Search hotels in Valentine, NE

I’ve been to Valentine several times over the years and am really just enjoying the area. There’s fishing and kayaking. Sand dunes. Camping. Their city park is beautiful. The locals are friendly too. It is a small town so some things you’re used to may not be available.

My husband and I like that we can go play a round of golf come back to town and have a great meal. Bunkhouse is our favorite. There is plenty of places to hike or a scenic drive. Of course, the river floating is great as well. We find where the locals go and have a cocktail. They are always welcoming and friendly. When we went to Kilgore (AWESOME FOOD) we ran into the same people from the other night. Friendly and welcoming!!

Valentine is a quiet setting the end of August. Some restaurants were closed on Sunday, leaving few eating options other than chain/fast food. It has beautiful scenic areas for those who enjoy the outdoors ~ Merritt Reservoir, Fort Niobrara Wildlife Refuge, the Niobrara River. We drove to Merritt at night for perfect stargazing; enjoyed the picturesque view in the Refuge; tubing down the Niobrara River was peaceful and relaxing, even for a couple of 70 year olds!

We like to golf but they had a fundraiser so we couldn't. Fredricks Peak so that means we will be back for a quick weekend again. We always take a drive out to the lake and campsites nice and relaxing.

The Historic Bridge and the nearby hills with pine trees would have made for excellent hiking and exploring if I would have planned on staying longer; I should have left early in the morning and gotten my exercise exploring before getting my money's worth from the hotel sleep and explored a second location on the way home. I was trying to make the most out of a boring spring (still wintry) break from school and just needed to "get out of town" and I'm glad I did.

Valentine is surrounded by the sand hills, the bad lands, the grass lands, and is home to the beautiful Niobrara River. Call ahead to book a ride down the river on tubes, canoes, or kayaks, because outfitters can be booked one or two days out. Be sure to visit the Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge and see the Fort Falls and bison and prairie dog towns. The National Park Service visitor center in town has a twenty minute video on the valley that is well worth watching. If you have time to drive up to Mammoth Site in Hot Springs (South Dakota) or Agate Fossil Beds in Harrison (Nebraska), you can see active fossil digs and sites of legendary discoveries.