Nebraska

Omaha's Old Market district puts you right in the action. Cobblestone streets, converted warehouses, and you can walk to Orpheum Theater for shows. The Hotel Deco downtown runs about $120 a night and has that art deco charm. But if you want something unique, try the Lied Lodge in Nebraska City - it's built into a hillside and overlooks the Missouri River. Lincoln works if you're doing the university thing or want to be central for day trips. The Graduate Lincoln captures that college town energy perfectly. Out in the Sandhills, Valentine makes a good base for canoeing the Niobrara River. The Trade Winds Lodge there is nothing fancy, but it's clean and the staff knows every fishing spot within 50 miles. For something completely different, Ogallala on Lake McConaughy gives you beach vibes in the middle of the plains. Yeah, Nebraska has beaches. The lake's 22 miles long and the sand is real.