Nebraska Official State Travel Guide - Nebraska 2026 Official State Travel Guide
South Central
2025-11-18 06:51:23
Follow the trails — this region is full of them. Just be sure to look up for the iconic Archway monument and spring’s sandhill crane migration.
WHAT TO DO
Take a scenic drive through Cozad along the Barn Quilt Trail, featuring over 100 painted barn quilt blocks. With two splashgrounds, paddleboat, paddleboard and kayak rentals, and fishing piers, Yanney Heritage Park in Kearney offers outdoor fun for all ages. In Red Cloud, take the guided “Country Tour” from the National Willa Cather Center to learn more about the author’s life and writings. Fonner Park in Grand Island hosts events year-round, including thoroughbred racing from mid-February to early May and the Nebraska State Fair each August. Plus, the brand-new Grand Island Casino Resort just opened on the campus in 2025. The stunning works and artists of Nebraska are on full display at the recently renovated and expanded Museum of Nebraska Art. Visit Kearney to see its collection of over 5,000 pieces.
WHERE TO STAY
Overnight in an early 20th-century mansion at Cambridge Bed & Breakfast while exploring Cambridge. Red Cloud’s 27-room Hotel Garber offers a boutique stay in the renovated, historical Potter- Wright building, built in 1902. With an indoor water park, the Crowne Plaza Kearney is perfect for families.
WHERE TO EAT
Egg scrambles, bagel sandwiches, crepes and lattes? Yes, please! Start your day at Kitt’s Kitchen and Coffee in Kearney. Stop by Everest Indian Kitchen in Grand Island for traditional Indian and Nepalese recipes. Munch on bruschetta boards and Japanese-style noodle bowls at Odyssey in downtown Hastings. Prime rib, grilled Alaskan salmon, chicken fried steak — T. Walker’s On Main Street brings you classic favorites like these and more in Gothenburg.
WHERE TO DRINK
Grab a few pints in Grand Island’s Railside District at Prairie Pride Brewing Co. Go for a glass of wine or craft cocktail at On the Brix tasting room in Red Cloud. Sample creations such as the Prairie Peach Wheat at Thunderhead Brewing in Kearney or the Back Alley porter at Hastings’ First Street Brewing Company.
SOUTH CENTRAL MUST-SEES
From sandhill cranes and pioneer trails to Kool-Aid and life on the prairie — find it all when you visit these South Central Nebraska must-sees.
- Nebraska Prairie Museum, Holdrege
- Crane Trust Nature & Visitor Center, Wood River
- Harold Warp Pioneer Village, Minden
- Hastings Museum, Hastings
- Stuhr Museum, Grand Island
- Robert Henri Gallery, Cozad
- Thunderhead Brewing, Kearney
- The Archway, Kearney
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