole course with a driving range and putting green. Located north of U.S. Highway 6 near Enders Reservoir. (308) 882-5300.

With 2,000 residents, Imperial is the county seat and largest town in Chase County. The city has a number of shopping and dining attractions.

Imperial Country Club is a lush par-35, 9-hole course has smooth, fast fairways. Watch for trees on holes two and five. 810 W. 10th St. (308) 882-4697.

The historic Imperial Theatre, which dates to 1925, showcases movies Friday-Sunday nights. 607 Broadway St. (308) 882-4470.

Balcony House Bed and Breakfast offers cozy stays in a unique building with a long history dating to the 1890s. Five suites are available. The Prairie Lakes Suite can accommodate up to three guests. Stays end with a hearty breakfast. 1006 Court St. (308) 882-5597.

Broken Arrow Cellars offers their own Nebraska-made wines. Hanging Horseshoe Brewing Co. brews craft beer in the same building. The vintners and brew masters here team up and go all out for Oktoberfest and other tasty special events. 73892 332 Ave. (308) 882-7772.

The community of Champion, southwest of Imperial, is home to Champion Mill State Historical Park and Recreation Area. A restored 1892 flour mill – the only operating water-powered mill remaining in Nebraska – is the gem of the park. Open Memorial Day-Labor Day.

After touring the mill, while away the day fishing or cooling off in the Mill Pond. The old mill pond is a fun place for youngsters to splash around, learn to fish, or both (though maybe not at the same time). The park has six camping sites with electrical hookups. The mill is open 1-5 p.m. daily Memorial Day-Labor Day. 2nd and Mill streets. (308) 882-5860. Chase County Historical Museum has more than 1,800 artifacts from as far back as the 1700s. Exhibits include antique clothing, housewares, World War I uniforms and farm machinery. Open 1:30-4:30 p.m. on Sundays, Mother’s Day-Labor Day, or call for appointment. Chase Street and Broadway. (308) 882-4519.

NORTH PLATTE

Nebraskans are renowned for their hospitality, and nowhere was that made known more than in North Platte during World War II.

Known as the “Canteen,” residents greeted soldiers with food, coffee and a friendly smile at the railroad depot. The original depot is long gone, but North Platte Canteen is commemorated at the Lincoln County Historical Museum. Other exhibits include a general store, barbershop and original mid-1860s log cabin from nearby Fort McPherson. 2403 N. Buffalo Bill Ave. (308) 534-5640.

North Platte is home to Union Pacific Railroad’s Bailey Yard, the world’s largest railroad classification yard. The Golden Spike Tower and Visitor Center draws railroad enthusiasts for aerial views of the Bailey Yard’s 315 miles of track. View from the seventh-floor open-air deck or the enclosed top floor. 1249 N. Homestead Rd. (308) 532-9920.

Buffalo Bill Ranch State Historical Park showcases the home and horse barn of the frontiers-man-turnedshowman William F. “Buffalo Bill” Cody. He developed a series of “Wild West” shows that included rodeo performances and re-enactments of events from the American frontier. Much of his home and ranch in North Platte, Scout’s Rest Ranch, is preserved at the park. 2921 Scouts Rest Ranch Rd. (308) 535-8035

Buffalo Bill is memorialized in a statue at Cody Park. The city-owned park includes a railroad museum and an amusement park with a carousel and Ferris wheel. 1400 N. Jeffers St. (308) 535-6700.

Fort Cody Trading Post resembles a frontier fort where mannequins dressed as frontiersmen stand guard near I-80. Inside is a museum, bookstore, jewelry store, gift shop and roadside souvenir stand. A stuffed two-headed calf is displayed in a glass case near the 20,000-piece handcarved Buffalo Bill Wild West Show

that cranks to life every half hour. The courtyard features stagecoaches and a frontier jail and one of the last remaining fiberglass Muffler Man statues. 221 Halligan Dr. (308) 532-8081.

Five miles out of town, Lake Maloney State Recreation Area provides fishing, boating, camping, as well as archery, wildlife watching and golf courses at Lake Mahoney Golf Club, (308) 5329998; Rivers Edge, (308) 534-7550; and Indian Meadows, (308) 532-6955.

Flavorful beer attracts travelers to Pals Brewing Company. Brews, such as Jalapeño Cream Ale, impress even experienced beer aficionados. Pals’ pizza oven pleases with the Hog Heaven, topped with pecan-smoked pork shoulder bacon and Italian sausage. 4520 S. Buffalo Bill Ave. (308) 221-6715.

McNeil House Bed and Brew has a fire pit, covered porch and full kitchen. It’s a short walk next door to Pals Brewing Company. Each stay includes a food voucher and four free pints. The cabin sleeps four. 2351 W. State Farm Rd. (308) 530-0889.

DUNDY COUNTY

Dundy County is proudly known as the “Cornerstone of Nebraska.” The One-Room Schoolhouse and Cornerstone Museums in Haigler preserve area history. U.S. Hwy 34 and Porter Ave. (308) 297-3226.

Sunshine Thrift Store keeps shopping interesting with an inventory that changes day to day. 251 E. Norman St., Haigler. (308) 297-3226.

Anglers hook bass, catfish, perch and trout on a 50-acre lake at Rock Creek Lake State Recreation Area 10 miles west of Benkelman. This is a no-wake lake, and primitive camping is allowed. 73122 338 Ave., Enders. (308) 394-5118.

Trout grow really big upstream at Rock Creek State Fish Hatchery. The tiger trout hatched here are voracious and rarely occur in the wild. 70902 Rock Creek Rd., Parks. (308) 423-2080.

Visitors find Uppa Crik Hop Yard & Tap Room downstream from the lake. Nebraska-made craft beers and

spirits flow from this remote attraction. 36261 Rock Creek Rd., Parks. (308) 423-4455.

Residents in Max invite visitors to join them for fish fry suppers November through March. (308) 234-2712.

Signs proclaim Benkelman as hometown of actor Ward Bond. He is remembered for the 1950s television series “Wagon Train.” Dundy County Museum features an exhibit honoring the hometown actor. The museum flavors local history with a working soda fountain. 522 Arapahoe St., Benkelman. (308) 423-5454.

Dub Drive-in is a local favorite fastfood institution in Benkelman. More than 150 high school students have worked here over the years. 1416 A St. (308) 423-2596.

The Dundy County Fair, a tradition for over 120 years, features food vendors, games, prizes, entertainment and a carnival every July. The carnival isn’t one that travels town to town. The community owns this seasonal amusement park. (308) 423-2365.

ALLIANCE

A world of wild and wonderful attractions can be found in Alliance Carhenge is a full-scale replica of England’s Stonehenge and is made entirely from old cars. Carhenge’s Car Art Reserve features automobile sculptures complementing Carhenge. 2151 County Rd. 59. (308) 762-3569.

Exhibits at the Knight Museum and Sandhills Center span the gamut of Western life, including a display of Native American artifacts, railroad memorabilia, military history, Alliance’s World War II Army Air Base, homesteads and ranch life. 908 Yellowstone Ave. (308) 762-2384.

Dobby’s Frontier Town is a historic village with 26 buildings from the 1890s through Prohibition, including a general store and meat market, mortuary, log cabin, an early gas station, a one-room school and cobbler’s shop. Free admission. 320 E. 25th St. (308) 762-4321.

Life is Dandy in Dundy County

Visit museums. Enjoy hunting, fishing, and starry skies. Attend seasonal festivals- Dundy Roo (spring), Tumbleweed (fall), Music in the Park (summer), and Dundy County Fair.

Dundy County Visitors Committee 308-423-4455 • Benkelman, NE

GERING

The sister cities of Scottsbluff and Gering are an economic and tourism hub of the western edge of Nebraska, nestled among Nebraska’s sprawling prairie and beautiful bluffs.

Scotts Bluff was a major landmark noted in the journals of pioneers traveling the Mormon, Oregon and California trails in the 1800s. Scotts Bluff National Monument is in Scotts Bluff County, but it is closer to Gering than it is to nearby Scottsbluff.

The Monument encompasses 3,000 acres of arid land. Among its badlands, the fossilized remains of ancient oreodonts, tortoises, rhinoceroses, camels and other prehistoric creatures have been discovered. The visitor center displays these ancient remains, the works of Western artist William Henry Jackson, artifacts from the pioneer era and interpretive stations. 190276 Old Oregon Trail. (308) 436-9700.

Legacy of the Plains Museum serves as a destination for those interested in stories of the human and agricultural history and development of the North Platte Valley and High Plains region. The museum’s 80-acre campus includes new state-of-theart interactive exhibits focused on the archeology of Native Americans and westward expansion, the development or rural communities, the diversity of cultures and cultural practices of raising animals and crops in a semi-arid environment. 2930 Old Oregon Trail. (308) 436-1989.

Monument Shadows Golf Course is an 18-hole championship course at the base of the Scotts Bluff National Monument. Experienced and new golfers enjoy challenge and beauty. 2550 Clubhouse Dr. (308) 635-2277.

For travelers seeking entertainment of a faster variety, Hi-Way 92 Raceway Park has stock car races on Friday and Saturday nights all summer. 260263 Nebraska Hwy 92. (308) 436-7723

SCOTTSBLUFF

A menagerie of chimpanzees, zebras, tigers, red pandas and other critters live in town at Riverside Discovery Center. This zoo is home to more than 70 animal species, including a pair of grizzly bear brothers. 1600 S. Beltway Highway West. (308) 6306236.

The zoo is at Riverside Park, which is home to city-owned campgrounds and Scottsbluff Family YMCA’s Trails West Camp. The camp has lodging, playgrounds, a ropes course, kitchen facilities, access to the North Platte River and more. 1918 S. Beltline Highway West. (308) 635-2318.

Platte Valley Creamery has been a favorite shop for homemade ice cream in Scottsbluff for more than 40 years. Butter brickle is a staple, but leave your debit cards at home: It’s cash only. What flavor will you choose? 1005 E. Overland Dr. (308) 632-4225.

S cottsbluff’s Hampton Inn & Suites welcomes all travelers. Use it as your home and base camp while exploring western Nebraska.

Home Away From Home State Parks

The state’s highest waterfall, out-of-this-world rock formations, roaming bison and an annual fruitcake fling are just a handful of what awaits at Nebraska’s eight state parks and 58 state recreation areas. From river bluffs to rocky outcroppings, thousands of scenic acres have been preserved and enhanced with facilities for camping, fishing, hiking and enjoying the outdoors. Don’t forget your camera.

Arbor Lodge State Historical Park features the Nebraska City home of J. Sterling Morton, founder of Arbor Day. The grounds include the 1885 Arbor Lodge Mansion, an arboretum, log cabin, walking trails, an Italian terraced garden and more than 200 varieties of lilacs.

Ash Hollow State Historical Park marks an important water spring stop along the Oregon and California trails. Depressions from west-bound wagons are still visible on Windlass Hill. Visitors can explore the land’s history at the Ash Hollow Cave, a rock schoolhouse, the Ash Hollow Cemetery or hike along the nine miles of four different trails.

Ashfall Fossil Beds State Historical Park is a 360-acre park between Orchard and Royal in Northeast Nebraska dedicated to the preservation and discovery of fossilized prehistoric animals. While paleontologists unearth new bones every day, guests can see a close-up view of rhino fossils at their discovery site in the Rhino Barn.

Buffalo Bill Ranch State Historical Park is the home of the famed showman William F. “Buffalo Bill” Cody. The mansion, known as “The Mansion on the Prairie,” was the largest house in North Platte in the late 19th century. Visitors can take self-guided tours through the grounds and learn more about Cody’s history and ranch life. Across the road is Scout’s Rest Ranch, a recreation area equipped with an archery range, fishing along the North Platte River and hiking along the five miles of trailheads.

Chadron State Park offers gorgeous views of the majestic Pine Ridge canyons and peaks 9 miles south of

Chadron. When combined with the adjacent Nebraska National Forest, the state’s oldest park features more than 100 miles of hike and bike trails.

Eugene T. Mahoney State Park features breathtaking views of the Platte River Valley between Omaha and Lincoln. With a range of accommodations to suit campers and day-trippers, this park offers recreational options year-round.

Fort Atkinson State Historical Park began as Fort Atkinson, established in 1820 after recommendation from the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Reconstruction of the fort took 20 years and is now home to living history demonstrations among the recreated barracks, gates, armorer’s shop, council house and sutler’s store. The park is located near the Missouri River at the town of Fort Calhoun between Blair and North Omaha.

Fort Hartsuff State Historical Park, located in the North Loup River Valley at the edge of Nebraska’s Sandhills, maintains the most complete examples of small prairie forts during the 1800s. 2024 marks the 150th anniversary of its construction. Visitors can celebrate with reenactments, speakers, activities and good food during Labor Day weekend.

Fort Kearny State Recreation Area provides excellent viewing of sandhill cranes during their spring migration along the Platte River. With 186 acres to explore, visitors can enjoy boating, disc golfing, fishing, hiking and swimming amongst the park’s seven sandpit lakes. Additional sandhill crane viewing and a historical interpretive center are found

1.5 miles south at Fort Kearny State Historical Park. Established in 1848, Fort Kearny was the first fort built to protect travelers along the Oregon-California Trail. Visitors can explore reconstructed buildings like the stockade, parade grounds, powder magazine and carpenter-blacksmith shop.

Fremont Lakes State Recreation Area features nearly 200 camping sites among its 300 water acres across 20 sandpit lakes. Perfect for swimming and fishing, the lakes are stocked with largemouth bass, bluegill, crappie and channel catfish.

Indian Cave State Park is nestled along the banks of Missouri River

near Shubert. Follow an elevated boardwalk into a large sandstone cave to view pre-historic Native American petroglyphs. Enjoy stunning views of the park’s grand hardwood forest through 22 miles of scenic hiking and biking trails.

Niobrara State Park commands the confluence of the Niobrara and Missouri rivers on the state’s northern border. Try a bite of buffalo during one of their summer cookouts, learn about the native Ponca Tribe and keep your eyes peeled for beavers, muskrats and minks.

Platte River State Park is a short jaunt downstream on the banks of the Platte near Louisville. Spend the night

in a teepee, hike to the park’s waterfall or climb to the top of the 85-foot observation tower for a heavenly panoramic view.

Ponca State Park is situated atop scenic Missouri River bluffs near South Dakota in the northeast corner of the state. This park is home to a 320-yearold oak tree, a range for throwing tomahawks and a winter fruitcake-flinging competition.

Rock Creek Station State Historical Park includes a 350-acre park with six miles of hiking and nature trails and a 40-acre campground equipped with 38 picnic spots. Just nine miles east of Fairbury, campers can explore the

park’s reconstructed 1800s-style ranch cabins, bunkhouse, barn, post office and toll bridge.

Smith Falls State Park near Valentine is named for its 70-foot-tall cascading waterfall – the state’s highest. The park’s Niobrara River access is a launching site for kayakers, canoers and tubers to enjoy the National Scenic River.

Wildcat Hills State Recreation Area preserves 531 acres of rocky bluffs 10 miles south of Gering. With an elevation near 5,000 feet, this area boasts bobcats, bighorn sheep and towering evergreens. Hike, bike, camp or take in the crow’s-nest view of the North Platte River Valley.

AJ Dahm

Arbor Lodge State Historical Park

Nick Adams Alan J. Bartels

Nebraska Tourism

Smith Falls State Park Fort Atkinson State Park

Wildcat Hills State Recreation Area