402 Creamery - Omaha                                                                                        2025

Very quick stop here, unfortunately.  We did go in to sample some treats but my photo didn't turn out.  Sorry about that.  Anyway, easy place to find and plenty of parking.  Two places in one stop, too, with the Open Market around the corner.

Elleinad Books - Lincoln                                                        2025 

Meet Danielle, owner of Elleinad Books.  Clever name for a bookstore.  Putting the two names together here should help you figure out where the store's name came from.  Danielle has such a great personality for the market space she's so passionate about.  Young children for most of the activities with a bit of books of interest from youth to young adult.  In fact, I saw some books I've read recently.

There are games and books for sale and an area you can sit and relax while the children play.  I'm glad she has gotten on the Passport because for the Lincoln families with children, this is a very nice place to have quality time together while showing the kids that books are a valid source of entertainment.

 

Sower Books - Lincoln                                                        2025

A unique business and neighborhood bookstore.  I suspect this store will be here a long time.  The staff is so friendly.  I found out we kind of knew the owner from a bookstore in Seward.  She worked there for a while and I gave her a couple books I finished reading.

There is an unusual variety of things available to see, to do, to read, to eat and to drink.  If you like cats, you can even play with one in their "Cat Cave".  

I went in for a while.  She was very friendly and liked to be petted (unlike our cat, Jack).  If you really take a liking to the cat, you can adopt it.  When we were there, 12 cats have already found new homes.

There's an area for the kids to play while you explore books or grab a beverage.  Or you can sit down and build a jigsaw puzzle to expand your spatial acuity. 

Let them know where you're from with a pin in the map shown here.  Be sure to sign the guest book or sign up for their newsletter!

When you walk in, stop and get your bearings on where to start.  As you can see, there are a lot of different things to engage with.  So, give yourself some time to spend looking around and I'm sure you'll be back, especially if you're a Lancaster county resident.

 

 The Scarlet, Tribute Hotel  Lincoln                                2025

This is a Marriott Bonvoy Hotel.  It's the first time I was ever in a Bonvoy.  Because of the name it just seemed expensive but we found out it is normal.  The Passport book description says all the rooms are unique but we didn't stay here so we didn't see one.  

The lobby was very upscale looking, with lots of Nebraska Husker odds and ends.  There is a restaurant and coffee bar open here and a rooftop gathering place.  The restaurant menu covers breakfast, lunch and dinner.  Prices are a little higher than some but not outrageous.  Very nice place.

 

Great Plains Art Museum - Lincoln 

This museum actually turned out to be a refresher course for us.  Last year we learned a lot about Nebraska's Indian heritage from a Passport stop in Whiteclay, NE at a location called the Whiteclay Makerspace.  Whiteclay is a town on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation which is mostly in South Dakota.

Here at the museum, they just opened a new exhibit in September, featuring various art forms done by Indians from various tribes.  Many of these are typical of modern artistic photographs and painting from native life but some are somewhat unique, at least to me.

One of the new ones for me was called Ledger Art which we saw in Whiteclay last year.  They used actual ledger pages from old county ledger books.  There were several examples here.  The photo below isn't using old ledger paper.  It's using the same kind of background but from various sources.

 Of particular interest to us is a name I didn't expect to see here.  

Fred Hoppe is a very well known bronze sculptor and he has donated a studio here.  Fred used to be from Schuyler and now lives in Columbus.  He has galleries in at least a couple other places around the country that I know of.  Some you may have known his brother Frank.  A famous trap shooter who once broke over 1,000 without a miss!

Sandhills Guest House Motel - Atkinson 

This looks like a really inviting place.  Great appeal from the road.  We found ourselves here late in the afternoon.  We had a ways to go and after we left I almost turned around but ended up driving a while after dark to save some time off the next day.  I had to be home for a meeting at church the next evening.  Unfortunately, we had to fit in the last few stops on the Passport in the last week, to get them all done.  Next year, I hope, we can have more time to be more timely in our travels.

We had a very nice conversation with the manager.  She told us that they decided to offer 10% off for  Passport people who stay with them until the end of 2024.  So if you find yourself in the area, stop in.  There is also a good restaurant in town, just ask about it.

I was told by someone we met from Atkinson, who was traveling for the Passport, that this motel has very nice rooms, clean and well furnished.  I should have asked if I could have taken a photo in a room but didn't think of it.

The Simple Company & Floral Shop - Bridgeport 

Very nicely remodeled store front which adds to curb appeal.  I was very impressed with the customer count here.  

There were always people in the store and a line of cars at the drive-up window.  I chatted with the owner for a couple minutes to find out their business has been doing really well.  The location is great and it's very easy to get to.  There are several tables inside.  It was a few minutes before we could even get our passport books stamped because they were so busy.  

They have a bit of room yet, inside, to add even more merchandise, if desired.  However, with the business they are currently experiencing, they would have to add another worker.  But that can be a good thing.  Keep in mind their floral business.  I didn't ask but I bet they can create a display for any occasion.