First-time visitors to Nebraska are often surprised to find that the state is much more than just mile upon mile of wheat fields and prairie. Agriculture remains a major industry, but the Cornhusker State also boasts an exciting array of outdoor activities and attractions, nationally renowned arts and culture, and, in the major cities, a vibrant and diverse nightlife.

Lincoln

Lincoln is the capital of Nebraska and is its second-largest city with a population of about 235,000. No matter what your tastes or interests, you’ll find plenty of fun for the whole family in Lincoln with attractions ranging from regional wineries to the National Museum of Roller Skating.

Any visit to Lincoln must include a tour of the State Capitol, voted one of the 10 most beautiful buildings in the world by a committee of 100 renowned architects, according to the Lincoln Convention and Visitors Bureau Visitors Guide at www.lincoln.org. 

Its unique interior tells Nebraska’s history through stone carvings, mosaics, paintings, sculpture, inscriptions, and inlaid wood. Free guided tours of the capitol, which was placed on the National Registry of Historic Places in 1976, start on the hour, except noon, daily.

While downtown, you’ll also want to check out historic Haymarket and Iron Horse Park. Great restaurants, unique shopping, and fun night spots located among restored turn-of-the-century warehouses bring the area to life. Other points of interest include antique shops, art galleries, and Nebraska’s first microbrewery.

After a day of sightseeing you’ll want a great dinner, and Lincoln offers a wide variety of excellent dining establishments from which to choose. One of the city’s more unique eateries is Billy’s Restaurant. Built in 1887 and named after William Jennings Bryan, Billy’s offers an exceptional dining experience in a historic atmosphere. Specialties include steak, lamb, duck, veal, and seafood.

Omaha

Omaha is Nebraska’s largest city with nearly 1 million residents and is a popular tourist destination thanks to its artistic and cultural attractions, exciting outdoor activities, and bustling nightlife, according to the Omaha Official Visitors Guide, Greater Omaha Convention & Visitors Bureau at www.visitomaha.com.

The first stop for any newcomer should be the Henry Doorly Zoo, ranked No. 1 in the nation by Reader’s Digest. There you’ll also find an aquarium with a shark tunnel, penguins and puffins, and IMAX 3D Theater.

Many of the nation’s most historic eras have been carefully preserved at Omaha’s numerous museums such as The Strategic Air & Space Museum and the Durham Western Heritage Museum, which showcases America’s passion for trail travel with the restored Art Deco Union Station area, passenger cars and engines, a tepee and earth lodge, and early city homes.

Art lovers will also find plenty to enjoy in Omaha, such as the Joslyn Art Museum, Nebraska’s premiere center for the visual arts. There you’ll find works from antiquity to the present, with an emphasis on art from 19th- and 20th-century Europe and America.

Omaha is also home to the Bemis Center for Contemporary Art, located in the historic Old Market area. Three galleries feature contemporary art exhibitions, and artists from around the world live and work in the museum’s second-floor studios.
Nebraska exemplifies all that is good in the Heartland. It’s a state where people work hard and play hard, and it has much to offer families and singles. As a result, Nebraska makes a wonderful destination for those looking for new challenges.

Don Vaughan is a freelance writer. To comment on this story, e-mail hcygan@nursingspectrum.com.