My husband and I popped over to Beyond Golf Bar + Kitchen the other day for a quick drink and dessert. As it was a week night, we planned on being there for half an hour or so. Until we saw the golf simulator bays.

Dan loves to golf. Me, on the other hand, I can’t figure out why multiple clubs are needed to begin with. And once I have one in my hand, getting it to connect with the ball is almost impossible. However, I’m usually up for trying almost anything once, so we decided to rent a bay for an hour. The price was pretty reasonable ($20 per hour – flat rate, not per person) and the simulator was super impressive. As someone who doesn’t know much about golf, I warn you that my descriptions of the simulator may not be that helpful, but here’s what I liked:

First, you can choose whether to play a course or just practice on the driving range. Secondly, there are numerous courses to choose from. And third, the simulator is surprisingly realistic. If there is a slope on the course, the floor tilts. There are multiple lies, including the rough, fairway, and bunker. (I spent most of my time in the rough.)

Aside from the golf simulator, the food and drink were excellent. I had an Excelsior cider ($7) that was really good. I prefer dry ciders and this one really hit the spot. Dan had the Farmhouse Saison ($6.50), which was also really good.

We also tried out their Cookie Skillet ($6). The cookie of the day was peanut butter. This was served in a cast iron skillet, with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, and topped off by peanut butter cups. Let’s just say it didn’t last long.

Last, but not least, I also want to mention that our server was excellent. He was very attentive, helped us understand how to work the simulator, and kept our drinks full. Overall, this was a great spot to visit and we highly recommend you check it out!

Tucked away in Blair, Nebraska is the most adorable little tea room. I had never heard of this establishment before, but after enjoying tea and scones with our wonderful hostess, we already have our return visit booked.

When they coined the phrase “the hostess with the mostest,” they must have had Jean, the owner of SpecialTea, in mind. She was genuinely thrilled to see us. She greeted us immediately, provided hand sanitizer, and began explaining the changes in the tea room due to COVID-19. Not only were we struck by the beauty of the tea room, but we also appreciated Jean’s attention to safety standards. She apologized profusely for the use of plastic silverware, as it is not the proper way to dress a table for tea, but again, this spoke to her attempts to provide her customers with a safe and enjoyable visit.

Jean had an incredible variety of teas to choose from. I selected Snickerdoodle and was not disappointed. She served my tea in a beautiful antique teapot and then brought me the best raspberry scone I have ever tasted. I know my way around a kitchen pretty well and can whip up some pretty tasty treats, so it is a true compliment for me to say this was better than any scones I have ever made. Ever. Absolutely delicious.

In the back of the tea room is a cute little gift shop where Jean has stocked tea, coffee, jewelry, tea pots and more. I bought some blueberry cobbler coffee that has since become pretty popular around my house.

The decor, the tea, and the food were enough to ensure I would return, but the icing on the cake was definitely Jean herself. She took the time to tell me the history of her tea room, including where she acquired much of her beautiful china and tableware. I don’t want to spoil it for her, so I won’t share any of her stories here. However, when you visit, please ask her to tell you about the Seven Sisters. And then watch her face light up. Her deep love for her family and their traditions is evident in every story she tells. My husband and I greatly enjoyed listening to her share her memories with us.

I can’t recommend this place highly enough. I hope you enjoy yourself as much as we did!