Boomer Destinations: 2025 Visit Nebraska Holiday Passport

By Tim Trudell

It’s beginning to look like…Visit Nebraska’s Holiday Passport season. Grab your favorite warm holiday drink and explore this year’s stops as part of the state’s holiday attractions. From model trains to magical tree designs, this year’s 24 stops take holiday fans from Omaha to Valentine.

The Holiday Passport – in its fourth year – runs through Jan. 11, 2026. Patterned after Nebraska Tourism’s popular summer program, visitors to attractions are encouraged to have their passport stamped. Participants need to mail in their passport by Jan. 14 to be eligible for prizes.

Whether you want to hop aboard your four-wheel sleigh and dash away, visiting all the stops, in towns such as Kearney, North Platte, Sidney or Arapahoe, or just hang out around Omaha, there are plenty of reasons to feel like Santa Claus in front of a table of milk and cookies.

The Omaha area has four attractions on the passport – Mulhall’s Nursery and House of Trains, Louis E. May Museum in Fremont and Louisville’s Good Times Saloon.

Mulhall’s Nursery features beautifully-designed Christmas tree displays, as well as “real’ trees to take home and decorate. Peruse the selection of customizable ornaments or consider a pre-made one, including a “Nebraska – The Good Life” decoration.

Mulhall’s has a few holiday pop-ups scheduled throughout December, featuring local makers and vendors – from German-roasted nuts to local favorite Hardy Coffee.

Christmas hits the rails at House of Trains with lights and decorations highlighted by displays of hand-crafted cars. From Santa Claus guiding a flat car, with penguins aboard, to a box car featuring the House of Trains logo, unique rail cars can be found at the store, which opened in 1936 and has been on Maple Street for more than 70 years.

The Lincoln area has four attractions to visit this year: Jilly’s Socks ‘N Such, Of the Earth, Sapahn and Crete’s Wool and Whimsy.

At Jilly’s, you’ll find heaven in a sock. Soft, warm and comfy, who knew a pair of socks could be nirvana? Jilly’s Socks have become a family favorite, and we were excited when the store was listed among the stops on the passport this year.

Jilly’s also has a variety of accessories people will enjoy finding in their “sockings” this holiday season.

Other day trips from Omaha include Whispering Pines Bed and Breakfast in Nebraska City, Treats by Ashley in Auburn and Magnolia’s Home Decor and Design in Norfolk.

Whether you get all 24 stamps or just one, don’t forget to send in your passport to be eligible for prizes. Passports need to be postmarked by Jan. 14, 2026.

2025 Holiday Passport stops

This year’s passport attractions:

Arapahoe – Local Roots Floral and Gifts

Auburn – Treats by Ashley

Bertrand – Pretty & Fabulous

Crete – Wool & Whimsy

Fremont – Louis E. May Museum

Gering – Wildcat Hills State Recreation Area

Hastings – Small Town Famous

Kearney – Crowne Plaza

Kimball – Nebraska Coffee

Lincoln – Jilly’s Socks and Such

Lincoln – Of the Earth

Lincoln – Sapahn

Louisville – Good Times Saloon

Nebraska City – Whispering Pines Bed & Breakfast

Niobrara – Niobrara State Park

Norfolk – Magnolias Home Decor & Design

North Platte – APEShip Brewing Company

North Platte – Pop Corner

Omaha – House of Trains

Omaha – Mulhall’s

O’Neill – Shamrock Nursery

Sidney – All is Bright Christmas Tour and Elston House

Stapleton – Out of the Grain Specialty & Novelty

Valentine – Flower Land