Nebraska: River City Star, Joslyn, Brother Sebastian's, and Hotel Deco

After leaving Iowa, our first destination in Nebraska was the River City Star Riverboat for their one-hour sightseeing cruise on the Missouri River.

  

We received the Groupon rate, which made it very affordable. We sat on the shaded upper deck and enjoyed views of both the Nebraska and Iowa sides as we floated along. We loved looking up at Bob the Bridge (more on that later).

  

When our cruise ended, we zipped over to the Josyln Art Museum to see the Chihuly sculptures in the lobby. Even though we only had 30 minutes until it closed, the Joslyn is free and I (foolishly) thought we'd be able to zoom through everything we cared about in that short amount of time. Wow, was I wrong! The Joslyn is amazing. I loved the Chihuly, of course, and was captivated by the Native beadwork.... 

  

.... but what truly blew me away was the extensive European collection. Renoir, Degas, Pissarro, and Monet, just to name a few. How does this museum offer free admission?!?

And if that wasn't enough, the children's art exploration area was amazing. And I loved the gallery featuring children's art. I kept saying over and over, "HOW IS THIS FREE?!"

  

We stayed until the last possible second and it wasn't nearly enough time. After the museum closed, we enjoyed the grounds. The building itself is gorgeous and there's a really neat water feature where play is encouraged. Sculpture gardens surround the property. 

  

At this point, we were starving, so it was time to visit one of the restaurants recommended to us by locals: Brother Sebastian's. A monastery-themed steakhouse that has won numerous 'Best of' awards? Waiters dressed like monks? We are SO in! It did not disappoint. The food classic steakhouse fare, done to perfection. And the atmosphere was awesome, starting with the Gregorian chants playing in the parking lot.

  

Our final stop of the day was at Hotel Deco, our home for the next five nights. What a wonderful place! The building and furnishings were gorgeous and the staff so friendly and helpful. The location was just a short walk to Old Market, the river, and more. The grab-and-go breakfast in the lounge was convenient and yummy. 

  

I received a discount on our stay, but let me assure you that I'd stay at Hotel Deco at full price without hesitation. They're in the middle of renovating their restaurant (hence the grab-and-go breakfast); I would love to return once it is complete. Our room was comfortable, clean, and spacious. Basically, it was everything you'd want in a hotel. 

I loved seeing checking the message board by the elevator each day. As you can see, our visit fell on National Corn on the Cob Day! 

  

More of our Nebraska adventure next week!