Small Town Nebraska Stops for the Summer
We love our Lincoln community, but we all know there’s nothing quite like that small-town Nebraska charm during the summer. With a little more time on your hands, summer is a perfect time to hit the road and visit the beautiful towns across Nebraska.
Here’s a list of quaint, quirky and gorgeous places to get you started.
1. Paper Moon Pastries (Cortland)
An ode to the classic 1973 movie Paper Moon, this Americana-inspired bakery in Cortland offers sweet treats and vintage ambiance that are worth the drive.
2. Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum (Ashland)
The Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum (or SAC Museum, as it’s more commonly known) shows off an incredible array of classic and contemporary air vehicles, charting the history of US aerospace innovations.
3. Carhenge (Alliance)
Truly an if you know you know Nebraska staple, Carhenge is precisely what it sounds like: an exact replica of England’s Stonehenge, fashioned out of cars. A true oddity of the Nebraska plains, this is a sight that needs to be seen up close to be fully appreciated.
4. Arbor Day Farm (Nebraska City)
Whether you do or don’t know that Arbor Day began in Nebraska in 1872 (and now you most definitely do), it’s more than worth your while to take the trip down to Nebraska City to visit the gorgeous grounds of Arbor Day Farm. Learn more about the history of Arbor Day and immerse yourself in one of Nebraska’s great legacies.
5. Quasar Drive-In Theater (Valley)
Nothing says small-town summer quite like a drive-in theater. Located just outside Omaha, Quasar is one of the few remaining drive-ins in the state, showcasing contemporary and classic movies for your drive-in enjoyment.
6. Happy Jack Chalk Mine (Scotia)
Over 6,000 feet of honeycombed caverns are hidden beneath land near Scotia, Nebraska — you totally knew that, right? This geological wonder is the only publicly accessible chalk room and pillar mine in North America.
7. Chimney Rock (Bayard)
Just because you’ve seen it a thousand times on the Nebraska state quarter doesn’t mean it’s any less breathtaking in person. The aptly named, towering rock formation outside Bayard is a must-visit for all Nebraskans and visitors.
8. Dairy Joe’s Ice Cream (Emerald)
Just a short drive west down O St. is Emerald, where you can stop for a sweet roadside snack at Dairy Joe’s Ice Cream. An easy, tasty summer getaway!
9. Ashfall Fossil Beds (Royal)
An active fossil dig site and ancient watering hole, paleontologists from UNL can guide you through the site and their findings, illuminating for visitors the important work that goes on here!
10. The Alpine Inn (Omaha)
Technically, it’s a little outside Omaha — but it’s too fun to keep off this list. While fried chicken is its main culinary attraction, the real draw is what comes after dinner. The Alpine Inn has made a tradition out of tossing chicken scraps out on the patio for the nightly arrival of raccoon families that eagerly come clean up after (and entertain) the customers. You simply must see it to believe it.
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