10 Places You Must See In Nebraska At Least Once
In the 12 years that I’ve been a travel blogger, I’ve been lucky to explore most of our home state, Nebraska. Granted, there are still a couple of Nebraska attractions and towns still on my bucket list…isn’t that the case for everyone? If you’d like to see some of the best Nebraska sights, here are a few of my favorites (in no particular order).
10 Nebraska places you must visit at least once
This is just the briefest rundown of places to explore in Nebraska. Ten really doesn’t do the state justice, but it’ll get you started. For a more definitive guide to exploring the state, I recommend reading the Ultimate Guide To Exploring Nebraska By Region.
1. Fort Robinson State Park
Where: Crawford, Neb.
Western Nebraska’s most popular attraction is also one of my favorites, Fort Robinson State Park. This rugged state park is about as close to the Wild West as you’ll get in a the state.
A few family favorite adventures at the park include the off-road jeep ride, the carriage ride, and since both kids were so little, the guided horse rides. But there’s plenty more to do there. If you visit in the summer, you can catch a rodeo or a chuckwagon dinner.
If you choose to stay in the park, overnight accommodations are in former barracks and officers quarters. It’s pretty unique compared to other Nebraska State Park cabins and lodges.
Related post: See what else there is to do in Western Nebraska
2. Holland Performing Arts Center
Where: Omaha
The best venue to hear a concert is, hands down, the main concert hall inside the Holland Performing Arts Center in downtown Omaha. It’s a beautiful building and the sound is incredible. You can literally here a pen drop to the floor and roll away, the acoustics are that superb.
If your favorite performer ever plays there, you must go. And if you have kids, I recommend seeing one of the Omaha Symphony’s Family Series shows, like their annual Spooktakular.
UPDATE: Omaha Performing Arts manages the Holland Performing Arts Center and since this post was first written, they added another excellent concert venue to the mix: The Steelhouse Omaha. Again, the sound design is incredible in the venue. It’s better suited for rock concerts than the Holland Center, in my opinion.
3. Smith Falls State Park
Where: Valentine
We used to canoe the Niobrara River with friends and family every year, and Smith Falls was always a must-stop destination (which is located, obviously, in Smith Falls State Park). Smith Falls is the highest waterfall in Nebraska, and you are able to walk right up to it. I dare you to stick your head into the water there.
You can drive to Smith Falls State Park, and skip the whole canoe (or tubing) thing, but what’s the fun in that? Just kidding.
The area around Smith Falls State Park is scenic and worth exploring. I’d recommend having a home base in the town of Valentine, and staying for a day or two. If you’re more of an outdoorsy kind of traveler, camp under the stars at nearby Merritt Reservoir (the state’s first place to receive the Dark Skies designation).
To get to the Niobrara River, if you’re coming from Omaha at least, will mean passing through the Sandhills, which leads me to the next must-visit place…
4. Nebraska Sandhills
Where: Central Nebraska, covering more than 9,300 square miles
Given the region the Sandhills cover, you can have your pick of where to begin exploring them. You could start north in Valentine (see No. 3 on this list) and drive south, for instance. I’ve also planned a trip in the southeastern part of the Sandhills, staying near Taylor and spending the bulk of our time in Burwell. It’s a breathtaking area of vast, rolling Sandhills. (The tanking photo above doesn’t do the Sandhill justice)
One of the most unique “only in Nebraska” things to do in the Sandhills is tanking. Gather a group, rent a stock tank from an outfitter, and have a lazy afternoon floating down one of the many rivers. We used Calumus Outfitters for our tanking trip.
5. Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium
Where: Omaha
The most popular Nebraska attraction, by far, is Omaha’s zoo. It’s constantly ranked in the Top 3 zoos of the world, and for good reason. The immersive exhibits include an indoor rainforest, the Desert Dome, African Grasslands, and Owen Sea Lion Shores. You’ll need at least a day to see most of the zoo.
If you visit in the summer and have young kids, bring their swimsuits and towels so they can cool off in the enormous spray ground call the Alaskan Adventure. Children’s Adventure Trails in another area your kids will want to check out, and there’s a stream there where they can splash around and play in.
Related post: I gathered a ton of other tips for visiting Omaha’s zoo from the experts that knew best…parents.
6. Arbor Day Farm Tree Adventure
Where: Nebraska City
Arbor Day Farm Tree Adventure is so entertaining, we try to visit every season each year. Highlights include the Treetop Village, the forest trails, the Discovery Ride (where you might get to taste heirloom apples!), the inviting natural play areas…there’s a lot to love if you enjoy the outdoors. Nebraska City is the home of Arbor Day, so it’s just fitting that one of its biggest attractions is in a forest.
We can make a whole weekend of a trip to Nebraska City, and never having to venture too far from Arbor Day Farm. Don’t miss The Apple House Market right next to the Tree Adventure. There’s a restaurant there that serves fabulous apple pie a la mode, plus there’s a wine tasting room.
A lot of people make the trek to Nebraska City in the fall for the AppleJack Festival. It’s quite an event, but it can get really crowded. I recommend making your visit visit to the Tree Adventure at any time other than during the AppleJack Festival.
7. Toadstool Geological Park
Where: Oglala National Grasslands
Toadstool Geological Park is way off the beaten path in Western Nebraska, but definitely worth a visit to see this place and hike around. There is no other place like it in the state. It’s pretty much Nebraska’s own Badlands. It’s covers a much smaller area than the South Dakota Badlands, but it’s still impressive.
Be sure to wear rugged hiking shoes to traverse the rocks. We visited when our kids were young and it was a bit nerve-wracking.
Tip: We paired a visit to Toadstool Geological Park with Fort Robinson State Park.
8. Brownville and Indian Cave State Park
So much art and culture packed into the little Nebraska town, Brownville. Browse bookstores, art galleries, see a show, or check out the winery. For such a small population, they offer a lot for visitors.
The town is also near Indian Cave State Park. I recommend combining a visit to both for a complete day. The hiking trails at the park are among the best in the state, thanks to the terrain created being so near the Missouri River. The cave itself is a little underwhelming, but still work checking out.
We like visiting Indian Cave State Park in October, once the leaves start changing (around mid- to late-October). The park goes all out for Halloween and there are fun photo ops throughout. Many people love camping or brining their RV for an overnight stay.
9. Sandhill Crane Migration & Rowe Sanctuary
Where: Kearney
Kearney is known as the Sandhill Crane Capital of the World. It’s been said that between 400,00 to 6000, cranes stop in the area during the spring migration (typically running from mid-February to mid-April). It’s an epic sight to see!
One of the best places to see them is Rowe Sanctuary, located outside of Kearney. If you’re not a birder, I’d recommend reserving a viewing tour through them. There are other places in Nebraska to see flocks of Sandhill Cranes. North Platte is another hot spot.
Related post: Beginner’s Guide To Sandhill Crane Watching in Nebraska
10. Nebraska Wildlife Safari
Where: Ashland
I’m a sucker for driving among bison, I guess. The Nebraska Wildlife Safari is a great attraction that showcases Nebraska’s wildlife. In addition to being a drive-thru safari, there are a couple of stopping points within the park where you can get out of the car to see more animals up close, including bears, wolves, and bald eagles. There’s even a petting zoo with goats.
The Wildlife Safari is near several other great attractions, including Mahoney State Park, Strategic Air Command and Aerospace Museum, and the whole town of Ashland. It’s one of my family’s favorite weekend getaways since it’s so near Omaha. We’ve stayed at a cabin at Mahoney, as well as stayed in a dome at Ashland Glamping.
This is just the start of exploring Nebraska. For more ideas on things to see and do in Nebraska, check out this list of 101 Things To do In Nebraska, quirky festivals in Nebraska, and the 15 Unique Places To Stay In Nebraska.
