Kearney questions (hotel, university, living in)

[Darrow]

Hello, please list stores in Kearney. Also, are there any walking/bicycle paths? What is the weather like year around? Is there a predominate religion or is the religious climate pretty balanced? Any answers will be greatly appreciated!

[roots'nbulbs]

Kearney has a really nice mall with a nice selection of stores--clothing, shoes, toys, electronics, housewares..i.e.Walden Books, Herbergers, JC Penneys, Bath and Body Works, CR Toys, ARt and Frame shop, et c etc.

The downtown area contains several really, good restaurants, 2 microbreweries, art galleries and an assortment of stores.

In addition, there are several strip malls and my favorite: Hobby Lobby which is something like a Cosco.........and, then, there is the giant Menards builder's paradise and Builder's Warehouse.

The weather is typical of the Great Plains--sometimes harsh, but the extremes do not last. The most comfortable months are June and October and they can be beautiful as this is a lush grassland.

The religious climate is fairly balanced due to the presence of the University and the large Medical facility.
I have heard that the population was historically, Catholic. Ethnic migration to Nebraska usually came from Catholic and Lutheran parts of Europe. In recent years, it has not been so rare to see muslim dress. And, there has always been a small group of Jewish families living in Kearney.

Are you asking if it is Evangelical? I suspect that is why you ask as when I am traveling away from here, I get this perception that our whole state is part of the religious right.

There certainly is an element of Evangelicalism, here, but no more or less so, in Kearney, than you would find in the usual Colorado town.

It's a diverse, little city.

[tpabes]

Roots hit it pretty good, although Hobby Lobby is a craft store not really a Cosco (unless we are not thinking of the same Cosco, I'm thinking of the Sam's Club competitor). There is Wal-mart, Target, K-Mart, JcPenny's, Old Navy, Gap, Menards, Herbergers if your looking for bigger names.

There is a great bike trail called the Cottonmill trail that goes from Cottonmill park west of town, through the university, by Yanney Park, to the hotel district and on to the Archway, eventually to Fort Kearney.

[Darrow]

I'm very excited to visit. We're about 5 years from relocating and the area looks very promising. Thanks for taking the time to answer my questions. How's the reception to newcommers?