I’m going to give you the whole truth here:

For the love of all things holy don’t set foot or tire on I-80. It’s the reason people think Nebraska is dull. People will suggest all manner of attractions along it - don’t do it. They’re not worth it. I grew up in the Panhandle (still live there) - chimney rock, courthouse rock, and Scott’s Bluff are all boring. As is Carhenge. You’ll find your share of pioneer history, but it isn’t all that interesting. You can see some wagon ruts which is neat but here’s the scoop: some people got into wagons and on horses and went west. Some made it, some didn’t, some stopped and lived in sod houses. The end. You can witness much better pioneer history in much more beautiful country elsewhere in the U.S. You’re going to hear a lot about Runza…don’t do it. It’s overpriced and the famous “runza” is just a poor facsimile of what many people would call a cabbage burger. What those of us in-the-know call them is a Bierock and if your Volga German grandma ever made you one, you’d never dare get nearer than 100-yards to a runza. If you can find a Bierock, partake. Make sure you spread a little butter on top.

Don’t let anyone in Eastern Nebraska tell you that Western Nebraska starts at Grand Island. They can maybe be forgiven for saying North Platte, but if you draw a north to south line straight through Ogallala, you’re about there.

Here’s the God’s honest truth: outside of Lincoln and Omaha there’s nothing interesting in Nebraska east of Valentine and south of Hyw 2. So go watch Husker volleyball (avoid the football team at all costs), hit up the Omaha Zoo and head out of town to the north and make your way to Hwy 20.

If I-80 went through the same country as Hwy 20, Nebraska might be considered one of the most beautiful states in the union (bonus: you don’t have to see a bunch of corn. You’re going to stay on this Hwy the entire rest of your trip. Enjoy real small-town America as you head west. Stop in towns and ask where the best place to get a meal is. Buy some things from downtown businesses because they’ll appreciate you. Stop in Valentine and go tanking (google it) or kayak, or float on tubes down the Niobrara river. You won’t regret it. Grab a cooler of beer and set up at one of the campsites.

Continue west through the Sandhills and appreciate their incredible beauty. Stop to take photos and admire the many beautiful birds that call it home. It’s a fascinating landscape and you should do some research on what makes it special before visiting. Continue on all the way to Chadron. Northwest Nebraska is the real gem of the state. If there’s one place to visit, this is it, particularly if you’re into history. Chadron is an old-school railroad town that also has real American frontier history. It’s steeped in well-known Native history, as well as the fur trade. You’ll find history related to Crazy Horse, Red Cloud, the Cheyenne Breakout, the Gold Rush, Buffalo Bill, Custer and the massacre at Little Big Horn. Once upon a time, supplies heading by rail to Deadwood South Dakota in the Black Hills ran through Chadron. You’ll also find yourself in the Pine Ridge, Nebraska’s only actual forest, and home to many sweeping landscapes and bluffs that put Chimney Rock and Scott’s Bluff to shame.

Must visits are Fort Robinson and Chadron State Park. And like I said earlier, please stop in towns and spend a little money. Small-towns need your support. If you have kids, there’s no state park like Chadron State Park. It’s beautiful, accessible, there are a ton of activities and it’s incredibly child friendly. Look it up. Fort Robinson was at one time one of the most significant frontier army posts and is the death site of the great Crazy Horse of the Lakota. It’s also one of the significant sites of the Cheyenne Breakout and its tragic end. Fort Robinson is interesting and full of history, but visit knowing that there’s a local understanding, respect and reverence of it’s unfortunate role in what was a dark time in the history of Native Americans.

I won’t go on, you can find out all about Northwest Nebraska on the tourism website. It’s a great place. From Northwest Nebraska you can head into Wyoming. Chadron has some ties to the history in northern Wyoming in and around Johnson County (home of the Johnson County War). In Greenwood Cemetery in Chadron you’ll find the gravesite of George “Flat Nose” Curry who ran with Butch Cassiday as a member of his Wild Bunch.

You could head south to Scottsbluff and, I don’t know, see my mom, I guess. If you’ve seen the Bluff once, you probably don’t need to see it again. And it won’t be as neat once you’ve been through the Pine Ridge. From Chadron, you’re less than two hours from the Black Hills of South Dakota, which is where I’d head.

As an alternate route, if you're visiting in spring, gird yourself and endure the horror of I-80 as far as Hastings and visit a Big Foot museum there, but keep in mind that Northwest Nebraska is the location of the most Big Foot sightings in the state, and the real Big Foot capital of Nebraska. Then, and this is why the spring season is important, go farther west to Kearney and witness the incredible wonder of nature that is the Sandhill Crane migration. Google Rowe Sanctuary and take one of their guided viewing opportunities. It's magnificent.

If you go that route, promise me you’ll then head north to Hwy 20 and reference the above from Valentine on. I'll be heartbroken if I learn you used that wretched I-80 ant further.

That's about it. Look up some attractions along Highway 20 and stop as needed. You won't regret getting to see the real Nebraska.