One of Midwestern America’s favorite cities is the lively university town of Lincoln, Nebraska. The blend of pastoral countryside and urban sophistication attracts visitors from all around looking to experience that legendary Midwestern friendliness amid a touch of culture and nightlife.
What makes Lincoln so pleasant is its combination of amazing city parks, excellent restaurants, good shopping and a surprisingly popular music scene. It’s a fairly large city, with the downtown district containing most of the businesses, as well as plenty of bars and restaurants. The Haymarket neighborhood is Lincoln’s old warehouse district which has been wonderfully transformed into a haven for dining, shopping, performing arts and nightlife.
Most visitors will want to spend their time in Haymarket, as it’s the hub of cultural life in Lincoln, but there are some other nice historic neighborhoods worth a wander such as the Hawley Historic District. University Place is where you’ll find tons of shops and bars catering to the University of Nebraska students. If it’s football season, you may want to cruise by the campus to experience America’s most passionate college football fans.
Highlights
Historic Haymarket district: most of Lincoln’s action can be found in this restored warehouse district packed with great restaurants, a brewpub, boutique shops and fun nightspots.
Great Plains Art Museum: an impressive collection of art by a number of artists who have focused on the American West is displayed in this excellent museum.
Antelope Park and Sunken Gardens: visitors will find a little bit of everything at this lovely park with its rose gardens, trails, golf course, swimming pool and Children’s Zoo.
Pioneer Park Nature Center: check out the indigenous wildlife in this well-designed nature center. The center provides information, exhibits and programs to go with the eight miles of nature trails.
James Arthur Vineyards: one of Nebraska’s finest wineries is just minutes from Lincoln and is open to visitors for a tasting, tour or just relaxation among the scenic vineyards.
University of Nebraska State Museum: anyone interested in prehistoric mammals should check out this museum which housing one of the world’s largest collections of mammal fossils.
Parks: one of Lincoln’s greatest attributes is its park system, which consists of more than 6,000 acres filled with recreation sites and some 80 miles of scenic walking trails. Six of the nicest parks are connected by a 99-mile trail network.