Greater Grand Island...Springboard for Two of Nebraska’s Scenic Byways Instead of whizzing past the Heartland of Nebraska on Interstate 80, turn off, take your time and see the unique treasures of Nebraska along two of our 10 scenic byways.

Sandhills Journey Scenic Byway - Highway 2 from Grand Island to Alliance

Charles Kuralt call the stretch of Highway 2 from Grand Island to Alliance one of the "Nation’s twenty most spectacular roads".

From Grand Island in the east to Alliance at the byway’s western edge, Highway 2 will take you through some of the most remote and beautiful countryside you’ll ever come across. You’ll pass through tiny villages and hamlets with interesting names like Ravenna, Hazard, Broken Bow, Thedford, Seneca and Mullen. A section of the Sandhills Journey also takes you right by part of the Nebraska National Forest, the largest man-made forest in the country. Overlooks of the Dismal River will take your breath away!

Things are bigger in the Sandhills—the sprawling ranches, the endless sky, the miles upon miles of rolling grass dunes. It’s a place where you can lose yourself and forget that anything else exists. A place where the wind is your only company. A place where cows, fence posts and windmills are the skyline. A place where the setting sun puts on such a colorful show, you’ll be telling your grandchildren about it for years to come. The Sandhills Journey is just that—a journey! It’s a journey into one of the most unspoiled and beautiful landscapes found anywhere in America. The rugged beauty of God’s land and the hospitality of the local residents are common threads no matter where you are along Highway 2

Communities:

Total Length: 272 miles (435 km)
Estimated Driving Time:approx. 5 hours

Loup Rivers Scenic Byway – Highway 91/11 from Wood River to Dunning

The Loup Rivers Scenic Byway gains its name from the North Loup, Middle Loup and South Loup Rivers that run across central Nebraska. From the pristine, rolling farmland and hills to the immense and silent solitude of the Sandhills, the Loup Rivers Scenic Byway is truly a treat for the eyes, mind and soul. Small towns, scenic beauty, local events, history and friendly people await you as you travel through one of the most beautiful landscapes in America. For those wanting to see first-hand the Nebraska small town experience, this is the byway for you. Take your time and rest at any of this scenic byway’s small towns. Have a fresh cup of coffee, eat a cheeseburger at the local diner, start up a conversation with the old-timer sitting next to the window. Chances are he could tell you things you won’t find in any guidebook. Lakes and outdoor recreational opportunities abound in this region. Anglers, hikers, campers, wildlife watchers and other outdoor enthusiasts will find many things worth talking about back home.

Communities:

Total Length: 141 miles (227 km)
Estimated Driving Time: approx. 3 hours 45 minutes

To learn more about Nebraska’s Scenic Byways visit www.visitnebraska.org/byways, call Nebraska division of Travel and Tourism, 1-800-426-6505 for your 2001 Nebraska Traveler or visit or contact the local visitors bureau for further assistance.

Greater Grand Island: Springboard for A Host of Different Experiences

When you’ve seen enough crane, trains, horses and art in and around Grand Island stay a couple more days……

Grand Island is at the center of Nebraska’s heartland. When staying in Grand Island you can visit all of our attractions, and an added benefit is, within an hour’s drive of Grand Island; you can visit the great attractions found in Nebraska’s heartland.

Just north of Grand Island you can visit the Dannebrog, Danish Capital of Nebraska and the home of Roger Welsh’s Liars Hall of Fame, along with the Happy Jack Chalk Mine, Dowse Sod House, 2^nd Wind Ranch (the largest collection of Windmills in the World), Lake Calamus, Fort Hartsuff Historical Park, the Museum of Nebraska Baseball Greats and much more.

To our east you’ll find in the Plainsman Museum, Edgerton Explorit Center, a great hands-on science museum for children of all ages, and the Lone Tree Monument.

To the south you can visit the Hastings Museum and Lied IMAX Theatre, Champion Sports and Recreation and the home of Koolaid. In Red Cloud the Willa Cather Museum awaits with stories of growing up in Nebraska.

To the west in you can visit Harold Warp’s Pioneer Village. Along, or shall we say over I-80 you’ll find Nebraska’s newest attraction, the Great Platte River Road Archway, Cabella’s, and the Museum of Nebraska Art.

Not only are there great places to visit and lots of things to see and do, but each community has many unique and fun events all summer long.