Itinerary: Experience Must-See Attractions in North Platte

This historic 1913 post office building has been restored to a beautiful Italian Renaissance structure, housing a studio level, a gallery (that changes each month), an event space, and an outdoor patio. Enjoy the art others have created or create your own masterpiece at one of the many different sessions the Prairie Arts Center hosts.   

This museum is a one-of-a-kind stop! Cody Park has the only Challenger 3900 series steam locomotive on display. There is also a 6900 series diesel locomotive. The best part? You can climb in and see these massive creations from up close.

This gift shop is one of the most unique roadside stops in Nebraska. It has a hand-carved miniature Buffalo Bill Wild West Show that runs every 30 minutes. And don’t forget to go out back and check out the stockade. It’s a gift shop and museum all in one. A perfect stop for the whole family.

This fun hands-on learning center provides a place where children can experiment in an interactive environment. Everyone will have so much fun, no one will even know they are learning.

This family-fun park has something for all ages, from mini golf to water slides. There is a kiddie pool, go-karts, bumper boats, and a game room. It’s a great way to burn off some extra energy and have some family-fun.

Wild Bill's is home to 22 restored and upgraded bowling lanes, some of the best in the state. The fun center also has the largest arcade room in North Platte, featuring new and exciting games all the time. Try laser tag with your group or join another. Just recently added, Wild Bill’s now has some of the only virtual reality games in the United States.

Buffalo Bill Cody called North Platte home for 40 years during his Wild West Show. His life and legacy live on at the Buffalo Bill State Historical Park. His Second Empire house and barn still sit on 25 acres. Come and tour the home and history of William F. Cody.   

The museum features the official WWII Canteen exhibit portraying the story of the 125 communities that came together during WWII to feed more than 6 million troops traveling through on troop trains. This is one of the most inspirational stories in US history. There is also a complete Western Prairie Village in the museum’s backyard. 

Overlooking Bailey Yard, the largest Classification Railyard in the world, this is a view you can’t get anywhere else. Bailey Yard has approximately 10,000 railcars come through every day. This isn’t just a stop for railfans. They also have an incredible gift shop with lots of unique items ranging from rail items to seasonal gift items, many of which you won’t find anywhere else.    

Bring your mountain bike and stop for a trek on Potter’s Pasture. With more than 40miles of trails located on 1,300 acres, this privately owned trails network, located in southern Lincoln County, is exactly what you need to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

Dusty Trails Outdoor Specialist is ready to host you on whatever outdoor adventure you are awaiting. He has horseback riding, canoeing, kayaking, Cowboy Mounted Shooting, and he even has tanking (a relaxing river float in a 700-gallon cattle tank!). If you are looking to be outdoors, but not ready to take the plunge with these adventures, you can stay behind and enjoy Dusty’s outdoor petting zoo.   

End your day with a nightcap at Feather River Vineyard. Located south of North Platte, you can have a glass of local wine while watching the majestic sunset over the rolling hills of Nebraska.

Memorialized by larger than life bronze statues and a fifteen-foot mural are the five major branches of the military. Stop by to pay tribute to the men and women who have served in our military, some paying the ultimate sacrifice. Nebraska men and women are honored and remembered. Each brick has been purchased (and still can be) to honor or remember family and friends of those close to our hearts. 

Grain Bin Antique town has repurposed and refurbished more than 20 antique granaries into individual antique shops connected by a wooden boardwalk. Each granary is filled with treasures you won’t find anywhere else. Even if antiquing isn’t your kind of fun, the view is worth the trip.  

Fort McPherson was established in 1863 and recognized as a National Cemetery in 1873. It was also the only National Cemetery in Nebraska until the Department of Veterans Affairs purchased land in Omaha in 2012. This is the final resting place of veterans from the Indian Wars, Spanish American Wars, Civil War, WWI and WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Persian Gulf, and the current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.