/ FAMILY / MAKE A SPLASH IN NATURE Just add splash to Nebraska’s lakes and rivers. Start on the Niobrara National Scenic River, lined with trees and wildflowers. Just grab a tube from Little Outlaw in Valentine and float! The slow-flowing water and pretty scenery create an ideal setting for making family memories. On the Platte River, check into Bryson’s Airboat Tours. These Fremont-based captains can seemingly fly over the water or chart a slow ride for maximum animal-viewing. On these rides, the boat gracefully glides over the waterways, sometimes bringing explorers face-to-face with river otters, beavers, eagles, deer and turkey. Ask about packages that allow time for swimming and additional activities on the water. This may sound unusual, but it’s common to see during a Nebraska summer: families bobbing down rivers in giant “drums” made of metal. It’s called tanking, and those drums are actually unused livestock watering tanks—the perfect vessel for lazy float trips, and guaranteed smiles, on Nebraska’s gentle rivers. Introduce the family to this local pastime at Glidden Canoe Rental in Mullen. BRYSON’S AIRBOAT TOURS, FREMONT SPEED OFF What’s your family’s speed? If it’s missiles and rockets, zoom over to the Strategic Air Command and Aerospace Museum in Ashland. This collection of restored military aircraft and spacecraft, including more than 25 planes and aerospace mockups, also features exhibits honoring World War II bombers, astronauts and more. For hands-on learners, the Edgerton Explorit Center in Aurora is the place to go. Here, kids can pilot a jet simulator, create giant bubbles, build and craft. Bonus points to the first family member to uncover how the museum got its name (Harold Eugene Edgerton was the Nebraska-born scientist who invented the strobe light!). Car enthusiasts, cruise to Lincoln for the Speedway Motors Museum of American Speed. View rare and even one-of-a-kind cars spanning decades. The museum’s three stories also hold related toys and memorabilia, creating a colorful trip through American automotive history. EDGERTON EXPLORIT CENTER, AURORA VisitNebraska.com 27
Nebraska Official State Travel Guide The Official 2019 Not-At-All What You Thought State Travel Guide: Page 31
