Nebraska Official State Travel Guide

Welcome Letter

Wed, 19 Nov 2025 04:28:24 +0000

Dear Friends and Travelers,

Welcome to Nebraska!

You may be a first-time visitor, a returning guest who’s been coming here for years or a fellow Nebraskan, but you all have something in common: By picking up this travel guide, you’ve opened the door to one-of-a-kind adventures.

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Heritage

Tue, 18 Nov 2025 09:18:30 +0000

Time Travel Is Possible

Nebraska’s heritage is that of Native Americans, pioneers, cowboys and explorers. Our state’s rich history bleeds into our lifestyle and culture on the plains. These historic sites and museums detail our storied past on the rugged frontier, taking visitors back to the days of the homestead, rough-and-tumble cowpoke towns and migratory trails that pushed the nation west.

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Outdoors

Tue, 18 Nov 2025 09:05:45 +0000

The Unbelievably Great Outdoors

Mountain bikers, sailors, equestrians, campers and astronomers are among the explorers journeying through Nebraska. You’ll find them paddling our rivers, sailing our lakes, traversing our trails and finding a nice spot to lie under the stars in our campgrounds. From floating down the river in a livestock tank — we call that tanking — to basking in the glow of millions of stars overhead, these adventurers choose Nebraska for a reason: The outdoor opportunities are endless here. And you’re welcome to join in the fun.

Best Stargazing in the Universe

STARGAZING

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America’s 250th Tribute Trivia

Tue, 18 Nov 2025 09:04:40 +0000

How well do you know Nebraska? From a U.S. President to everyone’s favorite childhood drink to The Godfather, Nebraska’s influence on our nation is boundless. To celebrate America’s 250th birthday, we turned to our residents to help craft the ultimate Nebraska trivia game showcasing how our state has helped shape our great nation.

Instructions

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Nebraska Passport

Tue, 18 Nov 2025 09:00:27 +0000

Discover Nebraska’s Hidden Gems

Need a little more inspiration when exploring the Cornhusker State? Discover all sorts of adventures and hidden gems with the Nebraska Passport.

HOW TO

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Southeast

Tue, 18 Nov 2025 08:52:38 +0000

Explore the delights of Nebraska’s capital city, plus bluffs and caves carved by the Missouri River.

WHAT TO DO
Follow a costumed guide on a tour of the Czech Capital of Nebraska, Wilber. Sit a spell on One of the World’s Largest Covered Porch Swings in Hebron. In Lincoln, tour the Nebraska State Capitol. Explore downtown Lincoln to discover the Haymarket District and Memorial Stadium, home of the Husker football team. In Denton, walk the trails to see wildlife at the Spring Creek Prairie Audubon Center. Shop candles, soap, car diffusers and more at Lincoln’s Wax Buffalo Pure Soy Candle Co. shops.

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Northeast

Tue, 18 Nov 2025 08:32:04 +0000

Quaint towns dot the landscape, and history runs as deep as the Missouri River.

WHAT TO DO
Discover the legacy of the first Native American woman to earn a medical degree in the U.S. at the recently revitalized Dr. Susan La Flesche Picotte Center in Walthill. In Genoa, learn more about Native American history at the Genoa U.S. Indian School Foundation Museum. In Neligh, tour Nebraska’s only mill with its original equipment intact at Neligh Mill State Historic Site. Get acquainted with Nebraska’s 1921 Poet Laureate, John G. Neihardt, at Neihardt State Historic Site in Bancroft.

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Metro

Tue, 18 Nov 2025 08:31:30 +0000

Experience Nebraska’s vibrant urban scene. The Metro area is teeming with arts, food, culture, nightlife and can’t miss events — all along the Missouri River.

WHAT TO DO
Boat, hike, bike or birdwatch along The RiverFront in Omaha. Visit the Malcolm X Birthsite in Omaha. Here, you’ll find a plaza, historical marker and 17-acre memorial site devoted to the life and legacy of the human rights activist. Visit The Joslyn to browse 5,000 years of world art across three buildings, including the new 42,000-square-foot Hawks Pavilion, in Omaha. Tour Omaha’s El Museo Latino to see works from national and international Latino artists. Omaha’s Found: Vintage Market features an assortment of vintage and modern furniture and home decor items. The Nebraska Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Papillion pays tribute to the nearly 400 Nebraska soldiers and sailors who died during the Vietnam War.

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South Central

Tue, 18 Nov 2025 06:51:23 +0000

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.

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Southwest

Tue, 18 Nov 2025 06:43:09 +0000

Head west: It’s what the pioneers did. Now it’s your turn. Discover frontier lore, railroad history and wide-open spaces.

WHAT TO DO
For a one-of-a-kind antiquing experience, head to Grain Bin Antique Town just outside North Platte. Here, you’ll find repurposed grain bins filled with all sorts of antiques and collectibles. Browse the Petrified Wood Gallery in Ogallala. The collection showcases ancient woods and fossils, Native American artifacts and artwork. For more Native American history, visit Massacre Canyon Historical Monument near Trenton to see the 1873 battlegrounds of the Pawnee and Sioux nations. Hit the water for swimming, boating and fishing at Red Willow Reservoir State Recreation Area in McCook. Shop bath products and goods made with fresh lavender at Our Lavender Co. near Big Springs.

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Sandhills

Tue, 18 Nov 2025 06:33:52 +0000

Home to the Niobrara National Scenic River, this region’s visual landscape and ecological diversity create a natural getaway.

WHAT TO DO
In Valentine, bring your clubs to golf at The Prairie Club, or go on a Sandhills bison tour at Golden Prairie Bison. Campers are welcome to stay on the ranch as well. For river adventures, rent canoes, kayaks and tubes from Niobrara Adventures in Niobrara or Glidden Canoe Rental in Mullen to explore at your own pace. In Taylor, seek out “The Villagers,” over 120 life-sized paintings representing the townsfolk. Explore the Museum of Nebraska Major League Baseball in St. Paul to discover the state’s rich legacy of iconic ballplayers, like Wade Boggs, Bob Gibson and Richie Ashburn. The Golden Husk in Ord features family movies, concerts, community theater and more. Valentine’s Broken Spoke Boutique offers vintage clothing, jewelry and all sorts of accessories and souvenirs.

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Northwest

Tue, 18 Nov 2025 06:27:51 +0000

It’s truly wild out here: Rugged bluffs rise from the land, turning wideopen spaces into shared national treasures.

WHAT TO DO
At Panorama Point and Three-State Marker near Kimball, you can look out on Nebraska, Wyoming and Colorado. Connecting with the Nebraska National Forest Pine Ridge District, Chadron State Park in Chadron offers more than 100 miles of trails to explore. Nebraska’s first state park also features an archery range, disc golf, guided horseback riding, campgrounds and cabins. Shop wool yarns at the Brown Sheep Company Mill outlet shop near Mitchell. Relive the frontier days of the Old West on a self-guided tour through Dobby’s Frontier Town in Alliance. Climb the lighthouse steps for a panoramic view of Lake Minatare State Recreation Area in Minatare.

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Scenic Byways

Tue, 18 Nov 2025 06:10:58 +0000

Scenic Byways
Chart Your Adventure

Follow these scenic byways to all kinds of Nebraska adventures, including roadside attractions and hidden gems worth veering off for. Our state is full of unique opportunities. Come and find them!

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Culture

Tue, 18 Nov 2025 05:46:49 +0000

Cultivation Isn’t Just for Crops

One-of-a-kind events, sprawling art galleries and exhibitions, live music venues and electric college athletics — Nebraska is a destination full of cultural experiences for every interest. Whether you’re a music lover, an arts enthusiast or a college football fanatic, there’s an event or experience for you.

SPORTS

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Culinary

Fri, 14 Nov 2025 09:35:41 +0000

Extraordinary Culinary Delights

Hope you’re hungry — Nebraska is cookin’ up all kinds of delicious recipes, from scratch-made baked goods and original sundaes to sizzlin’ steaks and juicy burgers made from Nebraska-raised beef. Oh, and Italian, fried fish, bar-food favorites, diner milkshakes and some of the best sushi in the country, too. You don’t have to drive to the big city either. You’ll find must-try bites in every region here.

NORTHWEST

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Agritourism

Fri, 14 Nov 2025 09:28:50 +0000

Feel the Charm of the Farm

The land means something in Nebraska. Our rich soil has led the state to become one of the premier agricultural producers in the nation. In fact, we’ve got nearly 45,000 farms to prove it. With all that farmland comes a bounty of fresh products and naturally made goods. Come sample the fruits (and cheeses, wines, craft beer, popcorn and, of course, prime Nebraska beef) of our labor. Agriculture truly is a labor of love here.

Sips of Nebraska
Unwind at a winery or a brewery.

Taste the homegrown and craft-made concoctions of the land on a Nebraska brewery and winery tour.

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Family

Fri, 14 Nov 2025 07:54:15 +0000

Unadulterated Family Fun

Science museums, ranches, water parks, airboat tours, nature escapes, arcades and roadside attractions worth veering off for (did we mention the Bigfoot museum?) — yeah, you could say Nebraska is a one-of-a-kind family destination, and you’d be right. Load up the car, hit the road and make some family memories you’ll never forget.

NORTHWEST

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Creative Districts

Fri, 14 Nov 2025 07:43:01 +0000

Art Thrives in Nebraska Across the State, Inspiring Culture Awaits.

In large cities and small towns, Certified Creative Districts are hotbeds of creativity, each with its own personality. Discover museums, music venues, galleries, unique shops and imaginative food and drink.

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Welcome to Nebraska

Fri, 14 Nov 2025 07:37:21 +0000

Welcome to Life on the Plains

Nebraska is for explorers! As you wander off the main road, you’ll discover pioneer history, Old West heritage, one-of-a-kind roadside attractions and jaw-dropping natural monuments — the same ones that pioneers used as landmarks on the trails west. Now it’s your turn to roam these lands on your own Nebraska adventure.

CONNECT WITH US
Share your Nebraska adventures! Tag #VisitNebraska and follow us on social media.

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Calendar of Events

Fri, 14 Nov 2025 07:33:32 +0000

Actual Things to Do!

From the College World Series to Oregon Trail Days, these events are a sampling of some of Nebraska’s most-beloved annual traditions. Always check with event sponsors before finalizing your travel plans as dates and event details can change.

JANUARY

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Travel Resources

Fri, 14 Nov 2025 07:16:47 +0000

ON THE COVER

This year’s cover was illustrated by Katie Nieland. The design showcases some of Nebraska’s biggest attractions, including the Desert Dome, the world’s largest indoor desert, at Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium. The sandhill crane references Nebraska’s great sandhill crane migration each spring, the bison is a nod to our Native heritage and the road represents the Lincoln Highway National Scenic & Historic Byway that runs across our state. On the back, you’ll spot Chimney Rock (Bayard), the Cowboy Trail (Norfolk to Chadron) and Carhenge (Alliance). Keep reading to learn about these attractions and more Nebraska must-sees.

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Nebraska State Map

Thu, 13 Nov 2025 09:29:42 +0000