One goal of my husband’s and my road trip to Butte, Montana was to visit the Wounded Knee Memorial Site on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. Google Maps helped us find Valentine, Nebraska, as we searched for a stopping point between Madrid, Iowa, and Hardin, Montana, our first and third stops.
That led to our one-night stay at Harmony Inn and Suites. This hotel was a perfect overnight in this charming town.
About Valentine, Nebraska
Valentine, Nebraska, founded in 1882, is one of those small towns that has much to do packed into its downtown and surroundings. We drove into Valentine on State Route 20 through miles of prairie, farmland, and the Sandhills. After we checked into our room at the Harmony Inn, we walked the short distance to Valentine’s downtown.
On the way, we passed The Cowboy Trail. This is a 195-mile-long rails-to-trails bike and walking path. If you don’t have a bike, you can rent one. There is a do-it-yourself bike rental station that includes a few electric bikes.
Along Main Street, there are several shops from trendy boutiques to western wear. Sculptures are part of the public art that dot the street corners, and hearts are part of the landscape. Valentine is called “The Heart City,” so the motif makes sense. Unfortunately, the Centennial Hall Museum was not open when we were in town. Built in 1897, it is the oldest high school building in Nebraska. No longer a high school, it serves as a thrift store and a museum filled with historical artifacts and stories of the area. I did peek in the windows.
We also missed out on the Bolo Beer Company, the brewery in town. It closed before we discovered its existence, but we did have a Nebraska craft beer at The Bunkhouse and Lounge before we headed back to Harmony Inn.
Our Room and Amenities
Our king bed hotel room was perfect for our road trip stop. The Harmony Inn is a classic two-story, all rooms open to the outside, L-shaped hotel. Happily, we could back up right to our door in our parking spot which made unloading quick and easy. The room’s refrigerator was big enough to fit everything we had in our cooler, plus refreeze our icepacks.
Because the room was configured into two spaces separated by a wall, it felt roomy and relaxing. The main space had the bed, end tables, lamps, a leather armchair, a desk chair, a desk, and a dresser with the large flat screen TV. The other section that led to the bathroom had a vanity sink with a long counter, a hair dryer, a clothes rack, the refrigerator, and the microwave. It would have been easy to comfortably stay in this space for a few days.
The room’s ample outlets came in handy to plug in our phones and my laptop. Plus, the wall mirror and the map of the United States with license plates making up each state’s shape added a touch of hominess. I also liked the burnt orange-red accent wall, wood vinyl floors and the patterned bedspread.
Valentine, Nebraska, is Known for Outdoor Adventure
- Get a Car Rental
- Buy Travel Insurance
When we arrived, it was already busy with people, several in the area for outdoor adventure. Valentine, Nebraska, is near the Niobrara River, Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Reserve, and Valentine National Wildlife Reserve. The river is popular for tubing. Several folks were traveling by motorcycle to Sturgis, Wyoming. In the mix were women friends and families. The property has quite a good playground with swings and a slide. I saw kids enjoying those. Also, people were hanging out in chairs near the outdoor grill that guests can use.
At check-in, I found out that we arrived a day before the reservation, a hazard of searching for a hotel and booking it from one’s phone. Fortunately, the check-in person was able to switch the dates. We did owe $10 more. Oh, well.
Included Breakfast
In the morning, we enjoyed talking with other travelers while we ate the complimentary breakfast. This was the standard fare of sausage, eggs, breads for toast, juice, cereal, and coffee. Breakfast is in the large room that is part of the reception area. Like the guest rooms, there is a homey quality to this space. Here is where you can find out specific things to do, thanks to magazines and brochures about the area and other parts of Nebraska.
Before we drove to Wounded Knee on the Pine Ridge Reservation, we drove the few miles to the Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge. What a view of the valley and the Niobrara River. Signs provide information about the animals and details of the land.
I booked our room through Hotels.com. Rooms also come in options from two queens to suites. Our king room was $146, including tax.
Check rates online at Expedia, Booking.com, Agoda.com, or Hotels.com.
