When I told people that I was going to visit Omaha, Nebraska they immediately asked, “What’s in Omaha?”
Exactly! That’s what I wanted to find out!
Omaha exceeded my expectations in a good way and I want to share why Omaha is a city worth stopping in.
1. Fantastic Food and Drinks
I had no idea that the food scene was so incredible in Omaha!
There is such a focus on farm to table and locally sourced. There is also so much creativity not only in food but also in the concepts.
A few of the not to be missed restaurants are Dante and Monarch Prime with a great atmosphere and menu items that are a culinary work of art that will awaken all of your senses.
For breakfast, you have to try Earlybird Brunch offering menu options that will satisfy both your sweet or savory cravings.
For artisan sweet treats, The Cordial Cherry is a MUST!
If you want to learn more about the history and also sample from multiple venues, I highly recommend taking a food tour with Omaha Culinary Tours.
They will help you discover the restaurants you want to return to after you sample some of their incredible menu items.
The Omaha Craft Brew Penny Pack
The Omaha Craft Brew Penny Pack program was created specifically for out of town guests. When you sign up on their program online, you get coupons good for 12 featured breweries for “buy one 1 beer get 1 for a penny.” That’s a deal that’s hard to beat!
2. The Omaha Zoo
Voted #1 zoo by Trip Advisor, the Omaha Zoo boasts the world’s largest indoor desert located under the world’s largest glazed geodesic dome.
On colder days you will appreciate the majority of the indoor exhibits within close proximity located near the entrance.
On a beautiful day, you can observe the animals in their outside exhibits and kids will find lots of space for outdoor play at the Children’s Adventure Trails.
A few of my personal favorites were the Lied Jungle, Berniece Grewcock Butterfly and Insect Pavilion, and the Suzanne and Walter Scott Aquarium.
3. The Old Market
A great stop for shopping and dining, the Old Market is a wonderful stop to stretch your legs and stroll around. It’s also within walking distance of a park with a really fun slide.
This former alley connects you to locals shops and eateries in the Old Market between two buildings.
It’s also a very popular spot for photos. This afternoon we saw dozens of students taking their pre-prom photos throughout the area.
4. Art Deco Design
If you love architecture, the Durham Museum is a MUST! This former train station is eye candy from floor to ceiling with incredible art deco design. Make sure that you take time to take in all of the details.
Train lovers will have a blast on the lower level walking along with the real train cars.
You can also learn more about the fascinating history of Omaha in the museum.
5. You Can Stand in Two States at Once
The 3000-foot long walkway, the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge otherwise, known as “Bob the Bridge” is a very popular spot for pictures.
In fact, he’s so popular that he even has his own social media accounts.
As you cross above the Missouri River, you will see the dividing line between Nebraska and Iowa.
As you straddle the line and take a picture you are “bobbing.” Tag your creative photo on social media and you might even be featured. If you’ve always dreamed of completing a marathon, Bob can help you with that too.
If you make it across the length of 0.90.9 K bridge and take a selfie with Bob, you can get an official 0.9K marathon sticker from the Omaha Visitor Center.
While you are near the bridge you can find additional information about National Parks stopping by the Lewis and Clark Visitor Center -Trail Headquarters located a short walking distance from the bridge entrance on the Nebraska side.
Where to Stay in Omaha
During my visit, I stayed at the Omaha Marriott. Their newly renovated suites are beautifully designed and very welcoming….and the most important part…. I slept great!
I really enjoyed my time in Omaha. It surprised me in a good way and I hope that you will consider stopping if you normally just pass through this Midwest gem.
Thanks again to Visit Omaha for hosting my visit. All opinions are my own.
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Thank you so much for sharing this! My husband and I are going on a trip to Omaha in less than a month and are looking for things to do. We will definitely be going to Earlybird Brunch, “Bob the Bridge”, and the Omaha Zoo. Thanks for helping us get ideas!
Omaha is one of my favorite cities! The zoo and the Old Market are amazing…and you didn’t even go to Nebraska Furniture Mart! That place is super fun too! Now I wanna go back!