9 Prettiest Downtown Strips In Nebraska

The name Nebraska usually produces a mental image of unending stretches of treeless prairies and cornfields in every direction. It is aptly known as the Cornhusker State, since corn is one of its most prominent cash crops. Its two major cities, Lincoln, the state capital, and Omaha have a combined population of nearly a million people, accounting for almost half of the state's total residents. Nebraska is undeniably a rural place, but make no mistake, it has much more to offer than corn, cows, and two urban centers; it is home to many natural landmarks and many beautiful cities and towns with charming downtown areas.

Grand Island

The Railside neighborhood in Grand Island is an alluring downtown area that has managed to protect its history and embrace its future simultaneously. The main drag through the city, centered mostly around 3rd and 4th Streets, is packed full of entertainment and is pleasantly adorned with countless examples of local craftsmanship. The city participates in a statewide initiative called Sculpture Walk, in which various original works of art are displayed in walkable locations around town for visitors to admire or purchase. Along that path, on 4th Street, is a unique attraction known as Fred's Flying Circus, a collection of animated automotive sculptures in a category all their own. Fred builds one-of-a-kind "airplane cars" featuring famous cartoon characters like Tweety Bird and Shrek.

Suppose these attractions get you feeling inspired to create something yourself. In that case, you can walk during business hours to The Happy Brush, a do-it-yourself art studio for guests of all experience levels, where kids are welcome. If you would rather partake in motion picture art, buy a ticket to see a show at the Grand Theatre on West 3rd Street, which boasts a restored interior from the 1930s and still shows movies every weekend. You could also see a free concert from the Hear Grand Island series every Friday at Amur Plaza in the central Railside District, featuring local musicians from every genre you could imagine.

Kearney

Speaking of local art, a downtown neighborhood in Kearney called the Bricks District, aptly named for its original brick streets, is part of a directory of Nebraska Creative Districts. At least 10 extraordinary murals can be found adorning the walls of local businesses, featuring a wide array of subjects. One, of course, depicts sandhill cranes, which migrate northward from the nearby Platte River Valley annually between February and April. Many beautiful sculptures are on display in Kearney, much of which reside in the absolutely stunning botanical garden in the Yanney Heritage Park.

You will undoubtedly be excited to hear that the new and improved Museum of Nebraska Art, or MONA, is hosting its highly anticipated grand re-opening on May 3, 2025, after a massive renovation. If you lean more into history museums, Kearney can offer that as well, in the form of The Archway, a kid-friendly glimpse into pioneer history, such as the Oregon Trail. The museum grounds are home to an art gallery, many statues, and even an early American sod house.

Fremont

A town founded in 1856, Fremont has now grown to over 20,000 people. In recent years, it has been focusing on revitalizing its downtown area to establish it as an appealing area for locals and tourists alike to enjoy their community. Twice a year, in the fall and spring, a community-building group called MainStreet organizes a Gallery Walk, where they offer visitors a digital map to explore the downtown businesses displaying art in various ways; these maps can be found on MainStreet's website and include boutiques, restaurants, salons, and even breweries. In July 2025, the city will host a chalk festival called Color the Core for the third year in a row, where they invite artists ages 12 and up to assist in making Fremont beautiful. This old city has also maintained its historic integrity, with buildings such as the May Brothers Building, built in 1881, being reanimated and turned into a thriving community center with a coffee shop, Milady Coffeehouse, on the bottom floor.

For more outdoor activities, John C. Fremont City Park is home to a summer concert series that runs every Thursday and a seemingly endless stream of activities every weekend, including a barbecque contest, a fritter-eating contest, and, interestingly, a beard and mullet contest. The Louis E. May Museum, a 1874 home on the National Register of Historic Places, also has a magnificent Victorian garden open to the public.

Norfolk

The city of Norfolk was born in the 1860s when pioneers settled the junction between the North Fork and Elkhorn Rivers, recognizing that it could become a perfect location for a mill. This mill still operates today, and the nearby River Point District has become a thriving downtown strip with a lovely mix of coffee shops, boutiques, restaurants, and other nightlife spots. Like Kearney, River Point is on the Nebraska Arts Council's list of Creative Districts, and like Grand Island, Norfolk participates in the Sculpture Walk initiative. The city also offers Saturday farmers' markets in the stunning River Point Square, a pocket park on downtown Norfolk Avenue. River Point Square is also home to the city's Downtown Concert Series, a free concert that occurs once a month in June through August.

Pioneer heritage is very relevant to Nebraska natives, and right downtown, Norfolk's compelling past is on display with over 25,000 exhibit pieces at the Elkhorn Valley Museum. They have an entire section designated for Johnny Carson, a Norfolk native, as well as an interactive Children's Discovery Zone. The museum also owns Verges Park, a garden that is home to the 1860s Dederman Cabin, and the Dederman Schoolhouse, a one-room education building that was in use as recently as 2006.

Hastings

The downtown strip of this city is on the National Register of Historic Places, as many of the structures there were built between 1880 and 1950. Most of those have had their initial architectural integrity preserved, which gives the area a delightful vintage vibe. Residents are also focused on keeping it pretty; there is a bright, colorful mosaic mural on Minnesota Avenue, which was quite the community project in 2024. Some of the locally notable features of the mural include birds and flowers native to the region and the Kool-Aid pitcher man, who also happens to have been born in Hastings. Several more public works of art can be found on the exterior of businesses around the town, combining modern and diverse art with tradition.

One of the historic places which cannot be missed is Murphy's Wagon Wheel, a tavern restaurant which takes up residence in a building that has been there since 1889. Another old establishment that is still a staple in Hastings is the Rivoli 3 movie theater, which has been in the same location since the 1920s, with several remodels in between now and then, of course. The owners are Nebraska natives who pride themselves on keeping ticket prices under $10 to keep it family friendly. Another entertainment center for kids and adults alike can be found at the Hastings Museum, which includes displays of natural and cultural history, a planetarium, and a theater showing educational films.

Columbus

Speaking of kid-friendly, Columbus is one of the cities on this list that aims to make its downtown area attractive to all ages. Their main drag is called Trackside District, with the name referencing the Union Pacific Railroad Company location that was formerly a significant economic stimulator for the town. In the Trackside district, many local vendors have set up shop selling handmade goods, specialty gifts, and, of course, food and drinks. Frankfort Square, the lovely one-block long park on 13th Street, is the location for a constant stream of activities, including farmers' markets, Columbus Days, family-friendly themed block parties that take place annually, and Beats and Eats, summer concerts with food vendors which occur every Thursday and Saturday during the summer.

In case all that fails to keep your kids busy, there is also an indoor educational playground, the Columbus Area Children's Museum, perfect for children under 10, open every day but Tuesday. Nearby, STAR Escape Rooms is an ideal entertainment spot for older family members and is teen-friendly. Most surprisingly, there is an entire water park right downtown, Pawnee Plunge, which somehow exists in the middle of a city and boasts water slides, a lazy river, a pool, and a climbing wall. It is also only $10 a person at its highest price point.

Papillion

In the 18th century, French explorers named the creek near this town "Papillon," based on the copious number of butterflies they observed along the waterway. Later, the spelling was changed to Papillion, but butterflies have stayed relevant there. Although around 20,000 people call this place home, Papillion has maintained a small-town feel, which embodies "Nebraska nice," and the city has made a concerted effort to keep the historic downtown area pretty. An elegant and well-groomed Butterfly Garden at Veterans' Park on South Monroe Street helps provide endangered butterfly species with resources. In addition, everywhere throughout the town are breathtaking Butterfly Benches, 33 total interactive art pieces in the form of seating, which are shaped and painted like butterflies and are incredibly stunning.

You can find maps on the Papillion town website, a fantastic resource for the area, which will guide you on a Historic Downtown Papillion Walking Tour, and a butterfly bench accompanies many of these locations with historical monuments. If you're hungry or craving a drink, there is an assortment of restaurants, cafes, and breweries downtown, all of which have been organized into a directory on the town website's Visitor's Guide. These include Graley's Creamery & Confections, Papillion Taco Guy, and Sauced by Alfaro. There is also an impressive network of parks here, with many different playground areas for kids, including City Park and Edgewater Park, five recreation areas like Papio Bay Recreation Area and Walnut Creek Recreation Area, and Halleck Park Arboretum. The city has an extensively mapped-out trail system so that hikers of all experience levels can enjoy these outdoor areas.

North Platte

Established in 1866, North Platte was originally a railroad frontier town with a rich backstory, including once being a Prohibition Era hotspot for bootlegging and nightlife. The city's downtown area is nicknamed the Canteen District, after the North Platte Canteen. This organization provided snacks, coffee, and small gifts of comfort free of charge to soldiers who passed through the town on the railroad during World War II. Today, the community still tries to embody the hospitality and generosity their ancestors showed in creating the canteen, so it stands to reason that the Canteen District would be packed full of restaurants, the best places to show hospitality. Some popular ones downtown include APEShip Brewing, The Cedar Room, and Double Dips Ice Creamery.

There is plenty to see to walk off your calories, including shopping at local small businesses like A to Z Bargain Books, The Flower Market, and The Quilt Rack & Wool Cubby. You could also visit the restored ranch of the notorious Wild West bison hunter and showman Buffalo Bill Cody, which has been turned into a museum showcasing plenty of Buffalo Bill memorabilia. Another museum, the Cody Park Railroad Museum, has rare steam engines on display; you can even touch and climb on them.

Scottsbluff

While visitors are often drawn to the town for its natural wonders like the Scotts Bluff National Monument in nearby Gering, Robidoux Pass, and Wildcat Hills State Recreation Area (also in Gering), the downtown area also has so much to offer. The 18th Street Plaza is a nice paved area with plenty of seating and a stage for events like the Scottsbluff Farmer's Market and Best of the West Beer and Wine Festival. Also on 18th Street is the West Nebraska Arts Center, an art gallery that hosts classes, workshops, and summer camps for kids. The historic Midwest Theater is yet another downtown attraction that has been there since 1946, still hosting all manner of live productions and showing on-screen films while allowing visitors to enjoy the architecture in its near-original condition.

If you are inclined to drive just slightly outside of downtown, you will find two more unique things to do. The first is the Riverside Discovery Center, a zoo home to big cats, primates, and a petting zoo with less dangerous animals. They also have a splash pad for kids, open in summer months, and tickets are only $11 or less per person. Perhaps the most interesting experience you can have in Scottsbluff is attending the Old West Balloon Fest, a hot air balloon experience in August during which pilots and visitors alike come to celebrate the spectacle of these wild aircraft, which have been mass ascending the skies of Scotts Bluff County since the 1980s. There are food trucks, a hot air balloon discovery center, and merchandise tents you can enjoy during the day before watching dozens of balloons take off in the evening.

You should visit Nebraska to encounter its breathtaking natural beauty in a still-wild state, with natural monuments abound. Still, you will miss out if you fail to stop in any of the charming cities the state offers. Pioneer history abounds in these pretty, old downtown areas, making you feel like you are toeing the line between the Wild West and a hip and lively urban center, a unique vibe to this region of the United States that you can only get here.