Outdoor Adventures

Sandhills River and Sky Tour
Mullen – Valentine
Experience the beauty of the Nebraska Sandhills three ways! Ease down the Middle Loup River in a stock tank (locally known as “tanking”), fly high above the land on a personal aerial tour, and try your hand at kayaking or tubing down the Niobrara River.

Package includes:

• One day of tanking for four people from Glidden Canoe Rental, Mullen
• A one-hour aerial tour of the Sandhills for four people
• Rental of two kayaks and two tubes for one day from Rocky Ford Outfitters, Valentine

Two double-occupancy rooms at each:
• Sandhills Motel, Mullen (one night)
• Holiday Inn Express, Valentine (two nights)

Meals at the following restaurants ($100 total value):
• Cedar Canyon, Valentine
• The Bunkhouse, Valentine

One annual Nebraska State Park entry permit

Cost: $970. For more information, contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Deer Hunter’s Fantasy
Mullen
Partake in some of the state’s finest deer hunting in the heart of the Nebraska Sandhills on a three-day, guided deer hunt for two at the Double R Guest Ranch in Mullen.* The challenging terrain teeming with white-tailed and mule deer will excite even the most experienced hunter.

* Lodging and food not included.

Cost: $3,000. For more information, contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Hooked on Nebraska
Lake McConaughy
Enjoy the great outdoors and experience award-winning walleye fishing at scenic Lake McConaughy. Led by the Great Plains Guide Service, you and a guest will embark on a three-day fishing expedition. In addition, lodging and meals will be provided on location.

Also included in the package:
• Two annual Nebraska resident fishing licenses
• One annual Nebraska State Park entry permit

Cost: $1,475. For more information, contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Cranes in the Middle of the Week – 2010
March 10–12, March 17–19,
March 24–26, or March 31–April 2
Gibbon – Kearney – Minden

Avoid the weekend crowds with this Wednesday–Friday special. Enjoy plenty of elbow room as you take in the amazing sight of half a million sandhill cranes (as well as other waterfowl) migrating through the Central Flyway.

This package includes:
• Two nights’ lodging and farm-fresh breakfasts at Burchell’s White Hill Farmhouse Inn
• One dinner at Burchell’s White Hill Farmhouse Inn Restaurant
• Coffee and snack at the Minden Coffee House
• Viewing blind reservation for sunrise lift-off at Rowe Sanctuary

Your midweek adventure begins by checking into Burchell’s White Hill Farmhouse Inn on Wednesday afternoon. Then head to Fort Kearny State Recreation Area to watch the cranes fly back to the Platte River at sunset. In the evening, enjoy dinner at one of the many restaurants in Kearney and settle into the quiet country charm of the historic B&B near Minden.

But set the alarm for the next morning! The sandhill cranes rise early, so you’ll need to be in the Rowe Sanctuary viewing blind by 5:30 a.m. (6:30 a.m. after March 14 due to daylight-savings time) to witness their breathtaking morning ascent. Then it’s back to Burchell’s White Hill Farmhouse Inn for a hearty breakfast.

The rest of Thursday afternoon can be spent seeing more wildlife or soaking up the local experience. The sandhill cranes feed in the surrounding fields during the day, and additional wildlife can be found at nearby waterfowl production areas. To enjoy the small-town atmosphere, check out quaint shops on and around Minden’s town square, relax at the Minden Coffee House with a cup of joe, tour the restored Minden Opera House or Harold Warp Pioneer Village, or take in the area’s history at the many Kearney County historical sites. You can also visit the Museum of Nebraska Art, the Platte River Road Archway, and Cabela’s in Kearney.

In the evening, you will enjoy dinner at the Burchell’s White Hill Farmhouse Inn Restaurant. Then you can either spend a cozy evening at the B&B or check out the entertainment at the Minden Opera House.

Friday starts out with the early morning sandhill crane lift-off at Fort Kearny State Recreation Area, topped off by another breakfast at the B&B. The rest of the day is yours to take in everything you didn’t get to yesterday.

The cost for this package is $140 plus tax per person. Pricing is based on double occupancy. Visit www.burchellfarmhouseinn.com for more information. To make your reservation, call 308-832-1323 (have credit card information handy). Reservations must be made at least 72 hours in advance and are subject to availability. Package does not include transportation.

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Upland Game Hunting & More (Package 1)
Sidney
We invite you to get away to Sidney, relax, and try your skill at upland game or target practice with sporting clays.

This package includes:

* One night’s stay at the Days Inn.
* Half a day of hunting at Prairie Springs.
* Dinner at the Buffalo Point Restaurant (includes a cocktail).
* Adult movie admission for the Fox Theatre.

It is not often that you find a location offering the tranquility of rolling hills, fresh water springs, open ponds, and scenic prairies abundant in brush cover and grass.

Start your weekend with a restful night at the Days Inn in Sidney. In the morning, enjoy an expanded continental breakfast including Belgium waffles before heading out to Prairie Springs Upland Game Hunting (located 33 miles north of Sidney) for half a day of hunting quail, pheasant, or a combination of game (quail, pheasant, and chukar). All necessary hunting permits must be obtained by hunters and are available at Prairie Springs.

Upon your return to Sidney, plan a stop at Cabela’s for lunch at the High Plains Cache and a tour of their world famous wildlife exhibit. Later in the day, you can relax and enjoy dinner in the rustic atmosphere of the Buffalo Point Restaurant and then take in a movie at the Fox Theatre.

If you’d like to extend your stay and visit more of Sidney, call 800-421-4769 for a complete tourism packet.

The cost of this excursion is $195 per person (price includes tax). For reservations, contact George at 308-254-2121. For more information on Prairie Springs, visit www.prairiespringsllc.com .

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Upland Game Hunting & More (Package 2)
Sidney
We invite you to get away to Sidney, relax, and try your skill at upland game or target practice with sporting clays.

This package includes:

* One night’s stay at the Days Inn.
* One full day of hunting at Prairie Springs.
* Lunch (provided by Prairie Springs).
* Dinner at the Buffalo Point Restaurant (includes a cocktail).

It is not often that you find a location offering the tranquility of rolling hills, fresh water springs, open ponds, and scenic prairies abundant in brush cover and grass.

Start your weekend with a restful night at the Days Inn in Sidney. In the morning, enjoy an expanded continental breakfast including Belgium waffles before heading out to Prairie Springs Upland Game Hunting (located 33 miles north of Sidney) for a full day of hunting quail, pheasant, or a combination of game (quail, pheasant, and chukar). All necessary hunting permits must be obtained by hunters and are available at Prairie Springs.

After a pleasant lunch at Prairie Springs, head back out to continue your hunt. Upon your return to Sidney, relax and enjoy dinner in the rustic atmosphere of the Buffalo Point Restaurant.

If you’d like to extend your stay and visit more of Sidney, call 800-421-4769 for a complete tourism packet.

The cost of this hunting excursion is $226.00 per person (price includes tax). For reservations, contact George at 308-254-2121. For more information on Prairie Springs, visit www.prairiespringsllc.com.

Backroads Nebraska Tours
Gibbon
Get off the Interstate Highway and into the backroads country of stunning, landscape-rich Nebraska! Choose from 3 great vacation packages: Birding; Backroads Country; and Outdoor Adventures. All meals, lodging, transportation, and fees included. Comfortable tour vans with expert drivers/guides and a maximum of 12 guests. The Birding Package includes a professional bird guide and a 10-guest maximum. Come! See, taste & touch the very heart of Nebraska! www.backroadsnebraska.com or call 308.468.5612.