Nebraska

22 August 2020

The Surprise: With all the Covid restrictions I had anticipated being in Wichita for my birthday. A few days before my birthday Chris said, “I have a surprise for your birthday. We’re going somewhere.”

When Chris told me we were going to Nebraska, I cringed. The first time we visited Nebraska about three years ago it was a lame trip for the both of us. Basically, we went to a Harry Potter Festival which was nothing more than a few pop-up tents and fake Butter Rum.

We took out of town after work on Wednesday; we arrived to our hotel late. Upon waking up early in the morning, Chris said you’ll love this next surprise- “Coffee.” I thought, “This is the surprise? You drove me seven hours from home to have a cup of coffee?” Little did I know it was going to end up on my top 10 locations in the US for coffee.

York, Nebraska: After visiting a delightful coffee shop, we walked up the street to an affordable antique store. Chris & I love antiquing in our spare time. It was fun exploring the little shop. The service was top notch!

Fort Hartsuff State Historical Park: Chris & I love Civil War history. On our way to the final destination we stopped at a fort. While the fort buildings were not open, the ladies allowed us to walk the grounds and take pictures. It was hot, but was nevertheless enjoyable exploring American History.

Chris said there was more to the surprise trip. I couldn’t believe it! After leaving the fort he told me to rest up because we would spend most of the next day in the sun.

The Real Surprise: I woke up to “We’re going on a float trip.” I had only heard of float trips that involved booze, college students, and far too many people on the river for my liking. I was a little nervous and not sure what to expect.

When we arrived to Graham Canoe Outfitters in Valentine, Nebraska the owner said my husband requested the first booking they had for the day. She told me there would be no one else on the river for two hours. That sounded like a float trip I could enjoy!

Smith Falls State Park: Once we got off our floats, Chris said there was another waterfall near our location. We proceeded to drive 20 minutes down the road to Smith Falls. We walked approximately half a mile or so to our destination. After we explored the main waterfall, we followed a trail we forged to the bottom of the falls. It was quite memorable!

Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge: After the waterfall we explored Fort Niobrara. It was breathtaking! We sat on a bench for awhile- we breathed in the fresh air and basked in the glorious sunlight.

The Birthday Request: Chris asked what I wanted to do before dinner. I smiled and said, “Well, I looked at the map and we are only 15 minutes from South Dakota.” Chris knew what I was wanting. We crossed the border and loaded up on fireworks we could not find back home. While the fireworks suited Chris’ fancy, I was just as happy about crossing another state off our bucket list.

Birthday Dinner: We ate at the only worthwhile restaurant in Valentine. Peppermill Restaurant & EKV Lounge was not fancy, but it was tasty! I opted for the Grilled Prime Rib which Chris said was what he would order next time. Our server was hospitable and made the dining experience even better.

It wasn’t a long trip, but it was packed with discussions, laughs, and memories. It was the most relaxing birthday I have had and it was exactly what I needed.

If you managed to make it this far down, we have a surprise coming for all our supporters in the next few weeks. Get excited!!

Food, Travel, & Love- Chris and Emily