Discover Nebraska

For our vacation this year, Mike and I decided to stay in Nebraska, and discover what it has to offer. We were pleasantly surprised to find many treasures in our state. This is what we did:

Wednesday - We left Hickman, drove to Grand Island, and said good-bye to I-80. Of course, I am never sorry to be off of the interstate. Maybe that's why I liked this trip so much. Anyway, in Broken Bow we ate lunch at an old hotel that has been renovated/updated, but still has early 20th century charm. We drove by Halsey National Forest, but didn't stop. On to Valentine, enjoying the sights of the sandhills. FYI - did you know that the sandhills are the only one of its kind in the world? We checked into our motel in Valentine and then went shopping. Shopping in Valentine takes about 20 minutes, which is just about right for Mike. That evening we drove out to the Niobrara Refuge Area and hiked to Fort Falls (I am standing by Fort Falls in the picture). Then we drove on to Smith Falls. (This is the falls that Mike is standing by.) If you have never seen these falls, you need to put it on your bucket list. Last, we had a great prime rib dinner at a local restaurant. (When we travel, Mike and I like to listen to audio books. Our book for the day was Number the Stars).

Thursday - We were in a canoe on the Niobrara before 9:00 A.M. We were the only ones on the river for the first hour. It was beautiful and so peaceful. We were in awe of what God created in that part of the state. At Smith Falls, we got out of our canoe and hiked up to see the falls again. The mist of the falls felt good after being in the sun on the river. When we got to our designated spot, our van was waiting for us. We headed east on the Outlaw Trail. We thought we'd see lots of interesting sights, but frankly, it was pretty boring. And since there was a detour, we ended up seeing part of South Dakota too! Now I can say we've been to Fort Randall. Finally, we arrived in Crofton at the historic Argo Hotel. The hotel was built in 1914, and in the early 90's it was transformed into a wonderful bed and breakfast hotel. It was charming, and one of the most relaxing places we have ever stayed. Our dinner in the dining room was outstanding as well. (Our book for the day was Code Talkers.)

Friday - After a delightful breakfast at the hotel we started our whirlwind day. First, the Verdigre bakery for kolatches. Next, Ashfalls Fossil Bed. That is a fascinating place. We stopped at a barn that has been converted into a restaurant called Green Gables for lunch, and then, on to Neligh Mills afterward. Mike enjoyed this place more than I did. There was too much machinery for me to understand. However, it is a beautiful building. Our next stop was the Cuthills Winery, the first winery in Nebraska. I probably should mention that we had a little trouble getting there. Edna, our GPS, and I did not agree on our route. Mike was caught in the middle and had to choose between Edna or me. This time, I won.(Good choice, Mike!) And finally, after a lot of driving, we arrived in Norfolk and checked into the Hampton Inn.

Saturday - On to Tekamah to the Silver Winery. Then we headed South through Blair and on to Fort Calhoun and the Too Far North Winery. I have to say that we learned a lot about grapes on this trip. We got back on I-80 in Omaha and headed home. (Our book for the day was still Code Talkers.)

We put over 900 miles on our van, but it was so worth it. The sandhills in the west, the rolling hills in the east, and all the beautiful green fields made it a memorable trip. But, it is always good to be home again.