By Allison Peck
North Platte is getting two stops on this year's Nebraska Holiday Passport, giving local residents a chance to participate in the statewide holiday travel program without leaving town.
The Golden Spike Tower & Visitors Center and Canteen Candies are among 24 destinations selected for the 2026 Nebraska Holiday Passport. The program runs from November 13 through January 10, encouraging Nebraskans and visitors to explore communities across the state during the holiday season.
The two North Platte stops are part of a lineup that includes holiday shops, coffee houses, bakeries, specialty stores and outdoor destinations.
The Panhandle is also represented, with Scotts Bluff National Monument in Gering and Chadron State Park in Chadron included among this year's stops.
Other destinations stretch across Nebraska. Participants can visit BrewBakers Coffee House & Gifts in Arnold, The Holiday Market and Eugene T. Mahoney State Park in Ashland, The Homestead in Belgrade, Cedar Creek Coffee & Art in Elkhorn, Brewed Bee in Gibbon and Auntie Annie's Flower Farm & Mercantile in Glenvil.
The Passport also includes The Tattered Book in Grand Island and three stops in Lincoln: Lincoln Children's Zoo, The Kindler Hotel and Boitano's Lounge, and Lulubee Artisanal Chocolates.
Travelers can also visit Elegant Hart's Bakery in Loup City, Lucy's Bakery and Cafe in McCook, Apple House Market at Arbor Day Farm in Nebraska City and Lot 279 Craft Meats in Norfolk.
Omaha has two stops on the Passport, Marigold's Mercantile and 1890 - Perfumery + Apothecary. The remaining locations are Asters Foods & Smokehouse in Sidney, The Draw Bar in Valentine and Bloom & Grace in Wayne.
Many of the participating locations will offer special deals for Passport holders, along with holiday-themed events and seasonal decorations.
The 24 destinations are divided into eight regions, with three stops in each region. Passport participants who visit all three stops in a region will receive a regional postcard and a lottery coupon.
Those who visit all 24 locations will become Holiday Passport Champions and receive a special holiday mug.
The Nebraska Holiday Passport began in 2022 as a supplement to the larger Nebraska Passport program, which features new destinations across the state during the spring and summer.