Whether you’ve lived here your entire life or have just moved from out of state, there are some things you really must do in Nebraska sometime in your life. These 40 things – listed in alphabetical order, not ranked – should be on everyone’s Nebraska bucket list.
- Take an airboat tour on the Platte River
Bryson’s Airboat Tours
- Applejack Festival, Nebraska City
Go Nebraska City
- Ashfall Fossil Beds, Royal
flickr/Greg Goebel
- Attend a powwow
flickr/Mark Francis
- Canoe, kayak, or tube down the Niobrara River
flickr/Eric Adamshick
- Carhenge, Alliance
flickr/Curtis Cronn
- Chimney Rock, Bayard
flickr/Kent Kanouse
- Take in a game of the College World Series, Omaha
flickr/Anthony Doudt
- Bike the Cowboy Trail, Norfolk to Valentine (when completed, it will run from Norfolk to Chadron)
flickr/Ken Ratcliff
- Dobby’s Frontier Town, Alliance
Facebook/Dobby’s Frontier Town
- Durham Museum, Omaha
flickr/Ali Eminov
- Eugene T. Mahoney State Park, Ashland
flickr/Bryon Lippincott
- Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge, Valentine
flickr/Diana Robinson
- Fort Robinson State Park, near Crawford
flickr/Jimmy Emerson, DVM
- Golden Spike Tower and Visitor Center, North Platte
flickr/David Becker
- Great Platte River Road Archway Monument, Kearney
flickr/Jasperdo
- Visit the historic Haymarket District, Lincoln
flickr/RLEVANS
- Henry Doorly Museum, Omaha
flickr/Nathan Hamm
- Homestead National Monument of America, Beatrice
flickr/JeromeG111
- Indian Cave State Park, Shubert
flickr/Dick Clark
- International Quilt Study Center & Museum, Lincoln
Wikimedia/Maureenose
- Joslyn Art Museum, Omaha
flickr/Shannon Ramos
- Lake McConaughy
flickr/viewfinderview
- Lauritzen Gardens, Omaha
flickr/Ali Eminov
- Tour or attend a game at Memorial Stadium, Lincoln
flickr/UNL Today
- Museum of Nebraska Art, Kearney
Wikimedia/Thomas Bragg
- Mormon Trail Center at Historic Winter Quarters, Omaha
flickr/Ken Lund
- Museum of the Fur Trader, Chadron
flickr/Silvia Calderon
- Nebraskaland Days, North Platte
Nebraskaland Days
- Nebraska State Fair, Grand Island
flickr/Visit Grand Island
- Visit the historic Old Market, Omaha
flickr/Jimmy Emerson, DVM
- Ponca State Park, Ponca
flickr/Overduebook
- Watch the sandhill crane migration, Platte River
flickr/James Holloway
- Scotts Bluff National Monument
flickr/Doug Kerr
- Smith Falls State Park, Valentine
flickr/Brett Whaley
- Strategic Air and Space Museum, Ashland
flickr/JeromeG111
- Stuhr Museum of the Prairie Pioneer, Grand Island
flickr/Visit Grand Island
- Sunken Gardens, Lincoln
flickr/Overduebook
- Toadstool Geologic Park, in Oglala National Grassland
flickr/Kevin Saff
- Tour the capitol building, Lincoln
flickr/Doug Kerr
In such a big state with so many fantastic things to see and do, it’s inevitable that some of you will have different opinions about the ultimate Nebraska bucket list. If you’ve got additions to make, add your input in the comments!
Bryson’s Airboat Tours
Go Nebraska City
flickr/Greg Goebel
flickr/Mark Francis
flickr/Eric Adamshick
flickr/Curtis Cronn
flickr/Kent Kanouse
flickr/Anthony Doudt
flickr/Ken Ratcliff
Facebook/Dobby’s Frontier Town
flickr/Ali Eminov
flickr/Bryon Lippincott
flickr/Diana Robinson
flickr/Jimmy Emerson, DVM
flickr/David Becker
flickr/Jasperdo
flickr/RLEVANS
flickr/Nathan Hamm
flickr/JeromeG111
flickr/Dick Clark
Wikimedia/Maureenose
flickr/Shannon Ramos
flickr/viewfinderview
flickr/UNL Today
Wikimedia/Thomas Bragg
flickr/Ken Lund
flickr/Silvia Calderon
Nebraskaland Days
flickr/Visit Grand Island
flickr/Overduebook
flickr/James Holloway
flickr/Doug Kerr
flickr/Brett Whaley
flickr/Kevin Saff
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.