Heading toward Kansas and Nebraska
Midwest road trips are fun. You have control over where you stop and what you see. Hotels are usually plentiful, although not always available. Deciding to drive 2,600 miles round-trip from Mobile to Nebraska this past June was an easy yes.
For the first day, I drove to Maumelle, AR, just north of Little Rock. I had a short delay due to morning thunderstorms. I don’t like driving in the rain, but I made it to Wichita, Kansas, before sunset and got to enjoy a fireworks display at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Wichita. Wichita is a favorite of mine and I have been there several times. There is a lot of good food, plenty to do, and it is easy to navigate.
After breakfast at Spangles in Wichita, I headed north to Wemego, KS, and to the Oz Museum. Wemego has a cute downtown, but I found the museum a bit disappointing. The city has certainly bought into the Oz motif, with a yellow brick road down an alley featuring cute Oz pictures on the walls. Despite the museum’s collection of interesting objects from and about the film, I was underwhelmed.
I reached out to the Midwest Dream Car Collection in Manhattan, Kansas, and they were happy to host me for an afternoon visit. The collection of 72 cars was impressive. They had a Tucker, which is beautifully restored. All the automobiles were in pristine condition and drivable. Worth a visit! Here is a brief look inside.
Later that afternoon, I visited the Museum of Art + Light in Manhattan, Kansas. This museum wowed me! The immersive experience is just that: you are immersed in paintings. Here is a taste of that experience. It can be a bit overwhelming. The museum opened in November 2024, making it a relatively new player in the Manhattan art scene. The building was meant to display art. Its large windows, high ceilings, and open spaces allow guests to wander.
Nebraska
I arrived in Lincoln, Nebraska, in the late afternoon. I paid a quick visit to the Capitol. The next morning was all about the Air Force and the Strategic Air Command Aerospace Museum in Ashland. I have visited other USAF museums, and this one did not disappoint. They had an SR-71 Blackbird in the lobby and a B-52 in the middle of a hangar. I remember the B-52s flying over my house when I lived in Louisiana. It’s an enormous aircraft. There were displays about the Cold War and specifically on Gary Powers, who was shot down in 1960. I highly recommend the museum for anyone interested in aviation. Enjoy a brief hangar tour here.
Although I had a bit of a hard time finding the Museum of American Speed, I had no idea what I had walked into, but I was glad I did. This place is enormous! You can easily get lost. That’s why they have many volunteer docents walking around to help visitors locate what they want to see. From record-breaking land speed vehicles to the earliest automobiles, this is the holy grail for automobile enthusiasts. Allow yourself time here; go in the morning, take a break for lunch, and return. A full day might give you enough time to walk each hallway.
I was glad to have a bit of a drive after roaming the halls of the Speed Museum. I arrived at the Candlewood Suites in Grand Island and needed to settle in for the next few days of the Midwest Travel Conference. Here is a quick room tour.
First Up, Kearney, Nebraska
A van full of travel writers and I left early for a day-long visit to Kearney as part of the Midwest Travel Conference. I wasn’t sure what was on the schedule, but it turned out to be quite a treat. The first stop was the Museum of Nebraska Art (MONA). It was impressive! The museum was initially housed in the historic Kearney post office, so they added onto what they had, and it was a job well done. It is intimate when needed and also provides ample light for the exhibits that require it.
We walked around the downtown area known as the bricks because of the original bricks that still make up portions of the road. We ducked into the World Theatre to see this lovely theater that was a mainstay in downtown. It is run by an all volunteer staff. The concessions and movies were inexpensive. I can imagine enjoying spending an evening there. We also visited the Central Mercantile and Ktown Cakery, where we enjoyed Kpop. Yum! I could have spent some dough in that store.
Welcome to Kearney!
A stop at the Kearney Welcome Center is essential. We learned about the Sandhill Cranes’ migration, which is a massive draw for birders. Kearney is also the event capital of Nebraska. With more than 1800 hotel rooms across numerous brands, they can host almost any size of event. Younes Hospitality is the leader in hotels in Kearney. All because of Paul Younes, the owner of the business, who began his business career straight out of Kearny State College in the 1970s.
We headed to the largest hotel in town, the Crowne Plaza Hotel, for lunch at Fyre Modern Grill. Delicious, Yes! The chef brought us desserts to taste that he was testing for the evening’s menu. It was a definite yes from all who tasted.
After a large lunch, we went to Yanney Heritage Park for a post-lunch walk and to see the garden. The Chihuly sculpture shone brightly in the sun at the center of the park. The city understands the importance of outdoor space for the residents.
Our final visit of the day was the Archway Museum. This structure, built in 2000, spans Interstate 80 at exit 275. It also serves as a museum. It was interesting to ‘walk’ through the history of the area while knowing cars and trucks were speeding along beneath your feet.
Kearney surprised me. The Nebraska Art Museum is housed there, and Kearney has a strong connection to the Sandhill Cranes. It is not just a place to stop for a simple gas and go. It is worth staying over in one of those 1800 hotel rooms and learning more about the surroundings. I will plan a stay the next time I’m on I-80 in Nebraska.
Getting to Know Grand Island, Nebraska
We began at the Historic Hargis House in Grand Island. The home has undergone numerous transformations over the years, having served as both a physician’s office and a church. It is now lovingly cared for and restored by the Hargis House Women’s Club.
The Stolley House, situated in Stolley Park, tells the story of German immigrants and their significant contributions to Hall County and the state of Nebraska. Trees planted by Stolley surround it, creating an enchanting site.
We concluded our tour at the Stuhr Museum, where many historic houses have been relocated to a park-like setting within the museum’s historical village. Actor Henry Fonda was born in Grand Island and was born in the home at 622 W. Division in 1905.
The Stuhr Museum hosted our second evening event for the conference, which included a pie tasting. The museum boasts a substantial collection of artifacts from Grand Island’s history.
The Lidenkranz German Club was the location of our final event, where I drank a poked beer. It was tasty, as were the pork and potatoes. I found some presidential history there; candidate Kennedy had campaigned there in October 1959.
Grand Island had much more to offer than I expected. Definitely worth a longer visit.
Norfolk, Nebraska
At the end of the conference, I hopped in the car and drove two hours northeast to the town of Norfolk, NB. Our small group met at NOFO Pizza for a light lunch of pizza and salad. Calab Nihira is the owner. He is a musician who has found his passion in breadmaking. The pizza crust was delicate and light. I wish we could have tried some of his bakery treats. We walked the downtown area, stopping in at the shops that caught our eye. Norfolk is the birthplace of Johnny Carson, so we visited the Johnny Carson statue and mural in the heart of downtown, with small-town charm. See the Johnny Carson mural in downtown Norfolk, here.
We left for the Norfolk Inn and Suites, the largest hotel in town. I had the benefit of the last room on the first-floor corridor, exactly where I like to be. It was a large double room with a chair and a bar area. You can see the room tour here. A simple and tasty buffet breakfast was served in the lobby. We had the pleasure of speaking with the owner, Donna Herrik. She had quite a story to tell of her journey from nurse to hotel owner.
After a bit of time to refresh ourselves, we drove to the Black Cow Fat Pig for dinner. This steakhouse was delish, and we were all glad we’d had a light lunch and a walk through downtown.
The next morning, it was off to ride the Cowboy Trail. See a brief video here. I’m not a great bike rider, but the trail was flat and our tour leaders were pros. The views were worth the ride. After all the peddling, it was back downtown to The District for a sandwich. We met up with the rest of our group to visit the Elkhorn Valley Museum, which houses the Johnny Carson Museum. We were able to do a quick drive-by of Johnny Carson’s birth home in Norfolk. It is only open at certain times.
We all enjoyed an early dinner at The 411. We spoke with the owner, Danny Orwa, who is from Kenya. I had the most delicious pulled pork sandwich and slaw! He also served us a trio of appetizers, each one better than the last. If pressed, I thought this was the best meal in town.
After a pleasant, restful night in Norfolk, I was off to Omaha, where I stopped at the Gerald R. Ford birthplace garden. I had to hurry back home since another trip was scheduled for a week later.
Conclusion
I highly recommend a Midwest road trip. It was easy to find something more interesting around each corner. This trip only served to whet my appetite to explore Nebraska in the future.
