Nebraska sprawls over some 77,000 square miles. Dotted with tiny towns and modern cities, there are also long stretches of glorious space, with cornfields, prairies, pretty valleys and ancient landscape that were once home to dinosaurs.
West of the Missouri
Omaha sits on the famed and grand Missouri River, with the Platte River also nearby, sprang up at their confluence. It’s a prosperous and modern city today, but one that also does a fine job of preserving its heritage. America’s size made spanning it of huge importance as it modernised in the 19th century and the Union Pacific Railroad Museum captures the way in which train travel revolutionised the country commercially, socially and culturally.
Head downtown to the pretty Old Market area, where you’ll find great shops and places to dine in this arts and entertainment district. There’s a plethora of antique shops and art galleries, coffee and cupcakes in a place with real charm. The Henry Doorly Zoo is genuinely world class and is often awarded ‘best zoo in America’ status – as well as its vast desert, it’s also at the forefront of conservation efforts for both rare plants and animals.
Art-loving Lincoln
Lincoln sits south-west of Omaha and, thanks to its University, has the diversity and arts offerings you’d expect of a college town. The 400 feet tall State Capitol Buildings sits at the centre of it all and is worth touring, while the Sheldon Museum of Art is home to key pieces from Edward Hopper and Jackson Pollock.
The peerless Panhandle
The Panhandle (glance at a map of Nebraska and you’ll see where it gets its name) is in Nebraska’s north-west and has a character all its own. Here the sky seems truly endless, while dramatic canyons plunge, forests offer welcome shade and the quiet towns provide a welcome to strangers.
History both recent and ancient is yours for the discovery here. The Agate Fossil Beds are a national monument here in the high plains, and have been a rich source of discovery for scientists and palaeontologists.
Make time for Scotts Bluff, a soaring mountain formation that plays a key part in the collective memory of Americans. The Pony Express, California Trail and Oregon Trail all passed this point in the mid-19th century, a landmark and waypoint for weary travellers (as was the stunning Chimney Rock). You can still see ruts from the carts that made their way along here.
The lowering skies, the amber waves of grain and corn, the quirky cities with their art scenes, cafes and restaurants, Nebraska is a truly great state. While it might not have the diversity of the coastal cities of the US, it remains incredibly friendly and welcoming, something sewn into the DNA of the locals ever since people passed through here either east or west in the formation of the USA. Car hire in Nebraska is absolutely essential to see it all for yourself.
