From Peaks to Pizza – How to Enjoy a Road Trip Through Nebraska
EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED
Leaving the stunning mountains and picturesque valleys of Colorado behind and entering the wide-open spaces of Nebraska. Each mile bringing a new chapter of our journey and a countless number of cornfields. Yes, there is a good reason for nicknaming Nebraska “The Cornhusker State”. Despite the flat and expansive nature of the state, even here, there are reasons to expect the unexpected. Instead of just writing Nebraska off, make a stop in a random little town along the way. It might give you an interesting glimpse into the state’s frontier history. Or the local diner could be serving the best pie you’ve ever had.
Ogallala – what?!
Depending on the number of Starbucks stops, the drive from Glenwood Springs in Colorado to Chicago is about 18 hours. We left Friday evening and drove for about 6 hours. Around midnight we checked into a random motel in a town called Ogallala in Nebraska. It turned out that Ogalalla had a lot more to offer than expected.
Historic Old West Replica Town in Ogallala, Nebraska (top), corn fields in Nebraska (bottom)
Ogallala is located by Lake McConaughy. The area is a vibrant mix of historic sites and recreational opportunities such as fishing and boating. We had a long drive in front of us but decided to spend a few hours in this former frontier town.
cars and coffee
In downtown Ogallala, the annual Rendevouz Car and Bike Show was showcasing hundreds of classic cars. Unique and colorful cars were lined up on both sides of the main street. We felt comfortable enough to leave the car, packed with all our belongings, while we did a little sightseeing. Here are some of the things we experienced in Ogallala before continuing our journey.
- Front Street, a historic Old West replica town where visitors can get a glimpse into the past with its recreated storefronts, saloons, and other buildings reminiscent of the 19th century.
- Historic Walk of Fame, Self-guided walking tour in downtown Ogallala including historic markers documenting the history of Keith County.
- Boot Hill burial ground, the wooden headboards on this historic 19th century Texas Trail era cemetery, reflect the rough and lawless nature of the Old West during this time. Open to visitors for a self-guided tour.
- Spruce Street Station, built in 1922, and one of the best-preserved of less than 20 former Standard Oil stations still standing. Today serving as the Spruce Street Visitor Center.
- Mansion on the Hill, this authentic Victorian-style home from 1887 with distinctive architecture now serves as a museum.
Classic Car Show on Main Street, Ogallala
alien greetings
By the time we reached Iowa, it was getting dark. We were greeted by hundreds of alien-like, flashing red lights from towering wind turbines scattered around the fields around us. It was fascinating. Iowa ranks among the top states in the US for wind generation. It plays a crucial role in reducing carbon emissions and promoting sustainability. Yeah, Iowa!
Detour
Saturday we spent the night at another nameless, underwhelming motel in Iowa. Then the final stretch of driving before reaching Chicago, Sunday afternoon. In the middle of nowhere, I talked Allan into taking a tiny little detour to get Starbucks. I was like: “What difference does a few extra miles make when you are driving 1,175 miles in the first place?” He certainly didn’t agree, and the detour turned out to be not so tiny after all. We passed a cemetery and I randomly said: “Remember that I want to be cremated when I die” and Allan, not too thrilled about the detour: “Do you want me to keep you in a Starbucks cup then?!” Yes, we always make sure to have fun while we’re on the road…
where to stay or not to stay
Finally, we reached our destination in Chicago. I did a lot of research to find a place to stay in Chicago. I visited a few times many years ago but only in the downtown area. It is important to note that Chicago is known for its relatively high crime rate, but like any larger city, Chicago has areas with varying safety levels. Crime is mostly concentrated on the south and west sides of the city and is often drug or gang-related. Definitely something to consider!
It is very important to know what things matter to you when you book a place to stay.
CHARMING BUNGALOWS AND TREE-LINED STREETS
Ultimately we chose an Airbnb in Logan Square, a diverse and vibrant neighborhood with a bustling arts and food scene. It is within the urban fabric of Chicago but has a more residential feel with its tree-lined streets, old charming bungalows, and historic Greystone buildings.
Our place, a spacious two-bedroom apartment on the first floor of a charming dark grey bungalow with a bright red front door. Although the house was old, the interior was kept in a cute and modern style, with a big bay window where light flooded in all day from the tree-lined street. The kitchen was huge, especially compared to the kitchen in the Glenwood Springs apartment. Here we learned that “equipped with all necessities” is a matter of definition. We had to be very creative when cooking anything with the few kitchen essentials we found in the almost empty kitchen cabinets. Who knew that it is possible to cut bread, vegetables, fruit, meat, well anything really, with a butter knife? Well, you definitely have to put your mind to it.
Not a vacation
I was very excited to explore Chicago with all the culture, history, and art it has to offer but the transition from remote living and natural beauty of “The Rockies” to a more intense, congested, and noisy life in “The Windy City”, turned out to be tougher than expected. It soon became very clear that this wasn’t just a vacation, and the first week was marked by fatigue and some underlying frustrations we weren’t able to direct anywhere else but at each other.
Love and Loss
I didn’t really understand it at the time. How come I wasn’t able to appreciate this opportunity more, and just venture out and check off the long list of things I wanted to experience? Looking back, I think it was a natural reaction to the recent hardship of losing our Golden Retriever, Lucca in Colorado. I also think we underestimated the impact of leaving our “old life” and friends in California, not knowing when we would be back, and more than anything the emptiness of both kids leaving us.
Thankfully I didn’t stay in that state of mind. It’s all part of our journey and in the end, we had so many memorable experiences while in Chicago.
Read more about amazing places in and around Chicago
The Ultimate Day in Iconic Downtown Chicago