Spring & Summer Travel 2017

SUNDAY, APRIL 30, 2017

Spring & Summer Travel

Day into night on the prairie Find your perfect spot to view the solar eclipse

» Easy getaways – Fill up and go! » Nebraska Passport adventures » RV-ing – a way of life

OMAHA WORLD-HERALD

REGIONAL ROAd TRIps

FILL up ANd GO

You don’t have to travel far from home to get your fill of fun. This special section takes you on dozens of dandy day trips and easy weekend getaways, complete with insider tips for the best places to eat, sleep, shop and explore. Even if you’ve been to some places before, there are plenty of reasons to go again. As the American writer Henry Miller famously said, “One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.”

ORAngE City, iOWA

The Volksparade is the Orange City (Iowa) Tulip Festivalís main event. The twice-daily parade draws thousands of spectators and is filled with sound and color. Several of the festival floats are Dutch-themed with riders wearing authentic Dutch costumes. Photo courtesy of Orange City Tulip Festival

Tiptoe through the tulips Regional travelers know Pella, Iowa, for its tulip festival. The same authenticity can be found at the annual Tulip Festival in Orange City, an Iowa community north of Sioux City. The community’s celebration predates Pella’s by two years and follows many of the same traditions.

Named in honor of the Netherlands’ Royal House of Orange, Orange City was founded by Pella citizens in 1869.

The town’s festival traditionally happens two weeks after Pella’s and welcomes as many, if not more, visitors each year.

“I love the festival and the chance for our town to invite others to experience a taste of Dutch in our small corner of the world,” said Orange City Tulip Festival Marketing Coordinator Jenon Scallon. “I grew up close to Orange City and was involved in the festival each

year in Dutch dancing, riding floats, scrubbing streets and more.”

She and her husband, Mark, moved back to the area four years ago, and both have volunteered with the festival ever since.

“My husband didn’t grow up here, but he loves the festival and drives floats in the parade and also helps with wooden shoe carving demonstrations,” she said. “He’s proof that anyone can be Dutch for a day — even if you have an Irish last name.

Scallon touts the traditional events as the best things to experience. A street festival, known in Dutch as Straat Feest, features twice-daily street parades, vibrant costumes and street scrubbing, when people in costumes clean the streets in anticipation of the festival queen’s arrival.

Then there’s the beautiful, vast array of flowers throughout town.

Scallon recommends buying a Value Book, which for $15 offers admittance to many attractions, including the Dutch Dozen performance, Orange City Dutch Heritage Center & Flower Show, Century Home, quilt show, pedicab ride, Dutch game and a horse-drawn trolley tour.

She said the Tulip Festival transforms Orange City into a celebration for all visitors.

“Our festival, though rich in authentic traditions, is approachable for families of all ages. Small children are invited to join in on the festivities, and we have fun attractions for them, such as a story walk, puppet show and carnival rides,” she said. “The Orange City Tulip Festival is for everyone to enjoy. We love having visitors join us for an afternoon or for the entire weekend. Breng ons een bezoek!

(Pay us a visit!)”

ORAngE City tuLip FEstivAL When: May 18-20 Where: Orange City, Iowa Activities: Horse-drawn trolley tours, street performers, quilt show, wood shoe carving demo, and various other things to do, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Straat Feest Street Scrubbing and Volksparade, Second Street and Central Avenue, 1 p.m. (parade repeated at 6 p.m.) daily.

“Shrek, the Musical,” Unity Christian Knight Center, 8 p.m. daily.

Where to stay: Reservations for the Orange City Tulip Festival are booked months in advance, but rooms are available in nearby towns of Sheldon, LeMars, Sioux Center and Marcus.

Book rooms online or call the Orange City Chamber of Commerce at 712-707-4510.

Information: octulipfestival.com — Mike Watkins

OMAHA WORLD-HERALD

WALNUT, IOWA

PELLA, IOWA

‘Antique City’ full of bargains

Where everyone is Dutch for a day

Squirrel away some cash for the annual Father’s Day weekend antique show in Walnut, which is designated as Iowa’s Antique City. Bargains abound, but the Walnut Antique Show, June 16 to 18, is where you’ll find something worth splurging on.

Spanning 17 blocks, this is the apex of antique shows. It’s juried, with secret shoppers making sure the vendors who come from around the country are hawking genuine antiques — no crafts or reproductions allowed. The organizers, the AMVETS veterans organization, have limited the number of vendors to 330 as a way to concentrate on quality and enable visitors to park closer.

This year marks the 35th anniversary of the show and the unveiling of spiffed-up storefronts. The facade renovations are part of a $1.09 million project that also will include upgrading sidewalks and leveling the cobblestones of the downtown’s main street. Grab your sunscreen and water, because the summer event can be a scorcher.

If you’d rather avoid thousands of people and prefer a genuine Main-Street-U.S.A. experience, head to Walnut any other time of the year. You’ll see why Fodor’s Travel named it one of the 10 Best Antiquing Towns in the U.S. Situated about 50 miles east of Omaha off I-80, Walnut boasts more than 15 antique shops. With a population of 773, you won’t fight crowds and can take your time strolling through the antique-packed aisles stocked by more than 150 vendors. When you need a break, grab a piece of pie at the diner or bakery.

— Christine Laue

Despite its pageantry and pomp, Pella, Iowa’s Tulip Time festival is appreciated for being genuine — true to Dutch tradition and history, right down to the hundreds of thousands of beautiful bulbs planted annually to welcome thousands of locals and guests.

That wasn’t the case during the first event in 1935.

Hurriedly planned over two weeks following the local high school’s performance of an operetta called “Tulip Time in Pella,� the festival that year lacked its namesake flowers, which hadn’t been planted the previous fall.

To make up for this, a local cabinetmaker crafted 125 four-foot-tall wooden tulips that were strategically placed in flagpole holes around the town square, giving the temporary illusion of real flowers.

Every year since, a tulip committee has made sure beautiful flowers are at hand to honor the rich heritage of the community founded by Dutch settlers in 1847. “People must see the Vermeer Windmill, the local Dutch bakeries (Jaarsma’s and Vander Ploeg’s), and the street scrubbing and Dutch dancing,� said Tulip Time Festival and Pella Historical Society director Valeria VanKooten, who has participated in the festival every year since she was an infant in the baby parade. “For foods, they’ll want to have poffertjes, small pancake-like cakes with butter and powdered sugar, and vet bollen, a sort of doughnut hole with raisins.

Fantastic. But the tulips themselves are the huge draw. Together, the City of Pella and the Historical Society planted almost 200,000 bulbs last fall. We’re ready. “What people see when they come to

The City of Pella and the Pella Historical Society planted almost 200,000 tulip bulbs last fall to ensure the town will have plenty of blooms for this year’s Tulip Time festival.

PELLA HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Pella is the real thing,� she added. “We don’t wear costumes in everyday life, but a lot of people still speak some Dutch, and a small percentage speak Dutch fluently. ‘Dutch clean’ is a reality, and the heritage, the customs, the words, the food — they’re all still alive. It’s not an act.�

TULIP TIME IN PELLA When: May 4-6 Where: Pella, Iowa What: Pella’s Historical Village and Vermeer Mill, the tallest active windmill in the United States, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.

54th Annual Flower Show, Historical Village, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.

Quilt Show, Pella Opera House, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.

Where to stay: Reservations for Pella’s Tulip Time are made months in advance, so the town’s hotels are mostly booked for this year’s festival. Listings may be available in nearby towns such as Knoxville, Newton and Grinnell. Book rooms online or call the Chamber of Commerce, 641-621-1111.

Information: pellahistorical.org — Mike Watkins

Spring & Summer Travel A special section produced by the news division of the Omaha World-Herald.

Project editor Chris Christen, 402-444-1094, chris.christen@owh.com Deputy project editor Howard K. Marcus, 402-444-1397, howard.marcus@owh.com Designer Kiley Cruse Copy editor Kim Carpenter Contributors Kim Carpenter, Dave Croy, Kurt A.

Keeler, Christine Laue, Maggie O’Brien, Marge Peterson, Sue Story Truax, Mike Watkins, Mike Whye On the cover Sunset in the Sand Hills near Tryon, Nebraska. Photo: Kurt A. Keeler For advertising information contact Dan Matuella, 402-444-1485, dan.matuella@owh.com

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open may ay a y2 20 0 - oc oct oct.1 t.1 t.

Reservations ser erv rv vati ations ons required

Call for tour times

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• Located in the beautiful Niobrara River Valley • Learn the workings of the ranch • Pet elk and feed buffalo from a covered wagon Niobrara, NE - 402-857-3850 • Gift shop with elk and buffalo meat for sale • 8-miles southwest of Niobrara State Park nebraskaelktours.com | kreycikelkranch@yahoo.com

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OMAHA WORLD-HERALD

SIOUX FALLS, SOUTH DAKOTA

Happiness found at the falls and in the city Sioux Falls was recently named one of the 10 happiest places in the country by the personal finance website WalletHub. It’s not only happy, it’s also a great place to spend a weekend. History, art, outdoor adventure, family fun and a dynamic dining scene — this city has something for every member of the family.

Falls Park, the city’s biggest tourism attraction, is home to a visitor information center with a five-story, 50-foot viewing tower offering a 360-degree view of the Big Sioux River, the falls and the city skyline.

Other park attractions include the Horse Barn, which was built in the late 1800s and now contains an exhibit that tells the history of the Stockyards; the remains of the Queen Bee Mill, once one of the most advanced in America; Monarch of the Plains statue; Overlook Café, which offers light dining and a fabulous view of the falls; and biking and walking trails.

Summertime visitors can leave their cars at the park and climb aboard the Sioux Falls Trolley, which runs between Falls Park and downtown Monday through Saturday. A dollar buys an all-day pass.

Much of the area’s past is found in the downtown area.

Two Siouxland Heritage Museums interpret the history of Sioux Falls. The Old Courthouse Museum, constructed in the late 1800s of native Sioux quartzite, features murals by Norwegian-born Ole Running, a clock tower, slate stairs, granite pillars,

KURT A. KEELER

The Falls Park visitors center has a 50-foot viewing tower with a 360-degree panoramic view of the Big Sioux River, the falls and the Sioux Falls skyline. stained-glass windows and tiled fireplaces.

The Pettigrew Home & Museum contains artifacts from the life of South Dakota’s first U.S. senator, Richard F. Pettigrew, who served from 1889 to 1901. The home boasts detailed original woodwork, silk damask wallcoverings, jeweled-glass windows and

three Tiffany chandeliers.

A restored high school building houses the multipurpose Washington Pavilion, which contains art collections, an 1,800seat performing arts center and a science museum with more than 100 interactive exhibits. The Visual Arts Center offers seven

galleries of art.

Another historic landmark, the century-old St. Joseph Cathedral, received a multi-million dollar renovation completed in 2011, which brought it back to its original grandeur and charm.

A great way to view art and exercise at the same time is to follow the Sculpture Walk in downtown Sioux Falls. From May to September, the public is invited to vote for its favorite sculpture to be added to the city’s permanent collection. Maps are available from local merchants and the visitor center.

More than 700 restaurants offer choices including ethnic, farm-to-table and Midwestern comfort food. Several craft breweries have opened recently.

Two popular downtown eateries worth a visit are Minerva’s, known for its salad bar, pasta, native fish and wild game, and Mama’s Ladas, a small restaurant seating 50 that serves 1,000 enchiladas a week in the summer.

Strawbale Winery, a short drive from town, is constructed from straw bales and is located in a beautiful rural setting. Every Thursday night in the summer, visitors enjoy listening to music, browsing through displays from local and regional artists and sampling gourmet fare.

Information: 605-275-6060; www.VisitSiouxFalls.com

— Marge Peterson

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OMAHA WORLD-HERALD

ST. JOSEPH, MISSOURI

Come for the eclipse, stay for museums During the 1840s and 1850s, St. Joseph, Missouri, was a bustling outpost and jumping-off point for pioneers along the Oregon Trail. Known as “St. Joe,” this city of 77,147 residents is still a stopping-off point for travelers seeking adventure.

A DARK MOMENT The big event this summer in St. Joseph is the Aug. 21 solar eclipse. One of the larger cities that lies in the path of where the moon will completely block the sun, St. Joseph will experience two minutes and 38 seconds of totality starting at 1:06 p.m. that Monday.

To help celebrate, St. Joseph Convention and Visitor Bureau is selling T-shirts and posters featuring an image of the eclipsed sun over the city skyline. The CVB also is selling solar safety glasses for safe eclipse viewing.

Many eclipse celebrations will be happening around St. Joe, and the organizers of the city’s annual arts festival, Trails West!, are extending the usual weekend-long event in Civic Center Park another day for the artists who will be there the day of the eclipse. Because many accommodations are booked, consider making a day trip for this occasion.

MORE THAN THE ECLIPSE St. Joseph has long been known for its

MIKE WHYE

St. Joseph, Missouri, boasts 13 museums.

Perhaps the most recognized is the Pony Express Museum, in the original stables dating to that first ride from St. Joseph to Sacramento in 1860. museums. There are 13, which means the city has more museums per capita than Washington, D.C. Perhaps the most recognized is the Pony Express Museum, which is housed in the original stables used beginning in April 1860, when young horsemen would carry the mail in a 10-day relay from St. Joseph to Sacramento, California.

Though short-lived because telegraph lines connected the coasts 16 months later, the lore of the Pony Express has had a long life in U.S. history.

On the east side of St. Joe is a museum

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enthusiast’s dream: the St. Joseph Museums, a four-museum complex, all for the price of one ticket. The most popular is the Glore Psychiatric Museum, where exhibits show the history of the former State Lunatic Asylum No. 2, which was located there, and the progress of mental health services.

Kathy Reno, spokesperson for the museums, said that because the Glore deals with a topic that’s not often discussed, it’s one of the rarest museums in the nation. Exhibitions include one that displays the 1,446 buttons, bolts, nails and screws a patient ate years ago.

Other entities in the complex include the Black Archives Museum, Doll Museum and St. Joseph Museum, which covers the history of the city. Admission also enables a visit to the Wyeth-Tootle Mansion, four miles away, where the dining room remains furnished as it was when the original owners dined there in the 1800s.

MORE MUSEUMS A mile west of the campus, AlbrechtKemper Art Museum is hosting an exhibition through June by members of the Kansas City Society for Contemporary Photography. The museum will then hang a new exhibition with an eclipse theme — a juried show of artworks depicting planets, stars, the moon and other celestial bodies.

South of downtown, Pattee House Museum covers regional history thoroughly,

with exhibits as large as a steam train and a carousel.

Next door is the home in which outlaw Jesse James was shot to death by another outlaw.

Toward the Missouri River, Robidoux Row Museum offers a look at the first apartment house west of the Mississippi — a two-story brick building built in the 1840s by the city’s founder, Joseph Robidoux.

Three miles north is Krug Park, a favorite since it opened in 1902. It features a lagoon, walking paths, amphitheater, flower gardens and an area with buffalo, deer and longhorn cattle. The park is the northern terminus of the city’s 16.2-mile urban trail system.

For those who want something different, the Kansas City Chiefs’ training camp practices are open to the public on the campus of Missouri Western State University.

Finally, since this is where many folks outfitted themselves before heading west, visitors might want to continue the tradition before returning home by visiting the St. Joe Boot Co., which has 17,000 pairs of boots made by 40 companies.

To top off the trip — and one’s head — visit the Stetson Outlet Store, which offers the famous western hats and more.

For more information, go to stjomo.com.

— Mike Whye

May 18 May 19-21 June 2 June 3 June 3-4 June 9-17 June 24 July 1 July 4 July 7 July 11-15 Aug 4 Aug 11-13 Aug 26 Sept 1 Sept 1-3 Sept 2 Sept 8-10 Sept 9 Sept 9-10 Sept 16 Sept 23 Sept 23-24 Sept 30 Sept 30 Oct 6 Oct 7 2016353-01

OMAHA WORLD-HERALD

BROWNVILLE, NEBRASKA

Organizers are expecting 20,000 people to attend the third annual Capital City Family & Food Truck Festival in Topeka, Kansas.

Flea market, food at river’s edge If you take your funky thrifting with a side of funnel cake, an annual event about an hour’s drive south of Omaha is calling your name.

The annual Brownville Spring Flea Market attracts more than 300 vendors from South Dakota to Oklahoma and draws 4,000 to 5,000 attendees to the village founded in 1854 that today is home to roughly 130 people. This year’s event, scheduled for May 27 to 29, marks its 60th year.

“I would guess we would have to be one of the oldest markets in the state,” said Bob Chitwood, president of the Brownville Historical Society, which sponsors the event.

Along with steppingstones, lawn furniture and spinning yard designs, you may find an extremely large metal catfish or buffalo cutout for sale.

Got a sweet tooth? You’ll love the fresh honey, bottled root beer, cotton candy, and funnel cakes topped with apples, berries and whipped cream. Chitwood swears you won’t find better doughnuts or kettle corn anywhere.

Insider tip: don’t just look on the main street, by the railroad depot or by the river. Check out side streets and on U.S. Highway 136 for more bargains.

Also, be prepared to walk on paved streets and grassy surfaces and for your calves to get a workout — Brownville is a community on seven hills.

Expect to spend at least half a day at the event, and plan for more time if you want to check out the Flatwater Folk Art Museum and The Antiquarium, the bookstore formerly located in Omaha’s Old Market.

If you don’t make it to the spring flea market, there’s a fall event Sept. 23 and 24.

— Christine Laue

EARL RICHARDSON/ VISIT TOPEKA

TOPEKA, KANSAS

A giant smorgasbord on wheels The first year there were 13; the second year drew 38; this year hungry folks visiting Topeka’s annual food truck festival can expect at least 45 trucks offering all types of cuisine, from Korean and Mexican to barbecue and cheeseburgers.

The event has become so popular, it’s even surprised Rosa Cavazos, Topeka’s director of tourism development. “When we started, we really didn’t know what to expect,” Cavazos said. “We thought we might have between 500 and 1,000 people. We had 10,000. The second year 15,000 people came. This year we’re expecting up to 20,000 people.”

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What can those 20,000 foodies expect? Food trucks from not just Topeka, but other Kansas cities, Colorado and Missouri. Live music, arts-and-crafts booths and a magician for the kids will offer plenty of entertainment.

This year, the trucks also will offer bitesize samples. “We’ve asked each food truck to prepare sample portions so people can try the food and decide whether they like it,” Cavazos said.

She’s confident there will be something for every food preference. “People can expect a multicultural food experience,” she said. “If you want something, you’ll find it.”

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OMAHA WORLD-HERALD

‘TOTALITY IN TRYON’

Eclipse is reason for party on prairie

By Chris Christen WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER

TRYON, Neb. – Big skies, western culture, neighborly hospitality. And now, primetime viewing for the first total solar eclipse to cross America in 99 years. Bring on the crowds; this tiny Sand Hills ranching community knows an opportunity when it sees one.

As the sun grows dark Aug. 21, Tryon will be right under the path of the moon’s shadow on earth – celebrating its ranching heritage with folks from near and far in one of the best viewing spots in the nation.

The celestial event is monumental but a more earthly concern for locals is guestimating the number of sky-watchers who might turn out for the astronomical phenomenon at 12:53 p.m. CST. “It’s going to be a festival atmosphere the whole weekend,” predicts Muriel Clark of the North Platte/ Lincoln Visitors Bureau. She’s confident because all North Platte hotel rooms are completely sold out, and reservations for eclipse-viewing bus trips from North Platte to Tryon and nearby Stapleton are exceeding projections with four months of booking still ahead. “I’m pretty excited,” she said. “It’s a great way to show off the history of the Sand Hills.

But what a leap of faith for a little community!”

Tryon’s Elnora Neal is feeling the pressure. “It’s really hard to plan for the unknown,” the co-organizer admits of what has grown into two days of festivities centered on 2 minutes, 34 seconds of “Totality

“Our goal is to teach visitors about Sand Hills ranching, culture and heritage,” Linda Kemp, event co-organizer in Tryon.”

Most major bases are covered. “But what do we not know to worry about?” Neal asked rhetorically as probabilities swirled earlier this month over lunch with a handful of fellow planners at Aunt Bea’s Cafe – the town’s nerve center. “Even the number of portable toilets needed is a guess.”

Elnora and husband Terry took a stargazing course six years ago from Derryl Barr, an eclipse-chasing astronomer who taught in North Platte and now lives in Indianola, Iowa. “He said that seeing a partial eclipse is like falling one foot short of a touchdown,” Elnora recalled. “That planted the seed to do something special in Tryon. Initially, I envisioned a large parking area for viewing. It grew into a chance to show folks what the Sand Hills are all about.”

One hitch: “Our community is small and we don’t have enough people” to head up committees for all of the ideas on the table, Elnora said.

“It’s daunting,” agreed co-organizer Linda Kemp.

“But we’ll get there. We’re resourceful. In this country, we’re used to going from Plan A to Plan B, C and D. You have to be flexible.”

And keep sight of the opportunity.

“Our goal is to teach visitors about Sand Hills ranching, culture and heritage,” Kemp said.

Situated 35 miles northwest of North Platte in McPherson County, Tryon is quintessential Nebraska: Mari Sandoz and “Old Jules,” the American cowboy and the Great American Desert. It’s coyotes and meadowlarks and soapweed. It’s good, hardworking people who love the land and the sky. It’s a Nebraska license plate that starts with 90.

Some Tryon folks are leery about the fuss. The eclipse viewing, they argue, could be a bust if the weather doesn’t cooperate. Neal and Kemp bat aside the naysayers, knowing the probability of favorable viewing conditions is 74 percent in the Sand Hills.

Besides, there’s ranching to celebrate.

Come rain or come shine, “Totality in Tryon” begins Aug. 20 in this North Platte bedroom community of 160, give or take a few.

Activities Sunday and Monday include narrated prairie tours by horseback and wagon, “Coffee with a Rancher” and a living history tepee village.

Sunday there also will be demonstrations of cattle cutting by horse-and-rider and by herd dogs.

“Coffee with a Rancher” is an opportunity for visitors and locals to sit down and learn more about each other,” said Kemp, who’ll join the chats.

“For me, it’s going to be one of the highlights of the event.”

Meet the locals, see the schedule, pages 8 and 9

Tryon’s official eclipse-viewing site is a private pasture about a half-mile south of town. Able-bodied spectators will get there by foot; others will be shuttled.

ELNORA NEAL

Stewards of the S

BROWN ENLARGED AREA 97

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CHERRY

Mullen HOOKER

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BLAINE

THOMAS

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Tryon LINCOLN 80

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THE WORLD-HERALD

GETTING THERE Unincorporated Tryon (pronounced Try’n) in McPherson County is about 35 miles northwest of North Platte, Nebraska. The town’s population is pure guesswork, locals say.

The 2010 U.S. Census reported 157. Cattle ranching is the primary occupation.

‘TOTALITY IN TRYON’ SCHEDULE SUNDAY, AUG. 20 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. – Prairie tours by horse-drawn wagon, trail rides on horseback with Dusty Trails LLC. Learn about Sand Hills culture, history and conservation. $10 and $20, discounts for families; reservations encouraged. 308530-0048, www.dustytrails.biz 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. – Tepee village and flint knapping

ElNoRa NEal

lINda KEmp

dusTy BaRNER

First to suggest a solar eclipse viewing event to fellow doers in the community. Former teacher and unofficial McPherson County historian; recruited relatives and others as plans grew. Spearheaded a commemorative quilt project for raffle to defray expenses of eclipse activities. Focused on dotting i’s and crossing t’s as Totality approaches. Married to Terry, who helps wherever needed.

General chair of “Totality in Tryon.”

A rancher, conservationist and beef advocate, she wants visitors to “see us as we are” through “Coffee with a Rancher” exchanges and narrated prairie tours. Getting word out through daughter Lisa Burke, executive director of the North Platte/Lincoln County Visitors Bureau; counting on shuttles Aug. 21 from North Platte to Tryon and nearby Stapleton, where daylong activities also are planned.

All cowboy. Owner of Dusty Trails LLC, outfitter and trail boss for planned horseback and wagon rides. Known for his booming voice, silly antics and quick wit. Don’t worry if you’re not a horseman.

“We prefer first-time riders. They follow instructions!” Based at Scout’s Rest Ranch in North Platte; outfitter for tube, tank, canoe andkayak floats, other Platte River experiences.

www.facebook.com/Eclipse in the Sandhills Tryon, Nebraska

demonstration by Native American artifact expert Tom Eckhoff of Stones & Bones, Hershey, Nebraska.

9 a.m. to 7 p.m. – Food vendors open. Craft vendors, educational booths open in vicinity.

10 a.m. – Nondenominational worship service at eclipse viewing site.

11 a.m. to 6 p.m. – “Coffee with

a Rancher,” McPherson County fair building. Drop in and chat.

Noon – Cutting horse, team penning and working cattle dog exhibitions by local cowboys.

7 p.m. – “Sand Hills in Music,” original program featuring pioneer songs set to narration; Tryon park.

8:30 p.m. – Stargazing, exclipse viewing site.

MONDAY, AUG. 21 9 a.m. – Gates open at eclipse viewing site, a half-mile from town. $15 per person, includes bottle of water, eclipse viewing glasses. Reserved spaces for large telescopes, photography equipment, $25 additional.

Secure in advance with check payable to Eclipse in the Sand Hills, 300 E. Highway

92, Tryon, NE 69167. Note: Access to the viewing site is by foot over gently sloped rock road. Closedtoe shoes recommended.

Shuttle service available for handicapped spectators.

9 a.m. to 6 p.m. – Prairie tours, tepee village, flint knapping demonstrations; “Coffee with a Rancher.”

9 a.m. to 7 p.m. – Food vendors open. Craft vendors, educational booths open in vicinity.

12:53 p.m. – 2 minutes, 34 seconds of totality, the second-longest viewing time in Nebraska. Beatrice is first.

2 p.m. to 6 p.m. – Food vendors open.

Sand Hills

s,

t.

VERNoN WaITsSoft-spoken

brother to Elnora Neal, husband to Pauline, a doll collector. Commuted 30+ years to work in Union Pacific machine shop in North Platte.

Raises black Angus with sons Mike and Steve; loves checking the herd, tending the calves. Participating in “Coffee with a Rancher;” history comes to life in stories of paternal grandparents homesteading here.

Welded iron silhouette of a cowboy, horse and tombstone on hillside of his ranch is landmark on road to Tryon.

Tom EcKHoFF

WaNda WaITs

KaTHlEEN FIsHER

saNFoRd “saNdy” NEal

Lifelong bone and arrowhead hunter and collector, flint knapper; owns Stones & Bones Gallery and Emporium in nearby Hershey.

Setting up small living-history tepee village in Tryon. Will demonstrate flint knapping (“You take a rock and chip away everything that doesn’t look right”), sell arrowheads as souvenirs and share rock-hunting tales.“I have arrowheads from the McPherson-Lincoln County line that are 14,000 years old.”

Hardworking Sand Hills rancher with large herd of black Angus, grazing ground for as far as the eye can see, sheared St. Bernard named Bentley, and easygoing rancher husband named Mike.

Known for her cooking and baking; will promote Nebraska beef in catering to overnight guests at her ranch. Daughter-in-law to Vernon Waits.

Supplier of portable outhouses; host to RV and tent campers at her place in Ringgold, a one-time town now a wide spot in the road on the way to Stapleton. Tore down an old house to make more space for campers; collaborating with neighbors to open nearby pasture for private eclipse viewing. Quilted commemorative quilt for raffle.

Sister-in-law to Elnora Neal.

Owner and chief cook at Aunt Bea’s Café, where helpings are ample, coffee refills are free, and conversations start with “the story I hear . . .” Cautiously optimistic about turnout for “Totality in Tryon” but will be ready to feed whoever shows up. Credit, debit cards accepted. Book exchange in the breezeway will make first-timers smile. Brother-in-law to Elnora Neal.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY kuRT A. keeleR

IT’s RuGGEd ouT HERE, FolKs

WHERE To sTay

• Tryon’s gas station will have limited hours Sunday, service Monday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Plan fill-ups accordingly.

• Cell service is spotty. A personal hotspot can come in handy.

• Navigation is best by Google Maps.

• State troopers will patrol for vehicles parked in nondesignated areas. Obey “No Trespassing” signs.

• Open campfires are prohibited. Propane and charcoal grills may be OK with some property owners. Ask ahead, and heed seasonal fire danger warnings.

• Bring cash; some vendors may not accept credit cards.

North Platte (with some 1,300 sleeping rooms) is “completely booked,” according to the North Platte/ Lincoln County Visitors Bureau. “Your best bet is to call around and inquire about cancellations,” advises Muriel Clark of the visitors bureau.

Some locals are offering spare rooms; pastures for RV, tent camping. Two near Tryon: • The Kathleen and Wiley Fisher home at Ringgold, population 9, maybe 7, depending on the day. Primitive tent camping, RV parking; no electrical hookups, no generators. “But you can have all the water you want for free.”

Makeshift showers, portable toilets.

On-site meals available. Private solar eclipse viewing area. Space rentals per night: $75, RV camper; $50, tent. www.centerlinecamping.com

• The Wanda and Mike Waits ranch north of Tryon.

Limited access to electricity; no generators, “we want people to hear the coyotes.” Dogs allowed but must be leashed. Some catered meals upon request; served in shop building as makeshift dining hall.

Host is known for her sweet rolls with honey-roasted peanuts and white icing. Family-friendly experience includes a fun encounter with black Angus herd. “We’ll take you out in the pasture with a pail of cattle cakes, and the cows will come right up to you and eat them from your hands.” $57 per night. Airbnb.com/Tryon, Nebraska

OMAHA WORLD-HERALD

Choose your own solar adventure

By Sue Story truax WORLD-HERALD CORRESPONDENT

Many Nebraska communities will have solar eclipse events, some of which are fee-based. Here’s a sampling.

ALLIANCE Starting Aug. 19, Alliance will offer educational and family-friendly programs, live entertainment, astronomy seminars and more. On Aug. 21, try “Waitin’ for the Sun to Go Dark� at one of the area’s viewing sites.

Information: carhengesolareclipse2017. com.

AURORA Aurora’s Edgerton Explorit Center and The Leadership Center will have eclipse viewing plus shows in a portable digital planetarium, high-altitude balloon launches, an evening star party at a local prairie preserve and more. Information and reservations: tlcaurora.org/home. Several Grand Island groups are co-sponsoring these events.

BEATRICE/HOMESTEAD NATIONAL MONUMENT Homestead National Monument of America at Beatrice will provide a weekend of eclipserelated activities led by NASA personnel plus stargazing Aug. 19-20. The monument will be a NASA broadcast location. The fairgrounds in Beatrice will have additional parking with shuttle service provided.

Additional viewing sites will be in nearby

Pickrell and Virginia. Information: 402-2233514 or nps.gov/home/index.htm.

CRETE/WILBER Both towns’ chambers of commerce will sponsor Saline Solar Shadow, a weekend of events. These will include a parade, educational presentations, polka contest, barbecue and eclipse viewing. Information: facebook.com/ events/1255719121173032.

HASTINGS Hastings’ 2017 SolFest will feature a SolFest Gala, musical performances at Brickyard Park, an Art & SolFest downtown and solar eclipse viewing. Information and tickets: solfesthastings.com.

KEARNEY/RAVENNA Ravenna and Kearney will co-host a weekend of events in both towns. Kearney’s Blackout on the Bricks will include a watch party, educational programs at the University of Nebraska at Kearney’s planetarium, a concert and more. Ravenna’s Hometown Eclipse Festival will offer educational presentations, entertainment, a runbicycle-kayak event and more. Information: solareclipsenebraska.com or visitkearney. org/2017-total-solar-eclipse

LINCOLN Haymarket Park will provide solar eclipse

Heavenly viewing

viewing points plus indoor and outdoor talks, presentations and more. Other observation areas will be available across Lincoln and Lancaster County. Information: lincoln.org.

NORTH PLATTE North Platte programs will include historical presentations of Native American and early settlers’ reactions to past eclipses, art workshops and astronomy education. Also expect nightly star parties in the Sand Hills hosted by local astronomers. Information: visitnorthplatte.com/events/2017-totalsolar-eclipse.

PAWNEE COUNTY Pawnee County’s Table Rock, Pawnee City, Steinauer and Lewiston will offer StarFest with viewing packages. Steinauer also will have two free eclipse viewing areas plus free stargazing until 11 p.m. on Aug. 19 at two locations. Cortland will have music in the park plus eclipse viewing in the storm shelter if Aug. 21 is an inclement-weather day.

Post-eclipse plans there include a fireworks display. Information and to purchase tickets: pawneecountynebraska.com/2017-eclipse.

STAPLETON Besides eclipse viewing, the weekend will coincide with the Aug. 18-19 Biggest Little Rodeo. Other activities include a working ranch rodeo, craft fair and street dance. Information and tickets: stapletonnebraskaeclipse2017.com.

Nebraska Star Party: This annual event will be July 23-28 at Snake Campground at Merritt Reservoir, 27 miles south of Valentine. Beginner’s Field School will show you how to explore the sky. Kids’ programs are offered. You don’t need a telescope to attend. For information and to register: nebraskastarparty.org. Vehicles must display a Nebraska State Park Entry Permit.

Behlen Observatory at Mead: This University of Nebraska-Lincoln observatory offers several public nights each year. They are advertised in advance at astro.unl. edu/observatory.

Boswell Observatory at Crete: Public viewing nights currently aren’t offered, but a spokesman said Doane College plans to offer such events yet this year. Information: doane.edu/boswell-observatory.

Hyde Memorial Observatory in Lincoln: The observatory is open Saturday nights for public viewing. Information: hydeobservatory.info.

Mallory Kountze Observatory in the Durham Science Center at the University of Nebraska at Omaha: Weatherpermitting, rooftop observations are scheduled twice a month during the fall and spring semesters. Admission: $3.

Information: aimforthestars.unomaha.edu/ planetarium.

Lueninghoener Planetarium at Midland University in Fremont: Public viewing generally is offered twice yearly.

Information: midlandu.edu/basic-page/ lueninghoener-planetarium.

Sachtleben Observatory in Hastings: The Hastings College observatory is open two Saturdays a month. Information including dates: hastings.edu/abouthastings-college/our-campus/sachtlebenobservatory.

Omaha Astronomical Society: Club members host Astronomy in the Park, a public star party, 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. the second Tuesday of each month at Zorinsky Lake Park, 3808 S. 156th St. Information: omahaastro.com. — Sue Story Truax

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OMAHA WORLD-HERALD

Campers don’t have to travel far for a weekend outdoors

By Maggie O’Brien WORLD-HERALD CORRESPONDENT

Camping is a big deal in Nebraska and Iowa. RV enthusiasts say campgrounds in both states offer a fun, beautiful way to experience all the state’s parks and recreation areas.

Here’s a sampling of camper favorites.

It’s a good idea to reserve space ahead of time. Weekends are busiest, and prices may change from year to year. Also, a Nebraska park permit is required for all state parks and recreation areas.

MAHONEY STATE PARK 28500 W. Park Highway, Ashland Open year-round. Includes 690 acres with Family Aquatic Center, observation tower, hiking, biking, fishing, horseback riding, miniature golf, driving range, camping, nature conservatory, sporting areas, trails, paddleboat rental, playground, lodge, restaurant and crafts. Winter activities include cross-country skiing, tobogganing and sledding, ice skating and ice fishing.

402-944-2523; outdoornebraska.gov

PLATTE RIVER STATE PARK 14421 346th St., Louisville This 418-acre park offers swimming, horseback riding, hiking, biking, paddleboat rentals and crafting. Shooting (pellet, .22 caliber rifle, shotgun, archery, slingshot) on an outdoor range, open daily during the summer.

The 85-foot observation tower is open year-

round. Activities run Memorial Day through Labor Day, switching to weekends-only in mid-August. The Walter Scott Lodge restaurant is usually open Mother’s Day weekend through September and weekends in May and September. 402-234-2217; outdoornebraska. gov

FREMONT LAKES STATE RECREATION AREA 4349 W. State Lakes Road, Fremont Open year-round. Forty land acres and 210 water acres include 20 sandpit lakes.

Numerous beaches, personal watercraft area, boating, fishing, handicapped-accessible fishing pier, hiking, camping, picnicking and playground equipment. 402-727-2922

LAKE WANAHOO STATE RECREATION AREA A half-mile north of Wahoo Offers 1,115 acres of park and 662 acres of water. The recreation area, which opened two years ago, is a hot spot for fishing for all ages and abilities. Two handicapped-accessible piers, a rock breakwater access and boat ramp. No-wake lake. Picnic areas and shelters on the eastern shore. 402-443-1037

LOUISVILLE STATE RECREATION AREA 15810 Nebraska Highway 50, Louisville Open year-round. Includes 192 acres with five sandpit lakes, picnic areas, a swimming beach, fishing, nonpower or electric-motor boating, kayaks, canoeing, access to the Platte River and camping. Gate closes to

noncampers at 10 p.m. and reopens at 6 a.m. in the summer, and from sunset to sunrise in the winter. 402-234-6855

MEMPHIS STATE RECREATION AREA Accessible from Nebraska Highway 63 via County Road D near Memphis; 7.5 miles north of Ashland Open year-round. Includes 163 acres with 48-acre lake. Fishing, hiking trail, picnic areas, wildlife viewing, wakeless boating and camping. Has 150 primitive camping sites without electricity. Nice primitive camping areas for tents and self-contained RVs. 402-471-0641

TWO RIVERS STATE RECREATION AREA 27702 F St., Waterloo Has 644 acres for fishing, swimming, picnic facilities, nonpower boating, horse camp and camping. Open year-round. 402-359-5165

LAKE MANAWA STATE PARK 1100 South Shore Drive, Council Bluffs Includes 1,529 acres with 772-acre lake, open year-round. Boating, fishing, swimming, playground, picnic shelters and trails, including six miles of mountain bike trails. 712-3660220 or iowastateparks.reserveamerica.com

WESTERN HISTORIC TRAILS CENTER Council Bluffs trails system, Wabash Trace Nature Trail.

Beach open daily 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Memorial

Day through Labor Day. 877-427-2757 or iowastateparks.reserveamerica.com

ARROWHEAD PARK 29357 310th St., Neola, Iowa Open year-round. Hiking trails, fishing (bait can be purchased at park), playground, basketball and sand volleyball courts, picnic facilities, paddleboat and canoe rental, showers and restrooms. Primitive camping area, 64 electrical hookups and three rustic cabins.

712-485-2295; pottcoconservation.com

BOTNA BEND PARK 42926 Mahogany Road, Hancock, Iowa Open year-round; 117 acres, located on West Nishnabotna River. Basketball and volleyball courts, biking, bison and elk herds, canoe and kayak rentals, river fishing, hiking trails, picnic areas and playground. Restrooms and shower tower at river access point. 712-741-5465; pottcoconservation.com

WEST OMAHA KOA 14601 U.S. Highway 6, Gretna Open year-round. Swimming pool, bicycle rentals and miniature golf. Sand volleyball, shuffleboard, badminton, basketball, jumping pillow, slackline, zipline; showers and restrooms; nearby fishing and golfing.

Pavilion/meeting room available. Two lodges, six cabins, four cottages, 10 tent sites and 60 RV sites. 402-332-3010 or 800-562-1632; koa.com

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OMAHA WORLD-HERALD

Larry and Pat Meeves enjoy state park campgrounds as they explore the United States. This scene is from a visit to Ohio.

Easy life on the open road Travel in a recreational vehicle is as American as apple pie, baseball and John Wayne

By Maggie O’Brien WORLD-HERALD CORRESPONDENT

There are lots of reasons travelers in Nebraska and Iowa choose to RV their way through their home states and the rest of the U.S. Some like to camp. Others enjoy having many of the comforts of home with them at all times, including a bed, a TV (or three) and a bathroom (or two).

Most, though, agree that vacationing in their RVs is an amazing way to experience their surroundings in ways they couldn’t if they were traveling by plane or car. Here’s a look at some local RV enthusiasts and why they say driving or towing a home on wheels is the only way to go.

LARRY AND PAT MEEVES Council Bluffs Larry and Pat Meeves have been RV camping for about 35 years, since their two daughters were little. The Council Bluffs couple discovered early on that camping in their RV was an inexpensive way to enjoy their vacations, which

meant they could travel more often to more places locally and across the U.S. “It was the cheapest way to go, because it was better than paying for a hotel and eating out all the time,” Pat Meeves said. “Plus, when you get to a motel, what do you do? You turn the TV on. This way, we took the bikes, did things together and sat around and really talked.”

Now that they are retired, the couple like to take their fifth-wheel and head all over the U.S., especially to visit their younger daughter in San Diego, and Liberty, Missouri, where their older daughter lives with her husband and children. They also love Palm Springs.

Pat said she learned long ago that the best way to prepare for RV season is to own two of everything: one item for the house and another for the camper.

“I have two sets of mixers, two sets of Crock Pots, stuff like that, so I don’t have to take it back and forth. But you still have to pack your clothes and whatever food items you want.”

Larry said the only bad thing about RV traveling and camping is that there is very little privacy.

“It can be really confining, because you’re always close to each other, but we’re still married,” he joked. “At least when you are at a campground, you can walk out the door and find other people to talk to all over.”

Omahans Larry and Jan Novicki enjoy a lobster dinner as they camp on Prince Edward Island.

LARRY AND JAN NOVICKI Omaha Like the Meeves family, Larry and Jan Novicki of Omaha started camping because it was an economical way to take their four children on vacations.

They started in 1967 as tent campers, but soon upgraded to a pop-up RV and eventually a Class A motor home. The Novickis have camped at Platte River and Mahoney State Parks, Two Rivers, Branched Oak, Pawnee and Mormon Island State Recreation Areas, Fort Robinson and Chadron State Parks and Fremont Lakes State Recreation Area in

Nebraska; and Viking Lake and Blackhawk Lake in Iowa. They have also taken longer trips, such as to the Black Hills in South Dakota and Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado.

On a trip to Door County, Wisconsin, when the family still stayed in tents, “we found ourselves setting up camp in a heavy rain,” Larry said. “Next to us, a man and his wife pulled up in a motorhome. He ran out of the camper and quickly plugged it into electricity.

The two of them were having dinner while we were still struggling with our wet pop-up tent. Hence came our next upgrade — to a 31-foot Class C motorhome.”

After the couple retired, they kept camping at Mormon Island, Mahoney State Park and Louisville in the fall. But they also have branched out, traveling to 46 of the lower 48 states and nearly all the Canadian provinces.

They spend six weeks to two months each winter in Texas, staying the past four years in an RV park in San Antonio.

They also have followed the Huskers to Blacksburg, Virginia, for the Virginia Tech game and to Seattle, Washington, for the Washington game.

“One of the best things about camping is that we can take our pets,” Larry said.

“Our dog and cat saw the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, the Gulf of Mexico, the Great Lakes, Lake Winnipeg and Lake

OMAHA WORLD-HERALD

“We love this life because we decided that experiences are more important than things. And every night, we get to sleep in our own bed.”

— Larry Marik Louise along with many points of interest in between, from the Florida Keys to Prince Edward Island, Vancouver to the White Sands of New Mexico.

“And for certain, the very best thing is meeting nice people from all over the continent and beyond. We have very good friends who are winter Texans with us, and we keep in touch through the year.”

JENNIFER AND ADAM SMITH Honey Creek, Iowa Jennifer and Adam Smith bought an RV because they grew tired of sleeping on the ground.

The couple had enjoyed tent camping and the camping lifestyle in general, but in 2004 they decided roughing it was for the birds and that they preferred to have a bed and shower with them. The Smiths are now on their fifth camper — a fifth-wheel that includes not only a bed and shower, but also a kitchen, fireplace and multiple televisions so they can watch Hawkeye and Husker football games in the fall.

“We definitely don’t camp, we ‘glamp,’ ” Jennifer said. “We are ‘glampers’ for sure.

All the comforts of home including the Keurig, Crock Pot and margarita blender.”

They like to camp within an hour or two of Omaha, though she said wanting to get away for a spontaneous weekend can be a challenge because many campgrounds book up far in advance. Their go-to spot is Two Rivers State Park in Waterloo, Nebraska, which is convenient for them and the four couples with whom they like to camp. They also hit Branched Oak Lake, Indian Cave State Park, Ponca State Park and Fremont Lakes in Nebraska.

In Iowa, the Smiths like Hitchcock Park, Arrowhead County Park and Prairie Rose State Park.

“We sometimes take in the local happenings,” she said. “If there is an event at the park we are at, we join in. If there is a town garage sale close to the park, we all go as a group to see what we can buy that we don’t need. Some couples take walks, ride bikes, go fishing, head to the local lavender farm to pick lavender.”

She also said she and her husband love RV camping most because it has allowed them to make lifelong friends they see every year who enjoy the same lifestyle. Her group has 10 trips scheduled this season, and they plan to alternate cooking duties so each couple can save money and time, and they can all eat together.

“Camping people are good, honest people,” she said. “Between the five regular couples, there are seven dogs ... and if all else fails, we are totally ready and set up for swank living quarters in case of the zombie apocalypse.”

BIANCA AND BILL CRAIG Omaha Like the Smiths, Bianca and Bill Craig were tent campers. They bought their first pop-up RV in 2009; that lasted a few seasons before the couple upgraded to a fifth-wheel.

The Craigs love being outside; walking their dog, riding bikes or visiting with friends. Traveling and camping in their

RV allows them to enjoy all of those things any weekend they choose during spring, summer and fall.

“It is an inexpensive and fun way to get away — like a mini-vacation,” she said. “We also enjoy relaxing around a campfire.”

The couple like to take their camper — which includes a full kitchen with a refrigerator, stove, microwave and shower — to Two Rivers.

“It’s close to town, but still out of the city,” Bianca said.

The Craigs also go to Indian Cave State Park, where they participate in a Halloween contest every October — they’ve won several times — and Ponca State Park.

After a final fall trip, Bianca and Bill winterize the fifth-wheel and store it until spring. When the weather warms up, they pack up their RV and are ready to hit the road.

“There are plenty of places within a short drive to camp in Nebraska and Iowa,” Bianca said. “The parks are well kept, and there are plenty of activities in and around the parks. We always look forward to that first camping trip of the season.”

LARRY AND MARY ANN MARIK Columbus (and on the road) Larry and Mary Ann Marik were hotel people. Then they got an RV. Now, it’s their home.

The couple’s 2015 Winnebago Journey looks like a big bus and has a fireplace and a lounge, a Sleep Number bed, a washer and dryer and two bathrooms. They wanted it to be as nice as a house, and for good reason: They sold their Columbus home a few years ago after they retired and decided to live in their RV full time. They tow their car behind it.

The Mariks figure they are on the road for 10,000 miles a year, going everywhere from Alaska to Louisiana and in-between — often for months at a time.

“We love this life because we decided that experiences are more important than things,” Larry said. “And every night, we get to sleep in our own bed.”

Larry, a musician and former mayor of Columbus, travels with his instruments, storing them in the RV’s half bathroom.

There isn’t a Nebraska state park the couple doesn’t like or hasn’t seen.

“We did the Great Park Pursuit one year and discovered some places that were wonderful….Lake Minatare, Chadron, Memphis, Bowring Ranch,” Larry said. “We like the city park in Norfolk because there is easy access to the Cowboy Trail. We like Walnut Creek campground in Papillion because we can easily access Omaha’s trails.”

Larry and Mary Ann have camped at campgrounds, in Walmart and Cabela’s parking lots, at casinos and upscale resorts.

Every place has its own appeal, they said.

The only downside to the RV lifestyle is that they don’t see their children and grandchildren as often as they’d like. But they’re having a lot of fun.

“Wherever we are, RV people are friendly,” Larry said. “No dinner in the coffee shop, then a solitary evening in a hotel room. I have to say that every place we’ve been is our favorite.”

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OMAHA WORLD-HERALD

Passport to Nebraska

MIKE WHYE

2021313-01

A rider from Kentucky takes in the view from a bluff near Fort Robinson State Park, one of 80 featured stops in the Nebraska Passport program.

MAY 5–JUNE 4

JUNE 15–25

MAY 26–JUNE 25

JULY 12–23

Thousands of people travel through Nebraska each day on Interstate 80 without stopping.

But last year, Jo Hogan of Ponca and her daughter, Kim Kouri of Omaha, made anything but a nonstop pass through the Cornhusker State. They meandered, checking out historical artifacts in museums, sipping their way through coffee shops, eyeing art in galleries, examining fossils and walking part of the Oregon Trail.

In all, they visited 80 places, all the sites on the Nebraska Passport program, which is administered by the Nebraska Tourism Commission to encourage people to visit the state’s diverse attractions.

Last year 26,440 people participated in the program. Of those, 168 visited all 80 sites.

“The feedback has been great,” said Jenn Gjerde, public information officer for the commission, adding that participants in the free program are ready to travel each time a new list of sites comes out.

Some places may be listed more than one year while others are added, replacing some from the previous year.

New sites this year include the Museum of Shadows in Elmwood, Chez Bubba Café in Goehner, Prairie Arts Center in North Platte, North Fork Outfitting in Norfolk, Citta’ Deli in McCook, Junto Wine near Seward and Horn T Zoo in Monroe.

Omahans Leslie and Mark Kwasnieski visited the 80 sites in 2015 and 2016. Sometimes they planned loop tours around parts of the state.

“We set up routes to get the best number of stops in one trip,” Leslie said. “I navigate, and he drives.”

The Kwasnieskis arranged their Nebraska tour for a few days here and a few days there spread over the length of the program, which runs from May 1 to Sept. 30 every year.

“We once visited 23 places in four days,” Mark said. “That was brutal.”

When they arrived in Madrid to visit its general store, they found it closed. Yet a woman saw them and came running across the street to say hello. She opened the store and invited the Kwasnieskis in. “They had bulk flour and sugar, lemon drops, homemade cinnamon rolls, fabrics (and) kids’ toys,” Leslie said. “She was the nicest

person ever.”

Leslie’s favorite stop was Brown Sheep Co. in Mitchell.

“They dye their wool right there and give tours,” she said, adding that they also liked trying their hand at duckpin bowling in Potter, the only duckpin bowling alley west of the Mississippi.

Hogan and Kouri traveled about 10 days to see all 80 sites. Hogan said that after they drove on a three-day route on their first trip, they waited about three weeks before their next drive. “We got a map and marked it so we knew where we had to go. We didn’t want to miss anything.”

While she and Kouri traveled, Hogan’s husband, David, stayed at home and arranged their hotel accommodations, phoning them the information as they traveled.

“He wasn’t into riding with two women,” Hogan said with a laugh. Last year, her name was drawn from the stack of names of those who had visited all 80 sites and won the grand prize, a monthly package of Omaha Steaks for a year. Other gifts this year include weekend vacations, lottery tickets, chocolates, mugs, calendars, T-shirts and more.

Hogan said the passport program took them to many places they would not have otherwise visited, such as Agate Fossil Beds National Monument; Ortello Dale, an eclectic gift shop in Broken Bow; and eat restaurant, an eatery in Dodge that does not capitalize its name.

Occasionally when visiting passport sites, they would stop at other nearby places that weren’t part of the program, such as Toadstool Park while visiting High Plains Homestead.

When Ellen and Marv Wemhoff of Kearney first participated in the passport program, they thought they wouldn’t visit all 80 sites, but they did. They watched red-hot glass being blown at Omaha’s Crystal Forge and enjoyed a tour of Icon Poly, a Gibbon business that creates fiberglass sculptures such as 26 6-foot-tall western boots used for a recent art project in Elko, Nevada.

Ellen said participating in the passport program finally got them to visit western Nebraska, and they enjoyed meeting many fine people along the way.

“We know everybody in Nebraska is nice,” she said. “This just proved it.”

Learn more about the Nebraska Passport Program at Nebraskapassport.com.

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OMAHA WORLD-HERALD

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with activities for the whole family!

Whether it’s traveling back in time for an educational experience at the Archway, exploring the 200+ historic restored cars at the Classic Car Collection, or kayaking the Kearney Water Trail, you are sure to find something for every member of your family to enjoy!

www.familyresortmn.com y

• Stay 3 Nights, get 4th night FREE from May 10 - June 17 • 4 - 8Bd Family Reunion Log Cabins • Lodge with Game Room, Snacks, Gifts and more!

• Outdoor heated Pool • Wireless Internet • Lakeside Log Cabins, with Full Kitchen, AC, Satellite TV • Washer/Dryer facilities • Large, Safe Sandy Beach • Free use of Kayaks, Hydrobikes, Canoes and Paddleboats • Boat and Pontoon Rentals

Enjoy the Summer

Call or email for details. Don’t let these savings slip away, experience a Minnesota Northwoods Vacation today.

Pierson Wildlife Museum Learning Center

The Classic Car Collection

Yours To Discover

Explore this summer & learn about wildlife from around the world!

A unique & educational display of big game animals from Africa and other countries.

Hosting an event, inquire about our Traveling Display – featuring an incredible array of species sure to thrill.

OTHER HOURS BY APPOINTMENTJUST A PHONE CALL AWAY GROUP RATES AVAILABLE

205 East 5th St. Neligh Ne 68756

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Summer Hours: Tues. – Sun. 1:00 – 4:00pm

ccckearney.com 308-234-1964 F I N D Y O U R E S C A P E

3600 East Hwy 30 Suite B (East side of Cabela’s) Kearney, NE 68847

Okoboji VACATION

Call for your FREE Vacation Guide Today!

800.270.2574 | VacationOkoboji.com

402.929.0330 or 402.887.4212 • www.piersonwildlifemuseumneligh.com

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to Elk Horn, Iowa’s Authentic 1848

DANISH WINDMILL

A piece of Denmark Close to Home Open Daily Visit our Danish Import Shop

.

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Tivoli Fest -- May 27-28, 2017 Julefest -- November 24-25, 2017 900 A.D. VikingHjem, Morning Star Chapel and the new Ebeltoft Village I-80, Exit 54, 6 miles north danishwindmill.com

visitkearney.org 800-652-9435

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OMAHA WORLD-HERALD

You don’t have to be a

MASTER HORSEMAN to experience everything that North Platte has to offer.

However, we do recommend facing forward.

DISCOVER MORE AT

BuffaloBillsAdventures.com There’s a reason Buffalo Bill made North Platte his home.

He found the room to roam, explore, and have fun.

Tanking the Platte River, riding singletrack at Potter’s Pasture and the giant spectacle of NEBRASKAland Days are just a few of the activities you’ll find out here.

That’s why North Platte gets Buffalo Bill’s Buffalo of Approval.

800-955-4528 | BuffaloBillsAdventures.com 2020901-01