NEBRASKA

If you ever feel the need to just hit the road and let beautiful landscapes melt your cares away, then Nebraska is what you crave. This is mellow driving at its best. And you might even find a surprise or two along the way.
In America, there are a few roadside attractions that are so unusual, that they necessitate a stop. As you travel to town of Alliance, you will be able to see one of these attractions, known as “Carhedge.” 38 vintage American cars, all painted grey, planted in the ground, make up Nebraska’s replication of the ancient monument of Stonehedge. Though maybe not as awe-inspiring as the original, “Carhedge” does, however, portray human “engine-uity.” Also in Alliance is the Knight Museum of the High Plains Heritage—a museum built to acquaint the visitor with the typical life of a Nebraskan pioneer in the early 1900s, with exhibits highlighting the farm tools and household supplies of a prairie rancher.
Our next stop is the delightfully peculiar town of Grand Island, located east on Highway 2. If you get here at the right time, you can witness the “Running of the Wieners”, an annual dog race exclusively for wiener dogs. An additional prize is awarded to the best costume on the doggy contestants. For more normal races, visit Fonner Park, where live thoroughbred-racing happens year-round. If you need a respite from the prairie heat, take the kids and head down to Island Oasis Water Park, where six-story slides, wave pools, a river course, and an aquatic obstacle course, provide a refreshing diversion. Grand Island is also known for its shopping opportunities, so take some time to tour downtown, and see how many quaint, little shops you can find.
www.visitnebraska.org; 877/NEBRASKA.