O.T vacation advice

just another old geezer · Apr 30, 2012

This summer I'm planning on taking dad on a vacation out West. The plan is to head West from Wisconsin to Montana. We plan on seeing Banick and Virginia City before entering Yellowstone from the northwest corner. After Yellowstone and Cody, we were heading back east along the Interstate 80 corridor. We are looking for museums along this route that we haven't seen before. We have already seen the ag Museum at the base of Scott's bluff. Chimney rock and the trail ruts. The heartland military Museum in Lexington. Harold warps pioneer village. The Nebraska Prairie Museum in Holdridge. The Stuhr Museum in Grand Island. The strategic air and space Museum in Ashland. And the big boy locomotive in St. Louis. We are planning on seeing farmall land. And the big boy locomotive in Cheyenne Wyoming.
Now the question is what interesting museums or places of interest have we missed along this corridor?? Any suggestions appreciated.

Unruh · Apr 30, 2012

Are you heading west on I90? About 20 miles south on #81 at Freeman is the Heritage Hall Museum with about 20,000 items in the museum and almost that many in their archives. Museum includes about a dozen autos from about '08 about that many cycles about the same vintage plus tractors, machinery a 1927 Lincoln-Page bi-plane plus a real good Native American Indian exhibit of over 400 original, unrestored items. Allow a couple hours.
Website is Freemanmuseum.org

buickanddeere · Apr 30, 2012

Stay out of Yellowstone in the later months of 2012. The old dornmant super volcano underneath is supposed to blow up again. Really, seen it in a movie, has to be true.

Roger in Iowa · Apr 30, 2012

Nice Oregon Trail interpretive center at Casper, WY.

Thermopolis, WY hot springs.

WyoDave · Apr 30, 2012

Not quite sure what you want to see, but the I80 corridor in Wyoming, is as bad as it comes. If you can deviate, I'd suggest one of these routes. A little slower, but much more scenic.

If you take US 26 from Jackson over Togwotee through Dubois, then to Riverton, that is some nice country. Riverton to Casper, is about a dull as it comes unless you really like sagebrush and antelope. From there down I-25 through Glenrock, Douglas and Glendo, where you'll run close to the Oregon Trail, and there is Fort Casper and Fort Fetterman. Glendo is a pretty nice reservoir, if you're planning on camping.
Then back on US26 Through Guernsey, also a nice reservoir with recreation, down to Fort Laramie, which is pretty neat if you're into the Oregon Trail/fur trapping/early western settlement thing. From there you'll go through the bigger share of Wyoming's farm country on the North Platte River, and through my backyard. At Torrington take US 85 South and it'll run you right to Cheyenne.

If you take US 14 from Cody, across the Bighorns, and into Sheridan, then I90 down to Buffalo, that is very beautiful country. Then it's a little dry on I25 from Buffalo through Kaycee, and into Casper. There is an oil field museum, and with a little exploring you can find the "hole in the wall" which while historic, really isn't too impressive, then from Casper, the same way as I listed before.
David

Fergienewbee · Apr 30, 2012

Don't miss Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument. In Cody, be sure to see the Buffalo Bill Museum. Plan two days if you are into guns--they have a huge collection. Have you been to Cabela's in Kearny Ne. Worth the trip just to see the mounted animals. Depending on dates, maybe take in a Pow Wow.

Larry

Mark - IN. · Apr 30, 2012

Since you are asking for advice, I have no choice but to offer it.

You are going on vacation. Enjoy it and take it in stride. You are going from Point A to Point B, and then back to Point A. What you do in that time should flow easily. Vacations sometimes have a tendency to become work, because they become everything that you could never do otherwise, which becomes more work than work. Sometimes then, getting back to work becomes vacation from vacation. Get in the car, truck, motorhome, Amtrak sleeper car, and flow in your general direction, and whatever you happen across, enjoy it.

Know why I can give you that advice? Because its always easier to give advice than take it, which generally means that "I will enjoy this #@$^ *&^% vacation, even if it kills me", which it nearly always does. Do not make my mistakes.

Good luck, enjoy yourselves. Brush your teeth and take a shower daily, but lose the razor and watch until you get back to Point A that you were trying to get away from in the first place.

Mark

just another old geezer · Apr 30, 2012

Put your fears to rest, I do know how to take a vacation!!

just another old geezer · Apr 30, 2012

oops, picture was supposed to be downloaded on my last post, will try again

buzzinduzzin · Apr 30, 2012

Beartooth pass

Huskers86 · Apr 30, 2012

I'm just down the road a few miles from the Prarie Muesem in Holdrege. They got the old tractors out the other day and planted corn over there and have a good deal on the old p.o.w. camp from Atlanta. (They'll say Holdrege because they try to claim eveything happend there. lol.) Pioneer village is a great muesem and along I 80 east of Kearney they have an archway that goes across the interstate that has a muesem inside you should check out. By Elm Creek Ne. they have Chevyland if it's open.

Anonymous-0 · Apr 30, 2012

yellow stone is a joke! Bear tooth pass is the best and very few people

WyoDave · Apr 30, 2012

Maybe it's the best for people who want to sit in a vehicle, and see nice panoramas. Pretty hard to say which one is better when you get off the beaten path and into the backcountry, and I've explored them both. Yellowstone offers things that no other place in the world offers, and don't let anyone convince you otherwise. There is a reason it's the nations first national park, and possibly most famous. It is a special place, but yes, very busy in the summer, at the big name places. Hike for 10 miles, and you can probably spend a week seeing nobody else.

David

Paul from MI · Apr 30, 2012

Drive across Northern Nebraska on route 12, the outlaw trail, is really good. No big towns and lot of really friendly people. Wife and I thought it was one of the best on our western trip a couple of years ago. Jackson Hole is another spot to see. The silver mining museum in Wallace, ID is well worth a visit. My advice is get as far from the interstate as you can.

ralph1111 · Apr 30, 2012

IF you have not been to Glacier Nationial Park I would suggest that, the sun road is nice scenic drive,also like beartooth pass as well going into yellowstone.
Make any reservations need well ahead of time.
Have fun and a safe trip.
Ralph

DENNIS MIN · Apr 30, 2012

Mark-in.:

Thanks for having words I had not the chance to write.
I, too, believe if your expectations are ridiculously high, you disappointment will follow, and the work to achieve is for naught.

D.

magpiene · Apr 30, 2012

If you are close The Museum of the Fur Trade at Chadron Ne. is a good stop. Fort Robinson is also interesting. Ask the locals about the Worlds Biggest Hamburger at Harrison or Harrisburg I can't recall whitch. HAVE FUN

casenut1 · Apr 30, 2012

if you're in Wyoming , and like Case tractors, why not stop at Gillette and see Case Nutty. he has a lot of Case equipment.if i was going that way i would stop.

Bleeding Orange SW Iowa · Apr 30, 2012

If you like orange paint, check out Bierbaum Allis-Chalmers Museum, 706 Cass Street, Griswold, Iowa, (712)778-2586. Free, but you have to call ahead for appointment. It is about a half hour from Farmall Land.

ron nca · Apr 30, 2012

If your going to goto Virginia City go a little father an stop off at the Carson City mint in Carson City. i think there is stil some old cars in Reno
you would have to ask.

just another old geezer · Apr 30, 2012

Forgot to mention, Dad hit the 100 yr old mark in october. His sight seeing is from the truck seat, the wheelchair or his electric scooter.

spacecadet9 · May 1, 2012

(quoted from post at 15:58:37 04/30/12) This summer I'm planning on taking dad on a vacation out West. The plan is to head West from Wisconsin to Montana........
Now the question is what interesting museums or places of interest have we missed along this corridor?? Any suggestions appreciated.

Two must see's along the South Dakota I-90 corridor are Mt. Rushmore and Wall Drug.

Nebraska Cowman · May 1, 2012

Stop at North Platte I'll show you around. If you like Rail road stuff we have the worlds largest rail classification yard and a tower to view it from. The Lincoln County Museum has a nice display of the world famous N Platte Canteen. The Dancing Leaf Indian Lodge at Wellfleet would be a nice diversion with history of the Pawnee Indians on the Medicine Creek. Frontier County was organized in 1872 when John Bratt brought the Charter papers through in the dead of winter from Ft McPhearson with a half broke team of colts and signed the papers with ink made from soot scaped from the poles of Hank Clifford's teepee. How wild and woolly is that?

DeltaRed · May 1, 2012

Stop by the'Farmalland USA' museum at Avoca iowa.They are wheelchair friendly and your father will love the IH'history'.Safe and happy travels!!!

Neb Super H · May 1, 2012

You might see if you can get in and tour the Larson Tractor Testing Museum in Lincoln Ne.

Neb Super H · May 1, 2012

I think the cabelas in Kearney was going to get a new car museum right close by it. I saw the guys private collection before he moved it to Kearney. Had a lot of interesting cars and trucks.

GordoSD · May 1, 2012

Corn Palace in Mitchell, SD, Prehistoric Indian village ditto. Pioneer auto and tractor Museum Murdo, SD. Tractor village in Kimball, SD. The 450 year old turtle at Reptile Gardens near Rapid City died this year but you can still try to beat a chicken in a game of tic-tac-toe. You can't beat it because it has the center and the first move.

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