5-Days in Omaha, Nebraska
Welcome to the Gateway to the West! The greater Omaha area is home to 1.5 million people, four Fortune 500 companies, and the Oracle of Omaha, Warren Buffett. Perhaps most importantly, it’s the birthplace of the Reuben sandwich.
Although I haven’t lived in Omaha for nearly 25 years, I still call this mid-sized Midwestern gem home. And I love to talk it up to anyone who’ll listen.
Growing up, it didn’t occur to me that there was a life outside of Omaha. I just wasn’t interested in traveling. Instead, I focused on school, sports, and running around with my neighborhood friends until the streetlights came on. That all changed in 1998 when joined the U.S. Air Force and began traveling the world. Experiencing different places and cultures made me eager to explore more, but it also gave me a profound appreciation for my hometown.
Omaha’s low cost of living and moderate pace make it a great place to raise a family. Truthfully, I didn’t realize this until I had a family of my own. Now I look back fondly on my early experiences of little league sports and holidays centered around family gatherings.
No blog post about Omaha would be complete without mentioning our world-class zoo, and I’ll get to that, I promise. Of course, we’re also big fans of the College World Series, having hosted it for over 70 years. Oh, and our beef? Some of the best in the world. Seriously, try it.
But these days, I love seeing how Omaha has changed. In some ways, I feel like I never left. But with each of my trips home to visit family, the city seems to grow and evolve more and more. Whether through hip, revitalized neighborhoods like Blackstone and Midtown Crossing, industrial hubs like Facebook and Google data centers, or major sporting events like the Olympic Swim Trials, this Nebraska town has become a delightful city on the national stage.
As someone born and raised here, I’d love to be your tour guide.
Here’s how I recommend you spend five days in Omaha, Nebraska, with some honorable mentions:
Day 1: Unleash your inner wild child
An independent not-for-profit organization focused on animal conservation and research, Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium consistently ranks as one of the world’s top five zoos.
The zoo was originally established as the Riverview Park Zoo in 1894. In 1952, it began a series of massive transformations with the creation of the Omaha Zoological Society. I remember visiting as a young kid and admiring the elephants, rhinos, and polar bears. But the transformation this zoo has undergone – even since then – is mind-blowing.
Experience tropical waterfalls and swinging monkeys in the Lied Jungle, America’s largest indoor rainforest and my favorite exhibit. A stroll down the meandering main path will take you through African grasslands, Asian highlands, a Pacific Northwestern sea lion beach, and more.
Further into your journey, admire plant and animal life from across the globe in the Desert Dome. This Omaha beacon features the world’s largest indoor desert within the world’s largest glazed geodesic dome. Just below, you’ll creep past alligators and other nocturnal critters in Kingdoms of the Night, the world’s largest indoor swamp.
The zoo occupies over 130 acres of land, so you’ll want to wear comfortable walking shoes. However, if you need a break from hoofing it (pun intended), you can take the tram or train. There’s also the Skyfari, an open-air chairlift that’ll take you to the far end of the park.
Give yourself a full day to explore this iconic Omaha attraction.
Red Panda Photo Credit By Craig Horobik (@neverendingjourney_photography)
Day 2: Make like Macklemore and go downtown
As a kid, I remember packing into the minivan and driving downtown with my family to ride the infamous metal slides at the Gene Leahy Mall. If you were smart, you’d bring wax paper to sit on; in the hot July sun, those slides were a third-degree burn in the making, and whew! That wax paper could really make you fly.
In high school, the downtown Old Market district became a hot spot for cruising around with friends and checking out record stores (and babes). Once I turned 21, a new world of cool Old Market bars and restaurants opened to me.
Since then, both downtown Omaha and I have experienced some significant changes. So, on the second day of your Omaha trip, plan to check out the city’s urban center:
The Old Market:
As a national railroad center, Omaha boomed with activity during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and the city’s wholesale produce market was the bustling epicenter of it all. In the 1950s, westward expansion and the rise of supermarkets brought that activity to a halt.
Attorney Samuel Mercer saw the possibilities in the century-old brick warehouse buildings that made up the area’s wholesale produce market and wanted to repurpose them. So he began strategically buying those buildings and organically developing what would become the Old Market.
Because of the work of Mercer and other community visionaries, the Old Market remains a historic entertainment center that has retained its old-world charm. Bumpy cobblestone roads of deep red brick line the area, which now features an eclectic mix of high-end boutiques, vintage and retro shops, cigar bars, restaurants, and more.
Learn about the area’s history by taking the Old Market Walking Tour, or spend a couple of hours exploring quirky shops and the beautiful alley-turned-attraction Passageway. Stop in for a beer at Mr. Toad’s or wine and cheese at La Buvette, and get your cultural fix with a visit to the Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts or the Smithsonian-affiliated Durham Museum (located in the gorgeous art deco Union Station).vAre you feeling spooky? Check out the Museum of Shadows, voted the most haunted museum in the world. And if you’re worn out from yesterday’s zoo adventure, grab a tuk-tuk or carriage to your next destination.
The RiverFront:
The RiverFront is a collection of three parks that stretches over 72 acres. It joins the Old Market with north downtown, which houses an arts district and Charles Schwab Field, home of the College World Series. These parks also connect all of downtown Omaha with the Missouri River.
The first of the RiverFront parks is the Gene Leahy Mall. Initially established in the 1970s, this urban park recently received an incredible facelift. In 2022, the Mall reopened to the public with an additional 40,000 square feet of green lawn. It features an added bandshell, a dog park with separate areas for small and large pups, a sculpture garden, the state-of-the-art Arches playground, and several water features. In addition, its location is easily accessible to downtown bars, restaurants, and entertainment venues, including Omaha’s world-class Holland Center.
And remember those beloved-yet-deadly metal slides I mentioned earlier? They stayed, as did the historic Solo Building archway. So don’t forget to bring your wax paper.
The second RiverFront park is the Heartland of America Park. It’s currently closed for renovations, but set to reopen in 2023. It’s the largest of the three parks, with green space centered around the original park’s lake and fountain. The park’s updates will incorporate a new skate ribbon for winter ice skating and roller skating in warm weather. Other new features include a lakeside amphitheater, bocce courts, and Farnam Pier, a massive structure that will anchor the park’s east end and allow pedestrian river access.
Lewis & Clark Landing, the RiverFront’s third and final park, is also currently closed for renovations until 2023. Consisting of green spaces and a sandy urban beach with firepits and volleyball courts, the Landing will also be home to the Kiewit Luminarium. This cutting-edge science center modeled after San Francisco’s Exploratorium will feature hands-on, interactive exhibits for people of all ages.
This final park also connects to Bob, the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge, a 3,000-foot walkway across the Missouri River. Bob links to more than 150 miles of nature trails, and in the middle of the bridge, you can straddle two states (Nebraska and Iowa) at once. Golly!
Day 3: Campers have smore fun
Mahoney State Park feels like a completely different world from the zoo and downtown parks, but that’s why it’s the perfect way to spend your third day (and night) in the heartland. Located in Ashland, Nebraska, just 20 minutes outside Omaha, Mahoney is a year-round outdoor destination.
Mahoney offers a variety of accommodations, with camping, cabins, and a hotel-like main lodge. Whatever outdoor adventure you choose, you’ll find it here: horseback riding, hiking, fishing, sports fields, a water park with slides and a wave pool, crafts, mini-golf, and a driving range, to name a few.
Get your adrenaline pumping with the Go Apes ropes course and ziplines or with a visit to Venture Climb, the park’s state-of-the-art climbing facility. An on-site theater hosts year-round entertainment, and in the winter, guests can participate in sledding, cross country skiing, ice skating, ice fishing, and other activities.
Whether you’re looking for outdoor adventure or just a quick break from the city, Mahoney State Park is a great place to enjoy time with family and friends and appreciate this area’s natural beauty.
Day 4: “Off we go, into the wild blue yonder…”
You’ll start day four of your trip to the Omaha area in a prime location for our next two stops. Just outside the entrance to the park, you’ll find the Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum. Get up close and personal with iconic aircraft and spacecraft at this Smithsonian-affiliated institution.
The SAC Museum commemorates the aircraft that helped Strategic Air Command keep the peace during the Cold War. It also houses the country’s most extensive collection of Cold War artifacts and aircraft.
The site also functions as a venue for aircraft restoration and preservation. As a retired airman, I love learning about my branch’s history and heritage here. However, you don’t need to be associated with the military to appreciate this museum’s vast collection.
The museum’s mission includes educating future generations about history, technology, and science. It provides opportunities for teachers and students of all ages.
Hop back in the car to travel to our next destination. Now, try to say ‘Husker Runza’ three times fast before you get there. You can’t do it! It’s not humanly possible.
Photo Credit By MCA Photography (@mca_photog)
The Lee G. Simmons Wildlife Safari Park is North America’s best wildlife safari park, and it’s just three minutes away from Mahoney State Park and the SAC Museum. Stay in the car for a four-mile drive-through adventure and experience free-roaming animals in different North American habitats like Wolf Canyon, Bison Plains, Pelican Wetlands, Elk Prairie, and more.
When you’re ready, hop out for a hike to one of the overlooks. Here, you’ll catch glimpses of bears, buffalo, sandhill cranes, and other wildlife.
I’ll be honest: I’d never seen a wolf in person until I visited the Wildlife Safari Park. I had no idea how gigantic they were! I also love seeing bald eagles up close in the park’s unique Eagle Aviary.
5. "I'm getting into this castle one way or another" -Arya Stark
You’ve had quite the week of Omaha adventure, so on day five, we’ll plan something a little more relaxed. Today you’ll tour Joslyn Castle. This former home of philanthropists George and Sarah Joslyn is now a site on the National Register of Historic Places.
The 19,000-square-foot, four-story limestone mansion is an example of Scottish Baronial Revival architecture. Its 35 rooms feature rare carved woods, stained glass windows, a grand sweeping staircase, ballroom, Aeolian pipe organ, and more. At the time of its 1903 construction, the castle sat atop a hill on Omaha’s outskirts. Today, it’s surrounded by the bustling midtown neighborhood.
The castle’s picturesque grounds are open to the public, provided they aren’t booked for a private event. Pack a picnic and enjoy the garden’s majestic, mature trees and seasonal floral displays before you tour the castle.
Photo Credit By Joslyn Castle and Gardens (@joslyncastle)
