NEBRASKAland Magazine is dedicated to outstanding photography and informative writing with an engaging mix of articles and photos highlighting Nebraska’s outdoor activities, parklands, wildlife, history and people.
Issue link: http://mag.outdoornebraska.gov/i/654753
10 NEBRASKAland • APRIL 2016 ppropriately dubbed "Landmark Country," the state's western Panhandle has served as eye candy for generations of travelers in the North Platte valley – among the most notable being the westward emigrants of the 1800. In modern times, the Panhandle's Twin Cities region – Scottsbluff and Gering – has become not only a great "stopping point along the way," but a destination for travelers looking for a nice blend of city amenities and natural attributes. With the many wildlife management areas, a federal wildlife refuge, and numerous properties of the Platte River Basin Environments, hikers, hunters and other nature lovers revel in thousands of acres of land open to public access. The many buttes and escarpments of the Wildcat Hills provide beautiful scenery and are an important component of the Fossil Freeway, a corridor rich with paleontological history between the Nebraska Panhandle and the Black Hills of South Dakota. Similar to those travelers of the 1800s, modern day nomads can't miss sight of the Scotts Bluff National Monument towering 800 feet above the cities below. On a clear day, one standing at the monument's summit can see approximately 100 miles away. Another great view of the North Platte valley can be found at Wildcat Hills State Recreation Area and Nature Center, 11 miles south of Gering. The nature center is under construction for a big expansion project (see related story on page 58), but people can still enjoy the spectacular scene from the SRA's four miles of trails through rugged terrain, or by enjoying a picnic at one of the park's unique stone shelters. Speaking of views from high places, be sure to visit the famed 55-foot lighthouse at Lake Minatare State Recreation Area northeast of Scottsbluff. The lake, located on the North Platte National Wildlife Refuge, attracts anglers of walleye and many other species – along with countless other water lovers. Both RV and primitive camping sites are available at the lake, which is open mid-January through mid-October. Other popular attractions in the Twin Cities include the Legacy of the Plains Museum, Riverside Discovery Center zoo, and the historic Midwest Theater. Authentic ethnic cuisine can be found throughout the region, in addition to a wealth of fast food and family restaurants. From the unique Barn Anew Bed & Breakfast to nationally recognized hotel chains, lodging is plentiful. Community celebrations – including Labor Day weekend's wildly popular Old West Balloon Fest introduced in 2015 – keep the valley hopping throughout spring, summer and fall. Gering's Oregon Trail Days lays claim to being Nebraska's oldest "continuous" celebration, marking its 95th year this July. With so many sights to see and things to do, travelers who visit Nebraska's Landmark Country won't want to leave – regardless if they were planning to take their covered wagon farther west. On the Web: Visitscottsbluff.com By Justin Haag Landmark Country pp we of otable Wildcat Hills SRA Class at Wildcat Hills Nature Center Scottsbluff Gering Boating at Lake Minatare SRA