I'll be honest, before my first visit to Lincoln, Nebraska in 2023, there were only two things I knew about the city: It's the capital of Nebraska and the local university's athletic teams are the Cornhuskers. (I might not follow sports, but I do love Midwesternisms, such as being known as the Huskers.) Yet what awaited me on a long overdue visit to see one of my best friends was a vibrant capital city that reminded me a lot of my former home in Madison, Wisconsin.

This revelation about Lincoln also made me wonder how AI would respond to it. So I went into the Only In Your State AI Travel Planner and put it to the test! I asked the planner to make a weekend itinerary in May for my spouse and me with attractions, museums, restaurants, landmarks, and tours in mind. Let's see if the itinerary is just as surprising as my initial visit to the Cornhusker State.

At the top of the itinerary is a spot even older than the city itself: Robber's Cave. You'll want to take a tour of this mysterious hand-dug cave, particularly if you're into eerie locations. The cave was a tourist hotspot for a long time, dating back to the turn of the 20th century until the 1980s. Now it's once again open for tours! These tours only last up to an hour, though you'll be fascinated by the remnants of explorers past clinging to the underground wonders of nature.

Above ground, Holmes Lake Park is a great spot to reconnect with nature, according to both the AI planner and me. My pup Puggsley especially loved the people watching–and barking unferociously at the resident squirrels. If you want to get away from other people, this nearly 270-acre park is undoubtedly the place to do it. However, wherever you hang out in the park, be sure to head over to the lake just in time to watch the sunset. It's a pretty lovely view!

When you're ready to return to the bustling city, the planner suggests popping into Billy's Restaurant. Located near the Nebraska State Capitol Building, the historic restaurant is inside the grand Noble-Dawes House. The home was built in 1887 for former United States Secretary of State and three-time presidential nominee William Jennings Bryan. That's why it's now called Billy's after Bryan and features a lot of memorabilia of the late politician. Fellow history nerds must dine here for the ambiance alone.

On the opposite end of the aesthetic spectrum is the grooviest place to dine in Nebraska: Grateful Bread/Freakbeat Vegetarian. A yeasty nod to the Grateful Dead, this vegetarian-focused eatery transports you back to the heyday of pastel hippiedom. The best part about this spot is that their menu changes daily, so even repeat visits can be a totally new experience. Don't forget to grab one of their beloved giant cookies before leaving!

A trip to get to know Lincoln wouldn't be complete without a stay in the historic Haymarket District. The planner knew this and recommended a uniquely Cornhusker State-themed stay at The Graduate Hotel. While you can find Graduate Hotels elsewhere in the country, you won't find one quite like this. Step inside this accommodation time machine back to the 1960s. Decked out in retro cascades of color, you'll be greeted hotel-wide by Nebraskan native son Johnny Carson and a plethora of other former Nebraskans.

From recommending the city's literal underground to its offbeat eateries, the AI trip planner did a great job creating a Lincoln itinerary. Even with just these five locations, visitors get a taste of many elements of what makes the capital city so special.

This article was made using our award-winning dashboard planner. Feel free to check it out.