Enjoy what the Sandhills have to offer!

The countdown is on for Labor Day weekend!!! Pack up the family - including your furry family  - and head for the hills!!! The Sandhills that is!!!

There's plenty of fabulous food to eat out here!  Burgers, steak, and for this monarch, the wonderful goldenrod - Nebraska's state flower. There's fuel in them hills...which is something the monarch, as a whole, is in need of. Their numbers are dwindling and they need nutrition along their route - which was explained by the new manager at the Valentine National Wildlife Refuge. Make sure you stop out there for some pristine wide open spaces, or to fish.
New docks and there are some lake renovations underway - but there's plenty of other refuge lakes to find your fish!

The Sandhills are your four season, family fun, vacation destination - deerie!

Play...dance...enjoy!!! Be weird, be random...you never know who you'll meet up with and the new friends you'll eventually call "family."

Odd....but true! Family isn't always a birthright...sometimes it's the deer friends you hang out with, or the turkeys you love so much you call family!

The sunflowers are in bloom ... alive with buzzing activity.

And it won't be long before the birds begin their migratory patterns - which is enjoyable even if you're not a bird fancier! So take flight....get ready....and land in the Sandhills for Labor Day!

You'll be offered the best vistas, and the most comfortable perch to watch as the season slowly changes colors to vivid gold and bright yellows!

As the seasons begin their change...so too do the skies. While this giant field looks full of fluffy cotton candy or crunch popcorn, it's actually the remains of a storm that took place far, far, away...and we were left with this beauty!

Sometimes, there's a bit more drama - which is stunning to look at. Again, 15 drops of rain fell, but left behind a small rainbow tucked into the clouds. You can almost smell the rain and feel the wind tugging at your hair.

An unusual rain cloud....dropping some moisture right between the power poles. Magnificent way to end the day?!

You're invited to enjoy all that the Sandhills has to offer. Check out the different activities on  SandhillsWesternVacations.com and make a discovery of your own this Labor Day weekend.
Clearly, there's plenty to do...or not. Watching the sun set is a fine art...but does take practice.
You've been challenged!!! Sit back....relax...enjoy....

And let our sponsors help you with your four season, family fun, vacation plans!!! Trade Winds Lodge, can help you with accommodations, and you can get excellent food to go at Henderson's IGA. 

Why not plan a leisurly  trip down Niobrara National Scenic River with  Brewers Canoers and Tubers to complete your summer?

Nim-Rods Bait Store has all you could ever need or want for your fishing excursion - poles, live bait, bobbers, jigs, hooks, and plenty of refreshments! Berry Creek Gun and Pawn Shop, has everything you could ever want in the way of firearms, ammo, and reloading supplies - conveniently located right down the street from The Quilting Cupboard, which has western prints, wool, cotton and batik fabric, along with patterns from Fear Not Pattern Co. 

For a one of a kind gift that is uniquely yours, head over to Outback Screenprinting and Embroidery new location!!!. 

The Valentine Chamber of Commerce has a plethora of brochures that will have you coming back this fall... make sure you stop by and pick some up today!

Remember...the Sandhills are your four season, family fun, ticket 4 Adventure....come find out why at SandhillsWesternVacations.com!!! And while you're here for Labor Day...begin planning your fall adventure! We welcome you and your family!!!

Happy Labor Day!!

For those of you who couldn't make it to the Sandhills for Labor Day Weekend...here's a little bit of the Sandhills brought to you!

It's not terribly hot at the moment, and the cicadas are droning on and on and on...signaling that there isn't much left of summer.


Using the power of your imagination, this could be you enjoying the splendor of Smith Falls!

 The giant rock at the middle right, fell from the falls in 2009, due to the heat, cold, and ice; changing its face forever.

After the water flows over the falls it continues down a small stream, over the small, cascading falls and out to the Niobrara River.

 

 

Again, using the power of your imagination...pretend you're here.

With your family.....friends....extended family...school buddies. Whatever. The tents are up, smoke from grill fills the skies, and you know it's Labor Day Weekend. Can you smell the hamburgers? Steak? Maybe it's s'mores? All of which can be found at our local Hendersons IGA.

Some mammatus clouds fill the sky as evening descends. The backside of the hail storm Hay Springs got?

Here's a Labor Day worthy sunset - no matter what type of weather you're experiencing. Cool winds, not too much humidity, and a crispness that indicates fall is around the corner and the end of the droning of these cicadas.

Really, The Sandhills are beautiful regardless of the weather! Actually, it's their moodiness that make them such a fantastic place to visit...Happy Labor Day, even if you're on work break checking this out on your phone, tablet or desktop. We're always open for adventure and you're always welcome!
Check out the sponsors of SandhillsWesternVacations.com and make your reservations for next week, or next year. Stay at Trade Winds Lodge or Valentines Niobrara Lodge. You may want to make reservations now for the annual Old West Days and Nebraska Cowboy Poetry Gathering.

It's not too late to enjoy the fall colors on a trip down the Niobrara with Brewers Canoers. The scenic Niobrara River is a little quieter this time of year.

May you enjoy your pretend visit to the Sandhills of Nebraska!

Labor Day decisions?!

Imagine the decisions that need to be made this year for Labor Day...It's not like it's going to rain on you - right? The biggest decision might be if it's too hot! But the weather already shows that it will be in the low 90s during the day and mid 60s at night
So get yourself packed up and headed over to Valentine, Nebraska, where the beaches are pristine, white, sugar sand at Merritt Reservoir.

 While the water itself is low, you can still put a boat in at Cedar Bay, which has fabulous campsites nestled among the pines.

 What's missing in this picture? YOU!!!!

There are campsites and restrooms that are handicap accessible as well! Bring the entire family.

And because the water level is lower, there's a lot to love on the pristine, sandy beaches!

 How about that jewel of golden color from the Cottonwoods? Really, with this record breaking heat, it sure is nice to see the hints of color indicating that fall isn't too far away!

 Of course, the fish are biting, which is important.

Make some plans to get to Valentine this Labor Day weekend to enjoy the Sandhills and leave some footprints in the sand!

 

There's so many nooks and crannies that need to be explored! 

 Isn't this absolutely fabulous? Doesn't it make you want to get out and see what else is around Merritt Reservior?

 Here, you see a couple rings in the water...what is that? It's called rain drops. But it was so short lived....and who knows...maybe if Merritt Reservoir was completely packed with campers, boaters and folks fishing, it might help break the dry spell.

There's always something to look forward to out here...and as the summer comes to an unofficial close, don't let the sunset without you. Remember, only you can make memories special...why not make them at Merritt Reservoir with a bunch of sand, sun, and water this Labor Day?