Nebraska is the birthplace of a diverse cast of colorful characters. From Johnny Carson to Fred Astaire, Malcolm X to Marlon Brando, this rugged country has bred a surprising array of iconoclasts and mavericks. The Great Platte River Road Archway in Kearney offers one a sense of the types of hearty folks who’ve set up camp here, with exhibits detailing the adventures of Pony Express drivers and pioneers who ventured along the Oregon, Mormon and California Trails. You can trace the path of famous explorers on the Lewis and Clark Scenic Byway, or of infamous criminals on the Outlaw Trail Scenic Byway. Museums, forts and historic sites dot these roads that take you past grasslands, waterfalls, forested bluffs and historic waterways. Nebraska’s state capitol, Lincoln, offers tours of the governor’s mansion. In Omaha, the River City Star Riverboat has dining, sightseeing and themed cruises to suit every taste. At Aunt Myrna’s Cain in Whitney, you can bunk in modern comfort and enjoy native trout fishing, hiking and biking amidst spectacular Pine Ridge bluffs. J.D. Power and Associates has recognized the Nebraska Medical Center for its outstanding inpatient service for six straight years, and U.S. News and World Report has ranked it as a high performer in nine different specialties – more than any other hospital in the region.