I don't always have a good explanation for how I end up in places like this, but I ended up here…read moreand that's what really matters. It's the first pony express station/office or whatever. So I'm wondering when the first letter got dropped off where was it going to go. To the 2nd pony express location? Who knows? I did not find out the answer to that on my visit here. I pulled up and the place was closed. But 2 super cool little old ladies were stopping by to unlock it because one had locked her keys inside. As a result of their kindness I was given a brief tour of the inside of the place. It's like a lot of old buildings. Storied, rustic, low ceilings and basically made entirely of wood. Some brochures, some gift shop items (I got a magnet woop), and something tells me that there's never a long line to get in. It's not far from the interstate, and it's kind of situated in a calm and relaxing park so I mean, yeah...all good things. Stop by if you're passing through. Get a magnet. That's what I did. You should do it too.

What a nice little stop just off I-80! This is a beautiful example of a typical pony express…read moredepot. Great place to stretch your legs. A lot of stuff to look at and cool gift shop.

We visited The Archway and came away with mixed feelings--mostly because this just isn't a great…read morefit for families with very young kids. Ours are aged 8 and 2. When you enter, you're given a handheld device to scan exhibit numbers and listen to narration. In theory, it's a cool idea. In reality, it was tough to manage while chasing kids who were already 10-15 steps ahead. The device didn't always work smoothly, and trying to troubleshoot it mid-visit was frustrating. I eventually gave up and just narrated what I could myself. I expected we'd move through quickly because of the kids' ages, but the bigger issue is that the museum really isn't designed for younger audiences. Lots of stuff to read, pictures, very few artifacts, and of course, the handheld narration. That said--the displays themselves are beautifully done. You start by riding a very tall escalator "up a mountain" into the exhibit, which is a memorable entrance. I also went in thinking it would focus mostly on pioneers, but it's actually a broader (and well-done) journey through transportation history--pioneers, the railroad, automobiles, road trips, and more. One of the coolest features is that the museum spans over Interstate 80, and there are windows where you can look out over the traffic below. Where it fell short for me was in representation and storytelling. There was very little inclusion of Black history--only a brief mention of a Black pioneer. When covering the rise of car travel, it felt like a missed opportunity not to include the history of the Green Book. The exhibits often present travel as carefree and joyful, but that wasn't the reality for everyone. There's also a mining activity area (the typical "buy a bag and wash rocks" setup), which felt overpriced. One unexpected highlight: seeing people fishing outside the building. You can actually buy poles and bait inside, which my son was very interested in (we skipped it this time, but maybe next visit).

I've driven past The Archway more times than I can count, and every single time it's a moment of…read more"I've made it to Kearney!" It's one of those landmarks that immediately catches your eye and gives you that sense of arrival. Even though I haven't had the chance to go inside yet, the view of the arch from the highway is absolutely stunning, especially when the light hits it just right. I can already tell that the next time I'm in town, I'll definitely be stopping in to explore what's inside. If the exterior is this impressive, I can only imagine what the inside has to offer.

Can't really rate any memorial to those who have honorably served the country as less than 5 stars,…read morebut this was an unexpected find. I happened to stop at a hotel across the street while road tripping with my dogs, so walking to the memorial was a little more interesting than trying to get the dogs to potty on the strip of grass next to the hotel. While it seems really random to have this memorial just off of an I-80 exit, it is well maintained with some nice statuary. I'm not sure if the park and little lake behind the memorial is considered part of the same site, but I did see some of the smaller trees had plaques honoring veterans, too. While I wouldn't have gone out of my way to come here, it was a nice find.

We've seen this place countless times on our drive to Iowa but he never wanted to stop. This time I…read morewas lucky and he stopped so I could wander around. The sculptures are lifelike and well carved. And even better, a likeness and snippet is provided of the sculptors at the base of the statues. I liked being able to read about both the subject and the person who made the sculptures. It was sad to run my fingers over the names printed on the bricks in the memorial. You can get a brick printed with a veteran's name but I didn't have time to investigate further as we were short on time. But I'm glad we stopped. It's definitely a good stop to remember the cost of war and appreciate the many sacrifices made by our veterans.

He spotted the law enforcement memorial and because of my poor choice of footwear - breaking in…read moreheels for a wedding - and the high winds, he drove me over. Elegant and simple, it brought a wave of sadness over me reading the names of the deceased officers who had made the ultimate sacrifice since 1916. There are four benches donated by agencies so you can sit and contemplate. And the lake it's by makes for a nice view. Very relaxing. It warmed my heart sitting there looking at the memorial and the flags flying overhead. Made me proud of my law enforcement officers and appreciative of their daily service.

This is an old time German club…read more i came downtown to check out the ethnic festival, but like most festivals yeah i gotta say it's like 6th Ave in NYC when they close down the street the heat from the asphalt is just annoying. Cold Lowenbraus from Germany, fresh brats, no need to get a silly wristband or deal with tickets, it' s cash. Inna bier-garten filled with trees. The whole place is set up like a german beer garden circa 1919, which is when Nebraska went dry one year before the Volstead Act. Big brick walls. I am reminded of a Philip Roth novel I read about a year ago, how on a Sunday he and his father would ride by the German Bund in Newark and hate them. (and yeah, the Nazi's were pretty bad). (in fact they held Nazi's across the street in WW2, as POW's, even let them drink 3.2 beer, which the Krauts hated, talk about homeland security) They would be outside in Newark on a Sunday afternoon drinking beer. Enjoying freedom. Which pisses off Philip Roth. Now as a German-American should I wonder about how great it is to be having a beer on a Sunday afternoon, or identify with a Jewish-American with obvious sexual-neuroses? I'm not voting for Roth, even though Goodbye Columbus was a good novel.

This facility is a true gem in Grand Island!…read more The Liederkranz is mostly known for the use of their main floor facilities in hosting weddings, banquets, concerts, and dances. I had my wedding ceremony in the courtyard and the reception in the ballroom. The staff and volunteers were excellent, it really was perfect! I work full time and they took care of almost every detail. The Liederkranz has been around longer than Grand Island has been a town, it was the first concern hall and serves to preserve not only German history but Grand Island and American history. The basement has a beautiful bar that they had to disguise it during prohibition. The enclosed courtyard is absolutely gorgeous spanning the remainder of the city block. They have a bowling alley that was built around the 1960s and a restaurant that serves food on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights with Germain cuisine once a month. They offer German language lessons and have a group of singers that practice regularly to sing songs from the old country. If you are planning an event or just want to get in touch with some old GI history I definitely recommend the Liederkranz!

Just to be clear, there are two different places in the area that are easy to confuse--Fort Kearny…read moreState Recreation Area is not the same as the Fort Kearny State Historical Park, even though they are close together and technically the same park. You can not access the hike/bike bridge in the Fort Kearny State Recreation Area from the Fort Kearny State Historical Park. We visited during the Spring Sandhill Crane migration, but since my son was also studying the Civil War, I wanted to squeeze in some history while we were in the area too. First, the Fort Kearny State Historical Park was really enjoyable for me. It was larger than I expected and has clearly marked areas showing where original buildings once stood. There's also a blacksmith shop with a covered wagon and several other historic features to explore along the way. The fort itself still stands, and you can walk inside and even climb up the lookout points on each corner. Inside, there's a lot of Nebraska history and artifacts from that time period. It didn't hold my son's attention quite as long as I had hoped, but I'm still very glad we visited. A Nebraska State Park Permit is required to park here, which can be purchased online ahead of time (what I did) or at the Fort Kearny Visitors Center or kiosk. The permit is good for 1.5 days. The interpretive center is open from 9 AM to 5 PM. This site has a lot of history--built by the Army in 1848, Fort Kearny served as a safe haven for Overland Trail travelers, Pony Express riders, and gold prospectors. Soldiers helped travelers, repaired wagons, and provided protection as people moved west. It also later served as a station for the Pony Express and supported workers building the transcontinental railroad. One unexpected highlight was seeing Sandhill cranes in the surrounding fields. It added a really interesting layer to the experience--thinking about how settlers may have experienced this same migration compared to us today. The cranes have been making this journey for thousands of years, which is incredible to reflect on. Just down the highway is the Fort Kearny State Recreation Area. There's a hike/bike trail with a paved, accessible 1.5-1.8 mile path that leads to a former railroad bridge over the Platte River. This is a well-known viewing area for the Sandhill crane fly-in and fly-out. We visited later in March and didn't see the massive peak migration numbers, but we still saw hundreds of cranes flying into the area at dusk, which was an incredible sight. It does get very crowded near sunset, especially on the bridge itself, so expect a lot of people and limited space. The experience felt a little rushed with kids, but I'm really glad we stayed through sunset to witness it. Watching the cranes come in over the river is something I won't forget.

"You have died of dysentery."…read more OK, if you're a Yelper of a Certain Age, you might remember that delightful game Oregon Trail, all monochrome green or orange in your tiny Apple IIc computer. Fort Kerney brings it to life. Visiting here, you can imagine the old 49ers heading west, stopping here for supplies and a little rest before heading west into the frontier. There's a lot of history here-- the Pony Express, connections to the Transcontinental Railroad, and the Westward expansion. The visitor center is well done, and the grounds have been variably preserved and restored to a condition that whisks you back in time to a very different era of American history. It wasn't all pretty, it wasn't all easy... but it's inexorably linked to who we are, who we aren't, and who we're all striving to be. Worth the stop for a stretch of the legs and the imagination.

Just Go (#39) This…read morewas the latest "new" state we visited during our road trip to America's heartland visiting the Dakotas. It was a day trip that we included in our itinerary since we were already 'nearby'. On July 7, 2024 we were able to visit: * Scott's Bluff National Monument, Gering NE After stopping by the Visitor Center we drove a 1.6 mile scenic drive on Summit Road and did the short walk at the South Overlook Trail (one of two overlook trails) We skipped the longer hike to the Saddle Rock Trail due to time constraints. The paved trail included educational interpretive signs... the views of the prairie land were vast and amazing. Can't even imagine what the early pioneers endured during their journey to their westward expansion. The Visitor Center has displays of life-size prairie wagons towards the entrance to the park. Entrance is free. * Chimney Rock, Bayard NE We did not make it inside the Visitor Center because they closed at 4:00p (we were an hour late). We drove to another area called "Walk to the Rock" where we could see the Chimney Rock closer. The volunteer who welcomed us gave us the lowdown on "pathway rules" including "... if you encounter a rattle snake." We chose Trail "A" from the four different trails and the path that took us closest to the rock. It was a pleasant hike and we did not see any rattlesnakes シ * Agate Fossil Beds National Monument, Harrison NE This was way out in the middle of nowhere in western Nebraska. TIP: make sure to gas up your car and bring snacks before heading out to the monument because the closest gas station is 30 miles out on Highway 29 heading either north or south. No vending machines at the Visitor Center. We watched a short film inside the small theater and checked out the interesting exhibits including a life-size display of ancient mammals. We had to drive to the open prairie where the fossils can be found on quarries where digs were conducted. Unfortunately, we were on a tight schedule and were not able to do the hike. We had dinner at the Flyover Brewing Company in Scottsbluff. We shared a Chicken Artichoke Pizza and a Burnt End Brisket Brat. There was live music entertainment. It was a busy venue. Thank you, Great State of Nebraska, for sharing your national monuments and landmarks,... learned so much about the emigrants as they progressed West on the Oregon Trail. Review #3595

My Beloved is a fan of astronomical curiosities…read more We've driven hours towards the desert to watch the Perseid meteor shower, and we're planning a 2018 European trip, probably to northern Norway, to watch the aurora borealis. For this year's Christmas and Valentine's gifts, I gave her a total solar eclipse. To be more precise, I gave her a weekend in Denver, and then a week-long road trip that began with eclipse-watching at a spot in western Nebraska that was in the "path of totality", followed by a week of driving around the prairie, looking for good steak and corn, nice people, and whatever interesting things we might find. ********** Several small Nebraska towns, some partnering with larger neighbors, formed the 2017 Nebraska Eclipse Coalition to attract and entertain tourists like us with events, speakers and promotional materials that guided our decision to visit. We left Denver at 4 a.m., stopped in Scottsbluff for breakfast at Shari's Café & Pies - a sort of mashup of Denny's and Marie Calendar's - then crossed the highway to wait for darkness in the parking lot of the local Target store. I must thank Target's management for allowing our group of 30-or-so cars to tie up space for the couple of hours it took for the eclipse to happen. Not only that, Target was good to their employees, allowing them to step outside during totality so they wouldn't miss the remarkable event. The topper: their group took a staff photo, all wearing their eclipse glasses. ********** Some other notes: - We discovered a couple making very drinkable wines in north-central Nebraska, at Niobrara Valley Vineyards. - I'd previously swapped email with Robert Joseph, owner of the Peppermill & E.K. Valentine Lounge in Valentine. He's a smart, funny businessman whose understanding of social media is effective and entertaining. We made it a point of stopping to visit with Robert and to enjoy a steak dinner - one of the two best I had in a week that featured five such meals. What's more, as I told people in other parts of the state that we'd eaten at the Peppermill, located in a town of 2000 people in north-central Nebraska, several of them knew the place, and had eaten there. If I thought I had anything better to offer Robert, I'd ask him to come help me with marketing, but frankly, though we have better winters, I think he's got the better gig. - Omaha was cool. Seriously. Like Buffalo, Baltimore and Milwaukee, it's an older, formerly industrial city that has been revitalized by "clean" business, and, along the way, its architecture, dining and other social markers have improved, even as the locals have preserved the best of the old stuff. I particularly enjoyed a great cortado at Culprit Cafe and Bakery, where I was happy to meet pastry chef/owner Luke Mabie and especially his chef, Ben Jordan, formerly of San Diego's Prepkitchen, a coincidence that opened the door to a nice chat about here and there. - I'd gone to the prairie expecting lots of Trump-related nonsense, but found little public idiocy. The most offensive thing I saw all week was at the Nebraska State Fair, where the right-to-life whackjob exhibit at the Expo Center covered a table with plastic models of fetuses. This was done in a way that children would see, which went beyond inappropriate, edging into disgusting. But 1A, so whatayagonnado? - The Nebraska State Fair is a no-carry event, a fact that earned it a spot on the "Unfriendly Business List" compiled by the Nebraska Firearms Owners Association. These are the same armed dickheads who gripe when they can't take a gun into their endoscopy appointment. It's ok with me that they boycotted the Fair. It made the event feel less 'Murica and much more American. - Finally, surprisingly, we played hell finding sweet corn, in the country's third-largest producer of corn. I finally found what I wanted at the Nebraska State Fair, at a stand called "Manny's Sweet Corn On-A-Stick". Manny sold elotes, which is comfort food for me, and which, I imagine, must seem a very strange and magical thing to Nebraskans. ********** Shari's Café & Pies: https://www.yelp.com/biz/sharis-restaurant-scottsbluff Target (Scottsbluff): https://www.yelp.com/biz/target-stores-scottsbluff Niobrara Valley Vineyards: https://www.yelp.com/biz/niobrara-valley-vineyards-nenzel Peppermill & E.K. Valentine Lounge: https://www.yelp.com/biz/peppermill-and-e-k-valentine-lounge-valentine City of Omaha: https://www.yelp.com/biz/city-of-omaha-omaha-2 Culprit Cafe and Bakery: https://www.yelp.com/biz/culprit-cafe-and-bakery-omaha Prepkitchen: https://www.yelp.com/biz/prepkitchen-little-italy-san-diego-2?hrid=9kr8SXXu6KYmubepFhUuuA Nebraska State Fair: https://www.yelp.com/biz/nebraska-state-fair-grand-island?hrid=XsNGzA2CjYFzPOlrDVVD5g Nebraska Firearms Owners Association: https://nebraskafirearms.org/wp/unfriendly-business-list-3/ Manny's Sweet Corn On-A-Stick: http://www.statefair.org/business/mannys-sweet-corn-stand

This a well kept and quiet state park. There are electric pad sites, non-electric for tents, and…read moretwo two-bedroom cabins. The park is kid friendly as it has a decent playground, as well as paddle boats for the lake, and fishing. Other recreation on site includes a baseball field (good for group events like family get-togethers), horse shoe pits, small basketball court (half court), and a small trail to walk/hike (approx. 0.4 mile). The park superintendent, Russell, is always kind and helpful. The bathrooms have running water, hot water, and showers (with hot water - yay!!). We tent camped and, in our opinion, the best spot for tent camping is at the very back end of the loop for tent campers. I recommend staying here versus staying in Halsey at the National Forest. It's much quieter here, and you can't beat the laid back feeling you have at Victoria Springs either. Nearby attractions - Nebraska National Forest, Calamus Reservoir, Fort Hartsuff, surrounding small towns, and more depending on how far you'd want to venture.

Good, quiet and clean park. Stayed at the cabins, they were fairly clean from my opinion. They…read morecould update and remodel the cabins , that would be cool. But if anything to be improved first , is to take out those beds and burn em ! Please Get some new ones that ain't broken and beaten down from use over the years.