Classic highway rest area. Small but clean and well maintained. Restrooms and vending machines -…read moreno other services or travel literature.

As far as rest areas go, This place is fabulous. Lush Lawns, clean restrooms, doggie areas all…read morearound, lots of picnic tables with wind barriers, incredible sweeping view of the valley, trash and recycling containers, interesting geology story in back, interesting story of interstate completion in front, winding walkways for that stretch you legs walk, and lots of shade trees. Did I miss something? Doesn't matter, it is a nice roadside rest area.

Safety: 5. Well lighted, there are always people around, and the sheriff's department is right next…read moredoor. Note that a major prison is nearby, however, and the convicts' buddies could be stopping here. Location: 2. Easy to get to, but Colorado is putting its rest areas in towns, not between towns where you really need them. Tourist info: 3. Nice staffed visitor center is rarely open when I pass through. Not as nice as the one in Julesberg. Walking: 5. The rest area is meh, but there's a gorgeous lake (Overland Trail Recreation Area) across the street. Dog facilities: 4. Enclosed dog run, as well as the aforementioned lake. But this area has lots of sand burrs. Check Fido's paws before you get back in the car. Restrooms: 4. Usually pretty clean and well maintained.

The State clearly doesn't know how to do their job. The dog park's grass needs to be cut, the trash…read moreis full of poop bags, and they didn't refill the dog poop bag bins. Luckily, I bring my own doogie poop bags. They clearly don't care about keeping up on maintenance. You would think it would be priority since it's a rest area that travelers are bound to stop.

CDOT rest area Wiggins, Colorado…read more Stopped at the rest stop to stretch our legs and use the restroom. It was neat and clean and even had a dog area for pets to stretch their legs. There is a family restroom with changing table which definitely helps. Well used and scratched but still appreciated. I've changed diapers in many different places in my lifetime and a changing table, no matter how beat up, is the best. I think there is a vending machine but we didn't have time to linger so I couldn't check it out. But the rest stop was a nice one and it makes the long drive tolerable. Wheelchair accessible.

For one of the few rest areas that are actually left in Colorado, this one is nice, clean, and has…read moreplenty of space (inside & out). I wish Colorado would quit shutting down all of the rest areas... they are a welcome stop and it's nice not being bothered by needing to purchase something.

This is officially called the Ogallala Eastbound Rest Area. The Blue Star Memorial Highway marker…read morehas been preserved from the old rest area. I found a few things to like about the rebuilt rest area: It's new. It's big, with lots of parking. It's relatively safe: there are no hidden spots for spooky characters to hide. The merge back onto I-80 is long and perfectly angled. Some key things are missing--things which traditionally make Nebraska rest areas great. No shelters to protect picnickers from sun or rain or wind. No tornado shelter. No local character. No art/sculptures. No trees. No panoramic views for cars (the tuckers get the view this time). No obvious pet "exercise" area. There's nothing innovative about the interior of the building. There's a cavernous space with no clear purpose. Accessibility was a checklist item but not a true priority. Yes, there are ramps and button-operated doors. But the doors are narrower than some wheelchairs and tight turns are required. I got a few bars of intermittent Verizon 4G signal and 3 bars of ultrafast T-Mobile 5G+. I get the impression that the new design came from someone in another state who had never visited other Nebraska rest areas.

Good stop for restroom break. New facility is clean and well tended with gardens going in and green…read moregrassy areas with ada picnic tables. No doors into public restrooms with automated toilet, sink and hand dryer. Hooks in stall for personal items. A family restroom is where you will find a counter top for diaper changes. Plenty of parking for all vehicle types. Metal trash bins all along the parking area. A paved loop pathway leads around the back of the building, past a field, if you like to get some walking in when you stop. In July, we got bitten many, many times by flies (even as we swatted and flapped a jacket about to deter them) so just be aware. I did not see a designated pet area and picnic tables are in full sun, no shelters or tree shade. The information desk attendent was available to answer questions about NE tourism and there are lots of travel brochures available (no charge).

Stopped in today with my husband and 3 daughters for a place to stretch our legs coming from…read moreMichigan on our way to RMNP. It's was way better than expected! My 3 and 5 year olds both said how much fun they were having and didn't want to leave. We were on a tight time schedule so we only ended up spending about 2 hours there but we could've stayed a lot longer! Lots to see and do!

Interesting and many unique items. Would recommend anyone go, especially for the $5 price of…read moreadmission. Well worth a couple of hours of your time.

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.

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!

The first ever event that I've attended at the Gering Civic Center was the homecoming banquet for…read moreMiss America Teresa Scanlan, a home-town girl. What an amazing job the venue and staff did. Nearly 700 people comfortably crowded into the conference center to enjoy a delicious meal, efficiently served. The reception area in the front is roomy, so there was no crush of people out in the cold evening. According to the staff, that was the largest crowd ever, but they handled it like it was an every day occurrence. If you're ever in Gering and need a venue for just a few up to a sit-down meal for nearly 700, this is your place.

I hate to say it but this place left me a lot to desire. For being the best place to hold an event…read moreof any size I was hoping for a bit more hospitality and a lot more cooperation. The "owner" was extremely short and at times rude to several of my team members. They ended up being short staffed the night of our event. And half the staff did nothing but complain about the guests. Didn't leave a good taste in my mouth, as a person that works regularly with wedding venues. Every location should expect some level of noise from children invited by the host, but this venue seemed to have an elevated issue with the fact that there were children there. If there is a problem, might I recommend stating a policy to the host or bride/groom prior to renting the center, that there must be a service to watch the children, or charge an additional cleaning fee, etc. Also, there was a lack of communication between the venue and the host about times when the location had to be cleaned and vacated. People were left waiting to shut parts of the venue down, because no one was made aware that there was a time frame. Leaving everyone frustrated. I guess I would cheers to the few that made the night great, Judy and Michelle, but there isn't much else I can be positive on. I know this place could be great, but it seems like the people left in charge of running it are either worn out or in the wrong line of work.