Explore Nebraska

Day 1 – Mormon Trail Sites/ Old Town Market
Today we’ll meet our guide in Omaha and tour Mormon Trail Sites including the excellent Mormon Trail interpretive Center and Florence Mill, a preservation project including the Mill Museum, the only structural remains from the Mormon Winter Quarters dating from 1846.  Lunch today is on the River City Star.  Historical Society Guides in full costume, provide a lively narrative on the L&C expedition & early Omaha as we cruise the Missouri River. This evening we’ll explore Omaha’s famous Old Town Market, a restored district which was crucial to the commercial development of Omaha as the wholesale jobbing area flourished in the 1880’s.  Today it is a premier arts and entertainment district featuring fine dining, funky boutiques and shops, and upscale night life.  Omaha, NE (D)

Day 2 – Great Platte River Road Archway Monument / Buffalo Bill Cody’s Ranch
This morning we’ll travel to Kearney where we’ll visit the extraordinary Great Platte River Road Archway Monument, an interactive adventure that pays tribute to the pioneers who passed through this region of Nebraska on their way West. You will witness the thrills of news coming into a distant outpost, a buffalo stampede, the words and faces of those that lived and died on the route. Then we’ll continue along the Platte River, the same path traveled by the Oregon Trail and Mormon pioneers. Our destination is North Platte, where we’ll ride with the Wild Bunch as we visit Buffalo Bill State Historical Park  and are greeted by our Buffalo Bill look-alike on his white horse.  We will tour Buffalo Bill’s home where he lived when he wasn’t touring the world with his Wild West Show. Tour includes large horse barn, log cabin and other outbuildings.  A BBQ will be served as a Cowboy Band entertains the group and a shootout at dusk caps off the day!  North Platte, NE  (B,D)

Day 3 – Oregon Trail
Visit the Golden Spike Tower & Visitor Center tour with its eight story deck and view the world’s largest rail yard, Union Pacific Bailey Yards. Then we again head west along the Oregon Trail.   Visit Scotts Bluff National Monument, a gauge used by pioneers of the distance already covered and as a sign of the mountainous terrain to come. Today’s highlight will be an Oregon Trail campfire cookout served in the shadow of Chimney Rock – perhaps the most famous landmark along the trail. We’ll sing songs around the campfire and reflect on the spirit of the pioneers who passed this way on their westward journey. Scottsbluff, NE (B, D)

Day 4 – Calamus Reservoir Float
Today we have an unusual activity for you: river tanking!  Unlike a canoe, which usually goes in one direction, a tank allows you to bob and rotate in the river – kind of like a Tilt-O-Whirl on water!  The Calamus River has a relatively slow current and shallow enough water that we can just relax and enjoy.  Grassy banks and beautiful scenery top it all off!  Grand Island, NE  (B, L, D)

Day 5 – Stuhr Village & Museum /Gondola Ride
This morning we’ll learn more about Nebraska’s territorial period and the pioneer trails which fed settlement at the Stuhr Village & Museum. Gondola ride in Omaha’s Heartland of America Park Lagoon.  We’ll end our Nebraska adventure with a festive dinner.  Omaha, NE (B,D)

Day 6 – Departures