Nebraska Vacation Ideas
Nebraska offers hunting, camping, backpacking, fossil hunting, fishing, wildlife watching and photography and much more.
Plenty of bed and breakfast, cabin rentals, horseback riding, guest ranches, working cattle ranch vacations, horse motels, cowboy cook-outs and Farmers' Markets are common.
History To See
The Pine Ridge area and its surrounding is rich with history and it is often referred to as "The Last Frontier".
At Wounded Knee on the Pine Ridge Lakota Sioux Reservation, you can visit the Singing Horse Trading Post.
The historic Fort Robinson where Lakota Sioux Warrior Crazy Horse was killed will begin to formulate a stronger view of the past for any history buff.
Do you are someone you know have a fascination with Dinosaurs? Several archeological digs are open to the public; this makes for a captivating day trip.
Wildlife
Wildlife is plentiful in Nebraska. You can enjoy photographing Buffalo, Mouflon Sheep, Mule Deer, Whitetail Deer, Fallow Deer, Elk, Pheasant, Grouse, Merriam Turkey, Coyotes, Bobcat, Porcupines, Fox, and Mountain Lion if you keep your eyes open. Eagles, Hawks and many other bird species are also commonly found.
Horseback Riding
Stunning horseback riding trails can be found in many places in Nebraska. Wind your way along creek bottoms, through the Ponderosa Pine trees to open grasslands and ramble down hills and canyons like cowboys of old did.
Missouri National Recreational River
The beauty and dynamics of the Missouri River is not to be captured, but it can be shared. Before the Missouri River was wrestled into submission in the 20th century, it ranged freely between its bluffs across a floodplain as wide as 20 miles, carving new channels and abandoning old ones with whimsy.
Today, exploring the "Big Muddy" by canoe or kayak is something you'll never forget. It is an adventure that is beginning to draw travelers from around the world.
Greeting you at the entrance of Ponca State Park is the Towers of Time art monument. Three towers and a fountain represent a geological period depicting indigenous people from four eras.
A 25-foot high tower on the left depicts the late Cretaceous Period of 65 million to 99 million years ago. It is believed that Nebraska was under water and dinosaurs roamed the area. The Tschetter's tower shows prehistoric sea and land creatures.
The 27-foot-high center tower features species from the Pleistocene Period of about 1.8 million to 10,000 years ago. This was the time of the Ice Age when woolly mammoths, saber-toothed cats and giant sloth's roamed the Earth.
The 25-foot-high tower on the right features a collage of animals commonly seen in our time inhabiting the Missouri River region like blue herons and buffalo.
The square fountain includes images of indigenous people from the Folsom culture, Paleolithic period, Earth Mound Builders and recent Natives who occupied the region in the 1800s.
Nestled on the banks of the Missouri River on Nebraska's southeastern border, Indian Cave offers a wide range of outdoor experiences. Indian Cave State Park is named for the huge sandstone cavity that is the main geologic feature of the area.
Chadron State Park
Nebraska's oldest state park is full of the majestic. Chadron State Park covers 974 acres of natural and is surrounded by the Pine Ridge Division of the Nebraska National Forest.
Chadron State Park offers many of the amenities found at other state parks, but pains are taken to retain the pristine integrity of the area.
Towering ponderosa pines cover most of the area and a generally dry climate can be expected. The altitude approaches 5,000 feet in places, keeping it cool even in the summer months.
Miles of hiking trails ramble through the park, connecting with more miles of trails in forestlands. There are short segments for a brief stroll, or rugged distances and climbs for the dedicated wilderness adventurer.
Campers will enjoy their stay at Chadron at the new, modern campground, complete with 30 amp electrical hookups, showers, laundry, picnic tables, grills, a playground for the kids and a dump station.
Primitive camping is also available for tent camping. At night Nebraska is a great opportunity to teach yourself and the children about the planets and the night sky.
One of my favorite things to do is look for constellations and for just a few dollars you can pick up a star finder. It's not hard to do and it is a lifetime of knowledge and fun for everyone.
Nebraska has a forgotten age that is waiting to be reawakened. Take the time to see it and you will be given a gift that will last a lifetime.