Fall is such a pretty time in Nebraska. It seems like everywhere you go there’s something interesting to see or experience. These are just some of the endless opportunities for fun that are waiting for you this time of year.
- Go on a scenic country drive.
flickr/Joel Nelson A nice drive in the country is always relaxing, but add in some lovely fall colors and it becomes a wonderfully memorable day trip. See our recommendations for five particularly pretty fall drives here.
- Take this unexpected canyon hike in western Nebraska.
Nebraska Tourism People don’t expect to find canyons in Nebraska, but we do have some surprisingly robust canyons and valleys, particularly in the far western part of the state. Our oldest state park has several established hiking trails that will take you above, below, and through two stunning canyons.Read more about hiking Nebraska’s prettiest canyons here.
- Have a delicious meal in the midst of gorgeous fall foliage.
Facebook/Burchell’s White Hill Farmhouse Inn Burchell’s White Hill Farmhouse Inn is in picturesque Minden, and you can enjoy dinner there Friday and Saturday evenings even if you aren’t a guest at the inn. The meal itself may not qualify as a day trip, but trust us — you’ll want to spend a bit of time strolling around the beautiful grounds and enjoying the colorful foliage. Read more about this charming experience here.
- Visit an apple orchard.
Facebook/Kimmel Orchard & Vineyard Apples are the classic fruit of fall, and Nebraska apples are some of the tastiest you’ll ever enjoy. You can also sample delightful treats like fresh apple cider, apple pie, apple cider donuts, and even wine made from Nebraska-grown fruits. The majority of our apple orchards are located in southeastern Nebraska, like Kimmel Orchard (pictured above), Union Orchard, and Arbor Day Farm.
- Discover “the villagers” in Taylor.
flickr/Ali Eminov The little village of Taylor in Loup County is home to some quirky villagers. You’ll see them standing in various locations all throughout the town; half the fun of visiting is trying to locate them all. Find out more about Taylor’s villagers here.
- Take our beautiful fall foliage road trip through northern Nebraska.
Facebook/Outlaw Trail Scenic Byway 12 Follow the routes of the Missouri and Niobrara Rivers between South Sioux City and Valentine to see some of our prettiest changing leaves this season. Find the fall foliage road trip route and directions here.
- Visit some real ghost towns.
flickr/copyright Micheal Peterson (used with permission) Our 12-hour ghost trip would be best split up into two or three days if you want to see all of the towns, but you can easily cut it down into a day trip by selecting one or two of the destinations closest to you.See the entire ghost town road trip here.
- Go see this charming town.
Wikimedia Commons/Ammodramus - Own work, Public Domain Plattsmouth is a lovely city any time of the year, but it’s especially scenic in the fall. With the changing leaves and the robust historic Main Street, there is so much to see here.Read more about Plattsmouth’s appeal here. And if you’d like to extend your stay while being delightfully frightened, check out this overnight ghost hunt right in downtown Plattsmouth.
- Visit this underrated wine-growing region for some delicious Nebraska wines.
Facebook/Feather River Vineyards The rest of the nation doesn’t give Nebraska the credit it deserves for producing tasty wine. The Sandhills region, in particular, turns out truly terrific wines that you’ll be talking about long after your last bottle is emptied. Read about three fabulous Sandhills vineyards here.
- Gaze at the sweet fall foliage at our state parks.
Visit Otoe County Nebraska’s state parks are full of spectacular sights. In the fall they’re all dressed up in bright colors, just waiting for you to visit. Read more and see some stunning pictures of Nebraska State Parks in the fall here.
- Take a hike at this breathtaking urban lake.
Yelp/Mark N. Just outside of Omaha, Wehrspann Lake in Chalco Hills Recreation Area is surrounded by big trees that simply light up in the fall. This is the perfect place for a nice walk or bike ride on a cool autumn day.Read more about this pretty recreation area here.
Don’t forget to pack your camera when you take these day trips this fall – these are the kind of memories you’ll want to keep forever.
flickr/Joel Nelson
A nice drive in the country is always relaxing, but add in some lovely fall colors and it becomes a wonderfully memorable day trip. See our recommendations for five particularly pretty fall drives here.
Nebraska Tourism
People don’t expect to find canyons in Nebraska, but we do have some surprisingly robust canyons and valleys, particularly in the far western part of the state. Our oldest state park has several established hiking trails that will take you above, below, and through two stunning canyons.Read more about hiking Nebraska’s prettiest canyons here.
Facebook/Burchell’s White Hill Farmhouse Inn
Burchell’s White Hill Farmhouse Inn is in picturesque Minden, and you can enjoy dinner there Friday and Saturday evenings even if you aren’t a guest at the inn. The meal itself may not qualify as a day trip, but trust us — you’ll want to spend a bit of time strolling around the beautiful grounds and enjoying the colorful foliage. Read more about this charming experience here.
Facebook/Kimmel Orchard & Vineyard
Apples are the classic fruit of fall, and Nebraska apples are some of the tastiest you’ll ever enjoy. You can also sample delightful treats like fresh apple cider, apple pie, apple cider donuts, and even wine made from Nebraska-grown fruits. The majority of our apple orchards are located in southeastern Nebraska, like Kimmel Orchard (pictured above), Union Orchard, and Arbor Day Farm.
flickr/Ali Eminov
The little village of Taylor in Loup County is home to some quirky villagers. You’ll see them standing in various locations all throughout the town; half the fun of visiting is trying to locate them all. Find out more about Taylor’s villagers here.
Facebook/Outlaw Trail Scenic Byway 12
Follow the routes of the Missouri and Niobrara Rivers between South Sioux City and Valentine to see some of our prettiest changing leaves this season. Find the fall foliage road trip route and directions here.
flickr/copyright Micheal Peterson (used with permission)
Our 12-hour ghost trip would be best split up into two or three days if you want to see all of the towns, but you can easily cut it down into a day trip by selecting one or two of the destinations closest to you.See the entire ghost town road trip here.
Wikimedia Commons/Ammodramus - Own work, Public Domain
Plattsmouth is a lovely city any time of the year, but it’s especially scenic in the fall. With the changing leaves and the robust historic Main Street, there is so much to see here.Read more about Plattsmouth’s appeal here. And if you’d like to extend your stay while being delightfully frightened, check out this overnight ghost hunt right in downtown Plattsmouth.
Facebook/Feather River Vineyards
The rest of the nation doesn’t give Nebraska the credit it deserves for producing tasty wine. The Sandhills region, in particular, turns out truly terrific wines that you’ll be talking about long after your last bottle is emptied. Read about three fabulous Sandhills vineyards here.
Visit Otoe County
Nebraska’s state parks are full of spectacular sights. In the fall they’re all dressed up in bright colors, just waiting for you to visit. Read more and see some stunning pictures of Nebraska State Parks in the fall here.
Yelp/Mark N.
Just outside of Omaha, Wehrspann Lake in Chalco Hills Recreation Area is surrounded by big trees that simply light up in the fall. This is the perfect place for a nice walk or bike ride on a cool autumn day.Read more about this pretty recreation area here.
What’s your favorite place to visit in Nebraska in the fall? Share your thoughts in the comments!
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