Boomer Destinations: Nebraska Passport 2026
By Tim Trudell
Georgene Gottsch of Valley has traveled across Nebraska for years, taking in the sights and getting her Nebraska Passport book stamped. More than 46,000 passports were ordered in 2025. Designed to promote Nebraska attractions, restaurants and businesses, Gottsch has been a fan of the program for more than a decade.
In 2025, about 147,000 digital stamps were issued for the 70 stops on the Nebraska Passport, sponsored by Visit Nebraska.
“It’s designed specifically to encourage Nebraskans to explore their own backyard, to take a day trip, try somewhere new and support the small businesses and communities that make this state special,” said Jenn Gjerde, executive director of Visit Nebraska. Gjerde, a 12-year veteran of the office, was appointed as the director this year.
‘Real’ Nebraska
In its 17th year, the Nebraska Passport has continued to grow in popularity every year, with more about 1,100 people visiting each of the 70 attractions last year. Participants came from around the country, including Hawaii, California and Washington.
Stops on the passport include attractions, restaurants, boutiques, coffee shops and other businesses. The 70 locations are divided into 10 categories: Adventure Algorithm, Book It and Look It, Downtown Charm Alarm, Flour Power, Heartland Eats, Little Lad, Oddball Outposts, Party Like It’s 1776, Shopportunity and Sip Trip.
The Nebraska Passport gives people an opportunity to see the real Nebraska, Gottsch said.
“For those who say we’re just a flyover state, they’ve never been here or never gotten off I-80,” she said. “The secret to Nebraska is to get off the interstate. I always say, ‘In Nebraska, if you don’t like the weather, wait 10 minutes, and if you don’t like the view, go another 10 miles.'”
Museum of American Speed
Bill Smith loved auto racing as a youth. Once he finished college, rather than go into teaching, which he had prepared to do in college, Smith pursued his love of auto racing. Smith opened Speedway Motors auto shop in 1952. Following years of collecting a variety of race cars, Smith and his wife Joyce opened the Museum of American Speed in Lincoln.
Since 1992, fans of racing, unique cars and toys have visited the museum, located about a six-minute drive from downtown Lincoln. Exhibits range from an autographed Indy 500 car to the world’s largest collection of pedal cars. Each item on three floors of displays has been collected by the Smiths and their family for more than 60 years.
The Tucker Torpedo was considered the most complete car when it debuted in 1948, with independent suspension and safety glass among its features. The brainchild of industry executive Preston Tucker, only 51 vehicles were produced.
Hollywood actress Hedy Lamarr’s 1958 Cadillac is displayed. The vehicle appears to be in mint condition. Lamarr gave the car to her gardener as a retirement gift. Following his death, the gardener’s son sold it. It eventually found its way to the Lincoln museum.
In 1942, Lamarr was part of a team that invented a torpedo guidance system that was ahead of its time and technology, later serving as the basis for modern spread-spectrum communications technologies used in devices ranging from cordless telephones to WiFi internet connection.
The museum looks at American pop culture with a large exhibit of metal lunchboxes. It’s easy to find at least one that may remind you of your youth, such as a “Planet of the Apes” lunchbox. Maybe even a “Bonanza” lunchbox and milk container.
First time entrants
First-time entrants on the passport includes the North Omaha Visitors Center and Martha’s Coffee Shop, as well as the Dr. Susan La Flesche Picotte Center in Walthill.
The North Omaha Visitors Center supports the area’s historical and cultural attractions, as well as businesses. Honoring North Omaha’s legacy, the center also offers a professional bus tour of the area.
The Dr. Susan La Flesche Picotte Center hospital, opened by the Omaha tribal citizen in 1913, was renovated and reopened in 2025.The center recognizes the story of the first Native American physician in the United States.
Omaha-area attractions on the passport this year include Jukes Ale Works (Elkhorn), Little Scandinavia (Elkhorn), Fort Atkinson State Historical Park (Fort Calhoun), Ashland Brewing Company (Ashland), Strategic Air Command and Aerospace Museum (Ashland), Prime Time H20 Zone at the Gretna Crossing YMCA (Gretna), Happy Mango Bakery (La Vista), The Pen and Dagger (La Vista), Exist Green, Fat Brain Toys, North Omaha Visitors Center and Martha’s Coffee Shop and The Book Nook Bookstores (Papillion).
Lincoln attractions feature High Society Cheesecake, Museum of American Speed, Nebraska History Museum, Nebraska State Capitol Gift Shop, Robidoux Inc. and Rose Cat Coffee Company.
Season kicks off May 1
Passport season kicks off May 1 and runs through Sept. 30.
Participants can earn prizes based on the number of stamps they collect. People must be 19 by Oct. 1, 2022, in order to receive lottery ticket coupons. Prizes are cumulative, so people will receive them for each level completed:
- For 10 stamps, passport collectors earn $5 in Nebraska Lottery coupons and a commemorative magnet.
- Collect 25 stamps and receive a Visit Nebraska calendar.
- Earn 50 stamps and obtain a Nebraska Passport canvas tote bag.
- Collect all 70 stamps and receive a Passport Champion T-shirt, Cowboy Trail cowbell, seed packet and an additional $45 in Nebraska Lottery vouchers.
Passports can be ordered from Nebraska Tourism, at visitnebraska.com, or picked up at each destination beginning May 1. Explorers can also download the Nebraska Passport app from the Apple store or Google Play on their iPhone or android mobile phone.
Participants have from May 1-Sept. 30 to collect stamps, with passports stamped at each stop. It is acceptable to collect both digital and booklet stamps. Digital stamps are automatically recorded. Once “stamped,” under the name used to set up the app account, participants are automatically given credit. Physical copies of the passport must be postmarked by Oct. 7 in order to have all the stamps counted.
2026 Nebraska Passport stop attractions:
Dirty Pop (Alliance)
The Market and Mill (Anselmo)
Lee’s Crossroads Cafe (Arapahoe)
Ashland Brewing Company (Ashland)
Strategic Air Command and Aerospace Museum (Ashland)
Something Special by Marilyn (Atkinson)
Homestead Market and Aurora Floral (Aurora)
Black Magic Coffee (Battle Creek)
The Jeremy Hansen Gallery at the Herald and Sculpture Garden (Bertrand)
Lazy U Roadside Market (Broadwater)
Howdy Coffee Co. (Broken Bow)
The New Leaf/Apricot Lane (Chadron)
The Clarkson Bakery (Clarkson)
Batter and Beyond (Columbus)
Columbus Fieldhouse (Columbus)
Andrew Jackson Higgins National Memorial and Freedom Park (Columbus)
Isis Theatre (Crete)
Lewis and Clark State Recreation Area (Crofton)
Bone Creek Museum of Agrarian Art (David City)
Jukes Ale Works (Elkhorn)
Little Scandinavia (Elkhorn)
JandR’s Cones and Coffee (Fairbury)
Fort Atkinson State Historical Park (Fort Calhoun)
Rowe Sanctuary (Gibbon)
Covered Wagon Drive-In Restaurant (Gordon)
Beverly Cake Shop (Grand Island)
Grand Island Casino Resort (Grand Island)
The Vintageleaf Boutique (Grand Island)
Yoder’s Amish Furniture (Greenwood)
Prime Time H20 Zone at the Gretna Crossing YMCA (Gretna)
Longhorn Saloon and Whiteaker’s (Harrison)
Sioux County Historical Society Museum (Harrison)
Back Alley Bakery (Hastings)
Stagecoach Gifts (Kearney)
Suite Child Boutique (Kearney)
The World Theatre (Kearney)
Happy Mango Bakery (La Vista)
The Pen and Dagger (La Vista)
The Heartland Museum of Military Vehicles (Lexington)
High Society Cheesecake (Lincoln)
Museum of American Speed (Lincoln)
Nebraska History Museum (Lincoln)
Nebraska State Capitol Gift Shop (Lincoln)
Robidoux Inc. (Lincoln)
Rose Cat Coffee Company (Lincoln)
Lofte Community Theatre (Manley)
Scotty’s Bar and Grill (Marquette)
Self Expressions (Nebraska City)
Niobrara Valley Vineyards LLC (Nenzel)
North Fork Outfitting’s Riverpoint Surf Shop (Norfolk)
Sixpence Ltd (Norfolk)
Crystal Cave and Falls Adventure Mini Golf (North Platte)
The Coffee Bin (North Platte)
Exist Green (Omaha)
Fat Brain Toys (Omaha)
North Omaha Visitors Center and Martha’s Coffee Shop (Omaha)
Wildflour Grocer (O’Neill)
Burdette’s Custom Meats (Ord)
Creek’s Bend Family Farm (Overton)
The Book Nook Bookstores (Papillion)
Flyover Brewing Company (Scottsbluff)
Dryland Aquatics (Sparks)
Tumblereed Mercantile (Shubert)
Valentine Bike Share (Valentine)
The Quilt Shop (Wakefield)
Dr. Susan La Flesche Picotte Center (Walthill)
Meadowlark Lane Coffee and Floral (Wauneta)
HIS Baking Company (Wayne)
The Wild Nettle (Wayne)
Clayton Museum of Ancient History (York)
