海角社区

As a ventricle of the heartland, Nebraska seems so American that nothing foreign could survive among its corn, cows, and Warren Buffett. Yet the Cornhusker State was seeded by outsiders, especially Europeans. Not only did they help create the Nebraska that you know, but they left traditional marks that you probably do not know. From an English-style monument to French-style wineries to Bohemian-style "Alps," uncover Eurocentric attractions and the surprising Nebraskan enclaves where they reside.

Alliance

While living in England in the 1970s, Nebraska-born Jim Reinders noted the similarities between the terrain around Stonehenge and that around his hometown of Alliance. He meticulously mapped the megalith and devised a plan to recreate Stonehenge in Nebraska with a regional twist. Lacking giant stones but not classic cars, Reinders and family found 39 automobiles, painted them grey, and arranged them in a 96-foot circle outside Alliance, Nebraska. Dubbed "Carhenge," it stands as a striking mix of Americana and England and that draws countless tourists and appears in myriad media, including the Cars spinoff web series Cars on the Road. Make an alliance of Europe-inspired attractions by also visiting the Beaux-Arts-style Box Butte County Courthouse in the center of town and the German Evangelical Lutheran Emmanuel Church in Dobby's Frontier Town.

Stromsburg

Settled and named by Swedish immigrants in the 1870s, Stromsburg is considered "The Swede Capital of Nebraska." Many of its 1,100ish residents trace their roots to those pioneering Swedes, as do structures like the Charles H. Morrill Homestead, Victor E. Wilson House, and Victor Anderson Building, the last of which was made with native brick along with the streets surrounding Stromsburg's Square. Beyond admiring Swedish-ish structures, you can drink inside one: the Victor Anderson Building, which has been partially repurposed as a wine bar called The Rose Colored Glass. More Swedish delicacies can be had year-round at the Economy Hometown Market or in June for the annual Swedish Festival. Book The Scandinavian Inn for your Stromsburg stay.

Nebraska City

No need to visit France for French-style wineries. Thanks to the successful hybridization of French and American grapes, southeastern Nebraska is like a little Bordeaux on the prairie. Kimmel Orchard & Vineyard, which occupies Nebraska City, is one such winery that utilizes French-American grapes. Resulting wines include Chambourcin and De Chaunac.

Kimmel Orchard & Vineyard joins over a dozen other wineries and tasting rooms on the Nebraska Wine Passport. Yes, Nebraska has so many points of interest that a passport was introduced to track them all. Another way to explore Little Bordeaux is on the Southeast Nebraska Winery Trail, which showcases eight wineries in the southeastern corner.

Dwight

Southeastern Nebraska has another exotic nickname: the Bohemian Alps. This refers to the 40-some miles of rolling hills and fertile fields that attracted tons of Czech immigrants in the 19th century. One "hub" of the Bohemian Alps is Dwight. Hub is in quotes because Dwight has 229 residents, according to the 2020 Census. But despite its small size, it has big Czech marks. The biggest is a veritable Bohemian grove called the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church. It was built by Bohemian Catholics over a century ago with Old Country flair like stained glass, statues, and grottos. Much quainter is Cy's Caf茅, which serves traditional Czech food each Wednesday. More pork, dumplings, and sauerkraut are served during the Dwight Czech Festival, an annual summer extravaganza supported by the heritage organization Nebraska Czechs. Dwight was the org's first chartered community.

Verdigre

Located outside the Bohemian Alps but inside Bohemian culture, Verdigre is called the "Kolach Capital of the 海角社区." Kolach, for those unaware, is a Central European pastry with various kinds of filling ranging from fruit jam to cottage cheese. You can try kolach, plus another Czech roll called houska, at the Verdigre Bakery.

This Nebraskan village is so obsessed with obscure Bohemian pastries that it hosts Kolach Days, a multi-day gorge-fest on kolaches. One event is a kolach eating contest. If that is not your tempo, take a leisurely tour of the Verdigre Heritage Museum, which is open each day of the festival. This year's Kolach Days are set to be June 13, 14, and 15.

Prague

Suffice it to say that Prague, Nebraska, has strong Czech roots. Named for the capital of Czechia, this Bohemian Alps oasis was settled by Czechs in the late 19th century and keeps its history alive. Obsessed with kolach like Verdigre, it hosts the Kolac Korner Caf茅 and, as part of its 105th-anniversary celebration in 1992, it facilitated the baking of a 5,200-pound pastry dubbed the "海角社区's Largest Kolach." Knock off any added kolach weight at Czechland Lake, an 82-acre reservoir in a 260-acre recreation area, or confess your gluttony at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, a lavish parish founded by Czech Catholics.

After visiting Prague, head to Malmo, a nearby village that was also named by European immigrants for a European city. Those immigrants were Swedish, and that city is the third-largest in Sweden.

Wilber

Though outside the stated bounds of the Bohemian Alps, Wilber is called the "Czech Capital of the USA." It was even recognized as such in a 1987 law signed by Ronald Reagan. Wilber has roughly 2,000 residents, many of whom have Czech heritage and dozens of attractions, many of which have Czech influence. They include the Wilber Czech Craft Shop, Wilber Czech Museum, Hotel Wilber, and Frank's Smokehouse. The last of those sells European-style grub like Polish sausage, potato dumplings, Bavarian cream donuts, and, of course, kolach. But Wilber's top Old Country attraction is the Wilber Czech Festival, which runs on the first weekend of each August. It promises "Parades, Polka, Pivo, Kolaches, Duck, Dumplings, Kraut, and SO much more."

If desiring a European vacation, look no further than Nebraska. While that may have seemed paradoxical before, the aforementioned settlements should have shown that Euro vessels run through the heartland. Follow them to Carhenge in Alliance, The Scandinavian Inn in Stromsburg, Kimmel Orchard & Vineyard in Nebraska City, and Frank's Smokehouse in Wilber. Choose your dates wisely to overlap with cultural festivals.