/ SCENIC BYWAYS / BRIDGES TO BUTTES SCENIC BYWAY Miles 197 The US 20 between the Wyoming Route border and Valentine 3 Bison 1 2 3 Crawford 385 20 brar a Nio r Rive 61 4 97 From the high bridges of Valentine to the high plains near the Wyoming border, this route takes you through rolling Sandhills in the east, wild prairies in the northern panhandle and two wonders in the west: Toadstool Geologic Park and Agate Fossil Beds National Monument. 4 Gems Worth a Stop 1. Look for the antique windmill (dating back to the 1880s) to locate the Sheridan County Historical Museum in Rushville. Exhibits and outbuildings explore local history, including the area’s service as a military camp following the Indian wars. Small-Town Stop: Crawford Known as the “Big Game Capital of Nebraska,” Crawford sits in the Pine Ridge area, full of trails for hiking and biking, as well as hunting grounds for bighorn sheep and elk. DO – Witness a modern archaeology excavation in progress at Hudson-Meng Research and Education Center. SHOP – Make Pine Needle Quilts your one-stop shop for fabric and quilting supplies. EAT – In season, hit Staabs Drive Inn, an old-school hamburger stand with thick malts. STAY – Book Down Home Ranch Guest House for a country retreat on a working ranch. 2. At Sheridan Gallery in Gordon, shop by appointment for original works of art in Western and Native American themes. Proprietor/artist Jean Ann Curry-Hess stocks antiques and collectibles, too. 3. Get a glimpse into Nebraska ranch life at Bowring Ranch State Historical Park in Merriman. The site’s Eve Bowring Visitor Center interprets ranching, homesteading, geology, wildlife and other topics related to the Sandhills and the Bowring family. 4. Enjoy 3,000 acres of sparkling water in the midst of the Sandhills at Merritt Reservoir State Recreation Area in Valentine. The area is open year-round, though summer is most popular for boating, fishing and watersports. TOADSTOOL GEOLOGIC PARK, NORTHWESTERN NEBRASKA 40 VisitNebraska.com CREDITS: EJNELSON314/ADOBE STOCK
Nebraska Official State Travel Guide The Official 2019 Not-At-All What You Thought State Travel Guide: Page 44
