Living in Nebraska is truly an unforgettable experience. Life here shares some of the same characteristics as life in other nearby states, but there’s just something a little different, a little special, about living in Nebraska. We all have different life experiences, of course, but these are some of the basic things that every Nebraskan can expect to experience at some point in their lives.
- Get stuck behind a tractor on the road.
flickr/Chuck Coker This is “traffic” out in the country.
- Get a gnarly sunburn…
flickr/Kelly Sue DeConnick Hopefully you’ve got an aloe plant at home to rub on that burn.
- …Probably because you’ve spent all day at the beach.
flickr/vicki watkins A lake beach, that is. Preferably Lake McConaughy, but we’ve got plenty others.
- Wear shorts and a winter coat in one day.
flickr/Angela Or at the same time, depending on the situation.
- Have an off-road adventure.
flickr/Charles Wiriawan This is definitely why 4X4 was invented.
- See a game at Memorial Stadium.
flickr/Kiley This is one I haven’t done myself yet, but it’s a must-do.
- Go tailgating.
flickr/Kyle Murphy What’s a Nebraska game without some pre-game tailgating?
- Visit as many state parks as possible.
flickr/J. Stephen Conn They’re ALL amazing in their own ways.
- Say a little prayer as you lose control of your car on the ice.
flickr/Auntie G …Or when you see someone sliding straight toward you and you have nowhere to go.
- Eat so much sweetcorn that you get a little sick.
flickr/slappytheseal It’s totally worth it.
- Spend a day on the river.
flickr/Katrina J Houdek Boating, tanking, canoeing, tubing…as long as you’re out on the water.
- Go to the Nebraska State Fair.
Facebook/Nebraska State Fair Even if it’s a long trip for you, it’s absolutely worth it.
- Drive a tractor.
flickr/Eric P Most of us have done this by the age of 12.
- Have a close call with wildlife on the road.
flickr/Jerry And hopefully it stops at a close call - actually running into a deer or other animal is traumatic.
- Buy fresh veggies from a roadside stand.
flickr/Ias - initially Or, more likely, the back of someone’s pickup.
- Share pictures of giant hail on social media.
flickr/Overduebook Because everyone needs to see this! It’s huge!
- Have a long adventure on a country road.
flickr/John Lillis Read: get lost for a while and panic a little until you see something you recognize and consider yourself rescued.
- Eat at Runza AND Valentino’s AND Godfathers.
flickr/Christa Burns These iconic Nebraska eateries are definitely bucket list worthy.
- Watch a severe storm…from directly under it.
flickr/Chris Locke Go outside and enjoy that storm! That’s free Nebraska entertainment right there.
- Visit the Henry Doorly Zoo.
flickr/Eric Adamshick It’s totally worth the pilgrimage if you live far away.
- Visit the most beautiful landscapes in the state.
flickr/Rich The Sandhills, the western buttes, the eastern Missouri Valley…there’s so much natural beauty out there.
- Talk to strangers.
flickr/Glenn McCarley You’ll probably have this one crossed off pretty early in life. We can’t help it - we’re just so friendly!
- Make the trip to the other side of the state.
flickr/Jimmy Emerson, DVM Whether you live in the east or the west, the other end is like a completely different world. And if you live in central Nebraska, well, you’ve got TWO sides of the state to visit.
- Do the farmer wave.
Mulewings It’s the polite thing to do when you pass someone on a country road. It feels strangely satisfying when the other person returns it.
This list only scratches the surface of the things every Nebraskan will do at least once. Do you have any additions? Add them in the comments!
flickr/Chuck Coker
This is “traffic” out in the country.
flickr/Kelly Sue DeConnick
Hopefully you’ve got an aloe plant at home to rub on that burn.
flickr/vicki watkins
A lake beach, that is. Preferably Lake McConaughy, but we’ve got plenty others.
flickr/Angela
Or at the same time, depending on the situation.
flickr/Charles Wiriawan
This is definitely why 4X4 was invented.
flickr/Kiley
This is one I haven’t done myself yet, but it’s a must-do.
flickr/Kyle Murphy
What’s a Nebraska game without some pre-game tailgating?
flickr/J. Stephen Conn
They’re ALL amazing in their own ways.
flickr/Auntie G
…Or when you see someone sliding straight toward you and you have nowhere to go.
flickr/slappytheseal
It’s totally worth it.
flickr/Katrina J Houdek
Boating, tanking, canoeing, tubing…as long as you’re out on the water.
Facebook/Nebraska State Fair
Even if it’s a long trip for you, it’s absolutely worth it.
flickr/Eric P
Most of us have done this by the age of 12.
flickr/Jerry
And hopefully it stops at a close call - actually running into a deer or other animal is traumatic.
flickr/Ias - initially
Or, more likely, the back of someone’s pickup.
flickr/Overduebook
Because everyone needs to see this! It’s huge!
flickr/John Lillis
Read: get lost for a while and panic a little until you see something you recognize and consider yourself rescued.
flickr/Christa Burns
These iconic Nebraska eateries are definitely bucket list worthy.
flickr/Chris Locke
Go outside and enjoy that storm! That’s free Nebraska entertainment right there.
flickr/Eric Adamshick
It’s totally worth the pilgrimage if you live far away.
flickr/Rich
The Sandhills, the western buttes, the eastern Missouri Valley…there’s so much natural beauty out there.
flickr/Glenn McCarley
You’ll probably have this one crossed off pretty early in life. We can’t help it - we’re just so friendly!
flickr/Jimmy Emerson, DVM
Whether you live in the east or the west, the other end is like a completely different world. And if you live in central Nebraska, well, you’ve got TWO sides of the state to visit.
Mulewings
It’s the polite thing to do when you pass someone on a country road. It feels strangely satisfying when the other person returns it.
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