8 Darling Small Towns in Nebraska

Nebraska is more than just corn and, well, more corn. Sure, it is called the Cornhusker State, but it has many other golden kernels for tourists to harvest, especially in rural towns. They range from Valentine's cards to juicy apples to a three-state overlook to an aerospace museum. Do not fly over Nebraska during your next vacation. Instead, hit the road and stop at these darling small communities throughout the state.

Valentine

What could be more darling than Valentine? Appropriately nicknamed "The Heart City," this tiny settlement stamps and re-routes thousands of Valentine's Day cards sent by people wanting to authenticate their relationships. If that is not lovely enough, Valentine hosts a Valentine Coronation where a king, queen, prince, and princess are crowned in February at Valentine High School. This adorable tradition dates back 80 years.

Tourists looking for rustic beauty can also find it in the Valentine area. Given its placement near the Niobrara River, the city offers easy access to the Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge and Smith Falls State Park. Moreover, the skies just south of Valentine are the darkest in Nebraska and attract hordes of stargazers for the annual Nebraska Star Party. The sky's not the limit for Valentine fun.

Nebraska City

Yet another Nebraska community intimately connected to a charming observance, Nebraska City is the birthplace of Arbor Day. In 1872, a Nebraska City dignitary named J. Sterling Morton proposed a new environmental holiday to the State Board of Agriculture. Later that year, the first Arbor Day was held in Nebraska and resulted in roughly a million trees being planted throughout the state. In 1893, Morton became the United States Secretary of Agriculture.

Today, the fruits of Morton's labor are juiciest in Nebraska City. They can be picked at the 260-acre Arbor Day Farm, which, in addition to an orchard, market, and hotel, contains the former home of Morton that is now the Arbor Lodge State Historical Park & Mansion. They are even juicier during April's Arbor Day celebration and September's AppleJack Festival.

Superior

It is easy to look down at others from Superior. This Nuckolls County community sits over 1,600 feet above sea level and calls itself the "Victorian Capital of Nebraska." Elevated Victorian haunts, such as the 1898-built Kendall House and the complex of structures maintained by the Nuckolls County Museum, enchant and intimidate out-of-towners. But do not worry: Superior's 1,800ish residents are more likely to call you "darling" than look down at you, especially if you treat their community with respect. In addition to Victorian villas, Superior hosts the Victorian-themed Vestey Festival and the victual-filled Superior Estates Winery. The latter is one of the 70 sites and 15 bonus sites listed on the Nebraska Passport, a state-sponsored scavenger hunt of hidden gems that runs each year from May 1 through September 30. Better hurry!

Chadron

Two other Nebraska Passport sites occupy the far-from-plain Great Plains community of Chadron. The Bean Broker Coffee House, which serves delectable drinks and dishes from a historic buildings, is a stop for every type of person, while the Museum of the Fur Trade is a bonus stop for tourists looking to learn about Nebraska's fur trading history. Furthermore, they can pretend to be a fur trader at the annual Fur Trade Days or wander the real deal wilderness in the Oglala National Grassland, Nebraska National Forest, and Fort Robinson State Park. Chadron is a charming Wild West time capsule.

Ashland

Nestled in the Platte River Valley between Omaha and Lincoln, Ashland is a green retreat from big city blues. Among the lush preserves surrounding town are the Cellar 426 Winery, Lee G. Simmons Wildlife Safari Park, and Eugene T. Mahoney State Park. The last of those is a stop on the Nebraska Passport, specifically the Popcorn Productions Melodramas held at the Denman and Mary Mallory Kountze Memorial Theatre inside the park. Ashland is also the hometown of astronaut Clayton Anderson and is situated near the Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum. From nature to art to technology, Ashland has space for it all.

Ponca

A truly tiny community with fewer than 1,000 residents, Ponca periodically swells as the gateway to Ponca State Park. On certain weekends, tons of tourists pass through town to explore the park, which hugs the Missouri River and presents the Three State Overlook for views of Nebraska, Iowa, and South Dakota. Perhaps the best time to visit Ponca Park is the third weekend of September. That is when the Missouri River Outdoor Expo, which is considered the "largest outdoor expo in the Midwest," takes place.

But before you hit the park, Ponca the "city" might pull you in for longer than you planned. It boasts a Passport-prized pizzeria called Outlaw Pizza and a wide variety store called B&S Trading Post.

Ord

Ord is anything but ordinary. A reported sum of $125 million had been invested in the area over the past 20 years, which created over 100 businesses and 350 jobs. Appropriately, the car remodeling company Valley Thunder Rods & Restorations earned the first of such loans and is still running decades later, while the Scratchtown Brewing Company is one of the newer beneficiaries of this rural refurbishment. Ord's glow up was also funded by natural currency. Tourists clamor for the Calamus Reservoir State Recreation Area, which lies just northwest of town and is part of Nebraska's vast Sandhills region.

Alma

Located near the Kansas border, Alma has only about 1,000 residents but a picturesque downtown with such bustling businesses as Main Street Variety, Dragonfly Desserts, Hogeland's Market, Main Street Pizza, the Los Primos Mexican Grill, and the Parrot Theatre. Yes, there is a full-fledged movie theater serving that teeny population. Alma's population does grow, though. Like most Nebraska settlements, Alma is a one-two punch of commerce and nature. Its businesses rest on the banks of Harlan County Lake, which attracts campers, boaters, fishers, hunters, and horseback riders. Alma matters to everyone.

Do not overlook Nebraska during your next trip. Rather, look hard—so hard that you find communities with 5,000, 2,000, or even 1,000 residents, and unearth their charms. These include Valentine's cards, Nebraska City's fruits, Superior's homes, Chadron's fur, Ashland's space, Ponca's views, Ord's brews, and Alma's desserts. Pick just some of these gems or dig for them all in rural Nebraska.