In Garden County’s Lewellen, the most likely place to catch your eye first is The Most Unlikely Place. This art gallery and cafe with a funny name is a seriously cool place to visit and eat breakfast and lunch Wednesday through Saturday. 205 Main St. (308) 778-9557.
Ash Hollow State Historical Park preserves pioneer history three miles southeast on Highway 26. A natural spring made this an oasis along the Oregon and California trails. Thousands of pioneer wagons left ruts still visible on Windlass Hill. The visitor center has historical displays and rhinoceros and mammoth fossils. (308) 778-5651.
Nearly 46,000 acres of sand hills prairie is protected at the Crescent Lake National Wildlife Refuge 28 miles north of Oshkosh. Hunting and fishing opportunities are available, and the refuge is popular for birdwatchers and photographers looking to be immersed in waving prairie grasses, marshes and untouched beauty. (308) 762-4893.
Learn more at visitgardencounty.com or (308) 778-6767.