Though it's one of the most productive farming areas in the U.S., there's more to Nebraska than just agriculture. Truly the heart of the country, Nebraska is a vacation destination filled with Western charm and outdoor activities galore. With an abundant array of historic monuments and attractions that offer a look into past frontier life and cowboy culture, the Cornhusker State is also a great place to explore U.S. history. In addition to its wealth of historical attractions, Nebraska offers vacationers an assortment of active pastimes like golf, camping, and other adventurous outdoor pursuits, as well as cultural entertainment and the arts.
Geography
With a landscape made up mostly of plains land, Nebraska is located at the very center of the continental United States. Other prominent physical features of the Cornhusker State include hills and sand dunes. Many of the state's geographic features affect what kinds of attractions and activities are available in specific regions.
One-fifth of the eastern portion of the state is covered by the Dissected Till Plains, which consist of rolling hills twined by rivers and streams. A major farming area, corn, soybeans, sorghum grain, and other crops are cultivated here. While in this region, stop for a tour of the Abengoa Bioenergy Corporation, which produces 50 million gallons of ethanol fuel and 450,000 tons of wet distiller grains annually. Abengoa offers tours to individuals and groups up to 50 people, but you must have reservations to visit the facility.
Heading west, the Great Plains of Nebraska spread across the state and into Wyoming and Colorado. Rough terrain and hills characterize the geography of central and south-central areas of this region, while the southeastern section of the region is generally flat and dotted with lakes and wetlands. The area also has a great deal of agriculture. Sometimes referred to as the Rainwater Basin or the Rainbasin, the Great Plains are also known as the Loess Plains because of the loess (a brownish-yellow loamy dust) which is blown across the area by the wind.
A somewhat surprising aspect of the Nebraska landscape is the state's sand dunes. Though most people associate sand dunes with coastal areas, Central Nebraska is, in fact, home to the largest area of sand dunes in the country (about 20,000 square miles). Strong winds form these sand hills, which are held together by grass. The Sand Hills region has unique attractions like the 2nd Wind Ranch, which features the largest collection of standing windmills in the world. Other places to visit in this region include the Happy Jack Peak and Chalk Mine. With more than 6,000 feet of honeycombed caverns, it's the only publicly accessible chalk room and pillar mine in North America. Also, the Hutchinson Buffalo Ranch and the National Liars Hall of Fame are just a few more sites you may want to check out in the Sand Hills region.
The High Plains region lies north of the Sand Hills, and is home to the Wildcat and Pine Ridges, which are covered with verdant pine trees. Located on the Wyoming border, this region boasts Nebraska's highest elevation (5,426 feet above sea level) in southwest Kimball County. Traveling to Nebraska's northwestern corner will take you to the Badlands, where wind and water have sculpted the sandstone and clay into strangely beautiful natural formations. You'll also find steep hills of sandstone and siltstone, made bare by the wind to resemble mushrooms. These structures, collectively, make up an area known as the Toadstool Geological Park, one of the Badland's main tourist attractions. The park is open year-round, 24 hours a day, but beware of traveling the gravel roads after it rains. There's also a small day use and overnight camping fee.
Active Pursuits and the Great Outdoors
Nebraska's wide-open spaces accommodate all kinds of wilderness areas. So, outdoors lovers will find plenty to tickle their fancy when it comes to enjoying Mother Nature. The Cornhusker State's lakes and rivers, like Cottontail Lake in Martell, offer the chance to partake in aquatic feats such as swimming, fishing, kayaking, and canoeing. Czechland Lake in Prague and Harlan County Lake in Alma (the state's second largest lake) are other locales where you can get your feet wet. Parks, wilderness areas, and recreation areas are perfect places for hunting, hiking, horseback riding, bird watching, and more.
Golf courses run the gamut in Nebraska, as the Cornhusker State's rolling plains and sand hills are the ideal landscapes for golfing greens. There are literally hundreds of golf courses and country clubs from which to choose within the state. From budget-friendly courses like Gothenburg's Wild Horse Golf Club (ranked number three in Golfer's Digest list of "Best New Affordable U.S. Golf Courses" in 1999) to courses with lush scenic vistas like the Rolling Hills Country Club in Wasua, Nebraska is a golfer's paradise.
A Look Back in Time
Native Americans of the plains, particularly the Pawnee, were some of the first known inhabitants of Nebraska. Though they took great care to farm the state's fertile lands, the Pawnee were mostly hunters. Buffalo, pronghorn antelope, and small game were plentiful during their time. The first European explorers to arrive in the Cornhusker State were a group of Spaniards led by Francisco Vásquez de Coronado around 1541. French explorers came to area in the 18th century pursuing the fur trade. However, it was only after the Louisiana Purchase of 1803 that Nebraska began to be developed. The first trading post was established in 1813 by fur trader Manuel Lisa, which led to the founding of Bellevue, the first permanent settlement in the state.
As Nebraska became more inhabited, many advancements in technology and industrialization were brought to the region, including steamboats, wagon trains, and railroads. Businesses were brought to the cities of Omaha and Brownsville with steam boating on the Missouri River. The Platte valley formed a natural highway traversed by pioneers traveling west on the Oregon, California, and Mormon trails via wagon trains. The Homestead Act of 1862 allowed farmers to settle Nebraska's lands for free, which was even more incentive to migrate to the state. Settlers poured into the state with the building of the Union Pacific Railroad in 1867.
Rich in Western history, Nebraska has a large number of sites and attractions specifically dedicated to the days of yesteryear where you can learn more about the Cornhusker State's heritage. Places like the Arthur Bowring Sandhills Ranch State Historical Park, a well-preserved turn-of-the-century ranch house located in Merriman; or the the Fremont Dinner Train which offers mystery trains, USO shows, dinner theater, wine tasting and seasonal shows are just a few of Nebraska's intriguing historical sites. Also, plethoras of history museums are located throughout the state, like the Clarkson Historical Society Museum (Clarkson), the Front Street and Cowboy Museum (Ogallala), and the Greenwood Society Historical Depot Museum (Greenwood), among many others. Historical houses, parks, and even a castle are also among Nebraska's historical sites to visit.
Cultural and Artistic Affairs
For travelers with sophisticated tastes in entertainment, Nebraska features places for fine arts as well as venues for the performing arts. Omaha by far has the most selection of live theater, and there a few visual arts museums scattered throughout the state. One of the state's more strange art exhibits, Carhenge on Highway 87 is a sculpture made of cars that resembles England's Stonehenge. Music tops the charts when it comes to the Cornhusker State's live performing arts, as a number of the state's cities and towns have a rich musical legacy as well as active music venues.
The great outdoors and fascinating historical sites are among top reasons to visit the state of Nebraska. The Cornhusker State also boasts a number of unique attractions you won't find anywhere else. Whether enjoying outdoor exploration or learning more about the expeditions of the early settlers, you're sure to experience many of life's simple pleasures while visiting this Plains State.
