Nebraskaland

58 Nebraskaland • November 2019 PHOTO COURTESY OF THE NEBRASKA TOURISM COMMISSION MIXED BAG By Erin Lenz, Nebraska Tourism Commission VISIT NEBRASKA CITY An exceptional town with loads of history and natural beauty, Nebraska City can easily fill a weekend getaway. First stop at Arbor Day Farm, which offers a long list of activities, including seasonal apple picking, a discovery ride through the woods and the Apple House Market full of delicious treats. New in 2019 is TreeTop Village. Also, make sure and take a tour through Arbor Lodge State Historical Park – the original estate of J. Sterling Morton, the founder of Arbor Day. At Kimmel Orchard, pick your own peaches, apples and pumpkins or browse the Apple Barn for local, seasonal canned goods and treats. North of town on Highway 75 is Union Orchard, where you can take home a pie, apple turnovers and apple-smoked sausage. For history, step back in time at the Kregel Windmill Factory Museum, and visit the only original intact windmill factory museum in the U.S. This museum houses over 1 million artifacts including the original equipment used in the production of the "ELI" windmills. Then immerse yourself in the adventures of Lewis and Clark at the Missouri River Basin Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center, where the whole family can enjoy hands-on exhibits, live re-enactments and hiking trails. Or stop at the Nebraska City Museum of Firefighting and view one of the largest (and oldest) collections of fire equipment in the state. With so much to do in Nebraska City, you'll need to stay a night or two. Lied Lodge and Conference Center at Arbor Day Farm offers beautiful lodge-style rooms with a gorgeous view of the grounds. Or stay overnight in a 130-year-old Victorian-style home at Whispering Pines Bed & Breakfast, where you can relax on the old-time porch swing, soak in the outdoor hot tub or slumber in your room's king-size bed. Delicious homemade breakfast favorites include farm-fresh egg frittata and orange-pecan crusted French toast. For larger groups, check in to Camp Catron & Retreat Center, where Eugene's Adventure Course is open to the public. This Girl Scouts facility offers a 16-element adventure course that is nestled among the trees. The top level takes visitors up 35 feet. Head downtown for lunch at The Keeping Room and shop in the boutique afterward for clothing, jewelry and décor. Then stop for a drink at Dinty Moore's, one of Nebraska's oldest historical bars with interesting Prohibition-era stories to tell. Timber Dining Room in the Lied Lodge serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, where you can look forward to menu items such as orchard oatmeal made with Arbor Day Farm apple cider or a Waygu burger for dinner. While the fall season is one of the most beautiful times to visit Nebraska City, there's magic in the winter. Take the Holiday Trolley Tour of Lights to see Nebraska City's light display or experience Arbor Lodge Mansion in its most festive, holiday splendor. Whether you're visiting one of the museums in the summer, picking apples in the fall or cozying up to a good book at a bed and breakfast in the winter, Nebraska City is perfect for every season.

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