Nebraska
Discover Nebraska
Nebraska is a state in the Great Plains region of the United States of America. Nebraska has a reputation of being a flat, monotonous region of farm and ranch land, but this stereotype has come from the many people who drive across Nebraska on the Interstate 80 corridor (the Platte River valley). Those who venture off this heavily traveled road discover that Nebraska does have a subtle, wide-open beauty that is all its own. Admitted to the Union in 1867, "the Cornhusker State" quickly became known for its cattle and its corn. The state has largely flown under the radar of the outside world and locals are just fine with that.
What to Experience in Nebraska
Taste of Nebraska...
Bars are plentiful, and most restaurants will serve beer and wine. Bars are open until 1 am, except in Omaha where they are permitted to stay open until 2. Beer, wine, and hard liquor can be sold in grocery and convenience stores. The legal drinking age is 21, and there are no dry counties in Nebraska. Kool Aid is the official drink of Nebraska. It was invented in Hastings where there is also a museum dedicated to the drink. Mobile phone coverage in most of Nebraska is excellent. Some remote areas in the Sandhills still have no coverage and GSM coverage can be spotty in some areas, but CDMA coverage is good throughout the state. 3G service is available most everywhere and LTE coverage is available in most of the eastern part of the state, and the entire I-80 corridor on all three networks. Public pay phones are rapidly disappearing; many of the smaller towns now only have one. Most businesses will let customers use their phone. Nebraska has, given its population and size, fairly extensive Internet connectivity; however, public Internet access in Nebraska can be hard to find. (Internet cafes are practically nonexistent.) In many places, the best option for public Internet access is a public library; in rural areas, libraries are often only open for a few hours each week. Wi-Fi Internet access is now provided by many Nebraska businesses, particularly in larger towns, especially in Omaha and Lincoln.
Essential Information
Getting There
Multiple OptionsNebraska's major national highway corridor is Interstate 80, which runs east-west across the state, Interstate 29 runs parallel to the state's Eastern border in Iowa and Missouri. Other major highways that enter Nebraska include Interstate 76 (from Colorado), US 81 (major north-south route), US 20 (northern east-west route), US 26 (from Wyoming), and US 385/Nebraska 71 (western north-south route). The two major airports in Nebraska are located in Omaha and Lincoln. Omaha is served by all major airlines as well as Alaskan, Allegiant, and Frontier; Lincoln is served by Delta and United. There are no direct international flights to any Nebraska airport. Other airports with commercial service are in Alliance, Chadron, Grand Island, Kearney, McCook, North Platte and Scottsbluff. The Sioux City, Iowa airport serves the northeast corner of the state. Amtrak makes stops daily in Omaha, Lincoln, Hastings, Holdrege and McCook. The only train serving the state is the California Zephyr....
Regions
Explore AreasNebraska can be roughly characterized as having four regions Admitted to the Union in 1867, "the Cornhusker State" quickly became known for its cattle and its corn. The state has largely flown under t…...
Getting Around & Staying
Getting Around
Nebraska is a large, sparsely populated state; the vast majority of Nebraska is best seen by car. Intrastate bus service within the state is served only by Express Arrow and Burlington Trailways (see 'By bus' in the above under 'Get in'). Information on transit can be found here. Bars are plentiful, and most restaurants will serve beer and wine. Bars are open until 1 am, except in Omaha where they are permitted to stay open until 2. Beer, wine, and hard liquor can be sold in grocery and convenience stores. The legal drinking age is 21, and there are no dry counties in Nebraska. Kool Aid is the official drink of Nebraska. It was invented in Hastings where there is also a museum dedicated to the drink. Mobile phone coverage in most of Nebraska is excellent. Some remote areas in the Sandhills still have no coverage and GSM coverage can be spotty in some areas, but CDMA coverage is good throughout the state.
Language & Talk
The vast majority of Nebraskans speak American English with a neutral "Standard Midwestern" accent. In some rural areas of the state, people speak with a slight accent best described as "country twang"; this accent is also easy to understand. Nebraska is largely devoid of unusual terms for everyday items, with a few exceptions: Nebraska has a fast-growing Hispanic population, largely concentrated in its medium-sized cities and Omaha. In these areas, governments, businesses, and community organizations often provide services in Spanish. Nebraska's major national highway corridor is Interstate 80, which runs east-west across the state, Interstate 29 runs parallel to the state's Eastern border in Iowa and Missouri.
Safety Information
Safety Overview
In the cities of Omaha and Lincoln crime rates have begun to rise due to the increase in population these two cities have experienced over the past several years. These crime rates do vary considerably among neighborhoods, however, it is important to take proper precautions and use the same degrees of common sense you would ordinarily implement while visiting a mid-size American city. If an area appears decrepit and/or seedy, then you probably do not want to remain there for any length of time. These two cities have also experienced an increase in gang activity. This should is something to be aware of, but generally crime of this nature is inter-gang related and does not affect the ordinary citizen. Nevertheless, don't put yourself in a position that could lead you to becoming caught in the crossfire of rival gangs. Nebraska is located within the country's "tornado alley".
Glimpses of Nebraska
The Good Life
green car on brown field during sunset
Lakeview Park October 2020
green grass field under blue sky during daytime
Chimney Rock Sunrise
Corn Silo.
This is an old US Army fort in western Nebraska, now a popular place to stay. Beware: Bison are not tame, so keep your distance!
a glass church in Nebraska
white concrete building
aerial view of city near body of water during daytime
The Good Life
green car on brown field during sunset
Lakeview Park October 2020