Holiday Inn, Kearney

Whether you're traveling across country and need a family-friendly place to crash or you live nearby and want a place to play when there's 3 feet of snow on the ground, the Holiday Inn here is your answer. While the rooms and amenities are what you've come to expect from this popular chain, this particular hotel has a nice selection of extras: free wireless Internet, the usual business services, a small fitness room, a classy restaurant, gift shops and a pool area with fun waterslides. There are actually two pools at the Holiday Inn. One features two adult water slides. During normal hours, the slides are open the first 40 minutes of every hour. The final 20 minutes give kids a chance to enjoy the pool without risk of getting clobbered by the steady stream of bodies that come careening down the slides; it also gives the pumps a chance to rest. The other pool is smaller and has two slides for younger children. Nearby, there's a small arcade for folks who forgot their suits. With three large meeting rooms, the hotel is often booked with conventions and other events. Room service and dining is provided by The Venue, a restaurant/bar/lounge that has a pretty good reputation in town. Rooms run around $125.