Disclosure: Grand Island Tourism sponsored my visit. However, all opinions and photos are mine.
Grand Island, Nebraska, is best known for the Sandhill Crane migration each spring, but it’s also home to a variety of attractions that make it a worthy destination at other times of year.
From a luxurious Grand Island Casino Resort and the Nebraska State Fair to the Stuhr Museum, I found plenty of reasons to appreciate Nebraska’s favorite island.
My weekend experiences, whether relaxing poolside or indulging in sweet corn ice cream at the fair, proved that the town really is grand.
Grand Island, Nebraska: Top Things To Do During an Overnight Stay
Located 94 miles west of Lincoln and 87 miles from the Kansas border, Grand Island is a sure bet if you’re seeking a getaway as a couple or with friends or family.
LUXURIOUS LODGING & SPA
Grand Island Casino & Resort
As soon as I entered the seven-story Grand Island Casino & Resort (777 E. Fonner Park Rd.), I knew I was in for a treat.
Casino
A beautiful crystal chandelier and a vibrant casino floor welcomed me. The electronic chiming of more than 750 slot machines played over the sound of resort visitors checking in.
Although I’m not much of a gambler, I love the energy of a casino. The lights, the sounds, and witnessing someone hit a jackpot create an unmistakably fun atmosphere.
The casino’s design reminded me of a high-end gaming floor in Vegas. Spacious, high-end finishes, and a gaming floor flanked by a private poker room and Draft Day Sports Lounge.
I had the best time people-watching between sips of wine at the sports lounge, where diners enjoyed sports-bar menu favorites like pizza and burgers while watching televised games.
The friendly bar manager and I chatted casually about the resort before I departed to check into my Deluxe King hotel room.
The resort’s guest rooms are anything but standard. From the gold-detailed furniture to the soft, pillow-top bed, each in-room amenity exceeded my expectations.
White quartz countertops and a spacious, walk-in shower with strong water pressure were bonuses. Complimentary bottled water, a premium coffee station, and high-speed WiFi made me want to book an extra night.
Ruthie’s Steak & Seafood
The top-floor, fine-dining restaurant, Ruthie’s Steak & Seafood, is so beloved that reservations are recommended.
Bob, the host in a full suit, gave me the warmest welcome by saying, “I have the perfect table for you,” as he walked me to a U-shaped booth with views of the Fonner Park horse racing track.
An Old Fashioned cocktail, made with Maker’s 46, set the tone for my first course, an order of steaming hot French Onion Soup served with complimentary sliced bread and flavored butter spreads.
Because they’re known for the finest cuts of Midwest steaks, I chose the Filet Medallions and Shrimp served over creamy mashed potatoes and topped with onion strings.
The indulgent meal lived up to the resort’s reputation as a higher-end experience, both rich in taste and layered with flavor.
Other guests sipped wine and cocktails over dinner while the sunset cast a warm glow over the dining room. I heard the pop sound of a champagne cork, and guests exclaimed, “Hooray!”
PRO TIP: Reserve a table for the restaurant’s Sunday Buffet served from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., featuring an omelet station, fresh seafood, and more.
The Spa
The Spa is your private escape to a tranquil setting. Open six days a week, guests must request an appointment in advance for rejuvenating beauty and wellness services.
I pampered myself with a 90-minute Customizable Facial, and like any service, it included access to the jetted hot tub, scented ice room, and infrared dry sauna.
My aesthetician did a remarkable job analyzing my skin and treating it with the utmost care using Eminence® products. A scalp massage concluded the treatment.
If you’re seeking massage therapy, they offer a Custom Massage, Deep Tissue, and Maternity Massage. Body treatments intended to exfoliate and renew one’s skin are also available.
You could make an entire day of your spa experience by adding a waxing or nail service.
PRO TIP: If you want to schedule multiple services, call more than two weeks in advance. Pack a tote bag with a swimsuit.
Swimming Pools & Hot Tub
You’ll want to ask for a wristband when you check-in at the hotel desk to gain access to the resort’s indoor/outdoor swimming pools and hot tub.
Pool cabanas are first-come, first-served, but I chose a quiet lounge chair area where I could close my eyes and reflect on the day.
Kids splashed in the shallow end as families looked on. Two teenage boys tossed a football. What was mostly a family pool area turned into an adult-only hangout as the sun set.
Fonner Park Thoroughbred Racing
If you visit the resort for the twelve weeks between February and May, you can watch horses race around the Fonner Park dirt track.
Access the racing season calendar and seating charts here.
The Gift Shop
A visit to Grand Island Casino Resort wouldn’t be complete without selecting a travel souvenir at the first-floor The Gift Shop.
I spotted well-known brands like Stanley®, apparel, and sunglasses that would appeal to most adult shoppers. They sell magnets and postcards, too.
BONUS SERVICES: 22 & Vine serves bistro cuisine. A nearby coffee counter serves Starbucks® beverages and grab-and-go food items.
MUST-SEE MAGNIFICENT MUSEUM
Stuhr Museum & Railroad Town
I’ve toured the Stuhr Museum & Railroad Town (3133 W US Hwy 34) not once, but twice over the years because it’s fascinating and I appreciate learning new facts about Nebraska’s history.
The museum sits on an island and is considered the “Gem of the Prairie” between Lincoln and Denver.
The first floor displays renowned artwork, and the second floor contains historic artifacts.
To fully appreciate a town, you have to uncover its history, and the upstairs exhibits dating back to the 1800s highlight the impact of the agriculture and railroad industries on Grand Island.
Before exiting, I never miss a chance to shop at Prairie Treasures Gift Shop for Grand Island souvenirs and Midwest-inspired artwork.
Across the street, the Fonner Rotunda is a must-visit second museum, worth a tour before you take a self-guided walk through Railroad Town.
Often overlooked, it houses some of the most stunning Native American collections and Western cowboy artifacts curated by Nebraskans.
Railroad Town consists of original buildings that show what life was like on the prairie in the late 1800s.
As you enter some of the historic homes, don’t be surprised if you encounter a Railroad Town volunteer dressed in period clothing, busily working on a trade.
The homes’ interiors are fully furnished and include interpretive signage explaining the historical purpose of the items. Framed sepia-colored photographs show the family that once occupied the home.
The grounds include a bank, post office, general store, newspaper office, barn with farm equipment, and more.
There is nothing more satisfying than drinking a cold sarsaparilla at the General Store before heading out to see what the tradespeople are creating at the tin, wood, and blacksmith shops.
One of my favorite moments visiting Stuhr Museum and Railroad Town is appreciating the life-sized bronze sculptures by Nebraskan creators such as Dave Biehl and Benjamin Victor.
Stuhr Museum is open seven days a week, and Railroad Town is staffed daily from May 1st through mid-September each year. Exterior viewing is available year-round.
PRO TIP: Wear comfortable shoes for the self-guided tour of Railroad Town that sits on 40 acres of the greater 206-acre complex.
CAN’T MISS ANNUAL EVENT
Nebraska State Fair
Visiting the Nebraska State Fair is a rite of passage for locals, and it should be at the top of your must-do travel bucket list when visiting Grand Island from late August to early September.
The 11-day fair promises high-energy carnival rides and games, 4-H exhibits, food trucks, rodeo, live music, and plenty of hands-on activities that honor the state’s agricultural industry.
I’ve experienced fairs and festivals, but this one takes it to another level. The smell of roasted Nebraska corn on the cob and funnel cakes filled the air as rollercoaster riders squealed with delight.
The fair, which draws more than 300,000 attendees every year, was bustling, but it never felt too crowded as I navigated the grounds.
If you only have an afternoon to experience the fair, I recommend ordering a tasty, smoked brisket sandwich from Cactus Jacks.
Then, stop at the ice cream treats truck in front of the Raising Nebraska building to order a fair-famous Pineapple Whip dairy-free treat.
Inside the Raising Nebraska building, fairgoers can use interactive exhibits to learn about the state’s production of corn, milk, and meat.
Next door, the 4-H building houses ribbon-winning entries, and it’s home to the UNL Dairy Store. Step up to the counter and order a cup or cone of Nebraska-made ice cream for $6.
Bonus can’t-miss fair activities include Case IH® Combine Rides (they move fast!) and witnessing nature at its best inside the Tractor Supply® Birthing Center (baby animals!).
The end-of-summer fair’s ticket price is a value, considering the festivities include more than 5,000 hours of entertainment. Plan for next year’s Nebraska State Fair here.
PRO TIP: If you’re staying overnight at the Grand Island Casino Resort, you have a panoramic view of the fairgrounds at sunset from the outdoor swimming pool area.
MEMORABLE HISTORIC STOPS
Shady Bend Cafe
When I pulled up to Shady Bend Cafe (3609 Lincoln Hwy), I was met by a full parking lot of cars, and for good reason.
Now a diner serving comfort classics and lunch specials, the historic building, once a motel, is all that remains of Shady Bend Camp.
More than 30 cabins welcomed travelers to stay and view the buffalo herd. Original gas pumps sit in front of the building, and historic photographs hang on its interior walls.
Inside, friendly locals greeted me and quickly told me that guests seat themselves.
I claimed one of the last bar counter seats in the back of the dining room, across from shelves of canned goods. Apparently, I was sitting in a seat marked “Earl,” a relic from an earlier time.
A connoisseur of Reuben sandwiches, I’d give my lunch sandwich top marks, although the crinkle-cut fries were standard.
Most lunch customers visit the salad-and-soup bar.
PRO TIP: Take a gander at the dessert case before you order. Pie is sold by the slice.
Kensinger Service & Supply
Across the highway from the diner is another historic building worth stopping to appreciate, and if you need to fuel up your vehicle, you’re in luck: Kensinger Service & Supply (1810 E. US Highway 30) is open six days a week.
The gas pumps, neon sign, and historic Lincoln Highway concrete marker date the full-service station to its 1936 construction.
Filling station employees are fourth-generation family members who will pump your gas, clean your windshield, and, if you arrive in the morning hours, offer you a free cup of coffee.
The Seedling Mile
Located directly behind Kensinger Service & Supply is The Seedling Mile historical marker, designating a section of Lincoln Highway completed in 1915.
The concrete road was a toll-free, transcontinental highway from New York City to San Francisco. This section is the only remaining one of the concrete Seedling Mile project.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Nebraska’s favorite island is a place to make memories.
I’ll never forget how I felt zipping around in a harvest combine or watching as a crowd gathered around a street performer at the Nebraska State Fair.
Grand Island Casino Resort offered me a relaxing, luxury hotel experience that you don’t find in most Midwest communities.
And as they say, the residents are “Nebraska Nice,” which is probably the best part of visiting Grand Island.
Ready to extend your road trip? Consider driving Southwest on Interstate 30 to Kearney, Nebraska. My guide Things to Do From Downtown Boutiques To Breweries makes the 51-minute trip worth it.
