Winter Hot Spots in Nebraska
Instead of hibernating this season, go out and discover the winter wonderland version of Nebraska. To help in your travels, here are a few spots across the state to keep you warm or to let you dive headfirst into the cold.
Bald Eagle Viewing
Winter is one of the best viewing times for bald eagles. Keep a lookout near streams, rivers and lakes along shallow water for the best view. Pay a visit to the Kingsley Eagle Viewing Facility at Lake Ogallala for a diverse bird-watching experience like no other.
For more of Nebraska's unique bird-watching experiences, check them out here!
Cross-Country Skiing and Snowshoeing
Explore a variety of terrain by cross-country skiing or snowshoeing through hundreds of miles of Nebraska trails. Trails are available at places like Pioneers Park and Ponca State Park, or you can get off the well-traveled routes for a real challenge.
Discover the beauty of winter in Nebraska on one of the many trails across the state!
Take a Winter Hike
A walk or hike through Nebraska is scenic and spectacular no matter what season you're in. Winter offers an opportunity to explore the state in a different phase. Snowy and peaceful landscapes are calm settings for a hike. Keep an eye out for wildlife, including opportunities to see bald eagles at several locations.
Ice Skating
Ice skating is one of winter’s most-popular activities. Ice skate in an outdoor pavilion like at Mahoney State Park or at an indoor arena like Ralston's Community Ice Rink at Liberty Frist Credit Union Arena.
Sledding
Have fun sledding down slopes all throughout Nebraska. Grab a hill and take advantage of a fresh snowfall. Several state parks have those rolling landscapes you're looking for, and Eugene T. Mahoney State Park makes its own snow for sledding thrill-seekers. Lincoln's Pioneers Park is another popular sledding destination. In fact, the wooden sled run at Pioneers keeps you going for 300 feet.
Museums
Step inside from the cold and explore Nebraska's fantastic range of museums. Whether you want to experience history, art or culture, there's a stop in every corner of the state that's worth exploring. Nebraska museums are great destinations to visit, especially during the winter season when you’re “stuck” indoors.
Step into Omaha’s Durham Museum, the site of old Union Station, and see both permanent exhibits and world-class guest displays. Check out the world’s largest publicly available quilt collection at the International Quilt Museum in Lincoln, or climb to the top of the Golden Spike Tower and Visitor Center to take a look at the world’s largest classification railyard in North Platte. Head to Norfolk to see the Elkhorn Valley Museum, where you’ll find an exhibit dedicated to late-night icon Johnny Carson, who called Norfolk his hometown.
Find yourself out west? The Legacy of the Plains Museum in Gering sits at the foot of Scotts Bluff National Monument and tells the story of the area’s fascinating agricultural and cultural heritage. Chadron’s Museum of the Fur Trade is the world’s only museum dedicated to the North American fur trade and has an extensive collection of artifacts and history.
Art museums like the Great Plains Art Museum have beautiful temporary exhibits, Lauritzen Gardens features a holiday-inspired, seasonal horticultural display and the various children’s museums across the state will keep your kids occupied. Two of Nebraska’s finest art museums, Omaha’s The Joslyn and Kearney’s Museum of Nebraska Art, recently underwent extensive renovations and are now open to the public again.
Nebraska Lodging
One way to fight off cabin fever is to, well, find your own cabin! Rustic, cozy and acting as a perfect change of scenery, a stay at one of these lodges gets you closer to nature and offers a great chance to rejuvenate. Keep warm in one of the many beautiful lodging options across Nebraska. Stay a night or two, and cozy up in a bed and breakfast or hotel that radiates Nebraska hospitality.
Events and Festivals
Don't forget about Nebraska's exciting winter events. Winter is a great time to get out and encounter Nebraska's culture through special events and festivals. Immerse yourself in Nebraska’s performing arts and theater scene. Omaha boasts many top-notch venues, including the historic Orpheum Theater, which is a destination for Broadway productions, dance and opera. The Omaha Symphony offers live performances from September to June and features world-renowned guest performers. Lincoln’s Lied Center for Performing Arts hosts world-class acts of all kinds and sits at the hub of the capital city’s culture and activity. For a classic experience, visit the Midwest Theater in Scottsbluff, where you’ll find a beautiful and historic architectural wonder that hosts both live events and screenings year-round
Check out Visit Nebraska's full events calendar here.
