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/760935
12 NEBRASKAland • DECEMBER 2016 n some places, the cheerful spirit of the holidays come and go with the season ... but in this true northwestern town, it is felt all year round. This December, travelers will be jingling their bells all the way to Crawford, Nebraska – where the greetings are as warm as the hot chocolate. Along the way, they'll enjoy the scenic views of the Pine Ridge area, but it won't take long before all the colorful lights coming from Fort Robinson State Park capture their attention and draw them in. Known as the "Garden Beyond the Sandhills", Fort Robinson is made up of more than 22,000 acres of exquisite, rolling landscape, compelling Old West history, rustic campgrounds, and the park's own buffalo and longhorn herds. This impressive fort is only 3 miles from the main streets of Crawford. It operated from the early days of the Old West until after World War II. Many of the original buildings have survived the test of time and remain in use at the park today. Other buildings have been reconstructed in efforts to preserve the fort's authenticity. Every year, these historic buildings are wrapped in colorful Christmas lights for Fort Robinson's annual Light Up the Fort event. From Dec. 3-31, 2016, travelers are invited to marvel at this magical light display, along with the many other decorative charms tucked in and around the fort's snowy pines – making it quite the winter wonderland! Don't be fooled though – it may be the pretty lights that draw people in, but it's the smiling faces, warm welcomes and genuine acts of kindness around every corner that make them stay. The jolly town of Crawford is a popular destination for both nature lovers and game hunters alike. The locals will tell the visitors the best trails for hiking and the best shops for shopping. In addition, there are a variety of deer, elk, antelope and bighorn sheep roaming around, earning Crawford its title as the "Big Game Capital of Nebraska." When it's time to take a break from all the winter action, visitors can head over to Q's Dairy Sweet for a much needed cup of hot cocoa. No matter how one prefers to spend their holidays, visitors will find it hard to leave this part of Nebraska empty handed – or empty hearted. Whether it's a family photograph in front of the lit-up lodge at Fort Robinson, a furry new prize from a successful hunting trip in the Pine Ridge, or even a trip to nearby Toadstool Geologic Park, Crawford has something special for everyone's stocking this year. ■ By Hannah Hundley, Nebraska Tourism Commission Crawford g jingl Toadstool Geologic Park Hunting at Peterson Wildlife Management Area near Crawford Ponderosa Wildlife Management Area near Crawford Crawford Light up the fort!