2019 Spring-Summer Travel by Omaha World-Herald

Special Section â&#x20AC;¢ April 28, 2018

SPRING & SUMMER TRAVEL

Natural attractions Wild horses, prairie dog towns and prehistoric thrills

FESTIVAL FUN ACROSS THE REGION

SPRING & SUMMER TRAVEL

• Sunday, April 28, 2019

OMAHA WORLD-HERALD

NEBRASKA

MIKE WHYE

An elk herd of about 50 typically roams near Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge. A smaller herd resides within the park.

GAME FOR ADVENTURE Jeep safaris, horseback rides and other paths offer close encounters with wildlife By Mike Whye

FORT ROBINSON STATE PARK

WORLD-HERALD CORRESPONDENT

Spotting chipmunks on picnics in Colorado can be a thrill if you’re 5 years old. But if you’re a fourth-grader, you’re probably hoping for an encounter with something 10 times more exciting than a cousin to a tree squirrel. Perhaps prairie dogs, bison and eagles? They’re native to the Great Plains and can be seen at preserves and state parks throughout Nebraska. Here’s a sampling of adventures the whole family can enjoy.

SPRING & SUMMER TRAVEL A special section produced by the news division of the Omaha World-Herald

In the northwest part of the state, the park has long been a favorite of Nebraska vacationers partly because of its history as an Army fort through the 1940s. Other reasons for the 22,604-acre park’s popularity include this is where the buffalo roam and the deer and the antelope play, not to forget the bighorn sheep, wild turkey, prairie dog and other wildlife. Driving the 5.5-mile road through the park’s Smiley Canyon gives visitors opportunities to see free-ranging bison, which

Project editor Chris Christen, 402-444-1094 Copy editors Marjie Ducey, Shelley Larsen, Pam Richter Designers Kiley Cruse, Tom Knox Contributors Mike Whye, Marjie Ducey, Tim Trudell

number around 150. Jeep rides carry visitors onto lesser roads that reach into more remote and rugged areas of the canyon where other wildlife such as golden eagles, falcons, barn owls and prairie dogs live. Several western songbirds are here, too, including whitethroated swifts, scarlet tanagers, western bluebirds and common poorwills, which forage mostly at dawn and dusk. Organized horse rides head out on trails that lead through the rugged sandstone bluffs of the Pine Ridge formations just north of the fort where bighorn sheep clamber up and

down the rocky slopes. Overall, the park has 30 of the sheep, split between herds to the north and in Smiley Canyon. Although longhorn cattle were not native to Nebraska, they played a big role in the state’s economy in the latter part of the 19th century when hundreds of thousands were driven from Texas rangelands to railheads in Kansas and Nebraska. A herd of about 125 longhorn is at Fort Robinson. Nebraska state park permit required. Information: outdoornebraska.gov/ fortrobinson, 308-665-2900

On the cover Field Station: Dinosaurs exhibit, photographed by Hydraulic Studio; prairie dogs at Fort Niobrara captured by Mike Whye; American Mustangs at Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary, courtesy photo.

For advertising information, contact Dan Matuella 402-444-1485 dan.matuella@owh.com

SPRING & SUMMER TRAVEL

OMAHA WORLD-HERALD

Sunday, April 28, 2019 •

on the refuge along with pronghorn, which people sometimes mistakenly call antelope. Other mammals that might be seen include badger, porcupine, various types of weasels and muskrat. A prairie dog town with accompanying burrow owls is on a patch of state-owned land that has a small campsite on the southern boundary of the refuge. Free. Call to check road conditions. Information: fws.gov/refuge/Crescent_Lake, 308-762-4893

FORT NIOBRARA NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE The refuge, just east of Valentine, has more than 19,000 acres in which buffalo, elk, deer, prairie dog and more animals live. The visitor center is about a mile from the west entrance off Nebraska Highway 12 (where many kayakers and canoeists start their journeys down the Niobrara River in the summer). Prairie dog towns flank the roads just south and east of the visitor center. If you don’t spot any prairie dogs at first, just park and wait with the windows down. (Vehicles are excellent blinds for viewing wildlife.) The shy but inquisitive prairie dogs will eventually pop out their holes to look around and, deeming all’s safe, emerge to graze on the grass. Keep your eyes peeled for small owls on or near burrows. These are burrowing owls, which are active during the day (as opposed to most other owls) and make their homes in tunnels and burrows in prairie dog towns. Early French explorers on the plains called prairie dogs “petits chiens” or little dogs, because of their yips. But these critters are actually rodents. And very social ones at that! They touch noses upon meeting each other, huddle in small groups and run between burrows. Sometimes they stand on their hind legs for a higher viewpoint (maybe a foot higher if that) of the surrounding land. When they see danger, they bark warnings before scurrying into their burrows. Some animal behaviorists believe that the warnings include information about what type of animal is approaching and its size, shape and color. The auto tour leads to other areas of the refuge where the bigger animals graze and rest. Of course, bison, the largest mammal in North America, are the easiest to see but even so, sometimes they’re nowhere to be found from the road. But with some 400 bison living here in the summer, the odds are good that at least a few will be spotted. The refuge’s herd of 24 elk soon will be able to come and go, starting this fall when fencing is lowered in height (but still high enough to contain the bison). About 40 to 50 elk currently live outside the refuge boundaries. Other wildlife spotted here include mountain lion, coyote, red fox, bobcat and prairie chicken. Mule and whitetail deer visit too. Similar in appearance, the whitetail deer has an all-white tail while the mule deer has a black-tip tail and very long, distinctive ears like, what else, a mule. Besides driving through the refuge, visitors can hike trails that wander across the grasslands and through pine forests. They can also hike over a bridge that crosses the Niobrara River, which divides the refuge into north and south units. Another access point to hike into the north unit is at the lookout that’s just north of the Highway 12 bridge. Free. Information: fws.gov/refuge/fort_niobrara, 402-376-3789

WILDCAT HILLS STATE RECREATION AREA About 10 miles south of Gering, the recreation area is a good place in the rugged

HARLAN COUNTY RESERVOIR Besides being known for the many birds that pause there in the spring, particularly white pelicans, it has two prairie dog towns on its north side. One location is about 200 hundred yards north of the intersection of Highway 1815 and County Road 708, and the other is alongside County B just west of Methodist Cove. Free. Information: harlancountytourism@yahoo.com, 800-762-5498 MIKE WHYE

Fort Robinson State Park’s menagerie of wildlife includes bighorn sheep.

Just off I-80 at Exit 426, the park has added a couple of rare whooping cranes to its eagle aviary. The number of cranes in the wild, which numbered about 20,000 in the 1940s, has shrunk to about 400 in flocks that migrate between Texas and Canada. Sometimes a few are seen with the sandhill cranes along the Platte River during their annual spring migration. The two at the safari park came from the Patuxent Wildlife Research Refuge Center, a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services refuge that closed its breeding program, according to the Henry Doorly Zoo. The male and female at the safari park are a nonbreeding, non-releasable pair. A four-mile drive leads through the safari park, an adjunct of the Omaha zoo. The park also has 37 bison on 40 acres along with 60 elk, prairie dogs occupying a 2,100-squarefoot prairie dog town, sandhill cranes, burrowing owls, pronghorn, various waterfowl and other wildlife associated with the plains. Admission. Information: wildlifesafaripark.com, 402-9449453

hills of the Panhandle to view bighorn sheep, mule and whitetail deer, elk and wild turkey plus an occasional bobcat, coyote or mountain lion. Although the park is 1,094 acres, it is augmented by three contiguous properties managed by Platte Valley Basin Environments Inc., a group established to preserve, conserve and restore native areas and wildlife habitat in 13 locations in western Nebraska. The properties near Wildcat Hills add another 9,000 acres and miles of trails through the valleys and hills enhanced by ponderosa pine. One of the properties, Bead Mountain Ranch, is known for attracting flocks of mountain blue birds, which are rare in most of Nebraska. Nebraska state park permit required in the state recreation area. Information: Wildcat Hills SRA, outdoornebraska.gov/wildcathills, 308-436-3777 and PVBE, www.nebwild.org, 888-632-7004

CRESCENT LAKES NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE Its headquarters and visitor center are about 30 miles southeast of Alliance as the hawks fly. However, driving there requires visitors to go south onto Road 181 (also called 296th Trail) about a mile east of the town of Lakeside on Nebraska Highway 2. The refuge can be approached from Antioch and Oshkosh, but Road 181 is the only one that’s paved, which is a generous way to describe this 28-mile single-track road up, down, over and around the Sandhills. Along the way, it traverses cattle gates to pass in and out of open-range pastures where horses and cattle sometimes graze. Although the uninitiated might think of the Sandhills as being an arid grassland, here, that’s not so. Twenty-one lakes are named in the refuge. Many more are not and, sometimes after a rain, even more appear. That’s all because the lakes and wetlands are

THE LEE G. SIMMONS CONSERVATION PARK AND WILDLIFE SAFARI

MIKE WHYE

Prairie dog towns flank the roads at Fort Niobrara Wildlife Refuge near Valentine.

fed by the Ogallala Aquifer, one of the world’s largest aquifers. With all these lakes, ponds and wetlands, it’s easy to see why the 45,181acre refuge is a prime place for watching birds. According to the refuge, it’s the longterm home and migrating stop of 31 types of waterfowl, 15 types of marsh birds and 32 types of shorebirds plus 200 other species of birds including owls, sharp-tailed grouse and various raptors. During the fall migration, up to 200,000 birds representing 275 species visit here as do about 20 bald eagles. While large mammals like bison are no longer here, whitetail and mule deer are

DID YOU KNOW: » The last wild buffalo was recorded in Iowa in 1850; Nebraska, 1883. » In the mid-1950s, fewer than 1,000 bald eagles were left in the United States. » About 98 percent of prairie dogs in North America disappeared in the 20th century due to eradication and disease.

• Sunday, April 28, 2019

SPRING & SUMMER TRAVEL

OMAHA WORLD-HERALD

IOWA Go eye to eye with bison; watch prairie chickens flirt and dance; spy an eagle soaring high NEAL SMITH NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE The refuge sits on the east side of Des Moines and encompasses about 6,000 acres. Of that, 4,000 acres represent the largest prairie restoration in the nation. About 55 bison roam 700 acres along a 5-mile route through the refuge. Sometimes they’re seen, sometimes not. Sometimes they block the road, creating a prairie traffic jam — and the perfect photo opportunity. But snap those photos from the safety of your vehicle; it’s the perfect viewing blind. When driving through the prairie at the refuge, note the abundance of grassland birds. Dickcissels are among the birds that begin arriving in May with their “dick-dickcissel” calls. Others include the eastern and western meadowlarks with their melodic songs that float over the prairie. Bobolinks are here, too, in the early summer, especially where the buffalo roam. Northern harriers fly over the grasslands, looking for food such as the 13-lined ground squirrel. Meanwhile, some short-eared owls remain throughout the year, often sitting atop posts, although the largest number are here in the winter. A variety of sparrows also call the refuge home. While here, take in the visitor center where displays tell great stories about the prairie that once covered most of Iowa. Free. Information: fws.gov/refuge/Neal_Smith

KELLERTON GRASSLANDS BIRD CONSERVATION AREA Just west of Kellerton, may be the only place in Iowa where people can watch male prairie chickens perform their springtime courtship dances. This flat dance area, called a lek, is where they stomp, prance, puff up their bright orange air sacs, leap into the air and try to intimidate each other as they show off to hens. To view this requires people to be at a viewing platform erected by the Ringgold County Conservation Board before the chickens arrive about dawn — their dances don’t last all that long, perhaps an hour. The board hosts its Prairie Chicken Festival on the first Saturday in April. Free. Information: mycountyparks.com/County/ Ringgold, 641-464-2787

MIKE WHYE

At Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge, bison often stop traffic.

refuge grounds (once reopened after flooding) are accessbile daily sunrise to sunset; the visitor center is open daily (except for certain federal holidays), 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Information: fws.gov/refuge/Desoto, 712388-4800

BALD EAGLE WATCHING

KURT A. KEELER

Visitors flock to see snow geese at DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge in Missouri Valley, Iowa.

DESOTO NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE About four miles east of Blair, Nebraska, on U.S. Highway 30, this 8,362-acre refuge is best known for the migrating waterfowl and shorebirds that stop here each spring and fall. While the refuge currently is closed due to flooding, rangers are hopeful that visitor access will resume in time for the fall migration, September through December. Road work has begun, so there could even be some public access by late spring or early summer. Last year, the snow geese migration peaked at 57,179 in late November. Some 37,000 waterfowl were recorded as well. It’s an impressive sight, especially when these birds congregate on the water. There’s a public blind on the north side of the refuge, accessible on the auto tour. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service permit required. The best place to watch the show, however, is from the comfort of the visitor center viewing galleries. A ranger usually hangs out in the space, answering questions and helping

MIKE WHYE

An eagle perches in a tree near the Mississippi River dam.

spectators spot eagles in trees (bring your binoculars!). While you’re here, be sure to check out the Bertrand steamboat museum collection. The steamboat sank here in 1865, and its recovered contents are on display. The

Communities along the Mississippi River are known places to watch bald eagles every year between mid-December through early March. Many eagles perch high in the trees that flank the river on the lower sides of the 11 locks and dams that touch Iowa. While parts of the river may freeze in the winter, the water below the dams usually doesn’t, and that’s where the eagles swoop down to grab fish near the surface. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources states that the eagles increase from a summertime count of about 500 to around 3,000 each year when they arrive to fish the pools below the dams. Several riverside communities hold events when the eagles arrive. Planned for 2020: Jan. 10-12 Quad Cities, Bald Eagle Days, 309-788-5912, qccaexpocenter.com/baldeagle-event Jan. 18 Dubuque, Bald Eagle Watch Days, 563-845-7698, traveldubuque.com Jan. 18-19 Keokuk, Bald Eagle Appreciation Days, 319-524-5599; keokukiowatourism.org Jan. 23-26 Muscatine, Eagles and Ivories, 563-263-8895; visitmuscatine.com — Mike Whye, World-Herald Correspondent

SPRING & SUMMER TRAVEL

OMAHA WORLD-HERALD

Sunday, April 28, 2019 •

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MISSOURI

M I S S O U R I S TAT E PA R K S

Walk the trails at Prairie State Park in Mindenmines, Missouri.

You know about the Budweiser Clydesdales — but what about Missouri’s exotic cats and rocks that look like elephants! PRAIRIE STATE PARK Here’s a unique opportunity to experience bison in their natural habitat. Prairie State Park in southwest Missouri has a herd of about 50. On the first Saturday of the month, visitors can take a guided bison hike at 10 a.m., with July 13 the only exception. There are plenty of trails to hike, too; just call or stop by the Regal Tallgrass Prairie Nature Center to find out the herd’s location before taking off. The park features the tallgrass prairies that once covered more than a third of Missouri, and lots of wildflowers. Information: Mindenmines, Missouri, 417843-6711, mostateparks.com/park/prairiestate-park

NATIONAL TIGER SANCTUARY The non-profit rescue facility cares for a variety of big cats, including tigers, lions, leopards and mountain lions. You can visit them several times a day Wednesday through Sunday or go on one of the special tours that takes you behind the scenes. Photography and questions encouraged. The educational campus is dedicated to bringing awareness to environmental conditions and their effects on the Earth’s ecosystems. Information: Saddlebrooke, Missouri, 417587-3633, nationaltigersanctuary.org

ELEPHANT ROCKS STATE PARK The elephant-shaped boulders may not be the stars of a circus, but they’re the standouts of this unusual park. Formed from 1.5 billionyear-old granite, the giant boulders stand end to end like a train of circus elephants. It was once a volcanic area, and the rocks are one of the oldest features in North America. Geologists estimate they began to form 3.1 billion years ago. Information: Belleview, Missouri, 573-5463454, mostateparks.com/park/elephantrocks-state-park

LOESS BLUFFS NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE As many as 300 bald eagles can be found at the peak of migration in early December at the refuge once known as Squaw Creek. It’s a feeding and breeding ground for all types of migratory birds and other wildlife. It includes 7,440 acres of wetlands, grasslands and forests along the eastern edge of the Missouri River floodplain. Overlooking the refuge from the east, the loess bluffs habitat is a geological formation of fine glacier silt. The refuge was officially named one of America’s Top 500 Globally Important Bird Areas by the National Audubon Society in 2001. The Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network designated the refuge a Site of Regional Importance in 2007. Information: Forest City, Missouri, 660-4423187, fws.gov/refuge/loess_bluffs

WARM SPRINGS RANCH This is the breeding farm for the famous Clydesdales, located on 300 acres in the heart of Missouri. Operating hours for 2019 have begun and run until Nov. 3. There’s a mare/stallion and foaling barn, a veterinary lab and 10 pastures. Tours are available, ranging from $15 to $500 per person. Clydesdales were first bred in Scotland in the early 19th century. The breed at the ranch originates from the Valley of Clyde. Their horseshoes measure more than 20 inches and weigh about 5 pounds. Information: Boonville, Missouri, 888-9725933, warmspringsranch.com — Marjie Ducey, World-Herald staff writer marjie.ducey@owh.com, 402-444-1034, twitter.com/mduceyowh

G E T AWAY TO K AN SA S CI T Y W I T H A W EEK EN D PACK AGE TH AT ’ S A P ER F ECT F I T ! Plan your visit to Kansas City soon and choose from a variety of affordable packages at

the Kansas City Marriott Downtown. You’ll love our luxurious guestrooms, elegant

amenities and our great location just steps from the Power and Light District. When

you get here you’ll find plenty to do, from Sporting KC Soccer and Royals at Kaufman

Stadium, to Worlds of Fun, the Country Club Plaza and more. Plus a fabulous line up of

concerts at Sprint Center and the Midland Theater.

Visit our website to choose the best package for you. 200 West 12th Street Kansas City, MO 64105 816.421.6800 www.KansasCityMarriottDowntown.com

SPRING & SUMMER TRAVEL

• Sunday, April 28, 2019

OMAHA WORLD-HERALD

O R A N G E C I T Y T U L I P F E S T I VA L

Dutch costumes and dances are a given at the Orange City Tulip Festival in Iowa.

Save the dates: Fill your calendar with festival fun By Marjie Ducey WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER

While it’s always fun traveling to new places, arriving when there is a festival scheduled adds a whole new layer to the experience.

Often there are many more activities to choose from, and it’s a great way to learn more about a community. As Orange City Tulip Festival chairperson Wanda Vande Kieft says, “Breng ons een bezoek! Pay us a visit!”

ORANGE CITY TULIP FESTIVAL Orange City, Iowa, May 16 to 18 octulipfestival.com Thousands of people come for this annual celebration of the community’s Dutch heritage. Since its start in 1936, the internationally recognized festival features music and dancing by children and adults in authentic Dutch costumes, two daily parades, nightly musical theater, a carnival midway, Dutch delicacies, thousands of tulips and a dozen replica windmills. “Tulip Festival is fun for the entire family, and we love sharing our favorite Dutch traditions,’’ Kieft says.

TIVOLI FEST Elk Horn, Iowa, May 24-26 danishvillages.com This Danish village celebrates its heritage in a Memorial Day weekend of folk dances, live music, specialty foods, costumes, tours, Tivoli

parade, street fair, car show, craft market, bike ride and more. It’s the festival’s 40th year, so some new things are in store. For starters: a pickleball tourney. Preregister online.

WAYNE CHICKEN SHOW Wayne, Nebraska, July 12 to 14 chickenshow.com This is a must-event for chicken lovers. The theme this year: chickens around the world. The Wayne Regional Arts Council started the event in 1981, and this will be the 39th year for this fowl festival. Activities include entertainment, cement chicken auction, fireworks, teen dance, parade, games and contests, car show, poker run and food and craft vendors. The show received the 1996 Nebraska Outstanding Tourism Award and was selected in 1999, along with four other community events in America, to be featured in the Library of Congress.

SPRING & SUMMER TRAVEL

OMAHA WORLD-HERALD

Sunday, April 28, 2019 •

NEBRASKA’S BIG RODEO Burwell, Nebraska, July 24 to 27, nebraskasbigrodeo.com From classic events such as saddle broncs and steer wrestling to the wild horse and Canadian chuckwagon races, this event has something for everyone. And it does draw visitors from all over the world. Check out the 4-H animals and exhibits or try some delicious food on the midway. If you need a break from all the action, Calamus Lake and Fort Hartsuff are nearby. It’s one of the oldest rodeos in the United States.

NEBRASKA STAR PARTY Valentine, Nebraska, July 28 to Aug. 2, nebraskastarparty.org The 26th annual event at Merritt Reservoir’s Snake Campgrounds is the perfect place to become acquainted with the wonders of the heavens − which can’t be seen from cities. A beginner’s field school will show you how fun it is to explore the sky. There’s an astro photo contest for more experienced visitors. Lots of recreational opportunities will keep the entire family entertained all week. “Come enjoy the night sky as it looked before the invention of the electric light bulb. Not only can you see the Milky Way galaxy, it even casts a shadow, and we can prove it,” says John Johnson, outreach and promotions director.

APPLEJACK FESTIVAL Nebraska City, Sept. 20 to 22, gonebraskacity.com More than 80,000 people arrive each year to celebrate the kickoff of the apple harvest. You can enjoy everything apple, from pie and cider to fritters and salad. Walk around the craft fairs, watch the parade, enjoy carnival rides and visit the classic car and quilt shows. It’s been chosen as one of the Top 10 Fall Harvest Festivals in America by USA Today.

BUFFALO ROUNDUP & ARTS FESTIVAL

Baldwin City, Kansas, Oct. 19 and 20, mapleleaffestival.com It’s the perfect time to view the changing colors of the maples in the area and to celebrate a successful harvest. Started in 1958, the event includes more than 300 craft exhibits, quilt shows and displays, performing arts, music, unique food items and activities

conservation and environmental exhibits, including the Iowa State University Insect Zoo. It’s all free!

DOGTOBER FEST Blue Springs, Missouri, Oct. 20, makeyourdayhere.com Bring Fido along for all kinds of fun activities. First you can go for a walk, then bob for biscuits, dress up your puppy for a costume contest or compete for top prize at the dogowner lookalike event. Pups can earn a good citizen certificate or compete in obedience, agility and rally events. Dog-related vendors will be on hand. Everyone is guaranteed a doggone good time!

BALD EAGLE APPRECIATION DAYS Keokuk, Iowa, Jan. 18 and 19, 2020, keokukiowatourism.org The 36th annual event at the River City Mall will feature all kinds of vendors and exhibits that relate to bald eagles and nature. Visit the large woodcarvers show or watch live raptor demonstrations in the Plaza 3 Cinema. The Lee County Conservation Board will assist as you use a spotting scope to watch the majestic birds in their natural habitat on the Mississippi River. All kinds of wildlife,

BLACK HILLS STOCK SHOW AND RODEO Rapid City, South Dakota, Jan. 31 to Feb. 9, blackhillsstockshow.com More than 300,000 people attend this event, the second-largest in the state behind the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. The western

festival features 120 livestock, horse and rodeo events along with more than 300 vendors. See champion quarter horses and riders compete, cheer on a wild bronc-riding cowboy, get up close and personal with a prize-winning bull and see if your favorite dog shines in the North American Sheepdog Trials. There’s even a ball. marjie.ducey@owh.com, 402-444-1034, twitter.com/mduceyowh

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�� A celebration of German cultural and agricultural heritage, this 10-acre park features an authentic 1660 German Hausbarn, the Leet-Hassler Farmstead that was home to a progressive early twentieth century Poland China purebred hog operation, century-old Trinity Church and is the site of the Carroll County Freedom Rock. Iowa Tourism 2017 Attraction of the Year

�� Hwy. 141, Manning, Iowa | germanhausbarn.com 712.655.3131 | Open daily May-Oct Just 90 minutes from Des Moines & Omaha

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MAPLE LEAF FESTIVAL

for the family. There are train rides and a volkswalk.

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Custer, South Dakota, Sept. 27 to 29, blackhillsbadlands.com It’s a spectacular sight to see as cowboys and cowgirls round up and drive the herd of about 1,300 buffalo into corrals and holding pens, a critical management tool in maintaining a strong and healthy herd. Bring your folding chair and cameras or binoculars to one of the viewing areas − breakfast and lunch are available − and watch as the animals are tested, branded and sorted. Some are then sold. Up to 150 vendors will be on hand for the arts festival.

COURTESY OF JOHN JOHNSON

The Milky Way as it appears at the Nebraska Star Party.

• Sunday, April 28, 2019

OMAHA WORLD-HERALD

TRAVELIO A WA.COM

Sunday, April 28, 2019 •

COUNCIL BLUFFS

CRESTON / UNION COUNTY

UNcover the story of railroading at the Union Paciﬁc Railroad Museum in Council Bluffs. Interactive exhibits and state-of-the-art technology immerses children and adults in the history of the Transcontinental Railroad, passenger rail travel and more. All aboard!

Your southwest Iowa destination for outdoor fun and relaxation. Enjoy Three Mile and Twelve Mile Lakes, Green Valley State Park, trails, July 4th Sesquicentennial Celebration and Annual Hot Air Balloon Days the third weekend in September.

unleashcb.com/go/museum | 712.329.8307

unioncountyiowatourism.com | 641.782.7022

DES MOINES

GRINNELL

From James Beard-nominated restaurants to a buzzy craft beer scene, Des Moines is emerging, progressive and surprising. From steak de burgo and pork tenderloins to crab rangoon pizza and award-winning lagers, we have something for everyone.

Grinnell, known as the “Jewel of the Prairie,” boasts some of Iowa’s hottest independent restaurants, unique retailers, a legendary downtown plus world-class recreational facilities, event venues and a thriving arts community. Visit Grinnell today!

catchdesmoines.com/restaurants | 800.451.2625

getintogrinnell.com | 641.236.6555

IOWA STATE FAIR

MATCHSTICK MARVELS

“Nothing Compares to Fair Favorites” at the Iowa State Fair. Make plans for all of your favorite foods, competitions and games at the annual extravaganza August 8-18, 2019. Details at iowastatefair.org.

The Matchstick Marvels display is wood art at its best. Patrick Acton turns ordinary wooden matchsticks into detailed works of art. Since 1977 he has used over seven million matchsticks to create models both large and small such as the US Capitol.

iowastatefair.org | 800.545.FAIR

BOONE & SCENIC VALLEY RAILROAD

CEDAR FALLS

The Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad, known for its spectacular 156’ tall bridge, operates dinner trains, classic excursions and the beautiful James H. Andrew Railroad Museum. 2019 features a new Saturday lunch train and a new menu on the Wolf Diner Trains.

With 100 miles of hard, soft and water trails, bicyclefriendly Cedar Falls is perfect for your next adventure! When the riding’s done, check out our historic Downtown District for local eats, shopping and nightlife. #WeKnowHowToWeekend every day of the week.

bsvrr.com | 800.626.0319

cedarfallstourism.org | 800.845.1955

CLARINDA

CLEAR LAKE / MASON CITY

“Home of Great Beginnings” – Glenn Miller Birthplace Home & Museum, Clarinda Carnegie Art Museum & the Nodaway Valley Historical Museum. Enjoy Iowa’s largest craft carnival, Cruzin’ Clarinda, Southwest Iowa Band Jamboree, Clarinda A’s baseball, shopping, unique dining and more!

Experience rare Frank Lloyd Wright architecture, magniﬁcent art, sprawling gardens and extraordinary events. After a relaxing day on the lake, explore the historic Surf Ballroom and The Music Man Square – sites that bring music and history together like nowhere else.

clarinda.org | 712.542.2166

travelnorthiowa.com | 800.285.5338

matchstickmarvels.com | 641.473.2410

OKOBOJI

POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY

Okoboji has abundant water recreation activities like ﬁshing, boating and beaches. Explore our vast trail system connecting state & county parks with museums, golﬁng, shopping, unique dining and Arnolds Park Amusement Park!

Stop trying to enjoy a boring weekend! Pick one of our adventures. From historic to current, from oddly intriguing to delicious, our list of experiences will keep you making memories for a long time. Log onto WattaWayIa.com or TrailCapitalofIowa.com.

vacationokoboji.com | 712.332.2209

trailcapitaloﬁowa.com | 844.271.6909

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• Sunday, April 28, 2019

OMAHA WORLD-HERALD

TRAVELIO A WA.COM

Sunday, April 28, 2019 •

COUNCIL BLUFFS

CRESTON / UNION COUNTY

unleashcb.com/go/museum | 712.329.8307

unioncountyiowatourism.com | 641.782.7022

DES MOINES

GRINNELL

catchdesmoines.com/restaurants | 800.451.2625

getintogrinnell.com | 641.236.6555

IOWA STATE FAIR

MATCHSTICK MARVELS

iowastatefair.org | 800.545.FAIR

BOONE & SCENIC VALLEY RAILROAD

CEDAR FALLS

bsvrr.com | 800.626.0319

cedarfallstourism.org | 800.845.1955

CLARINDA

CLEAR LAKE / MASON CITY

clarinda.org | 712.542.2166

travelnorthiowa.com | 800.285.5338

matchstickmarvels.com | 641.473.2410

OKOBOJI

POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY

vacationokoboji.com | 712.332.2209

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SPRING & SUMMER TRAVEL

• Sunday, April 28, 2019

OMAHA WORLD-HERALD

RIANNA SCHMIDT

The wild horses of the sanctuary graze below towering sandstone canyon walls.

AMERICA, 300 YEARS AGO When wild horses and beautiful scenery meet, it’s hard to leave By Marjie Ducey

WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER

isit the Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary, Susan Watt says, and you’ll want to stay forever. That’s what happened to her 23 years ago. The Alabama native is now the director and president of the nonprofit near Hot Springs, South Dakota. “We are a place where people can see natural history, beautiful landscape and the way America was 300 years ago,’’ Watt says. You’ll also see wild horses. Hundreds roam the 11,000 acres of steep canyons and pine forests. The Cheyenne River runs through the property. There are Spanish and Portuguese breeds, Choctaw Indian ponies and curly

mustangs. Just recently the sanctuary took in 17 horses from the Kisatchie National Forest in Louisiana. The horses were brought to Louisiana by the French and Spaniards, and now are being eliminated. It’s a story that’s unfortunately happening in many places, Watt says. She loves horses, and after her visit, she wanted to help carry out the mission of founder Dayton O. Hyde, who created the sanctuary 30 years ago. Many of the horses have gone through tough times, and Watt says the sanctuary gives them freedom. “We are preserving the land and providing a safe haven of hope for wild horses that have been displaced,’’ she said. “It’s an opportunity for people to see wild horses up close and personal.’’

Several types of tours are available. It’s necessary to call ahead because it’s a working ranch. Watt said they had a recent guest from Baltimore for a second or third time. “It’s like a breath of fresh air,’’ she says. “It’s beautiful, undeveloped and undomesticated.’’ Guests will often bring in their own groceries for a two-night stay and go on a three-hour tour of the property. Then they soak in the beauty of the land from the front porch of their cabin. Turkeys, deer and coyotes are often spotted and sometimes even a bobcat or two. “There is no shortage of things to look at,’’ Watt says. “They don’t want to leave.’’ marjie.ducey@owh.com, 402-444-1034, twitter.com/mduceyowh

WANT TO VISIT? Go to wildmustangs.com for information about the sanctuary, which is located near Hot Springs, South Dakota If you decide not to stay at the sanctuary, several hotels and places to eat are available in Hot Springs, 14 miles away. It was founded as a frontier health spa to capitalize on springs of warm mineral waters rising in Fall River Canyon Want to see more animals on your trip? Check out the bison herds at Wind Cave National Park and Custer State Park The Mammoth Site of Hot Springs takes you back to the past with its internationally renowned indoor working paleontological site/museum. Sixty-plus Columbian and woolly mammoths have been unearthed.

SPRING & SUMMER TRAVEL

OMAHA WORLD-HERALD

Sunday, April 28, 2019 •

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FOSSIL FREEWAY Rapid City

BLACK HILLS

Hot Springs

Mammoth Site of Hot Springs

Toadstool Geologic Park

SOUTH DAKOTA

385

NEBRASKA

Hudson-Meng Bison Bonebed

Alliance

U N I V E R S I T Y O F N E B R A S K A S TAT E M U S E U M

WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER

tep back in history. Millions and millions of years ago. Saber-toothed cats and mammoths flourished along the banks of the plentiful streams and rivers that crisscross northwest Nebraska. Rhinos, mastodons and even camels then took their turn thousands of years ago, followed by modern bison that once roamed the Midwest in the millions. “Northwest Nebraska is an incredibly rich area for prehistoric finds,’’ says Mark Harris, associate director of the University of Nebraska State Museum in Lincoln. The Fossil Freeway tells their stories. Seven official sites sit along a corridor that stretches from Kimball, Nebraska, to Rapid City, South Dakota. Each has its own discoveries, from the hotbed of ancient animals at Agate Fossil Beds National Monument to the two mam-

The 2019 flooding could uncover more rich troves of fossils. “I’m expecting a big boom in reports from the general public, seeing things that eroded along banks and streams,’’ says Shane Tucker, highway paleontologist. Washed-out bridges could be another location. A mastodon skull was once discovered on the banks of the Elkhorn River after it flooded. Although northwest Nebraska has the most fossils, they have been found across the state. moths found locked together in battle and now on display at the Trailside Museum at Fort Robinson State Park. “It’s the first and only one in the world,’’ Harris said. “It’s a dramatic action scene.’’ At Hudson-Meng Bison Bonebed, a rancher discovered a massive bison kill, where it’s

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speculated that Paleo-Indians once drove the animals off a cliff and butchered them. The Mammoth Site of Hot Springs in South Dakota has had more mammoths found, per square foot, than anywhere else in the world. Hot Springs and Hudson-Meng are still active paleontological sites. “They are regularly discovering ancient animals out there all the time,’’ Harris says. Nebraska is known for its finds from the last 38 million years of evolution. The lush vegetation found along its many riverbanks during that time provided the perfect habitat, says the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Shane Tucker. Sand accumulated from flooding and rapidly buried the bones of the dead animals, which were eventually turned into the stone fossils that are being found today. Both Nebraska and Colorado have so many that they are the only states to have highway paleontologists such as Tucker, who works with the Department of Trans-

Scottsbluff

Scotts Bluff National Monument NEBRASKA

A FLOODING BOOM

By Marjie Ducey

FOSSIL FREEWAY: A ROAD BACK IN TIME

Crawford

Trailside Museum, Fort Robinson Agate State Park Fossil Beds National Monument

Harrison

The Trailside Museum at Fort Robinson State Park is one of seven sites on the Fossil Freeway.

Chadron

385

Gering

Wildcat Hills State Recreation Area

Kimball 80

30 NEBRASKA COLORADO THE WORLD-HERALD

portation and the UNL museum to collect fossils threatened by highway construction. About 250,000 fossils have been found along the right of way of highways. “It’s really unique,’’ he says. While Harris says traveling the freeway brings about an appreciation of our ancient past, there are other rewards. He loves the steep bluffs and pine forests of the remote area. “It’s an easy decision to want to go there,’’ he said. “It’s beautiful and unbelievably peaceful if you are looking for a vacation to relax and enjoy things at a different pace and setting than what’s known in Nebraska.’’ marjie.ducey@owh.com, 402-444-1034, twitter.com/mduceyowh

Glenn Miller

Birthplace Museum & Home Explore the fascinating story of America’s favorite musical patriot and big band leader. Get in The Mood at the Glenn Miller Festival held 2nd weekend in June! www.glenmiller.org or 712.542.2461 /glennmillermuseum 122 West Clark St.,Clarinda,IA 51632 2154932-01

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• Sunday, April 28, 2019

SPRING & SUMMER TRAVEL

OMAHA WORLD-HERALD

FOSSIL HUNTING 12-million-year-old bones have mammoth ties to Nebraska By Mike Whye WORLD-HERALD CORRESPONDENT

If you want to see what animals of the far past looked like — beyond books and Internet sites — several sites in Nebraska and Iowa display fossils from millions of years ago.

Nebraska ASHFALL FOSSIL BEDS STATE HISTORICAL PARK Every summer for the past few decades, paleontologists have worked at Ashfall Fossil Beds State Historical Park to uncover the remains of ancient animals that died about 12 million years ago when an ash cloud from a volcano hundreds of miles away settled here, suffocating all life. Everything perished — from lizards to cranes to barrel-bodied rhinos to the plants they ate and even the scavengers that usually would have eaten the remains of others. Then something remarkable happened. The ash that killed them also buried them, preserving them for thousands of centuries. The visitor center at Ashfall tells the 12 millionyear-old story that begins with the wildlife perishing and continues as paleontologists uncover the remains of up to a dozen types of animals in a 17,500-square-foot shelter. A Nebraska park permit is required. Information: ashfall.unl.edu; 402-893-2000

TRAILSIDE MUSEUM , FORT ROBINSON STATE PARK

More fossils are displayed in the Trailside Museum at Fort Robinson State Park. The most impressive ones here are two mammoths that were battling each other thousands of years ago when they literally locked their tusks together and died, amazing the people who uncovered them in 1962. Information: trailside.unl.edu; 308-665-2929

AGATE FOSSIL BEDS NATIONAL MONUMENT

Ashfall Fossil Beds State Historical Park features remains of animals that died about 12 million years ago.

South of Harrison, Agate Fossil Beds National Monument displays the skeletons of animals that lived up to 21 million years ago. These include small camels, rodents that were like beavers that dug spiral tunnels into the earth and one that paleontologists nicknamed “the terrible pig” because it looked so fearsome. Information: www.nps.gov/agfo; 308-665-4113

OMAHA WORLD-HERALD

SPRING & SUMMER TRAVEL

Sunday, April 28, 2019 â&#x20AC;˘

Iowa

HUDSON-MENG EDUCATION AND RESEARCH CENTER

DEVONIAN FOSSIL GORGE

North of Crawford, at the Hudson-Meng Education and Research Center, researchers continue to unearth about 600 buffalo that died about 10,000 years ago and try to learn what killed them all at once. Information: www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/nebraska; 308-665-3900

Floods in 1993 and 2008 eroded the area below the spillway at the bottom of Coralville Lake, just north of Iowa City. Once the waters receded, people noticed fossils from about 375 million years ago. Now the Devonian Fossil Gorge is a tourist attraction where visitors can pick up fossils to examine them but cannot walk away with them. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers permit required. Information: www.mvr.usace.army.mil; 319-338-3543

TOADSTOOL GEOLOGICAL PARK A few miles from Hudson-Meng is Toadstool Geological Park. Visitors walking around the unusual rock formations or taking a self-guided trail (brochures are at the trailhead) may see fossils, but collecting is prohibited. At Signpost 8 on the trail, a trail of footprints left by ancient rhinos in what had been soft earth about 30 million years ago are now rock hard and easy to see. Fees are $3 per day use, $5 per night for camping. Information: www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/nebraska; 308-432-0300

FOSSIL & PRAIRIE CENTER More Devonian fossils are easily found on the grounds of a former quarry that is now the Fossil & Prairie Center immediately west of Rockford. Collecting is allowed. Donations accepted. Information: www.fossilcenter.com; 641-756-3490

OUR HERITAGE GUEST RANCH You can collect fossils at Our Heritage Guest Ranch, which sits between Hudson-Meng and Toadstool. It sponsors guided fossil hunts in which fossil experts lead visitors on days-long excursions into the rugged hills west of the ranch buildings, and whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s found can be kept. Call ahead. Information: vacation-ranch.com; 308-430-1239 More fossil hunting sites in Nebraska are listed at www.fossilspot.com

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More fossil hunting sites in Iowa are listed at www.fossilspot.com

RYA N S O D E R L I N / T H E W O R L D - H E R A L D

Visitors will see many fossils at Toadstool Geologic Park, near Crawford, Nebraska.

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SPRING & SUMMER TRAVEL

• Sunday, April 28, 2019

OMAHA WORLD-HERALD

DINOSAUR ENCOUNTERS Kansas theme park reaches back in time By Tim Trudell

WORLD-HERALD CORRESPONDENT

ou can take your own Jurassic adventure without fear of becoming an entrée for a T. rex at a theme park in Derby, Kansas. Field Station: Dinosaurs offers up-close encounters with more than 40 lifelike prehistoric creatures. The 14-acre park, about 20 minutes from downtown Wichita, opened in May 2018 and is a second Field Station: Dinosaurs. The original park in Leonia, New Jersey, opened in 2012. Each is a Paleozoic world of mystery, learning and thrills. There’s a base camp and an archaeological dig. The dino trail is about a mile long and leads through “habitats” of foothills, valleys and greens. As you make your way, various animatronic plant-eaters and carnivores once found in the Midwest move and roar. Not-to-be-missed: the giant Brachiosaurus, whose remains were found in Colorado in 1900, the Tyrannosaurus Rex, discovered in 1900 in Wyoming, and the Alamosaurus, 90 feet long and one of the largest animatronic dinosaurs ever made! At a campsite, find miniature dinosaurs — Compsognathus — scavenging through a tent. Don’t be fooled by the chicken-sized creatures; they’re carnivorous and may look at you as a meal. Recently discovered dinosaurs also call Field Station home. The Dracorex Hogwartsia — named in honor of Hogwarts — was discovered in 2004 by amateur paleontologists in South Dakota. Scientists dubbed the dinosaur “Harry Potteresque” because it resembles a mythical dragon. The Dracorex Hogwartsia was a two-legged herbivore believed to have lived in the area 66 million years ago. The Anzu is an 11-foot-tall, birdlike,

F I E L D S TAT I O N : D I N O S AU R S

OMAHA WORLD-HERALD

SPRING & SUMMER TRAVEL

Sunday, April 28, 2019 •

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IF YOU GO FIELD STATION DINOSAURS Where: 2999 N. Rock Road, Derby, Kansas When: 10 a.m. to 5 pm. Saturdays and Sundays in May. Summer season: May 27-Aug. 11, Tuesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Open Memorial Day and Fourth of July. Admission: $16.75, ages 12 and older; $13.75, ages 2-11; free, under 2. Information: kansasdinos.com MUSEUM OF WORLD TREASURES Where: 835 E. First St., Wichita, Kansas When: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday; noon to 5 p.m. Sunday Admission: $9.95, adults; $7.95, children ages 4-12; free, children ages 3 and younger. Information: worldtreasures.org

Children dig for fossils at Field Station Dinosaurs.

Visitors can challenge themselves on an obstacle course at the dinosaur park.

two-legged creature that was found 12 years ago in Montana, South Dakota and Wyoming. Named for a mythological demon, the omnivore’s nickname is “Chicken From Hell.” Additional dinosaurs include Triceratops, Pteranodon and Stegosaurus, as well as lesser-known species such as Niobrarasaurus, Alamosaurus and Appalachiosaurus. More than 30 shows and activities help tell the story and science of dinosaurs, and most are included with a daily pass. Hit the brand new Paleo Playground — it opened April 27— where kids can let off steam and literally bounce off the walls in an Indiana Jones-inspired obstacle course. Sing along with the Dinosaur Troubadour, play 18 holes of Jurassic Golf, and search for “bones” in a fossil dig. Don’t miss the Dinosaur Dance Party and the T. Rex Feeding Frenzy in the amphitheater. For an added fee, there’s the Paleontologists’ Laboratory for hands-on learning. The Kansas Climb takes the whole family four stories high for an aerial adventure in what’s being billed as “America’s only ropes challenge course in a geodesic dome.” Who’ll enjoy this park most? Four-year-

olds who love dinosaurs; older kids who dig natural history and science. And anyone who gets a kick out of quirky roadside attractions. This one towers over most!

ANOTHER TREK THROUGH TIME While you’re in the area, check out the Museum of World Treasures in Wichita’s Old Town entertainment district. The all-ages attraction features dinosaurs, Ancient Egyptians and shrunken heads, plus a World War II collection (how’s that for eclectic?). Hungry? Head for Public at the Brickyard — a short walk from the museum. The menu caters to herbivores and carnivores alike. Try the Public Pickles — they’re served with Yoder salami, horseradish cheese and toasted baguette. Also good: the Red Lamborghini pizza with locally produced ground lamb, Kansas cheddar cheese, mozzarella and jalapeños in sweet brine on a wheat dough pie. The Banh Mi sandwich features sweet and sour hoisin smoked pork shoulder with yum yum, miso aioli, jalapeño peppers and cilantro on a baguette. — Chris Christen contributed to this report

STAY & PLAY Come play Breckenridge’s 27 hole golf course designed by Jack Nicklaus. After a day of teeing off stay at Beaver Run Resort, nestled between mountain and Main Street. Beaver Run Resort has everything you need for your Rocky Mountain escape. CALL OR GO ONLINE FOR GREAT RATES!

BeaverRun.com 970.453.6000 2156181-01

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â&#x20AC;¢ Sunday, April 28, 2019

SPRING & SUMMER TRAVEL

OMAHA WORLD-HERALD

2156668-01