Nebraska - corn and not a mountain to be seen. But could it be more? Tripadvisor says "Nebraska has something for everyone. From cowboys to the wine industry, you’ll find many attractions when you visit this Great Plains state." So maybe there is in fact more to see and do than run around in cornfields and search for a landmark.

Nebraska is a triply landlocked Great Plains state (in fact it is the only triply landlocked state in the USA). Historic trails (like the Lewis and Clark Expedition) cross through the state. It has a population approaching 2 million people. Some would claim Nebraska is one of the states that's a total waste of time, but others will differ and say the state has many hidden secrets.

Nebraska In Film

Counting how many movies have been based in NYC would be an exercise in futility (there are so many), but one is left scratching movies based in Nebraska. One of the few is the 2008 Jim Carrey comedy movie, Yes Man. In that movie, Carl (Jim Carrey) must say "yes" to any offer or suggestion.

At the airport with his girlfriend, they miss their vacation flight and say they will take the next flight out to wherever it goes - and the next is to Lincoln, Nebraska. In the movie, they manage to have a great time together there, but are eventually arrested by the police for suspicious activity because - who goes on holiday to Nebraska?

Museums, Zoos, and Parks

The most common attractions listed on Tripadvisor are museums, zoos, and parks. These are often presented as great family activities to enjoy.

Lincoln Children's Zoo: One of the attractions in Nebraska is the Lincoln Children's Zoo. It features over 400 animals with Bactrian camels, Amur leopards, river otters, crocs, and reindeer being some of the highlights. They have over 40 endangered animals. Zoos are always a great hit with the kids and are an ideal family activity and all age groups can enjoy.

  • Open: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Daily
  • Adults: $13.95 Aged 13 to 61 Years Old | Children: $11.95 Aged 2 to 12 Years Old

Nebraska History Museum: For history buffs, the Nebraska History Museum may be a better attraction exhibiting over 12,000 years of human habitation of the Great Plains. One will learn about life in Nebraska before it became a state and then what life was like in the early days of statehood. The museum boasts over 125,000 objects in its collection of Nebraska history.

  • Hours: Tuesday - Friday 10 am - 4 pm | Saturdays: 10 am - 2 pm | Closed On Major Holidays
  • Admission: Adults $5 (19 and over) | Children $3 (Aged 5-18) | Under 5 Free

Related: This Is What The Museum Of Natural History Is Known For (Plus A Guide On How To Tour It)

Cowboy Museums: For more Nebraska heritage, one can visit the Front Street and Cowboy Museum in Ogallala and the Tri-Stay Old-Time Cowboys Memorial Museum in Gordon. These two cowboy museums bring the era of the Old-Time Cowboys back to life.

One can see interesting pieces from stacks of used saddles to an old Dentist's chair complete with pulled-out teeth in the Tri-Stay Old-Time Cowboys Memorial Museum.

  • Tri-State Cowboys Memorial Museum: Open June 1 through September 15, 1 to 5 pm

Tours & Sightseeing

Apparently, the favorite tour in Nebraska according to Tripadvisor is going on a scavenger hunt. A scavenger hunt is a game where organizers prepare a list of items and participants must gather or complete all the items on the list (it can also be called a treasure hunt). Only one tour is about an actual monument - the Great Platte River Road Archway Monument. All the tours listed are self-guided.

Of the six tours listed five are scavenger hunts:

  • Omaha Scavenger Hunt: The West’s Glorious Gateway
  • Not So Ordinary Omaha Scavenger Hunt
  • Lincoln Scavenger Hunt: Capitol to Campus!
  • Loco Lincoln, NE Scavenger Hunt
  • Omaha Bar Hunt: Oh My Omaha!

The only actual attraction then is the Great Platte River Road Archway Monument. It is a monument on Interstate 80 that opened in 2000. It houses a historical experience telling the story of Nebraska and the Platte River Valley. So basically a museum.

  • Duration: 1-2 Hours

Related: 15 Of the Strangest States No One Wants To Visit (10 That Are Underrated)

The Old Market

The Old Market is a neighborhood in downtown Omaha in Nebraska. It has many restaurants, art galleries, and upscale shopping. The streets are still brick-paved from the turn of the 20th century. The area also retains horse-drawn carriages and covered sidewalks. This is also the favorite spot for street performers and artists. The Old Market has a website dealing with all the information about this area of the city.

One state that is commonly thought of as boring is Iowa. But there are actually a number of things to see and to in Iowa (not a lot for sure - but enough to make for an interesting road trip).

Next: 15 USA States To Avoid At All Costs In 2019 (10 We’d Throw Money At)