Top Things to do in Nebraska
Top Hotels in Nebraska
- 1. La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham North Platte
- 2. Best Western Plus Lincoln Inn & Suites
- 3. Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, Lincoln Airport, NE
- 4. Hampton Inn Omaha West-Lakeside
- 5. Husker Inn
- 6. Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, Lincoln North Hotel and Conference Center, NE
- 7. Hampton Inn Lincoln Airport
- 8. La Quinta Inn by Wyndham Omaha West
- 9. Best Western Plus York Hotel & Conference Center
- 10. Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, Sidney, NE
10 Specialty Museums in Nebraska That You Shouldn't Miss
Nebraska has something for everyone. From cowboys to wine industry, you’ll find many attractions when you visit this Great Plains state. If you are planning a family vacation to Nebraska, you won’t want to miss the Lincoln Children's Zoo in the state capital. Featuring more than 400 animals, you and the kids can see Amur leopards, Bactrian camels, river otters, eagles, crocodiles, reindeer, and more. At the zoo’s Butterfly Pavilion you can watch as butterflies emerge from their cocoon. The Aquacourt Family Water Park in Hastings features a wave pool, climbing wall and waterslides. In Omaha, Nebraska’s largest city, you won’t want to miss the Omaha Children's Museum. For history buffs, Lincoln is your place. This city is home to the Nebraska History Museum, with permanent exhibits that interpret more than 12,000 years of human experience on the Plains. You can make history personal in Lincoln with a visit to the Nebraska State Historical Society Headquarters, where you can research your family history. Omaha is also home to The Durham Museum, featuring restored train cars, 1940's storefronts and other historical artifacts. For a bit of Nebraska heritage, make sure you visit Front Street and Cowboy Museum in Ogallala and the Tri-State Old Time Cowboys Memorial Museum in Gordon. Learn about the area’s wine industry and history on a Nebraska Cork & Bottle Tour through Raymond, Pawnee City, Lexington and St. Paul, sampling fine wines and taking in the scenic views.
Restaurants in Nebraska
1. Museum of American Speed
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 453 reviews
Reviewed By millerhispeedheadco
Last week, my wife and I were treated to a comprehensive tour of the Speedway Motors Museum of American Speed. What an amazing place! This museum, founded by Bill and Joyce Smith in Lincoln, Nebraska in 1992, commemorates the history of auto racing, technology, and period memorabilia. It contains everything from the history of the racing engine, to a collection of race cars, sprints, drags, land speed and hot rods; engines of every type, as well as period after-market accessories for the enthusiast. An entire room was devoted to Harry Miller outlining his accomplishments and history in bringing auto racing to the fore during his lifetime. He truly was the “Father of Speed”! We were impressed with the volume and variety of items on display. Also included in the collection were period pedal cars, lunch boxes, auto related record albums, children’s toys, and cookie jars which Joyce loved to collect. There is something for everyone in the family to enjoy at this outstanding museum!
2. Nebraska Prairie Museum
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 54 reviews
The Nebraska Prairie Museum, located in Holdrege, Nebraska, contains an exceptionally fine collection of over one acre of indoor exhibits. Once inside, you get a feeling of spaciousness as you view collections of period clothing, antique toys, farm equipment, tools and household items, a unique W.W.II German POW exhibit room, and much more!
Reviewed By diningdishing - Littleton, United States
Visits to the Nebraska Prairie Museum always makes me feel heartened about this wonderful country whenever I find myself worrying about our society, which I do as our culture changes so quickly. The museum tells a story of work, hardship, community, and prosperity. It isn't just a collection of old things put on display, the artifacts, from machinery to tableware, tells the story of the people who settled the plains throughout its history. The collections are made up almost entirely of donated items from Nebraskan families that make up its history - and what a collection of incredible, interesting items are found here! I'm always impressed with their presentation - there's been a lot of money and time devoted to making of this museum, the exhibits are extravangant and rich in variety. There's so much to see, so allow yourself plenty of time. The back wing of the main building is designed in a Main Street Town Square design, with exhibits for a Post Office, Pharmacy, etc. The WW II wing of the museum with the POW Camp Atlanta exhibit on how German soldiers were kept in the area during the war is especially interesting to us. The museum suggests a donation of $5 for adults, $2 for children. Also, there are several out buildings that are part of the museum presentation - a completely furnished prairie house, a country school, and a Lutheran church.
3. Classic Car Collection
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 183 reviews
This collection of over 200 cars represents one man's 41-year love affair with the automobile. It also represents America's love affair and fascination with automobiles and the evolution of our society around the world of wheels. You'll see a variety of body types and styles. You'll enjoy the incredible detail crafted into many of these vehicles - artistic hood ornaments, instrument gauge panels, wheel styles and headlights. Coordinated together to tell their own stories and help us track the evolution of the model and of the age of automobiles. IPads are provided free of charge to give you additional photographs of the vehicle's details - some not able to be seen by the public as well as more information about the vehicles. This attraction is more than just automobiles. It features artistic displays, interactive multi-media shows and models.
Reviewed By jandrewkopf - Lincoln, United States
This is a great car collection and set up perfectly for easy single walk through to see everything. Very cool, the whole family was impressed. Don't miss it!
4. The Plainsman Museum
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 31 reviews
Sitting on six acres, the museum’s treasures all reside indoors so they can be enjoyed rain or shine. From the main building with its old-time boardwalk and military memorabilia to the agricultural building’s antiques cars to the working blacksmith shop, prairie schoolhouse, and home of Civil War General Delevan Bates, The Plainsman Museum offers a relaxing and educational journey through yesterday.
Reviewed By maddiedean17588 - Nebraska, United States
They have store fronts inside the building where you can walk down a board walk and look into stores of the past. A great place to spend an afternoon
5. Boneyard Creation Museum
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 16 reviews
The Boneyard Creation Museum is a non-profit educational museum located in Broken Bow, Nebraska for the purpose of displaying scientific evidence for creation and showing the difference between evolution and creation. There is a small gift shop with creation books, souvenirs, and fossils available for purchase. There is also a rock shop at the museum that has reasonable prices and a large variety of rocks, minerals, and supplies.
Reviewed By lorrieu602
Pam Miner so we came to Broken Bow, Nebraska for the weekend for Halloween/birthday celebration for Lance. there is the COOLEST little museum here, by appt only. there is an amazing collection of rocks, minerals, fossils, gems....i literally came away wishing that my life had been centered around rocks. it was just refreshing to hear Steve speak so knowledgeably about everything in his museum and he had a large piece, about 1sq ft of wooly mammoth hide! Whatever time you alot yourelf to visit here, double or triple it. You will NOT be dissapointed.
6. Nebraska City Museum of Firefighting
7. Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 516 reviews
The Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum is home to one of the largest collections of Cold War aircraft and artifacts in the U.S. The Museum preserves and displays historic aircraft, missiles, and space vehicles and provides STEM education. The Museum is a 300,000-square-foot facility that features a glass atrium, two aircraft display hangars, a traveling exhibit area, a children's interactive gallery, a 200-seat theater, a museum store, an aircraft restoration gallery, and a cafe. The glass atrium is constructed of 525 glass panels that encase a Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird. The Museum hosts regular exhibitions and several special events throughout the year. The Museum's Education Department is committed to fueling the curiosity of children across the Midwest and to educating them in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM). Regular STEM sessions, workshops and camp programs are available at the Museum.
Reviewed By kmarshall78 - Smithville, United States
We lived in Lincoln for two years and somehow never visited the SAC Museum. On a recent trip, we made a point to stop here. SAC is a critical piece of Cold War history, and there is a lot of information about the era. The collection of aircraft was fascinating for my husband, who loves military history. The tour is 1:45, but it flew by with all the information the guide had to share. The highlight was seeing the SR-71 Blackbird. They also have a very fun STEM area with interactive exhibits and activities for kids. Lunch from the cafe was very good and not over-priced. Well worth the stop. It is a 501c3 and fully donor-funded.
8. Pioneer Village
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 285 reviews
One of Nebraska's leading attractions, the Harold Warp Pioneer Village is a short 10-minute drive south of I-80 exit 279. The Pioneer Village is often described as the "Smithsonian of the Plains". Visitors from around the world use "Fantastic" "A wonderful American Treasure" "Amazing" and "Remarkable" to describe the 50,000 items in 26 buildings within the 20 acre museum. Exhibits are arranged in chronological order of development to vividly portray how America grew from the open hearth and grease lamps to supersonic speed and cell phones. You will find wagons, buggies, guns, trains, 350 antique automobiles, 100 tractors, 20 historic aircraft, Rogers' Statuary, clothing, glass and china, Historic Buildings and more. It is a great family destination and includes a motel and campground. If you stay with us in our motel or campground, we will give you one complementary adult admission to the museum with each room or campsite rented. The museum is open year round.
Reviewed By S3508XQmichaell
Harold Warp Pioneer Village is a national treasure. I drop down to Minden every year after competing in the Nebraska Senior Games in Kearney. There's alway more cool stuff to see than I have time for. Then I get to drive east down historic US-6, which was the main highway to Denver before I-80. I also drive through the amazing Naval Ammunition Depot with its miles of ammo bunkers now populated by grazing cows. Hope the Pioneer Village is maintained, promoted and stays open forever.
