Fossils in the hills of Nebraska [Harrison NE]…read more This national monument is located in Western Nebraska. Let me tell you now... it is out in the middle of nowhere! One lone building... the Visitor Center! You have to drive to the open prairie where the fossils can be found on quarries where the digs were conducted. Unfortunately, we were on a tight schedule and was not able to do the hike. Inside the Visitor Center is full of interesting exhibits Including a life-size display of ancient mammals (giant creature that looks like a pig). There are no dinosaur fossils here. We also saw some cool collection of Northern Plains Indian artifacts given as gifts to James Cook by Lakota Chief Red Cloud. The short film was educational. Tip: Make sure to gas up your car and bring snacks or pack a lunch before heading out to the monument. The closest gas station is over 30 miles out on Highway 29 heading either north or south. There are no vending machines at the Visitor Center but they have free WiFi available ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Review #3503

Visited Agate Fossil Beds National Monument on Sunday, September 17…read more In addition to fossils and Devil's Corkscrews we saw a great collection of Lakota Sioux memorabilia from the James Cook collection. Shout out to Amelia for spilling the tea on the Cook family, and showing us the prized cow pie from the Cook collection - not on open display. The fossil beds themselves were amazing but Amelia was fantastic, she made the visit.

Absolutely loved the visit here with my family. It's incredible to think about times before maps or…read moreGPS and how early settlers and Natives Americans of the area used this as marker for getting their bearings.

Passing through Nebraska and since Chimney Rock is on their state's welcome sign we had to check it…read moreout. I educated myself at the visitor center and learned how this historic site served as a major 19th-century landmark for Oregon, California, and Mormon pioneers. Experiencing part of history is always on my road trip itinerary. This location offers a visitor center with interactive exhibits, walking trails, and panoramic views. Worth the stop if you are in the area.

An awesome welcome center!…read more I am a pamphet collector and love to read through all the activities and things to do in whichever state I am visiting. This place is like a mini free musuem. They even have a mammoth skeleton and a little prop archelogist dig site. So cool! They've got videos you can select and watch about the history of Wyoming. My kids loved the little jail that had a slide to get out of. Bathrooms were very clean. They have shaded picnic tables outside too. A great spot to come to stretch your legs and start your visit in Wyoming. I would even say just visit even if you are not needed to take the rest stop.

Great place to stop and stretch your legs. I love going to the visitor centers and looking for…read moremaps. This center is great for kids as it has an entire wing that is an interactive history lesson

Driving from Fort Collins to Rapid City, my family was fortunate to add this Oregon Trail stop on…read morethe way. The park rangers at this monument are awesome and truly care about its history. If you can add this in with your travels, you won't be upset. I wouldn't go way out of my way to visit, but if you can add it to your itinerary with a less than annoying drive deviation, it is fantastic. Side note, it was raining the day I went. I drove up to the top but couldn't see the view due to the weather. But, I could tell, on a nice day, it would be amazing. Lots of history here. Enjoy!

Call Your Bluff…read more Protected National Monument site that's over 3k-acres and is situated west of Gering, Nebraska. We visited here almost eight years ago on our epic road trip across the US, and I can't believe I forgot to review this place. The Good: *The bluff is an important landmark on the Oregon Trail and there's an Oregon Trail Museum at the base of the bluff. *There's a windy 1.6-mile drive up the Summit Rd to get to the top of Scotts Bluff. There were quite a few cars (the park draws in 100k visitors a year) in front of us, if I remember correctly. But I don't think it took that long to get to the top, because even if it did there some superb views along the way up. *Leashed pets are OK on trails *Free! The Meh: *Only four miles of hikable trails The Ugly: *I wish we had more time to explore and hike the trails, but we had a schedule to keep. Next time, Gadget! Conclusion: Great park that's worth a 1hr detour if you're headed along on this stretch of 80.

I have always liked stopping here. Maybe it's because I don't usually stop in Nebraska. I drive…read morethrough Nebraska knowing this place will greet me as soon as I get to Wyoming. It is an older, small rest area. There's limited parking. Usually during the day, you can always find a space. It's a pretty area in the summer as it's situated in a small canyon. There are some trails if you have extra time. The trail on the west side will take you to the Pine Bluffs Archeological Interpretive Museum. Inside is a small lobby with information about the state. There is a monitor that has updated weather. It may or may not be working. The restrooms are decent. I've seen better and worse. The condition usually depends on the time of year and amout of travelers

Very clean rest area with a beautiful landscape around it. Bathrooms are well maintained and…read morestocked up. Nice place to stop and rest

"We didn't have time to get you an actual haircut," she said. "Seriously, did you do it yourself?…read moreMaybe without a mirror?" I put a hand up to my head self-consciously and said, "I had some help from the General. And, hey, I didn't say anything about your man-shoes." "They're steel-toed," she said calmly. "In case I need to plant them in anyone's ass as a result of him calling them man-shoes. And seriously, you let Toot help you with your hair?" ― Jim Butcher, Skin Game Probably one of my favorite public art projects I've come across. Essentially there's eighteen boots, all decorated by different artists, scattered throughout Cheyenne. The idea is to visit them all and see the surrounding places--sort of a public art scavenger hunt, if you will. You can get a map of their locations at the Cheyenne visitors center, or download one from the Visit Cheyenne website. Unfortunately, I was only able to see/find three in our short stay in Cheyenne, but hopefully this is still around when we visit again.

Very unexpectedly due to road closures on the 70, I found myself rolling through Wyoming from…read moreDenver to California. Wanting to break up the longer drive, decided to stop quickly in town and check it out People are friendly, the air is clean and there old brick buildings lining the main street downtown. The state capital is beautiful and on the opposite side of town is the museum. I'm not sure how much time one really needs in cheyenne, but I enjoyed my time there.

What a lovely little Visitor Center. So clean and friendly , with all the usual brochures and maps…read moreand the giant interactive video and friendly people and of course a clean restroom. That's what makes a Visitor Center a Visitor Center

This gem is a must-see. The way it is laid out, the type of engagement opportunities that are…read moreinteractive, and not just for kids. Information was presented in a way that it is easy to absorb and wasn't too much. We read, laughed, gasped and teared up at the history we learned from this fabulous museum. Top favorites: technology changes to the smart phone, dresses from each era, kitchen/home details and access to Staff was personable and helpful, eager to please.

If you want to find out about the history of western Nebraska, stop at this museum! There are…read moreterrific displays about pioneer life, Conestoga wagon, even divining for water. The museum is located near the entrance to the Scottsbluff National Monument national park. They have a display of Japanese that were early pioneers to the area. Very shortly a building built by Japanese pioneers called the Japanese Hall will be moved to the museum! One of my favorite displays was a collection of quilts. There was a newspaper quilt with old newspapers as filler for added warmth and a gorgeous cherry blossom quilt. Set aside at least a couple hours to see everything!