Nebraska Vacation Planner

2024 Nebraska Visitors Guide

The vast plains of Nebraska extend from the prairies in the east, rising up to meet the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in the west. Small towns and farms are scattered about the expansive landscape. Omaha, the state’s largest city and only riverfront community, sits on the west bank of the Missouri River. Now a prosperous commercial center, Omaha has a prairie outpost history. At the Durham Western Heritage Museum, a multi-media presentation and many artifacts depict the history of Omaha. Less than 60 miles southwest of Omaha is the state’s capital, Lincoln. The State Capitol building towers over the rest of Lincoln’s city center, standing slightly taller than 400 feet. The Historic Haymarket district, established in 1867, is filled with restaurants, shops, and galleries. East Nebraska encompasses attractions such as the Stuhr Museum of the Prairie Pioneers in Grand Island and Crane Meadows in Wood River. In the Nebraska Sand Hills, travelers and locals alike enjoy NEBRASKAland Days each June in North Platte.

East Nebraska Visitors Guide

From attractions featuring Lewis and Clark to agriculture to the outdoors, East Nebraska represents the true heartland of America. The Lewis and Clark Visitor Center in Crofton features exhibits relating the importance of this intrepid pair in American history, as well as interactive displays on the geology of the Missouri River Basin. In nearby Columbus, the Platte County Historical Society Museum gives visitors a chance to experience frontier life in the form of a 19th-century barbershop, a schoolhouse and more. Further south, the town of Hebron features the World’s Largest Porch Swing, big enough for 24 children or 18 adults. For homespun entertainment, the Yorkshire Community Theatre in York features four different productions throughout the year in addition to children’s programs and seasonal fare.

Omaha Visitors Guide

Established in the late 1850s, Omaha was considered to be the Gateway to the West in its early days. Now major transportation and agricultural center, Omaha is experiencing a steady growth in both the economy and population. Omaha has many diverse attractions. With everything from a world-class zoo to pioneer museums, there is sure to be something to please every visitor. The Henry Doorly Zoo is home to an array of unique species such as white tigers and sun bears, as well as the world’s largest indoor jungle. The Lee G. Simmons Conservation Park and Wildlife Safari, located just outside Omaha in Ashland, is a 360-acre nature preserve where animals native to Nebraska, such as bison and antelope, roam free. Housed in the old Union Station Train Depot, the Durham Western Heritage Museum outlines Omaha’s deep history with a variety of artifacts and photographs.

Lincoln Visitors Guide

Named after the popular former president Abraham Lincoln, Nebraska’s capital city bears many places of importance. The State Capitol building dominates the area between 14th and 16th streets and H and K streets; the central tower, a fine example of modern architecture, rises to 400 feet in height with a bronze statue called The Sower atop. Tours of the capitol building are offered regularly. The Lincoln campus of the University of Nebraska is overcome each fall by the enthusiasm of Cornhuskers football fans—every game since November of 1962 has been a sellout. When visiting Lincoln be sure to stop downtown at the Historic Haymarket District, an expansive shopping, dining, and entertainment area. Other attractions of interest in Lincoln include the National Museum of Roller Skating and the Folsom Children’s Zoo and Botanical Gardens.

Kearney, NE Visitors Guide

The city of Kearney welcomes visitors throughout the year with a diversity of attractions. Every spring brings birdwatchers from across the country to see approximately 500,000 Sand Cranes in migration, the largest such concentration in the world. Historical attractions are also well represented in the Kearney area. One of the more prominent local sights is the Great Platte River Road Archway Monument, a museum that looks at the ways in which trails and rivers helped to shape the United States. Fort Kearney is another attraction that examines the area’s past. In addition to an interpretive center and stockade, the Fort Kearney State Recreation Area also features beaches, swimming, fishing, and a bike trail.