Nebraska Official State Travel Guide - The Official 2020 Not-At-All What You Thought State Travel Guide
SOUTH CENTRAL
2019-12-14 00:58:55
Follow the trails—this region is full of them. Just be sure to look up for the iconic Archway and in spring, the sandhill crane migration.
WHAT TO DO
Follow 100-plus brightly painted blocks along the Barn Quilts Trail for a scenic drive through Dawson County. In Kearney, April through October, try paddling (or maybe paddle-boarding) the 2.3-mile Kearney Water Trail. In Red Cloud, take the “Country Tour” from the National Willa Cather Center. You’ll see the childhood home and Pavelka Farmstead related to the Pulitzer Prize-winning author. Year ’round, Fonner Park in Grand Island hosts events, but the big draw is live thoroughbred racing from mid-February to early May.
WHERE TO STAY
Families love Holiday Inn Kearney, where kids eat free and the Captain’s Lagoon features water slides for all ages and a kids’ pool. For a natural retreat, try Whisker Creek Ranch and Lodge in Gibbon, surrounded by 25 acres of land with access to the Platte River. Or, step back in time at the Kaley House Bed and Breakfast in Red Cloud, a modernized Queen Anne-style home that dates to 1886 and sits near sites related to author Willa Cather.
WHERE TO EAT
Dine at Joy’s Table in Kearney, where the menu features delicious pasta dishes and steaks. Go for a variety of coffee-based drinks—beer and cocktails included—at Kearney’s TRU Café. For an authentic vibe—good food, friendly service and down-to-earth digs—hit Kirk’s Nebraskaland Restaurant in Lexington or Shirley K’s in Cambridge, a favorite for coffee and sandwiches. For something different, munch on bruschetta boards and Japanese-style noodle bowls at Odyssey in Hastings.
LOTS TO SEE & DO
WHERE TO DRINK
Sample Nebraska wines, brews and spirits at the George Spencer Tasting Room in Gibbon. You can even rent out the tasting room’s suite for a unique overnight stay. At Steeple Brewing Co. in Hastings, settle into one of the old church pews for fellowship with friends and craft beer—maybe the Bats in the Belfry nut brown ale. Don’t miss creations such as the Prairie Peach pale wheat ale at Thunderhead Brewing in Kearney.
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SOUTH CENTRAL
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