Located on the eastern side of Nebraska near Iowa, Ashland is a small town of character and charm. Upon arrival, I would describe it as a town of Joanna Gaines-Esque style proportions. Cheerful, beautifully decorated, and a place that emulates friendliness. Only 30-minutes southwest of Omaha; Ashland, Nebraska is an ideal day trip to get out of the city and explore something new.
Spending the Day in Ashland, Nebraska – A Day Trip from Omaha
Established in 1870, Ashland is small, with only approx 2,500 people living in town. It’s located halfway between Omaha and Lincoln making it a booming destination for those who want to live out of the city but still have two city hubs nearby. The main street in town, Silver Street, is where you’ll find unique boutique shops, a dive restaurant, a wine and cider tasting room, and other knick-knacks such as an old-fashioned ice cream shop.
Start your day in downtown Ashland on Silver Street at the store Salt Creek Mercantile. As someone who moves around quite often and considers herself to be an avid gypsy soul, Salt Creek about had me ready to buy a home. With incredible home decor, cooking knick-knacks, and more it has all of the makings of a place where you just simply can’t turn away. After stepping into the store I decided that wherever in the world I settle down, Salt Creek is where how I will furnish my home.
After getting inspired at Salt Creek, head further down Silver Stree to Postscript. Postscript is your go-to place for letters, postcards, writing utensils, books, and more. It is quite literally a place where you find all of the things that you never knew you needed! Even if you aren’t looking to buy you can instead sign up to receive monthly mail of curated poetry.
Where to Eat in Ashland, Nebraska
If you’re visiting Ashland for the afternoon and are looking for a sweet afternoon treat, pop into Cheri O’s, a coffee shop and ice cream parlor. With an old-fashioned vibe and seating area, aside from brownie sundaes, malts, and homemade pies, Cheri O’s also has freshly baked breakfast and lunch items.
If you’re looking for a little bit of a heartier meal of charcuterie, salads, meatballs, or if you want a glass of wine, head to Glacial Till Cider House & Tasting Room. Glacial Till is a vineyard in Lincoln, but they have a tasting room in Ashland. You can do wine or cider by the glass, bottle, or flight. Aside from dining inside, there is a huge outdoor, rooftop patio. On weekends live music is sometimes offered and Glacial Till also hosts fun events like “make your own charcuterie board” night.
Wine Tasting At a Vineyard in Ashland
Before heading out to the day, make a stop at Cellar 426. I’ll be the first to admit that the wine at Cellar 426 isn’t the best. But with that being said, visiting a vineyard in Nebraska is a unique experience. With not many vineyards located around the state, it’s definitely a fun activity if you want to try something new and different. On Saturdays, Cellar 426 has live music.
A day trip from Omaha to Ashland is easy, cheap, and quick. Only a half an hour drive from the city it’s the perfect way to slow down, relax, and experience something new outside of Omaha. If you’re looking for a more visual look at Ashland make sure to check out my Instagram highlight reel where you’ll find more on Ashland under “Nebraska”.
If you’re looking for more day trips from Omaha, make sure to check out:
A 2-Day Road Trip to Western Nebraska
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Kylee is a Neonatal Intensive Care (NICU) nurse passionate about making travel affordable and accessible to nurses. Inspiring nurses to travel both near and far, Kylee began Passports and Preemies in 2017 while volunteering in Skopje, North Macedonia as a way to reach nurses and advocate for the prevention of nurse burnout by traveling. Kylee is the original creator of the “8 Day Vacay” – a vacation geared towards nurses who aim to take advantage of the potentially 8 days off between work weeks with no need to use PTO.
