St. Louis doesn’t have the only “Traveler’s Arch”, check out the Great Platte River Road Archway – Kearney, Nebraska

The Great Platte River Road Archway Monument

Traveling west on I-80 from Lincoln, Nebraska, the first – and only – landmark we encounter is the Great Platte River Road Archway Monument. According  to its website, ”The Great Platte River Road Archway is an interactive adventure that pays tribute to the pioneers who passed through Nebraska on their way West.” We’ve never stopped but, as you can see, it is quite a landmark!  

What we did:  

She said:  

This is a stop that we have yet to make, but a definite “must” when we have our grandchildren with us in the future.  The pony express is also located in Ft. Kearney,  Buffalo Bill’s home is along I-80 as are  many pioneer trails.  You can even go to Hastings, NE to see where Kool-Aid was invented!  I have to admit, I always look forward to the ribs at the Holiday Inn in Grand Island!

He said:  

Since we are always between destinations when we pass Nebraska’s “Archway”, we’ve never considered stopping. It’d probably be interesting, so, one of these times, we’ll have to factor in the time for a visit. I am, however, thankful that we never pulled off the road to admire it. Seems that when it was first erected, traffic around it was crazy – and very hazardous – due to oglers. Now it’s a $100 fine, plus court costs, if you’re caught stopping. I read about this on the archway’s blog. The no stopping/parking signs are so small I never new they were there, so I’m glad my curiosity never got the best of me, otherwise I probably would have known this first hand!  

Aside from the archway, Nebraska has one of our favorite rib spots – the Holiday Inn near Grand Island. We arrived here late one evening and opted for the convenience of the adjoining restaurant. I was kind of hungry and, although the buffet seems to be the dinner of choice for most, I decided to give the ribs a try. And am I glad! We now strive to make this one of our stops when traveling through Nebraska. Also near Grand Island is a town called Hastings, the site where Kool Aid was invented! I don’t know what else is there, but maybe some day a side trip can encompass both the archway and Hasting’s Museum of Natural - and Cultural - History.  

Category: Kearney, Nebraska, Midwest, United States, what we did, where we ateTags: Great Platte River Road Archway, Hastings, Holiday Inn, Kool Aid, NE |