Nebraska Passport

Nebraska Passport

Shirley Wichman told us about how you can find some hidden gems in the State of Nebraska -- get a Nebraska Passport and explore the state.

The History of the Nebraska Passport is in its 12th year.  The Passport is different every year.  All stops are picked through an application process.  There is a variety of destinations and the stops are geographical diverse. With the diversity of the stops and variety this gives the visitor a great experience and they learn about customer service through each stop.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The Nebraska Passport is a part of the Nebraska Tourism Commission.  It has 11 commissioners in districts around the state, and 11 staff members in the department.  It's annual budget is $7.2 million, with all cash funds from the State Lodging Tax.  With the COVID-19 impacting tourism in Nebraska, the actual budget was closer to $5.3 million.  Social Media is up 20% from the previous year, and they printed 200,000 travel guides for 2021.  In May, they started to do TV advertising and guide insertions.  
 
What is the purpose of the Nebraska Passport?
The purpose of the Nebraska Passport is to help travelers discover Nebraska’s hidden gems. The Nebraska Passport is special because it offers a wide variety of travel adventures, including museums, parks, restaurants, wineries, retail stores and more. The 2021 Nebraska Passport program will run from May 1 to September 30, 2021.
 
How does the Passport work?
  • At each Passport stop, participants visit they receive a stamp, either in a Nebraska Passport booklet or a digital stamp on the Nebraska Passport app. It is acceptable for an individual to collect stamps in both the booklet and the app and submit all their stamps for prizes.
  • Stamps can be collected from May 1 to September 30.
  • Participants then turn in their stamps and receive prizes.
  • There is no fee to participate in the Nebraska Passport program. There is no purchase necessary to receive Passport stamps at the Passport stops.
What are the 2021 Passport Stops?
These stops are listed by categories.
Grub & Cuisine - Glur's Tavern, Columbus; O's Diary Sweet , Crawford; Tommy Gunz Bistro, Grand Island; Hyannis Hotel, Inc., Hyannis; District Table & Tap, Norfolk; and Fork and Hammer, Plattsmouth.Now Hear This - Buffalo Records, Kearney; Screamers Family Restaurant, Lincoln; P-Town's Daily Grind Boutique & Coffee, Plymouth; Bottle Rocket Brewing, Seward; Montz Motorcycle Museum, Tecumseh; Smith Falls State
Parking Spots - Victoria Springs State Recreation Area, Anselmo; Chardon State Park, Chadron; Enders State Recreation Area, Enders; Rock Creek Station State Historical Park, Fairbury; Wildcat Hills State Recreation Area & Nature Center, Gering; Platte River State Park, Louisville; and Buffalo Bill Ranch State Historical Park, North Platte.
Branching Out - Cottonwood Gallery & Arts, Aurora; TreeRush Adventures at Fontenelle Forest, Bellevue; Nebraska National Forest, Bessey RD, Halsey; Arbor Lodge State Historical Park, Nebraska City; Whispering Pines Bed & Breakfast, Nebraska City; The Cedar Room, North Platte; and The Koffie Knechtion, South Sioux City.
Childish Things - Lee G. Simmons Wildlife Safari Park, Ashland; Washington County Museum, Fort Calhoun; Kearney Area Children's Museum, Kearney; Lincoln Children's Museum, Lincoln; Keller Pharmacy, Ponca; Fat Brian Toys, Omaha; and Hollywood Candy, Omaha.
Visual Treats - Chadron Art Alley at Bean Broker Coffee House & Pub - Chadron; The Burkholder Project, Lincoln; Nebraska City Historical Murals at First Class Flowers, Nebraska City; Blackbird Hill Studio, Macy; Norfolk Arts Center, Norfolk; Chatterbox Brews, Tekameh; and Blue Cat Gallery & Studio, Wayne.
Growth Opportunities - Pekarek's Produce, Dwight; Saro Cider, Lincoln; Bowring Ranch State Historical Park, Merriman; Feather River Vineyard & Winery, North Platte; Wenninghoff Farm Market, Omaha; Miletta Vista Winery, St. Paul; and Laughing Lamb Fibers, Sidney.
 
As you can see there are a lot places in the State of Nebraska that hold some hidden gems for each and everyone. 
 
                                              
 
                                                 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
 
 
How to Participate
  • The purpose of the Nebraska Passport is to help travelers discover Nebraska’s hidden gems. The Nebraska Passport is special because it offers a wide variety of travel adventures, including museums, parks, restaurants, wineries, retail stores, and more.
  • At each Passport stop, participants visit they receive a stamp, either in a Nebraska Passport booklet or a digital stamp on the Nebraska Passport app. It is acceptable for an individual to collect stamps in both the booklet and the app and submit all their stamps for prizes.
  • Stamps can be collected from May 1 through September 30.
  • Participants then turn in their stamps and receive prizes.
  • There is no fee to participate in the Nebraska Passport program. There is no purchase necessary to receive Passport stamps at the Passport stops.
The statistics in 2019 tells us that 43,680 booklets have been requested, with 1,185 participants who have visited all stops.  These participants represent 40 states, with 460 communities in Nebraska represented.  They have had as many as 10,767 prize entries.  In 2019 $23.7 million was spent by travelers which says $1.9 million was in state and local tax revenue.
 

Are you ready have some fun and seek your adventure?  Lots of places to go.  Lots of neat gems to look for in Nebraska.  What are waiting for?  Go and Enjoy Nebraska!