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Chimney Rock near Scottsbluff, NE
and the North Platte River
- a Nebraska Travel "Must See"
Many great Nebraska Scenic, Geologic, and Historic Attractions are the same way. Many of the "local" Nebraska residents have never bothered to check them out -- or they just take them for granted.
My Wife and I live in eastern Nebraska, and were guilty of this attitude regarding travel in the western Nebraska Sandhills area and attractions for many of the past 40+ years. My wife is actually a Nebraska Native so has 55+ years in NE -- she wouldn't want me to say how many years the "+" represents! I'm an Nebraska "import" of over 40 years.
The "Must See's" we had missed in the Western Nebraska Sandhills:
We had "detoured" off the Interstate up to Scottsbluff on the way to the Rocky Mountains from our home of 30+ years near Lincoln, NE to briefly see Chimney Rock, Courthouse Rock, and the Scottsbluff National Monument. We had even taken a quick trip on up to Historic Fort Robinson State Park and done a "drive-thru" of Chadron State College and the Nebraska National Forest when our boys were in their early teens. But we had never really slowed down and checked out the western Nebraska Sandhills and great Sandhills area attractions.
We have talked to many others in eastern Nebraska who have not "toured and viewed" the nearby western Nebraska Sandhills or checked out the attractions in western Nebraska - but they, like us, have been to Disney World more than once. The "vacation grass" always looks "greener" further away from home!
And in Western Central + Northwest Nebraska:
For example, until recently, we had never driven "leisurely" through the beautiful and peaceful northwest Nebraska Sandhills on scenic Hwy 2 which runs along a branch of the Loup River for part of the way -- and through some spectacular Sandhills cattle ranch grassland country with many interesting windmills.
Western Nebraska Sandhills Grasslands - Cattle by Wooden Windmill - near Mullen, NE -
Larger picture version on Western Nebraska & Sandhills Road Trip page
Toadstool Geologic Park near
Crawford, Nebraska (west of Chadron, NE)
Larger Pict version on Toadstool Geologic Park Page
We had never hiked the spectacular and interesting Toadstool Geologic Park near Crawford west of Chadron, NE -- a definite Western Nebraska Travels "Must See!" (11/2/06 - We now have a new Toadstool Geologic Park Page.) Our boys had canoed the Niobrara River with their Boy Scout Troop, but my Wife and I had never really stopped to explore and view it beyond a few Niobrara River "drive-by's" or "drive-overs" during travel on other road trip vacations.
We only recently stopped and checked out the interesting Mari Sandoz High Plains Heritage Center in a building on the Chadron State College campus. My Wife is interested in Mari Sandoz and her writings so she particularly enjoyed this well-done display. (We now have a new page on the author-historian Mari Sandoz attraction.)
Plus Northern Nebraska & along the Niobrara River:
We also had previously not driven across the northern edge of Nebraska on Scenic Hwy 20 thru Chadron and Valentine, and Scenic Hwy 12 on east near the Niobrara River and travel on thru Niobrara, NE. -- an enjoyable and peaceful northern Nebraska Sandhills drive.
Smith Falls near Valentine, NE
Tallest Waterfall in Nebraska
We recently took the time to walk across the restored old steel bridge over the Niobrara River to view beautiful Smith Falls near Valentine, Nebraska. Another Nebraska Travel "Must See!" (Pictures and Info about Smith Falls State Park and Niobrara River plus a waterfall video clip of "roaring" Nebraksa's tallest waterfall Smith Falls and the much canoed Niobrara River are now posted here.)
We also recently checked out both the Missouri River and the Niobrara River from several scenic overlooks where they come together along the edge of Niobrara State Park near Niobrara, NE. Spectacular views! - watch for pictures to come here.
-- A Historic Lighthouse in Nebraska??
Lake Minatare Historic Lighthouse
near Scottsbluff, NE
We didn't know that Nebraska had a historic Lighthouse on Lake Minatare just northeast of Scottsbluff. (I would be willing to wager that a LOT of Nebraskans don't know about this historic "Lighthouse without a light" in Western Nebraska!)
We had focused on Florida and other US ocean Beach Vacations with the Boys using some Cocoa Beach Time shares we got 30+ years ago, and almost always traveled "away from" Nebraska on our family vacations. Had done some eastern Nebraska travel, but had previously really missed out on many of the really great things to see and do in the Western Nebraska Sandhills.
What this Nebraska Travels Site is:
This Nebraska Vacation Guide web site is the result of my Wife and My attempt in recent years to "catch up" on the beautiful and interesting Scenic, Geologic, and Historical Attractions in Western Nebraska and the Nebraska Sandhills -- along with some "reviews," Tips 
, and pictures from some our Nebraska travels over the years to "closer to Lincoln and Omaha" Attractions and Points of Interest in Eastern Nebraska.
On our recent travels to the Western and Northern Nebraska Panhandle and the Sandhills, we have tried to read every Historic Marker, visit every area State and National Park, and view every marked and unmarked Scenic Overlook -- and take LOTS of digital pictures -- many to be posted here!
We'll even have a few scenic video clips and some "panorama" scenic Nebraska photo shots.
Fort Robinson State Park
What we have now & will be adding here:
This site will have our Nebraska Travel "Discoveries," along with our "Reviews," time needed to view, and Tips on "Must See" great Attractions. Also a few comments on some "not-so-great" attractions, lodging, or restaurants -- so you won't have to waste your time or money like we did on a few occasions.
We will also have many Pictures to help you make up your own "Must See" in Nebraska list. We will offer attraction discount tips when available -- and later will have some Bed & Breakfast, Motel, and Restaurant "Reviews." (Gene particularly enjoys checking out the restaurants recommended by the "Locals!" - often some great finds, sometimes not.)
We also will be adding some special affordable Nebraska Travel and Vacation Discount Tips for the Over 55 - "Seasoned" Travelers Set, since we have been part of that growing Travel crowd for several years. We have discovered some money-saving Tips to share from our experiences with Nebraska Travels.
A listing of some of the pages on this Nebraska Travels Site now, plus some of the pages and pictures to come are in the Menu listing to the left. More are being added as we complete new page additions that we think will be interesting to our Site visitors -- especially topics that we currently have pictures for since this is a "picture enhanced" Nebraska Vacation and Travel Site.
We took over a thousand pictures + a few videos from our last road trip vacation through the Nebraska Sandhills and the Western Nebraska Panhandle, so we have a "few" pictures from that trip and others to choose from to use here.
The list of the pages here now with descriptions and links is below.
"Tips to help you Plan & Save + Pictures to help you Dream"
Sandhill Crane Migration - Pictures, Viewing Location Tips, Crane Links, & Maps + Video of thousands of Cranes flying in to roost for the night on the Platte River at Sunset and their unusual sounds! Near Grand Island and Kearney, NE
- Nebraska Maps - Interactive and Printable - for Nebraska Road Trips and Attraction Areas
- The Western Nebraska Road Trip - the Nebraska Sandhills and Panhandle Road Trip Via the Scenic non-Interstate Route - Includes Nebraska National Forest and Scottsbluff area Attractions + Others. MANY great Pictures!!!
- Toadstool Geologic Park in the Chadron, NE "Badlands" area northwest of the Western Nebraska Sandhills -- plus Hiking Trail Info and Photo Gallery (High Resolution Photo Download Versions are now also available.)
- Mari Sandoz High Plains Heritage Center - prize-winning author - "Nebraska's Story Teller" - Exhibit on Chadron State College Campus in Chadron, NE
- Colorful Nebraska Sunsets Photo Gallery + Nebraska Midwest Rural Country Sunrises & Free Screensaver or Wallpaper Pictures - with High Resolution Photo Download Links
- Deer Running Video - Herd of 10 Deer Running in Back Yard of an Acreage in Eastern, Nebraska + popular Deer "Fight" Video Movie Clip and Pictures
- Smith Falls Waterfall & Niobrara River Pictures - Tallest Waterfall in Nebraska Pictures + Waterfall Video and Smith Falls State Park Info & Pictures - a Nebraska Sandhills "Must See"
- Scottsbluff NE area Attractions and Points of Interest - including Chimney Rock and Scottsbluff National Monument
- Scottsbluff, NE Map with the local area Attractions labeled and briefly described. A very handy printable Scottsbluff Nebraska map.
- Wild Turkeys in back yard Pictures and Video - Eating and flying up to perch on gym set
- NebraskaTravels.com Site Map with Categorized Page Descriptions
Come back and watch our growth -- and check for our our new Nebraska Sandhills and other Nebraska Travels Attraction pictures and video clip postings!
Gene
Traveler to / Builder of: NebraskaTravels.com
Your Insider "Picture Enhanced" Affordable Nebraska Vacations Guide
Plus
You can also check out our Sister "Picture Enhanced" Affordable US Beach Vacations Guide Site at: Memorable-Beach-Vacations.com
-- and our US Mountain Fall Vacations Site
at: Mountain-Fall-Foliage-Vacations.com
GoUSVacations.com - links and descriptions for all 3 of our "Picture Enhanced" US Vacation Sites Plus our many Picture / Screensaver pages & High Resolution Photos
-- easy to remember to come back to any of our US Vacation & Travel Sites!
See these High Resolution Photo Preview pages for over 80 popular non-watermarked high resolution photos from all 3 of our "Picture Enhanced" US Vacation Sites. Includes Viewer stats. Free "Comp" downloads are available.
Thanks for dropping by -- come back and visit us soon to plan your next Affordable Nebraska Travels -- or to check out our latest Picture or Video additions!
Gene - Contact Us - Please send your comments or suggestions -- or share your own Nebraska Travel and Nebraska Sandhills favorites or pictures. Please mention which page you are commenting on -- or send your comments on the Nebraska Travels Site in general. We appreciate your feedback!
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