More from the Midwest
Surprise yourself with a vacation to legendary North Dakota
When we told people we were going on a 14-day road trip to “legendary” North Dakota, we got one of two responses: a blank stare, or a polite, "Why?" In all honesty, there was only one reason: We’d agreed to speak at a conference and that conference was in North...
20 Things to do in Kearney, Nebraska while you wait on the cranes
Sitting in the blind you're amazed at the noise coming from the river. The cranes get louder and more frenzied, reaching a crescendo you simply weren't expecting. Suddenly, tens of thousands of huge birds take to the air, wings flapping, the squeaking even louder now....
How to help Nebraska flood victims
As many of you already know, we are from Nebraska. Over the past week, our state has been devastated by historic floods and blizzards. At least 74 cities, including the one where we live, have issued emergency declarations. The photo below is on a bridge in our town...
10 things to do in Clear Lake, Iowa, in the off season
As we've traveled, we’ve discovered quite a few tips and tricks along the way. One of them is (if you have the flexibility) to travel to popular places in the off season. This fall, at the end of the busy tourist season, we had a chance to visit Clear Lake, Iowa, on a...
Pivo Brewery and Blepta Studios: Hand crafted beer and beer crafted art
When we sat down at Pivo Brewery, in tiny Calmar, Iowa, I was excited to taste a few craft beers at this new tap room. Then, owner Craig Neuzil came over to my table with eight (!) beers in sampling glasses. I was sure I'd told him it would just be me doing the...
15 photo-worthy stops in Grinnell, Iowa
When we sat down at Pivo Brewery, in tiny Calmar, Iowa, I was excited to taste a few craft beers at this new tap room. Then, owner Craig Neuzil came over to my table with eight (!) beers in sampling glasses. I was sure I'd told him it would just be me doing the...
Pinter’s Gardens & Pumpkins near Decorah, Iowa
Grinnell, Iowa, is an active and artsy college town. It's also one of the most picturesque places we discovered on our weeklong road trip through the Hawkeye state. Whether you're returning for a class reunion, enjoying a weekend getaway, or simply passing through, be...
10 things we love about Kinkaider Brewing Company in Broken Bow, Nebraska
I remember as a kid the excitement I felt at the start of fall. I loved jumping in huge piles of freshly raked leaves and taking in every moment of outside play I could before the snow of winter blew in. Every year I hunted for the ideal pumpkin to carve. I liked one...
This Clear Lake, Iowa deli ranks #1 despite only being open 17 1/2 (ish) hours a week
Central Nebraska’s Kinkaider Brewing Company is quickly becoming one of the most popular destination craft breweries in the Midwest. Located at the edge of the rolling Sandhills in Broken Bow, Nebraska, Kinkaider was founded by four small-town Nebraskans, three of...
A very filling agritourism progressive meal from the Plains Safaris conference
Trip Advisor’s #1-ranked restaurant in Clear Lake, Iowa, is only open 17 and a half(ish) hours a week. Might not seem like the best business model, but the sisters who own and manage Starboard Market have made it work quite well in this quaint Midwest town – for 19...
Fellow travel bloggers publish book about one of our favorite cities — Omaha
I went on my first agritourism progressive meal today. Let me just say, I'm now a big fan. Ann and I are attending the Plains Safaris: A conference on tourism and conservation in the Great Plains in Kearney, Nebraska, this week. When I saw that one of the...
Join us in Kearney, Nebraska, for the Plains Safaris conference April 18-20
This week, we are helping fellow travel bloggers and friends, Tim and Lisa Trudell of The Walking Tourists celebrate the launch of their new book, 100 Things To Do In Omaha Before You Die. The book is a compilation of 100 vignettes covering a wide variety of things to...
5 things to do in Omaha when it’s freezing
We are excited to announce that we've been asked to speak at what is sure to be an incredible ecotourism symposium in April called Plains Safaris. That's right Plains Safaris. If you've followed our blog for any time at all, you know that we live in a small, rural...
A gift from Nebraska Tourism and the most popular post from our home state
Trip Advisor’s #1-ranked restaurant in Clear Lake, Iowa, is only open 17 and a half(ish) hours a week. Might not seem like the best business model, but the sisters who own and manage Starboard Market have made it work quite well in this quaint Midwest town – for 19...
Yes, Nebraska has a safari and I’m so glad we finally took the time to stop there
Yesterday we received a nice surprise in the mail from the Nebraska Tourism Commission Staff. As a thank-you for our help spreading the word about Nebraska's tourism industry, they sent us two beautiful calendars and each page included ... wait for it ... a postcard!...
Talking with Johnny and other things we did in Norfolk and Neligh, Nebraska
No matter where you live, there are likely tourist attractions nearby that you've driven past for years. You have good intentions of visiting, but never actually take the time to stop. At least once a month for more than 16 years, I've driven past a large, green sign...
TripAdvisor’s most hilarious manager responses from Robert J. at Peppermill
We'd been on the road for several days, now, and while Valentine marked the turn toward home on our Nebraska adventure with my folks, we were far from done with our trip. We set out from Valentine, our sights set on the Ashfall Fossil Beds, and made it east of town a...
What’s not to love about Valentine?
When we sat down at Pivo Brewery, in tiny Calmar, Iowa, I was excited to taste a few craft beers at this new tap room. Then, owner Craig Neuzil came over to my table with eight (!) beers in sampling glasses. I was sure I'd told him it would just be me doing the...
How we drove 18 holes at Quarry Oaks Golf Club and didn’t lose a single ball
Grinnell, Iowa, is an active and artsy college town. It's also one of the most picturesque places we discovered on our weeklong road trip through the Hawkeye state. Whether you're returning for a class reunion, enjoying a weekend getaway, or simply passing through, be...
Don’t judge Nebraska until you’ve gotten off of I-80 and seen the Sandhills
As we've traveled, we’ve discovered quite a few tips and tricks along the way. One of them is (if you have the flexibility) to travel to popular places in the off season. This fall, at the end of the busy tourist season, we had a chance to visit Clear Lake, Iowa, on a...
Bull whips, the Wild West, and genuine hospitality – North Platte, Neb., has it all
Sitting in the blind you're amazed at the noise coming from the river. The cranes get louder and more frenzied, reaching a crescendo you simply weren't expecting. Suddenly, tens of thousands of huge birds take to the air, wings flapping, the squeaking even louder now....
Trains humping and other fun things we saw on our trip through central Nebraska
This week, we are helping fellow travel bloggers and friends, Tim and Lisa Trudell of The Walking Tourists celebrate the launch of their new book, 100 Things To Do In Omaha Before You Die. The book is a compilation of 100 vignettes covering a wide variety of things to...
The secret to The Village Pie Maker pies
Grinnell, Iowa, is an active and artsy college town. It's also one of the most picturesque places we discovered on our weeklong road trip through the Hawkeye state. Whether you're returning for a class reunion, enjoying a weekend getaway, or simply passing through, be...
A perfect fall day with family
Yesterday, we drove carts through an entire 18-hole golf course and didn't have to stop once to look for a lost ball. Only because we didn't hit any. Not this time, anyway. This time, we didn't have to tee off once. My sister, Laura, works for a memory care residence...
Eclipse 2017: An earth-shadowing experience from our home in Crete, Nebraska
Today was one of those cool, cloudy days when it starts to really feel like fall in Nebraska. The trees are starting to change colors and the corn fields are almost ready for harvest this time of year. Now that Steve has a more flexible schedule, we thought it might...
70+ things to do in Crete, Nebraska
When science writer Trudy Bell said to never let anyone convince me that 99% of the sun covered was the same as totality, I didn't know what to think. She then went on to say, "It's 1% of the sun's surface, but it's 100% of the experience." The moment the moon fully...
On the road again
Today was one of those cool, cloudy days when it starts to really feel like fall in Nebraska. The trees are starting to change colors and the corn fields are almost ready for harvest this time of year. Now that Steve has a more flexible schedule, we thought it might...
Finally home for the Fourth of July
When science writer Trudy Bell said to never let anyone convince me that 99% of the sun covered was the same as totality, I didn't know what to think. She then went on to say, "It's 1% of the sun's surface, but it's 100% of the experience." The moment the moon fully...
Our weekend getaway to Chicago
After having spent the Fourth of July out of the country three of the past four years, we're excited to be home this year to celebrate our country's Independence Day. In 2013, we were in Vancouver, British Columbia. In 2015 we celebrated in Barcelona, Spain. And last...
Our first cover story!
Sometimes you just gotta go. I know, I know. You'd like to travel more but feel like you never have the time. But trust me, you can pack a lot into a long weekend. Sure, the garage might need cleaning. But let's be honest. It can wait. Would you rather look back on...
Why we love Valentine, Nebraska
After having spent the Fourth of July out of the country three of the past four years, we're excited to be home this year to celebrate our country's Independence Day. In 2013, we were in Vancouver, British Columbia. In 2015 we celebrated in Barcelona, Spain. And last...
Sharing our Postcards from Nebraska
Sometimes you just gotta go. I know, I know. You'd like to travel more but feel like you never have the time. But trust me, you can pack a lot into a long weekend. Sure, the garage might need cleaning. But let's be honest. It can wait. Would you rather look back on...
A sip of nostalgia in Hastings, Nebraska
One of the primary goals of our blog is simply to inspire people to travel more. So, when we got a call from a nearby community college asking if we'd be interested in teaching a course on Nebraska travel, we jumped at the opportunity. And so, last night, we found...
Leaving I-80 for a better view
Lots of interesting things were invented in our home state of Nebraska. Yes, we're the creators of vise grip locking pliers, frozen TV dinners, collapsable voting booths, and center pivot irrigation. Perhaps our biggest claim to fame, however, is the fruit-flavored,...
Crete’s Great Pumpkin Festival
One of the primary goals of our blog is simply to inspire people to travel more. So, when we got a call from a nearby community college asking if we'd be interested in teaching a course on Nebraska travel, we jumped at the opportunity. And so, last night, we found...
A quirky place called Carhenge
Lots of interesting things were invented in our home state of Nebraska. Yes, we're the creators of vise grip locking pliers, frozen TV dinners, collapsable voting booths, and center pivot irrigation. Perhaps our biggest claim to fame, however, is the fruit-flavored,...
Fort Cody Trading Post: More than meets the eye
When we were in Great Britain last month, our first stop was at iconic Stonehenge, a prehistoric monument in Wiltshire, England, where a ring of standing stones is set. Its history and purpose have boggled the minds of archaeologists and visitors for hundreds of...
A postcard from North Platte, NE
The first time I visited North Platte, Nebraska, I was 14. My family drove there via I-80 to attend the wedding of a close family friend. After almost 30 years, I don't remember too much from that visit, but I do remember being intrigued by the western stockade I saw...
Nebraska’s Nicest Nine
When we were in Great Britain last month, our first stop was at iconic Stonehenge, a prehistoric monument in Wiltshire, England, where a ring of standing stones is set. Its history and purpose have boggled the minds of archaeologists and visitors for hundreds of...
Rediscovering Historic Stillwater, MN
The first time I visited North Platte, Nebraska, I was 14. My family drove there via I-80 to attend the wedding of a close family friend. After almost 30 years, I don't remember too much from that visit, but I do remember being intrigued by the western stockade I saw...
A great pit stop for Midwest travelers
For me, Stillwater is one of those places that will always take me back to my childhood and ignite fond memories. Every day I spent there as a child was filled with fun and relaxation. We'd fish off the back deck of my grandparent's houseboat, slowly boat over to a...
Ray’s Shabby Cottage Furniture
A couple of weeks ago we were invited to visit the Speedway Motors Museum of American Speed as guests of the museum. Even though it's located in Lincoln, Nebraska, only 30 miles from our home, we'd never heard of it. After just a little more than an hour there, we...
Our first trip to see the Sandhill Crane migration on the Platte River in Nebraska
For me, Stillwater is one of those places that will always take me back to my childhood and ignite fond memories. Every day I spent there as a child was filled with fun and relaxation. We'd fish off the back deck of my grandparent's houseboat, slowly boat over to a...
Wahoo, Nebraska — A Pleasant Surprise
A couple of weeks ago we were invited to visit the Speedway Motors Museum of American Speed as guests of the museum. Even though it's located in Lincoln, Nebraska, only 30 miles from our home, we'd never heard of it. After just a little more than an hour there, we...
Music for the soul
For the last few years, we’ve enjoyed purchasing half a beef from one of Steve’s colleagues who is also a local farmer. This year, they had the beef processed at the meat locker in Wahoo, Nebraska, so we thought we’d make the 55-mile drive from our home in Crete to...
We got trouble. Right here in River City.
The first time I visited North Platte, Nebraska, I was 14. My family drove there via I-80 to attend the wedding of a close family friend. After almost 30 years, I don't remember too much from that visit, but I do remember being intrigued by the western stockade I saw...
Nebraska’s Nicest Nine Recap
One of the primary goals of our blog is simply to inspire people to travel more. So, when we got a call from a nearby community college asking if we'd be interested in teaching a course on Nebraska travel, we jumped at the opportunity. And so, last night, we found...
Love me some koh-lah-chee
Earlier this summer, Steve and I took off on a 6-day journey to find out for ourselves if our home state lives up to its new slogan, "Nebraska Nice." We wrote about some of the nicest things we saw -- calling them our 2014 "Nebraska's Nicest Nine." The list was...
A place to come Home2
For the last few years, we’ve enjoyed purchasing half a beef from one of Steve’s colleagues who is also a local farmer. This year, they had the beef processed at the meat locker in Wahoo, Nebraska, so we thought we’d make the 55-mile drive from our home in Crete to...
Wilber festival is worth Czeching out.
A fews weeks ago, Steve and I were invited to participate in a reception and hard hat tour of the new Home2 Suites in west Omaha. The Hilton property owners and operators welcomed us (and other area bloggers) to a fantastic wine and cheese reception at the Hilton...
Nebraska’s Nicest #1 – Innkeeper Jeanne Goetzinger
Polka music, kolaches, and lots and lots of pivo (beer), make the small town of Wilber, Nebraska, the place to be the first weekend in August. Each year, the Czech Capital of the United States hosts thousands of Czechoslovakians (and beer drinkers) for the Wilber...
Nebraska’s Nicest #2 – Toadstool Geologic Park
Sometimes you just gotta go. I know, I know. You'd like to travel more but feel like you never have the time. But trust me, you can pack a lot into a long weekend. Sure, the garage might need cleaning. But let's be honest. It can wait. Would you rather look back on...
Nebraska’s Nicest #3 – Neon Bar and Grill
For the last few years, we’ve enjoyed purchasing half a beef from one of Steve’s colleagues who is also a local farmer. This year, they had the beef processed at the meat locker in Wahoo, Nebraska, so we thought we’d make the 55-mile drive from our home in Crete to...
Nebraska’s Nicest #4 – Circle C in Cody
I met Jeanne Goetzinger several years ago, when my daughter, Meghan, and I were exploring northwest Nebraska. We saw a lot of interesting things on that trip, but none was more memorable than the straight-talking, curly-haired woman who greeted us in the parking lot...
Nebraska’s Nicest #5 – Ashfall Fossil Beds State Historical Park
After driving past more than a dozen dying small towns in rural Nebraska, we knew there was something out of the ordinary when we approached Cody, population 155. It's sign read, "Cody welcomes you. A town too tough to die." Many of the towns we had passed on our...
Nebraska’s Nicest #6 – A Kiss on the Butte
Yesterday, we drove carts through an entire 18-hole golf course and didn't have to stop once to look for a lost ball. Only because we didn't hit any. Not this time, anyway. This time, we didn't have to tee off once. My sister, Laura, works for a memory care residence...
Nebraska’s Nicest #7 – Chimney Rock/Scottsbluff Monument
Can I tell you something personal? I kissed my wife on the butte. It's okay, though, because there was no one around to see us, and the scenery was so beautiful, I just had to kiss her. On the butte. And she liked it. I know that joke is a little juvenile, but I...
Nebraska’s Nicest #8 – Wildflowers & Prairie Grasses
Any trip through western Nebraska should include a stop at Chimney Rock National Historic Site and the Scottsbluff National Monument in the Scottsbluff/Gering area. I say this, because these are beautiful places with cool history. These monuments are located along...
Nebraska’s Nicest #9 – Cody Park
For the last few years, we’ve enjoyed purchasing half a beef from one of Steve’s colleagues who is also a local farmer. This year, they had the beef processed at the meat locker in Wahoo, Nebraska, so we thought we’d make the 55-mile drive from our home in Crete to...
Nebraska’s Nicest Nine 2014
Yesterday, we drove carts through an entire 18-hole golf course and didn't have to stop once to look for a lost ball. Only because we didn't hit any. Not this time, anyway. This time, we didn't have to tee off once. My sister, Laura, works for a memory care residence...
Getting over the hump
I have to admit, I wasn't thrilled with Nebraska's new tourism slogan, "Nebraska Nice" when it was introduced a few weeks ago. I felt it lacked a certain something and didn't capture all it could. "Nice?" Really? I felt the tourism board could have said "Nebraska...
The Good Life
The Neon Bar and Grill, located in the Motel Raine in Valentine, Nebraska, makes #3 on our list. Normally, we would not have expected to put a restaurant on our list, especially one located in a motel, but this trip around Nebraska made us learn to open our minds and...
SPAM, SPAM, SPAM!
As many of you already know, we are from Nebraska. Over the past week, our state has been devastated by historic floods and blizzards. At least 74 cities, including the one where we live, have issued emergency declarations. The photo below is on a bridge in our town...
Second most popular blog in Pawhuska