Best Day Trip Destinations in Nebraska
From its quaint beautiful city spots to its historically fascinating natural destinations, Nebraska has been a criminally underrated tourist destination. Nebraska has a lot more than just farmlands and corn. From its historical heritage to its natural beauty, we know Nebraska will only attract more tourists in the next few years.
Here are some of the best day trip destinations in this beautiful state.
Chimney Rock National Historic Site
The Chimney Rock formation started to rise 25 to 24 million years ago. It has since been seen as this dramatic rock spire that serves as a landmark in the Nebraska area. Since its sight is so iconic, it served as an important landmark for pioneer travelers to Oregon and California. This is what makes the Chimney Rock such a symbol of the great migration, hence making it a site of true historical significance.
Of course, even without the historic context, the sight of the rock formation itself is truly spectacular.
Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium
We know zoos are not exactly everyone’s preference for a day trip. Especially when you have a limited number of days to explore Nebraska. Some may even find them generally boring but consider Omaha Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium different. This zoo happens to have the world’s largest indoor desert, the largest indoor jungle, and the largest nocturnal exhibit. Here, you may even ride camels or swim with the stingrays.
If that is not enough to make you head on over to this zoo, we do not know what will.
Old Market in Omaha
The Old Market in Omaha is exactly what it sounds. It is a terrific market, and it is beautifully old. From the cobblestone streets to restored and preserved old buildings, the market is successful in keeping the streets quaint and historical. It will feel like you are walking in 19th century Nebraska.
Of course, apart from the aesthetic of the place, the Old Market is overall a great spot to shop and dine. There are various retail establishments and there are numerous galleries dotting the place. There are plenty of cafes in the place, as well as some great fine dining places.
Scotts Bluff National Monument
Like Chimney Rock, Scotts Bluff is an iconic destination and a landmark historically used by Native Americans who used to live in the Nebraska area. It was also used by early travelers or pioneer travelers back in the 19th century as some sort of a landmark. It serves as an especially important landmark for those traveling west to the California, Oregon, and Mormon Trails area.
With Scotts Bluff being 3000-acre, there are so many recreational activities inside to enjoy for your day trip. The hiking trails are incredibly scenic, with some spots giving a full view of the surrounding countryside.
If you are not up for some pretty exhausting hike, you can always ride a summit shuttle back and forth just to see the view from above. Or you can also just hike back down for the experience.
Indian Cave State Park
Our fascination with caves, caverns, and the underground has naturally lead us to the Indian Cave State Park here in Nebraska. The walls of this cave are marked and engraved with these petroglyphs that historians continue to study. They typically depict the wildlife in the pictures and even without knowing what they mean, they are just incredible to look at.
Since the park is also located at the banks of the Missouri River, the place has generally become a popular outdoor destination. It is especially popular for camping and some good old hike.
Planning for a hike? Be sure to check out 8 safe hiking tips for your next adventure.
