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Breakfast Inspiration – Good Evans

Breakfast Inspiration – Good Evans

By Our Changing Lives

It has often been said that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. We know this to be true, as it is fuel for a successful day of exploring. Those quiet moments spent planning our upcoming adventures are some of our favorites. Besides, having the opportunity to sample a variety of restaurants gives us breakfast inspiration that we can translate to our table at home. After all, isn’t that one of the best take-aways from dining out? In Kearney, Nebraska we stopped at Good Evans for some go-go juice and morning sustenance.

The decora t Good Evans is filled with positive messages that help make the morning bright.

Breakfast Inspiration

What started as a 2019 concept in Lincoln, blossomed into a second location here in Sandhill Crane Country. When I was researching dining options, this one stood out from the crowd as a go-to place to sample. The combination of positivity and Instagram-worthy plates certainly helped push it to the top. There are a few other things that separate Good Evans from the pack. First, they roast their own coffee beans. This may not sound like a big deal, but to people who thrive off of their daily ration, it is HUGE. Second, the menu is designed by the husband and wife team, Travis and Sara Evans, who have a knack for bringing breakfast inspiration to the table. These two have successfully launched other local restaurants.

The Sweet Potato Pancakes offer breakfast inspiration for creating new dishes at home.

Choosing Something Sweet

Our visit fell on the morning of Labor Day, so we were happy to find Good Evans open. Since we arrived near opening time, the crowd was still pretty thin. Those that were in attendance were clearly locals, who perked their eyes up at a person with a camera. Oh well, nothing I’m not used to these days. As I captured images, Crystal perused the menu and sipped her coffee. By the time I returned, she had already made her decision, which was the Sweet Potato Pancakes. This is a dish that she first sampled at a local Kansas City restaurant, and now she is hooked on it. The Good Evans version is topped with whipped butter, candied pecans, and drizzled with caramel sauce. What a pretty plate.

The Nebraska Bene is a flavor packed meal that provides plenty of protein for a day of exploring.

…Or Savory

I was looking for something a little more hearty to help carry us through our morning visit to The Archway Museum. It didn’t take but a moment for me to spot the benedicts section of the menu. When I spotted one named Nebraska Bene, it captured my attention. The standard beginnings of an English Muffin base get some interesting additions. They pile on the braised short rib, poached eggs, roasted tomato, wilted spinach, and a zesty herb cheese spread. Coat all of this goodness with house-crafted Hollandaise sauce and drizzle it with a balsamic glaze. It was a flavor explosion in my mouth. To make it even better, this dish comes with some of the crispest hash browns we have found. I was really feeling breakfast inspiration.

Good Evans provided the authors with plenty of breakfast inspiration.

Breakfast Inspiration on the Road

While the food certainly took the spotlight, we also have to give kudos for the wonderful décor at Good Evans. Throughout the space, it has an upbeat theme and a bright feel. The restaurant staff was extremely welcoming and we even had an opportunity to meet the manager, Doc Ali. As has happened on many occasions, we found some commonality. Until recently, he had been living in our hometown of Kansas City, so we were able to relate to many of the same haunts. It seems like wherever we roam, we find that people are the best reason for visiting new destinations. How many of you have had the same discovery?

the authors signatures.

Westward Bound – The Archway

Westward Bound with Jeff & Crystal of Our Changing Lives

“Go West, young man, go west.” was a cry to push America’s westward expansion. When Horace Greeley first said these words, in 1865, he saw the potential of the fertile lands beyond the Mississippi River. As emigrants began their westward bound travels, new “roads” would spring up that led toward the setting sun. We love learning about the modes of transportation that pioneers and settlers used to traverse the continent. A visit to the Great Platte River Road Archway Monument provided some keen insight into one of the most popular routes.

We want to thank The Archway for hosting our visit. Rest assured all opinions are our own.

Entering The Archway leads visitors to a road of discovery high above the interstate below.

Head West

The Archway is a modern museum dedicated to telling the story of the Platte River’s path through Nebraska. While the portion they show begins with westward bound settlers, this route has much more history. For thousands of years, a variety of indigenous people have lived or traveled along the Platte River. As the buffalo migrated along the river, so did the Native Indian tribes who hunted them. While the Platte River is a temporary home for migrating species, it does not have an abundance of fur-bearing animals. This meant that fur trappers left it unspoiled and undeveloped. 

Fort Kearney was a way point along the westward bound trails that carried emigrants to the promised land of the west coast.

Fort Kearney

By the mid-1800s traffic along the Platte River had increased significantly. Along this path the Oregon, California, and Mormon trails converged. Being about 1/6th of the way to their destination, this site seemed ripe for a restocking point. The original settlement, called Dobytown, would relocate closer to the fort and adopt it’s name. Westward bound travelers could restock supplies, trade livestock, and send letters back east to family and friends. It would be one of their last ties to civilization until they reached their destinations.

Early pioneers were determined to stake out a new life on the west coast.

Westward Bound or Bust

One of the most famous routes was the Oregon Trail. Spanning more than 2,000 miles, this westward bound route ran from Independence, Missouri, and Omaha, Nebraska to the western seaboard. It is estimated that somewhere around 400,000 travelers passed along a portion of this pathway. We have had the opportunity to visit other museums that share the stories of these early pioneers. One of the earliest notable parties along the Oregon Trail was “The Great Migration of 1843”. Somewhere between 700 to 1000 emigrants ended up creating the route that would be used by others.

The audi-visual tools, at The Archway, allow guests to get additional information on the displays.

Education Made Easy

The Archway is certainly one of the most unique museums that we have visited. Constructed as a bridge over Interstate 80, this 1500 ton structure suspends visitors above the flowing traffic below. Visitors to The Archway will find an audio-visual experience that immerses them into the story of Westward Expansion. Handheld devices allow guests to hear details about events and circumstances that affected the growing nation. Placards placed around the museum trigger each interesting tidbit that flows together to tell the complete story.

The westward bound trails were used by people looking for riches, as well as those escaping persecution.

Trails West

As we had discovered, the Platte River Trail would eventually split into three significant paths. The Archway does a great job of detailing the various destinations that each group of adventurers were seeking. The California Gold Rush created a need for a quick route to the mining fields. Crossing the wide and shallow Platte River was less dangerous than some of the other potential routes. While the silty water was not preferred for drinking, it could pass if needed and by allowing the silt to settle. Mormons looking to escape persecution would follow a similar path on their journey to Utah.

Heartache and disaster was commonplace along the westward bound trails.

The Harsh Realities

Travel along the trails was fraught with peril and death became an ever-present companion. With so many camping in the same spots along the trails, infestations of cholera became commonplace. Since this disease is so easy to infect and spread, it soon passed farther down the trail. The death rate for those contracting the disease would often run between 60 and 90 percent. Soon, the trail would be dotted with markers of those lost along the way. In later years, new emigrants would find a continuous line of litter along the trails. Keepsakes and unnecessary items became burdens during the westward bound journey, and would soon be left to decay in the scorching sun.

Getting the mail to residents across the continent became a struggle that required unique solutions.

Mass Migrations

After a few years, the citizens along the coast had grown to sizeable numbers. The long process of getting mail to the west coast called for a solution. This problem was addressed with the creation of the Pony Express. The goal was to cover the 1800 miles, from St. Joseph, Missouri to Sacramento, California, in only ten days. While the operation would be a success, the company would not be awarded the government contract. Eventually, the telegraph lines would be strung across the continent and remove the need for fast mail service. By the 1860s, the first transcontinental railroad would provide a new way for emigrants to complete their westward bound trips.

The Lincoln Highway was one of the first transcontinental paths designed for automobiles.

Automobiles Take the Lead

Our trip through The Archway led us upstairs to the 1900s. The invention of the automobile had revolutionized travel. People were no longer required to plan their trips by where the railroads ventured. The freedom of the open roads would push the nation to open up the lands that had been difficult to reach in the past. One of the earliest highways, to cross the continent, was the Lincoln Highway. Covering nearly 3400 miles, it connected New York City with San Francisco. The nation was once again on the move.

Early automobile travel had plenty of inconveniences to be handled.

Early Hazards

Westward bound travelers wouldn’t find beautifully paved roads in the early days. Many trips might involve mud-filled paths in Iowa or flooded roads throughout the Midwest. Traversing the drifting sands in Utah would cause many radiators to overheat. These early explorers would be required to set out with plenty of supplies and spare parts, if they wanted to make a successful journey.

Savvy businesspeople saw the opportunity to serve the growing number of travelers who were westward bound in search of adventure.

Roadside Stops

As we explored the exhibits, it made us think about auto travel in those early days. The press had suggested that it would take 20 to 30 days to complete a cross-country excursion. Gas stations would have been less commonplace, so it was advisable to fill up at every opportunity. The advancements being made during this period opened up exploring for more Americans. While many people in the 1800s had rarely traveled far from home, the automobile gave new-found freedom to wander and roam. It wouldn’t take long for savvy entrepreneurs to seize on the opportunity to  create businesses geared toward travelers.

The open roads beckoned travelers to explore the nation.

America’s Interstates

As road improvements continued, it paved the way for a new style of family vacations. Hitting the open road became the new adventure. Fantastic destinations, that had previously only been dreamed of, were now easily within reach. By the end of the World War II, automobile culture had permeated the entire fabric of American life. In the 1950s, the number of registered cars would more than double. The introduction of the interstate system allowed travel that was uninterrupted by stoplights. America was on the move and I-80 was one of the major arteries of this new system.

The authors pause from their westward bound travels to take in the sights at The Archway.

Taking a Break From the Road

The Archway had definitely surpassed our imagination. Seeing this structure, as you approach along the interstate, it is hard to imagine the amount of displays they have stuffed inside. Now that we had seen it firsthand, it was a story we just had to tell. After thanking the staff for their hospitality, we headed outside to check out the rest of the campus. Walking and biking trails follow the bends of the Platte River, which runs next to the museum. We strolled along the path to check out the sculptures that have been assembled. There is also a sod house that visitors can check out. This ended up being a fantastic break from the road.

Inside the Tourism Industry – Pt 1

Located in the heart of Nebraska, Kearney’s central location and proximity to I-80 has made it a destination for travelers, family reunions and many events and conventions. Kearney is a great place full of attractions and history, but one of the best features is the people!

Tourism in Buffalo County helps our community in many ways, bringing people into our attractions and businesses as well as providing approximately 1,600 jobs in Buffalo County. Take a look inside the tourism industry as we introduce you to some of the people that are helping make tourism thrive in our community.

First up is Mark Foradori, the Marketing Coordinator at Kearney’s most visited attraction, the Archway. Let’s learn a little more about Mark and how tourism affects his work.

How many years have you been working in the tourism industry?
I have volunteered and been employed by non-profit organizations that help attract tourism to Kearney for about 20 years.

What role does tourism play in your job?
Tourism is absolutely vital to my current job as Marketing Coordinator at the Archway.  Between 50,000 and 60,000 people stop at the Archway every year and we welcome visitors from all over the world.  About 70% of the people who visit the Archway come from out of town and stop at the Archway to learn about our local history.  While they are here, we talk with them to find out where they are from, help them with their travel plans, and tell them about dining options, cultural events, and activities they might like in the Kearney area.

What makes Kearney such a great destination to visit?
Kearney is truly rich in history, culture, and creative activities for visitors of all ages.  From the Archway, to MONA, to the Classic Car Collection to the Trails and Rails Museum, and the Kearney Area Children’s Museum, to name only a few, Kearney has a tremendous range of activities to choose from.  Kearney residents generously support all these organizations and they attract visitors from all over the state and the country.  These organizations make Kearney a culturally vibrant community and, as an industry, make a significant contribution to our local economy.

Beyond the cultural organizations, Kearney has a wealth of great dining and nightlife opportunities.  We have smart coffee shops like Kitt’s and Barista’s; unique, locally owned lunch stops like Tru Café and the Food Truck Café, and a variety of dining options, from Thai cuisine at Suwanee, to the traditional Midwest menu at Alley Rose and the locally sourced, innovative selections at Sozo’s.  Visitors can enjoy live entertainment at Cunningham’s or Platte Valley Brewery.  See the films that the rest of the country is talking about at the World Theater or catch nationally renowned musical performers with the Kearney Concert Association at the Merryman Center.

Of course, Kearney’s hospitality community is second to none.  We have so many choices for hotel and motel accommodations.  The conference and convention accommodations are excellent.  The standards for customer service are exceptional.  And, Kearney’s location in the center of the state makes it the ideal meeting place for conferences and conventions from all over Nebraska.

Kearney already attracts a wide variety of sporting events. With the addition of Patriot Park, Kearney is poised to expand its role in playing host to these kinds of activities.

What do you like to do in Kearney when you aren’t working?
I enjoy being a “tourist” in our community.  My family likes to sample the newest brews at Thunderhead and McCue’s, catch the great local musicians at Cunninghams, see movies at The World, and enjoy a variety of restaurants.  We like to catch the performances at Crane River Theater and Kearney Community Theater.  For a city our size, Kearney sometimes has too many things to do.  It makes it difficult to choose.

What is your favorite summer activity?
I enjoy Kearney’s parks during the summer.  I like flying kites with my son at Yanney Park and, of course, everybody loves the Kearney Area Arts Council’s free summer concerts in Harmon Park.  The bike trails are pretty fabulous and my electric powered bike helps with the hilly sections.

Where is your favorite place to eat/drink in town?
That’s like naming a favorite child.  We always think we eat out more often than we should, but the variety of great places is too tempting to pass up.  We like some for the atmosphere, some for the food, sometimes we want something simple and quick and at other times we want to make dinner a special occasion.  The cool thing about Kearney is that we have so much variety and you can find exactly the right place for the type of meal you’re craving.

What is one thing you have to pack when you go on vacation?
My wife and I have a whole list of things I have to pack including my keys and some money.  They are kind of long stories, but I have set off on major vacations and forgotten each of those things at one time or another.  Somehow, we muddled through and still managed to have a great time.

Travel bloggers Steve and Ann Teget of PostcardJar.com show you 20 things to do in Kearney while you’re waiting on the cranes

By Steve Teget

Sitting in the blind you’re amazed at the noise coming from the river. The cranes get louder and more frenzied, reaching a crescendo you simply weren’t expecting. Suddenly, tens of thousands of huge birds take to the air, wings flapping, the squeaking even louder now. You watch as the flocks head off toward the fields nearby for a full day of feeding. Your heart pounding in your chest, you slowly realize that you’ve just witnessed one of the most amazing spectacles in all of nature.

sandhill cranes

And then, you start to wonder what you’re going to do for the next twelve hours until the cranes return to the river. Well, not to worry, there are plenty of things to do in Kearney, Nebraska, while you wait for the cranes. In fact, we put together a list of 20 fun things to do while you’re there. We’d like to thank the Kearney Visitors Bureau for hosting us and sponsoring this post.

Read more…

Exploring the Oregon Trail in Nebraska


By Erin Fairchild, herheartlandsoul.com

Located just two and a half hours from Omaha, Kearney has a population of 33,520 people. We loved the atmosphere there and how it was a blend of small town meets small city. There was fun stuff to do but also lots of wide open spaces. There’s also some ridiculously good food. We already want to go back!

For more on Erin’s Kearney adventure, click here.

The Museum Above the Interstate

By Nan Miller, nanmillertimes.com

Join Nan Miller as she takes you through the Kearney Archway on one of her many stops in Nebraska.

Once you enter the museum, you’ll be transported back in time to the building of the transcontinental railroad, you’ll take a walk with the pioneers over the Oregon Trail, hear Mark Twain’s account of a cross-country stagecoach trip and visit a traveler’s campground to hear stories of life on “America’s Main Street” the Lincoln Highway.

Click here to read Nan’s full post.

A Traveler’s Guide of the Sandhill Crane Migration

By LeAnna Brown
WellTraveledNebraskan.com

Most people, especially travelers, have bucket lists of things they want to do and explore.  Some are big items, some are small, but none the less, they are usually something that they know will leave a lasting impression and memory in their minds for years and years to follow. If you live in Nebraska (shoot, even if you don’t!), if you don’t have “See the Sandhill Crane Migration” on your bucket list, you are doing yourself a disservice!

This often overlooked and underrated annual event is majestic, beautiful, inspiring and everything you need to look at Nebraska travel in a whole new light.

Find out why you need to go this year, where to stay, when to go and more at this “A Traveler’s Complete Guide to the Sandhill Crane Migration in Kearney, Nebraska” article!

Classic Cars Galore – The Walking Tourists

By Tim Trudell, The Walking Tourists

More than 200 classic cars await to be discovered at the Kearney Classic Car Collection. Featuring vehicles from the early to mid-1900s, from Model T Fords to convertibles, the museum on Highway 30 – aka the Lincoln Highway – needs to be on your travel bucket list. The collection, donated by a Nebraskan who sought to keep his cars together to be shared with the public, provides a unique look into a piece of Americana.

Travel bloggers The Walking Tourists share their visit to the beautiful museum. Here’s more.

The Incredible Sandhill Crane Migration

By Mark Gordon, mgordoncommunications.com

In early March we drove to Nebraska, picked up my sister in Lincoln, and then went on to Kearney to see the great Sandhill Crane migration.

If you’ve never heard of the migration don’t feel bad. I grew up in Nebraska and until last year, I was completely unaware of it.

The amazing thing is, it’s one of the greatest animal migrations on earth. Thousands of Sandhill Cranes begin arriving along the Platte River in late February and stay through March. At night they sleep in the River because it offers protection from predators (The Platte, as the pioneers said, is a “mile wide and an inch deep”).  The sound of an animal approaching through the water is a giveaway and the birds can quickly take flight.

We made arrangements to visit a blind along the river in the early morning (think getting up at 5 a.m.). It was a foggy, moonless morning and going out to the blind was something of a test of our dedication. The pathway is unlit (the better not to disturb the cranes) and even the guides admitted it was the blackest night/morning they could recall.

How dark?

Dark enough that had a woman standing in front of me not been wearing a light-colored jacket I would have been hopelessly lost. Dark enough that if I held my hands up in front of my eyes I still couldn’t see them.

As it was, I couldn’t shake the image of one person at the front of the line veering off into the river and all of us following to form a massive pileup in the Platte. The headline would read: 15 bird watchers drown in freak accident after getting lost on path.

We shuffled into the blind feeling our way along the wall. They told us there were benches on one side and windows on the other. We touched our way to the benches and then waited for the dim light to show us more than the outlines of the windows. It was a long wait.

Finally, in the dim light I spotted something on the river. Too dark to be sure with my own eyes, I set the camera for a long exposure and took a shot. I knew it would be blurry and unusable, but perhaps I could at least verify the bird sitting in the river.

It worked. And, as I looked at the image on the back of the camera I spotted the familiar white and black neck and head of…you guessed it…a Canada Goose.

In fact, by the time the sun came through the clouds, the cranes had already left the river for the surrounding cornfields. No worry though – there were plenty of cranes to see during the day.

How many are there? At the peak, we’re talking several hundred thousand birds – all congregating in a 75-mile stretch of the Platte River valley. They sleep in the river and then at sunrise or just before  the sun comes up, they fan out to the surrounding countryside, where they feed. The harvested cornfields along the river provide perfect feeding grounds for the cranes, which forage for grain left in the fields and anything else they can eat.

The birds repeat the routine for a month or so, fattening up for their flight north to their breeding grounds, which can range from Minnesota to Alaska, Canada and even Siberia.  Like Hawks, Eagles and Vultures they soar on thermals, which conserves energy.

I’ve read that under the right conditions, the thick flocks of cranes can make the normally invisible patterns of the thermals visible as they ride the wind.

The birds do perform an interesting dance, leaping and throwing corn stalks, grass or other debris in the air. Although it’s referred to as a mating dance and that, apparently is its primary purpose, I’ve read the Cranes often dance even when they are not trying to attract a mate.

The migration has been taking place for millions of years. Yes, that’s right – millions of years. A fossil found in the Platte dates back some 10 million years ago. Although if you want to be a stickler for accuracy, it was probably an ancestor of today’s genus and not identical to the species we see today. On the other hand though, the oldest fossil of what is clearly a Sandhill Crane is still 2.5 million years old.

That’s a little hard for me to grasp. The dawn of modern man is placed between 60,000 and 80,000 years ago in Africa. Some researchers believe man may have arrived in the Americas as early as 50,000 years ago. Others put it much later

That still leaves the cranes here for 2,450,000 years before man set foot on the continent; and if you include the earlier fossil species, we’re talking about 9.95 million years before man arrived in the Americas.

Times like that are almost impossible for me to fathom. The contrast is remarkable. The earliest archeological records date the first semi-permanent residents of the Platte to about 1,000 years ago.

A blink of the eye to the Cranes.