Visit Omaha - 2019

OMAHA’S OFFICIAL 2019 VISITORS GUIDE

Meet Omaha’s Most Eligible Bachelor He’s hanging around just for you

World’s Best Zoo Every entrance prevents an exit Born and Bread The Reuben on its home turf

INSIDER TIPS ON THINGS TO DO IN OMAHA

A

FROM BOREDOM Fascinating Exhibits

| Sweet Traditions |

Cherished Moments

ONE BLOCK SOUTH OF THE OLD MARKET

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1620 Dodge Street • Suite 1900 Omaha, NE 68102 402.444.4660 • 1.866.937.6824

Keith Backsen

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR / PRESIDENT

Dean Miller

VICE PRESIDENT OF OPERATIONS

Jodie Jordon

ACCOUNTING CLERK

Cindy Brickey

EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT

Michele Hayes

VISITOR SERVICES MANAGER

Jodi Jorgensen

ASSISTANT VISITOR CENTER MANAGER

Deborah Ward

VICE PRESIDENT OF MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS

Jasmyn Goodwin

DIRECTOR OF MARKETING AND CONTENT

Tracie McPherson

DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS

Erin O’Brien

EXPERIENCE EXTRAORDINARY

SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER

Our iconic venues are Nebraska’s destinations for extraordinary experiences that engage, inspire and connect.

MARKETING COORDINATOR

We present the best of …

Amy Cunningham

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Lynn Mace

Cathy Keller

VICE PRESIDENT OF SALES AND SERVICES

Mark Rath

DIRECTOR OF SALES

Mattie Scheeter

NATIONAL SALES MANAGER

Matt Heck

NATIONAL SALES MANAGER

Lindsey Holmes

TicketOmaha.com | 402.345.0606

NATIONAL SALES MANAGER

Jessica Weishahn

TOURISM SALES MANAGER

Sue Chevalier

RESEARCH ANALYST

Kristin Beglin

NATIONAL SALES COORDINATOR

Anabella Coenen

SALES AND MARKETING COORDINATOR

Erin Brungardt

DIRECTOR OF CONVENTION SERVICES

Melanie Hegwood

CONVENTION SERVICES AND HOUSING MANAGER

Maddie Miller

CONVENTION SERVICES COORDINATOR

OPERAOMAHA.ORG | ONEFESTIVALOMAHA.ORG | 402.346.7372

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VISITOR GUIDE PUBLISHED BY:

Visit today! Free Admission.

200 Pearl Street

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Council Bluffs, IA 51503

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(712) 329-8307

•

www.uprrmuseum.org

JOSLYN ART MUSEUM OFFERS FREE GENERAL ADMISSION. Open Tuesday through Sunday, 10 am – 4 pm; late until 8 pm on Thursday.

Just west of downtown Omaha. Café, Museum shop, and free parking.

Featuring works from antiquity to the present with an emphasis on 19th- and 20th-century European and American art, Joslyn is a fun, relaxing, and artful destination for all.

IMAGES (left to right, top to bottom): Edgar Degas’ Little Dancer, Fourteen Years Old; Titian’s Giorgio Cornaro with a Falcon; Karl Bodmer’s Mató-Tópe, Mandan Chief; William Adolphe Bouguereau’s Return of Spring; Jackson Pollock’s Galaxy; Grant Wood’s Stone City, Iowa

2200 Dodge Street | Omaha, NE | (402) 342-3300 | www.joslyn.org 3

TABLE OF CONTENTS

6 Welcome 8 Pins 9 Neighborhood Map 10 Map of Omaha 14 Events in Omaha 20 Omaha’s Zoo

24 26 30 34 38 44

46 48 52 54 56 58

Bob the Bridge Family Fun Couples Escape Guys Trip Girlfriend Getaway Public Art

Outdoor Recreation Legendary Steak Raising Reuben Omaha Dives Sweet Treats

62 Shopping 64 Craft Beer 66 Nightlife 67 Music 69 Lodging

Farm-to-Fork Fresh

CONNECT WITH US As Omaha’s official tourism authority, Visit Omaha shares valuable information to help visitors build a jam-packed itinerary filled with memorable experiences. Go to VisitOmaha.com and sign up to receive information on Omaha events, attractions, and special offers. Also, follow us on social media for the most up-to-date Omaha news. We’d love to hear from you, share your Omaha experiences with #OmahaWeekend.

VisitOmaha 4

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FROM THE PLAINS TO PARADISE, DISCOVER FROM PLAINS OF TO THE PARADISE, THE THE TREASURES PLANTDISCOVER WORLD THE TREASURES OF THE PLANT WORLD FROM THE PLAINS TO PARADISE, DISCOVER FROM THE PLAINS TO PARADISE, DISCOVER THE TREASURES OF THE PLANT WORLD THE TREASURES OF THE PLANT WORLD

Explore 100 acres of inspiring indoor and outdoor horticultural displays.

Explore 100 acres of inspiring indoor and outdoor Café • Gifthorticultural shop • Librarydisplays.

• Seasonal Tram Tours Explore 100 acres of inspiring indoor Café • Gift shop • Library • Seasonal Tram and Tours

OPEN YEAR-ROUND • 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Explore 100 acres of inspiring indoor and outdoor horticultural displays.

Off Interstate 80 at 100 Bancroft Street outdoor horticultural displays.

(402) 346-4002 • www.lauritzengardens.org OPEN YEAR-ROUND • 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Café • Gift shop • Library • Seasonal Off Interstate 80 at 100 Bancroft Street Tram Tours

Historic

WELCOME Dear Visitors,

HIGHLIGHTS •

The territory that would become the City of Omaha was acquired as part of the Louisiana Purchase by Thomas Jefferson in 1803.

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Native Americans were the first residents of the region. By the early 18th century the Omaha Indians had moved into the vicinity of present-day Omaha. The word “Omaha” means “against the current.” It is speculated that the Omaha Indians were referred to as such due to their earlier, northward movements against the current of the Mississippi River.

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During their trek west, Mormons settled in and around what’s now the Florence neighborhood of Omaha, setting up temporary quarters from 1846-1848.

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After the passage of the KansasNebraska Act, Omaha was officially incorporated on February 2, 1857.

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On November 17, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln declared that Omaha would be the eastern terminus of the new transcontinental railroad.

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In 1879, Omaha lawyers John Lee Webster and A.J. Poppleton took on the case of Chief Standing Bear, the landmark court ruling that gave Indians rights as citizens. The lawyer’s office building is now home to the Omaha Visitors Center.

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“Omaha” appears on the balloon in The Wizard of Oz, some believe it was a reference to a Populist political movement that began in Omaha back in 1892. (We believe “there’s no place like home.”)

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In 1804, William Clark and Meriwether Lewis landed on the shores of the Missouri River, noting it would be a good place for a trading outpost.

Attracting more than 2.6 million visitors over six months, the 1898 Trans-Mississippi Exposition world’s fair was held in Omaha, and the city has been welcoming visitors ever since.

of to Omaha Welcome to Omaha! I am veryCity proud serve as Mayor of Omaha, a city with Jim a reputation as a Suttle, Mayor great place to live, work, play, and visit!

Friends: On behalf of our residents,Dear we invite you to discover all the city has to offer, from the On behalf of our citizens, welcome world-renowned Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium, you to discover our City’s incredibl exquisite museums, and great shops, to Omaha’s establishments.

No wonderful array of locally owned restaurants, beautiful parks, and matter what yo unique entertainment venues.

Enjoy your stay and be sure to com

You’ll find there is a lot to do here in Omaha. Enjoy your visit and Kind regards. come back often.

Warmly,

Jean Stothert, Mayor City of Omaha

OMAHA VISITORS CENTER

1001 Farnam Street (near the Old Market Entertainment District) 402-444-7762 Stop into the Omaha Visitors Center in the heart of downtown and talk one-on-one with friendly Omaha experts who will help customize your Omaha experience. You’ll find vibrant videos, easy-to-follow maps, complimentary coffee, and Wi-Fi. Whether you’re looking for something unique to do, or trying to figure out where to eat, the Omaha Visitors Center is the place to start.

STREET SAVVY TIPS

Omaha city streets are set up on a grid system and easy to navigate. Dodge Street divides the city between north and south, and numbered streets start at the Missouri River and increase as you drive west.

Taxis, Ubers, and Lyfts are available throughout the city. The majority of Omaha hotels offer complimentary direct shuttle service to and from the airport, and within a specific mile radius of their property.

OMAHA’S AIRPORT (OMA)

Omaha’s airport serves more than 4.3 million passengers a year, and offers non-stop service to more than 25 of the nations’ largest airports.

Ranked No. 1 in customer service, you’ll find getting in and out of the airport is quick and easy. The airport is conveniently located 4.7 miles from downtown, so if you’re renting a car, taking a cab, or hopping in an Uber, it will take you less than 10 minutes to the hub of the city. If you’re departing from OMA, plan on arriving at least 90 minutes before your departure time. This will ensure you will have sufficient time to check-in at the airline ticket counter and proceed through the security checkpoint. Food service is available beyond the checkpoints.

OMAHA TOURS

Tours in Omaha can take you on a variety of mini adventures. There is something for every interest – whether you love spooky dolls, quirky food, or floating on water. Here’s a few examples: Omaha Culinary Tours – explore Omaha’s culinary scene one bite at a time.

Bryson Airboats – a 60 mph wind-in-your-hair trip down the Platte River.

Midwest Paranormal History Tour – walk through Omaha’s sinister past and visit haunted sites.

Nebraska Tour Co. – enjoy customization culinary and history tours.

Omaha Patio Rides – a giant party bike for up to 16 adults providing a unique bar crawl.

River City Star – take a romantic cruise down the Missouri River with live music playing.

For more, go to VisitOmaha.com

Goodbye hassle, hello hospitality Omaha is conveniently located in the middle of the country offering easy accessibility from, well…everywhere.

DISTANCE BETWEEN OMAHA’S AIRPORT AND DOWNTOWN

4.7 miles Many Omaha hotels offer complimentary shuttle service directly to and from their properties NON-STOP AIRLINE SERVICE TO MORE THAN

25 major airports

and growing

Omaha Metro Population: Just under

1 million An average of

212 Days

of sunshine per year Spring:

Highs in the mid 60’s Lows in the 40’s

Summer: Highs in the 80’s

Lows in the mid 60’s Fall:

Highs in the 70’s Lows in the 50’s

Winter: Highs in the mid 30’s

Lows n the mid-teens 7

WE’VE GOT YOUR FUN MAPPED OUT Neale Woods

Mormon Bridge

Use this map to explore your options, then look for the giant blue map pins located at top Omaha attractions.

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OMAHA NEIGHBORHOODS Welcome to a city peppered with entertaining neighborhoods ranging from historic and urban chic to delicious and ultra-hip.

T

he map above and information below will give you a feel for different parts of the city, then explore the pages that follow for more details on things to do throughout the city.

Downtown Omaha is a business person, culture lover, and energetic sports fan. It’s the central hub of entertainment in the city, pulsating with live music, art, history, and sporting events. Hot spots include: the city’s convention center and arena; TD Ameritrade Park, Omaha’s 24,000-seat downtown stadium; and the historic Old Market Entertainment District, where cobblestone streets are lined with boutiques, galleries, home-grown restaurants, and street performers. NoDo (North downtown) is an emerging area near the stadium that includes shops, bars, Film Streams art cinema house, and Slowdown, known as one of the best live music venues in the city.

Central Omaha is the hip, edgy kid with creative flair and a discerning palate. From the Benson neighborhood and its indie rock club to the Dundee district known for its culinary delights, this part of the city fuses old and new. Further west, Aksarben Village is filled with live entertainment throughout the year, and is close to Nebraska Furniture Mart, the largest furniture store in the world.

North Omaha is the history buff who wants to experience the past. Home to Omaha’s oldest community, Florence, this area pays tribute to the city’s pioneer days and the Mormon migration of the 1800s. North Omaha is also the place to catch the heritage of jazz, where Duke Ellington, Count Basie, and other great jazz artists once played.

Midtown Omaha is relaxed, chill, and always ready to make a new friend. Lovers of beer, whiskey, wine, pizza, and chocolate will especially feel right at home. Midtown Crossing is a fun spot to unwind with outdoor live entertainment, unique shops, and a variety of restaurants. Proof offers a unique tasting experience for whiskey. A few blocks west are Beer Corner USA and the Blackstone District, each filled with cozy bars, great grub, and plenty of brew.

Northwest Omaha is an outdoorsy adventure-seeker looking to connect with nature. Standing Bear Lake is surrounded by 396 acres of land with hiking and bicycling trails, a field for radio-controlled model airplanes, and paddleboarding opportunities. Glenn Cunningham Lake offers no-wake boating, fishing, and space for picnicking.

South Omaha is the culturally curious friend looking for an international experience. Visit in and around South 24th Street and feel the multicultural influence. From colorful murals that paint a picture of history, to the intricately tiled sidewalks and authentic cuisine, South Omaha is filled with distinct flavor.

Southwest Omaha is a fun-loving, free spirit with a keen sense of style. Avid shoppers are encouraged to bring an extra suitcase and a pair of comfy walking shoes. The Shops of Legacy is a collection of eclectic Omaha exclusive shops and restaurants. Ranging from upscale to casual, Legacy is a mustsee spot. Village Pointe’s open-air design replicates a nostalgic “Main Street” shopping district where customers can enjoy cozy fireplaces during the fall and winter, water features during the warmer seasons, and convenient store-front parking.

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36 Lake Cunningham Recreation Area

To Fremont via Hwy 36 and Hwy 275

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East and West streets are named.

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Boys Town National Headquarters

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Omaha is divided North & South

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98TH

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Koch Family Tennis Complex

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• Eugene T. Mahoney State Park • Strategic Air & Space Museum • Wildlife Safari

I-80 Exit 426

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Neale Woods N.P. Dodge Park & Marina

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Florence Mill

Historic Florence Bank & Depot Museum

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University of Nebraska Omaha

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CHI Health Center Omaha/ TD Ameritrade Park Omaha

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Prospect Hill Cemetery

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Omaha Community Playhouse

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Malcolm X Birthsite

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RUN. ROAM. DRIVE. All kinds are welcome at the Wildlife Safari Park.

Come see the:

wolves • sandhill cranes • bison white-tailed deer • prairie dogs elk • pelicans • eagles • black bears

WildlifeSafariPark.com

MAchamber_visitOmahaGuide_RunRoamDrive_2.375x4.917

m Drive”/ Job #18-0352 WSP Visitors Guides Print Ad 19, 2018 10:53 AM

n: Omaha Chamber of Commerce - Visit Omaha Guide Date: 2019 Order #: 2497 olor 375” x 4.917”

GENERAL CROOK HOUSE MUSEUM

Omaha’s Largest Mineral and Fossil Store

OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK

Weekdays: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Weekends: 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.

Celebrating 140 years, the beautifully restored Italianate General’s quarters was built in 1879 on Historic Fort Omaha.

5730 N. 30th St. #11b Omaha, NE 68111 402-455-9990 www.DouglasCoHistory.org

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Great things for the whole family, and mom too!

Conveniently located just off the interstate 8487 Frederick Street | customgemsomaha.com | 402-397-9606

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EVENTS IN OMAHA This is the ultimate guide to amazing events, exhibits, and festivals happening this year in Omaha.

NCAA and professional sporting competitions, signature events, Broadway hits, and global superstars on the big stage are all the makings for unforgettable experiences that will have you returning.

Super Sports: Building Strength, Sportsmanship & Smarts through April 14, 2019 Omaha Children’s Museum An interactive experience where children can test their skills through play.

Each area is focused on a different sport or profession, from soccer to curling, with a separate toddler area for the youngest athletes in training.

Omaha Symphony: Windborne’s Music of Michael Jackson

January 12, 2019 Holland Performing Arts Center Windborne returns to the Symphony Rocks series with a high-energy homage to the King of Pop and Jackson 5.

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Disney’s Aladdin

January 16-27, 2019 Orpheum Theater From the producers of Disney’s The Lion King, discover the timeless story of Aladdin. The hit Broadway musical delivers a spectacular new world filled with beauty and magic.

Eric Church

January 18 & 19, 2019 CHI Health Center Omaha Country music hit singer Eric Church brings his Double Down tour to Omaha. Two nights—two unique shots.

Russian National Ballet Dinosaur UpROAR

January 17-May 12, 2019 Lauritzen Gardens Be amazed by 20 life-sized installations throughout the garden, where the massive creations by Guy Darrough will blend right in, nestled among prehistoric plants and jungle-like landscapes.

January 30, 2019 Orpheum Theater The Russian National Ballet performs two of the world’s greatest ballets, Romeo & Juliet and Carmen. Featuring more than 50 dancers in dazzling costumes, these harmonious masterpieces will captivate all ages.

Panic! At the Disco

February 1, 2019 CHI Health Center Omaha The American rock band’s worldwide tour features their sixth studio album, Pray for the Wicked, with opening act Two Feet.

30 Americans

February 2-May 5, 2019 Joslyn Art Museum View more than 60 works in a variety of mediums, brought together by internationally and nationally recognized, contemporary African-American artists focusing on important issues and challenging race in the United States.

Go to VisitOmaha.com for a complete list of events

Asics Presidents’ Day Volleyball Classic

February 16-18, 2019 Various locations Nearly 450 of the best Junior Olympic athletes from across the nation will compete in one of the country’s largest volleyball events.

Winnie the Pooh

March 22-April 7, 2019 The Rose Theater Winnie the Pooh and friends learn that a kangaroo is moving into the forest. The group’s plan to avoid this bouncy animal changes when they meet.

The Bridges of Madison County Thumbelina

February 9-March 3, 2019 The Rose Theater Thumbelina is a flowersized girl determined to discover the true meaning of friendship. Follow her on a magical adventure that uses inventive puppetry and innovative design.

Omaha Fashion Week

February 2019 Omaha Design Center A fashion fix to hold you over until August, this red carpet event aims their spotlights on innovation and creativity, and connecting young designers, stylists, photographers, artists, and models. Events include pop-up shopping and a nightly runway show.

The Elixir of Love

Elton John

February 12, 2019 CHI Health Center Omaha See global icon Sir Elton John live one last time as the music legend passes through on his Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour, which spans five continents.

Omaha Beer Week

February 15-24, 2019 Various Locations Ten beer-packed days of bars, breweries, and retailers across the city celebrating Omaha’s craft beer scene with special events and unique celebrations.

February 15 & 17, 2019 Orpheum Theater A light-hearted romantic comedy updated to an American High School circa 1980. Hapless and hopelessly in love, Nemorino idolizes the beautiful and popular Adina. To win her heart he spends everything he has to buy a “love potion” from the dubious Dulcamara in this Opera Omaha production.

March 1-24, 2019 Omaha Community Playhouse A sweeping love story about an emotional, yet brief, love affair. Robert, a photographer, seeks directions to an iconic covered bridge from local Iowa housewife, Francesca.

Dierks Bentley

March 2, 2019 CHI Health Center Omaha The country music star brings his 2019 Burning Man Tour to Omaha.

Omaha Film Festival

March 5-10, 2019 Aksarben Cinema See innovative new films and past masterworks of cinema.

One of the “50 Film Festivals Worth the Entry Fee,” as voted

by MovieMaker Magazine.

March 16, 2019 Orpheum Theater Take in the wonder as flying umbrellas, giant kites, and an enormous canopy of silk float over the audience during this enchanting performance.

Jay Leno

March 29, 2019 Holland Performing Arts Center Acclaimed TV late night show host, best-selling children’s book author, and one of the hardest working men in show business, Jay Leno brings his stand-up comedy to town for laughs and good ol’ fun.

ONE Festival

Of Mice and Men

February 15-March 17, 2019 Omaha Community Playhouse Based on John Steinbeck’s critically-acclaimed novel, this is the story of migrant ranch workers during the Great Depression who dream of buying land. When a crime is accidentally committed, two men are faced with a moral predicament.

Air Play

KISS

March 7, 2019 CHI Health Center Omaha The larger-than-life epic group will rock all night long with their End of the Road World Tour.

March 29-April 14, 2019 Various downtown locations Opera Omaha’s inaugural celebration of opera spanning almost two weeks. Over 50 performances blend music, theater, visual art, dance, and film, featuring high caliber artists and directors.

After Promontory: 150 Years of Transcontinental Railroading

March 30-July 28, 2019 The Durham Museum Period and contemporary images represent how famous photographers of different eras view the transcontinental railroad.

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The Wizard of Oz

May 4, 2019 Orpheum Theater We’re off to see the Wizard! In a world premiere production, the American Midwest Ballet takes the audience dancing down the Yellow Brick Road in this new full-length ballet.

Ariana Grande

April 18, 2019 CHI Health Center Omaha Pop sensation Ariana Grande brings her world tour to Omaha and perform hits from her latest No. 1 album, “Sweetner.”

School of Rock

The International Omaha

April 4-7, 2019 CHI Health Center Omaha It’s all about speed, execution and the competitive spirit of both rider and horse at this world-class indoor horse jumping and dressage competition, featuring a free expo and the InIt2WinIt Horse Speed Jumping Series finale.

Faust

April 12 & 14, 2019 Orpheum Theater In despair the aging and regretful scholar Faust makes a deal with the devil for an illfated chance at youth, vitality, and love. Hear music from the opera that hasn’t been heard in over 150 years in this edition presented by Opera Omaha.

Wayne Brady & the Omaha Symphony

April 13, 2019 Holland Performing Arts Center Emmy-winning singer Wayne Brady takes center stage with the Omaha Symphony and music director Thomas Wilkins for a high-energy night and an unforgettable tribute to entertainment icons Sam Cooke and Sammy Davis Jr.

Junkstock: Spring Edition

April 26-28, 2019 Sycamore Farms This three-day festival celebrates all things rusty, dusty, and timeless. Shop vintage finds, unique antiques, handmade artisan food and goods, and one-of-a-kind repurposed relics.

April 23-28, 2019 Orpheum Theater Based on the hit film, this story follows Dewey Finn, a wannabe rock star who turns a class of straight-A students into grade-A rockers. This comical musical features new songs from Andrew Lloyd Webber, original songs from the movie, and a live kids’ rock band.

P!nk

May 7, 2019 CHI Health Center Omaha International pop icon P!NK brings her Beautiful Trauma World Tour to Omaha, which promises to dazzle fans with show-stopping acrobatics and extravaganzas.

Cirque de Soleil CRYSTAL

April 24-28, 2019 CHI Health Center Omaha Cirque du Soleil’s first-ever show on ice includes all the circus theatrics they’re known for alongside synchronized, freestyle and extreme skating.

Omaha Symphony: Star Wars – A New Hope in Concert

May 3-4, 2019 Holland Performing Arts Center The force is strong as Omaha orchestrates John William’s Academy Award-winning Best Original Music score as the groundbreaking blockbuster is performed in its entirety.

Luke Combs

May 11, 2019 CHI Health Center Omaha Luke Combs’ first headline arena tour, Beer Never Broke my Heart, with special guests LANCO and Jameson Rodgers.

This breakthrough country music artist performs his platinum certified debut album This One’s For You, one of the most streamed albums of 2018.

Cinco de Mayo

May 3-5, 2019 Historic South 24th Street This vibrant family-friendly fiesta attracts over 80,000 people and is filled with authentic food, live music, colorful costumes, and the Midwest’s largest parade featuring dancers, floats, and marching bands.

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Cher

May 14, 2019 CHI Health Center Omaha Multi-award winning singer, actress and performer crosses the U.S. for the first time in five years. The Here We Go Again tour will feature all her hits, along with new songs from her Dancing Queen album.

The Woodsman

May 16-June 16, 2019 Blue Barn Theater Based on the forgotten writings of L. Frank Baum, Strangemen Theatre Company’s The Woodsman, a re-imagined tale of the origin of Baum’s The Tin Woodman of Oz, gives the darkly beautiful, haunting, and heart-breaking story new life.

2019 Big Ten Baseball Tournament

May 22-26, 2019 TD Ameritrade Park Omaha It’s baseball-palooza with this prequel to the CWS. Enjoy the legendary Big Ten and its historic rivalries as teams compete to return to Omaha for the NCAA Men’s College World Series in June.

The Great Gnome Scape

June 1-September 2, 2019 Lauritzen Gardens Garden gnomes are staples in gardens worldwide. At the Gardens, the little fellas have broken loose and taken up residency throughout the arboretum—and it is up to garden guests to find them.

Can you discover them all?

Enchanted Kingdom

May 25-September 1, 2019 Omaha Children’s Museum Step into a mythical world where families can explore a kingdom that includes a clinic that cares for dragons and unicorns, a magical library, and a castle.

Taste of Omaha

May 31-June 2, 2019 Heartland of America Park A food festival featuring some of Omaha’s favorite restaurant dishes, live music, and entertainment in the beautiful Heartland of America Park and Lewis & Clark Landing.

Ragtime

May 31-June 30, 2019 Omaha Community Playhouse The four-time Tony Awardwinning musical explores the pursuit of the American dream and the meaning of family.

Set in New York City at the turn of the century, the lives of a wealthy white couple, a determined Jewish immigrant, and an African American ragtime musician intertwine.

The Art of Seating: 200 Years of American Design

June 1-September 8, 2019 Joslyn Art Museum Pulling this everyday object out from under the table, this exhibition presents the imaginative style and creativity found in this seemingly unassuming piece of furniture.

Santa Lucia Italian Festival

June 6-9, 2019 Lewis & Clark Landing At this 94th annual celebration, enjoy the richness of Italian culture and history with authentic foods, music, and nightly entertainment.

Omaha Summer Arts Festival

Tyrannosaurs: Meet the Family

Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical

Zydeco Festival

June 7-9, 2019 Gene Leahy Mall The Omaha Summer Arts Festival, now in its 45th year, is a premier destination for over 135 fine artists from across the country to demonstrate and showcase their work amidst live entertainment and delicious food.

June 7-30, 2019 The Rose Theater Matilda is an exceptional child with an extraordinary imagination who learns to claim her destiny. A brilliant girl born into a…less brilliant family. Matilda gets sent away to a terrible school, led by a mean, former hammerthrowing champion. Armed with good friends and a mentor, Matilda starts a revolution to help herself and others “change their story.”

Leslie Odom Jr. & the Omaha Symphony

June 8 & 9, 2019 Holland Performing Arts Center A Tony Award winner for his role in Broadway’s Hamilton, Leslie Odom Jr. brings his elegant jazz sensations and powerful Broadway hits to Omaha’s Symphony stage.

June 8-September 1, 2019 The Durham Museum The world’s first exhibition showcasing the newly-revised tyrannosaur family tree, this exhibition illustrates how this group became the world’s top predators with their massive skulls, powerful jaws and bone-crushing teeth.

June 22, 2019 Midtown Crossing Enjoy a full day of Creole and Cajun-style food, activities, and music from treasured musical artists from throughout the New Orleans region in this fifth annual event. Free admission.

NCAA College World Series

June 15-25/26, 2019 TD Ameritrade Park Omaha 2019 marks the 70th anniversary of the Men’s CWS in Omaha. Join the festivities of a cherished baseball tradition that has a place on many bucket lists. Make memories while tailgating with fans from across the country, watching the best in college baseball, and checking out Fan Fest.

Go to VisitOmaha.com for a complete list of events in Omaha 17

Junkstock: Underneath the Stars

Nebraska Asian Festival July 27, 2019 Lewis & Clark Landing This second annual event celebrates Asian heritage.

Enjoy food, activities, and cultural performances throughout the day. New this year: a K-pop party.

June 22-24, 2019 Sycamore Farms This three-day festival celebrates all things rusty, dusty and timeless. Experience this dreamy night event complete with twinkle lights, hot air balloons, a vintage ferris wheel, bonfires, and fireflies.

Maha Music Festival

August 2019 Stinson Park at Aksarben Village Enjoy Omaha’s indie rock music festival featuring some of the industry’s hottest acts, with a lineup of heavy-hitters from national, regional, and local artists for a day of food and a celebration of the community.

Railroad Days

Shakespeare on the Green

June & July 2019 Young Park—60th & Dodge St. Experience the power and beauty of classical theater in a relaxing outdoor setting with preshow entertainment, activities, and food options.

This year’s productions are All’s Well That Ends Well and Hamlet. Free admission.

Tempo of Twilight

June & August 2019 Lauritzen Gardens An outdoor concert series that brings local entertainment to the garden for a beautiful blend of music and nature.

Bring chairs, food, and the family on select Tuesdays throughout the summer.

Omaha Beer Fest

July 2019 Horsemen’s Park Get crafty! Put brew masters to the test and sample over 200 beers, ciders, and meads from more than 70 breweries.

Attend “Beer Academy” classes, listen to live music, and vote on the best facial hair at Battle of the Beards.

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July 13-14, 2019 Various locations Hop aboard for a fun-filled weekend that’s all about trains and Omaha’s rich railroad heritage. Five area cultural attractions join forces to offer activities and hands-on experiences at one special low price for families.

Jazz on the Green

July & August 2019 Turner Park at Midtown Crossing—31st & Dodge St. The ultimate outdoor jam session featuring national, regional, and local jazz musicians on Thursdays throughout the summer. Bring your own picnic or indulge in Midtown Crossing’s array of restaurants with patio seating.

Pinnacle Bank Golf Championship

July 19-22, 2019 The Club at Indian Creek The PGA is back in Omaha with the Web.com Tour’s championship, featuring more than 100 golfers at the premier, 72-par Indian Creek golf course. At the end of the Web. com Tour’s season in August, the top 25 money winners advance to the PGA Tour.

Nebraska Balloon & Wine Festival

August 9 & 10, 2019 Leo Royal Park Toast to award-winning Nebraska wines and enjoy the spectacular hot air balloon launch and glow.

Greek Festival

August 16-18, 2019 St. John’s Greek Orthodox Church Opa! Enjoy authentic Greek cuisine, music, and folk dancing in full Greek garb at this annual celebration of tradition and culture.

Omaha Fashion Week

August 2019 Omaha Design Center Too fabulous for just one week!

The August show is one of the largest fashion weeks in the country, featuring more than 65 designers, 400 models, and hundreds of creations.

Omaha Restaurant Week September 13-22, 2019 Various Locations A celebration of Omaha’s culinary scene as more than 50 participating restaurants offer exclusive fixed price, three-course meals at discounted prices during Omaha’s ten tastiest days.

Hamilton

September 10-29, 2019 Orpheum Theater Broadway’s smash hit lands in Omaha! The story of America’s Founding Father Alexander Hamilton, who became George Washington’s right-hand man during the Revolutionary War and was the new nation’s first Treasury Secretary. Featuring a score that blends hip-hop, jazz, blues, rap, and R&B.

Antiques Show

September 19-22, 2019 Lauritzen Gardens The 16th annual event celebrating antiques, gardening, art, and design.

Shop treasures, attend expert presentations, and attend intimate luncheons that will have you heading home inspired.

German Day/Oktoberfest September 20 & 21, 2019 German-American Society Celebrate the German way with authentic food, folk dancing, and the traditional “Tapping of the Keg.”

Japanese Ambience Festival

October 5 & 6, 2019 Lauritzen Gardens A salute to Omaha’s first sister city Shizuoka and the beauty of Japanese culture. Celebrate autumn and experience tradition with activities like calligraphy, koinobori, origami, performances, and more.

Heritage Days

October 5 & 6, 2019 Fort Atkinson State Park The 1800s skills, trades, and way of life are celebrated through hands-on learning demonstrations, military reenactments, traditional foods, and music. Additional community events include a parade and cook-offs.

Word and Image: The St. John’s Bible Fort Omaha Intertribal Powwow

September 21, 2019 Fort Omaha Campus Be immersed in the culture and traditions of Native Americans at this outdoor celebration.

Observe a traditional intertribal powwow accompanied by music, dancing, and artistry.

October 5-January 19, 2020 Joslyn Art Museum Featuring the first handwritten illuminated Bible commissioned by a Benedictine Monastery since the 15th century, this exhibition incorporates contemporary imagery and events to connect traditional medieval craftsmanship with the present day.

River City Rodeo

September 27-28, 2019 CHI Health Center Omaha Fans come from thousands of miles away to enjoy the fast-paced action and recordsetting championship moments during these two nights of professional rodeo.

Junkstock: Harvest Fest

October 4-6, 2019 Sycamore Farms Junkstock is the place to be for vintage finds, unique antiques, handmade artisan food and goods, and one-of-a-kind repurposed relics.

Holiday Poinsettia Show

November 22-December 31, 2019 Lauritzen Gardens Thousands of poinsettias create a glowing tribute to the holidays, with a 20-foot-tall poinsettia tree at its center, surrounded by twinkling white lights, glittering ornaments, and model garden trains.

Junkstock: Winter Wonderland

December 6-8 & 13-15, 2019 Sycamore Farms Shop vintage vendors, makers, and artisans indoors for the perfect gifts and holiday decor. Visit with Santa, take a hayrack ride, enjoy the large light display, keep cozy at the bonfire lounge, and more.

Christmas at Union Station

November 29-January 5, 2020 The Durham Museum Showcasing the best of the season with the region’s largest indoor holiday tree, traditions from around the globe, visits from Santa, and additional special programming.

Holiday Lights Festival

November 28-January 1, 2020 Various locations This five-week festival kicks off on Thanksgiving and continues through December with live music performances, special events, ice skating and more.

Catch the fireworks to ring in the New Year.

Louder Than Words: Rock, Power & Politics

October 12-February 2, 2020 The Durham Museum See how music has shaped and reflected our culture norms on a variety of political topics.

View exclusive video interviews with Bono and Jimmy Carter combined with interactives, photography, and artifacts.

Go to VisitOmaha.com for a complete list of events

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Wild Kingdom Adventure 20

Internationally known as one of the best zoos in the world, Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium is more than a zoo, it’s a biological park dedicated to conservation.

Home to the world’s largest indoor desert and North America’s largest indoor rainforest, Omaha’s zoo is filled with year-round wild kingdom adventures.

E

very time you visit, you’re helping the zoo make an impact across the globe. Omaha’s zoo is working with more than 20 states and countries to ensure the zoo’s resources extend far beyond the animals in its care. The zoo is supporting anti-poaching efforts in Nigeria, Swaziland and China; planting more than two million trees in Madagascar to provide habitat for numerous species; rescuing and rehabilitating African penguins in South Africa and sloth bears in India; working to improve tiger conservation in the Russian Far East; and the list goes on and on.

LIED JUNGLE

Hike through America’s largest indoor rainforest with roaring waterfalls and swinging gibbons in a tropical environment that will transport you to the jungles of South America, Asia, and Africa. See more than 90 animal species in their natural habitats, from the forest floor to the highest jungle canopy.

Don’t miss the swinging rope bridge, and take a picture from lookout peak with a full view of silvered leaf monkeys, ebony langurs, spotted-neck otters, and pygmy hippos.

DESERT DOME

Explore the world’s largest indoor desert under the world’s largest glazed geodesic dome, an Omaha landmark. The Desert Dome stands 13 stories tall and features a 30-foottall sand dune containing 300 tons of red sand. Climbing in and around the cliffs are klipspringers, rock wallabies, bobcats, and meerkats. Inside, enter Rattlesnake Canyon and encounter the world’s largest indoor rattlesnake exhibit with 14 reptile species, including venomous snakes.

KINGDOMS OF THE NIGHT

Underneath the Desert Dome, navigate nighttime in the world’s largest nocturnal exhibit filled with creatures that surface only after dark.

Travel through a canyon, wind through a damp cave, travel through a bat cave, and check out the world’s largest indoor swamp.

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HENRY DOORLY ZOO AND AQUARIUM

ASIAN HIGHLANDS

NEW IN 2019, the completion of Asian Highlands, a $22 million, 8-acre journey from the grasslands of Northern India through the Himalayan Mountains to the forests of northeastern China. Visitors can currently encounter red pandas, white-naped cranes, and tufted deer among unique landscape.

This spring, Asian highlands is expected to add sloth bears, Amur tigers, snow leopards and Indian rhinos situated among ancient ruins, canopy trees, and dense forests. Visitors will also enjoy the new Kid’s Discovery Trail, a series of foot paths with several naturebased play opportunities.

Most of the animals in Asian Highlands are very cold tolerant making it a yearround experience.

AFRICAN GRASSLANDS

Take a trip to Africa through this 28-acre outdoor experience featuring breathtaking panoramic views and long vistas teeming with African wildlife like white rhinos, cheetahs, lions, and elephants. It includes North America’s largest herd room featuring interactive guest and keeper areas. TIP: Ride the Skyfari for a spectacular unobstructed view of this exhibit.

BACKSTAGE TOURS: Octopus Backstage Pass: See what it takes to care for a giant pacific octopus, as keepers put together a meal for one of the most intelligent animals in the world.

Kingdoms of the Night Backstage Pass: Here’s your chance to face the night in the light. This backstage tour lets you wander through the world’s largest nocturnal exhibit with the lights on, and see what’s really lurking around.

Aquarium Backstage Pass: See and smell the aquarium from the other side of the glass. Witness what it takes to feed the sharks in Shark Reef.

Lied Jungle Backstage Pass: Get front row seats to feeding time for more than 300 freeflying bats as you explore behind of the scenes of the largest indoor rainforest in North America.

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SUZANNE AND WALTER SCOTT AQUARIUM

Transverse the ocean floor and come nose-to-nose with sea turtles as large sand tiger, zebra, and stingray sharks circle above. The 70foot shark tunnel inside the Scott Aquarium provides a mesmerizing underwater experience. From the ocean depths to the frigid cold, the aquarium also features ocean birds, including more than 85 penguins.

Up to 20 tons of man-made snow can be churned out in one day from four snow machines.

Check out VisitOmaha.com for more on Omaha’s Zoo

CHILDREN’S ADVENTURE TRAILS

This five-acre fully immersive outdoor experience is filled with climbing areas, raft races, waterfalls, with creeks and ponds that invite kids to jump in, stay cool and hunt for treasure. Kids can climb a 40-foot-wide by three-story tall treehouse with a climbing net while monkeys scurry above.

ALASKAN ADVENTURE

Kids will love this splash ground featuring 100 water jets and over 75 bronze sculptures of jumping salmon, puffins, sea lions, orcas, and a tremendous 18-foot humpback whale. This is a can’t miss experience; open May through October.

RIDES: SKYFARI: An open-air chairlift ride providing tree-top views of the zoo.

TRAIN: A steam locomotive featuring 11 open-air coaches and a caboose.

TRAM: A comfortable way to travel with 50 seats and 4 stops.

HUBBARD GORILLA VALLEY

A place where gorillas roam free and visitors are on display. This cutting-edge space allows Omaha to be a major player in gorilla conservation. In Orangutan Forest listen to the call of the these enchanting creatures as they play on two man-made banyan trees 65 feet in the air.

EXPEDITION MADAGASCAR

Home to some of the most amazing and unique animals such as the aye-aye lemur and the giant jumping rat. Here’s your chance to see these creatures in person, maybe even walk alongside them on the Lemur Island boardwalk.

CAMEL RIDES: Saddle up humpback style aboard camels.

SUE’S WILDLIFE CAROUSEL: 30 animals covered in brilliant enamel add to the charm of the zoo.

ANIMAL ENCOUNTERS: From the African grasslands to the jungles of South America, get ready to experience an immersive animal world jam-packed with opportunities to engage with wildlife.

Come eye-to-eye with giraffes and have an opportunity to feed them.

Take in a theater show like no other, with more than 35 birds taking flight in an outdoor performance.

DRIVE-THRU SAFARI

A quick 30-minute drive from the zoo is the Lee G. Simmons Conservation Park & Wildlife Safari. This four-mile, drive-through zoo offers visitors a way to get up close and personal with bears, wolves, eagles, and more. Park the car and take a hike on nature trails surrounding the park’s lake.

Feed a budgie, the small birds will fly right over your head and eat out of the palm of your hand.

Cross the boardwalk on Lemur Island and you may find a furry friend walking alongside you.

Play with African pygmy goats.

Watch penguin and shark feedings.

Touch, feed, and interact with stingrays.

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OMAHA’S MOST ELIGIBLE BACHELOR TURNS 10 Hi, I’m Bob. I’m a bridge. I’m also the most charming thing in two towers. I like long walks (or bike rides), get along great with four-legged (and two-winged) animals, and last year I hit a major milestone—the big 1-0!

Like a fine wine, I just keep getting better… it’s the “Bob-factor.”

This is an open invitation to visit me, hang out, and participate in the hottest workout plan sweeping the nation.

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M

y full name is Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge, but my friends call me Bob. At first glance, I’m a pedestrian bridge welcoming everyone on foot, paw, and wheel. But actually, I’m an outdoor enthusiast’s dream come true, and a Fitbit user’s path to a successful 10,000 steps. I know what you’re thinking, “Bob, what’s the workout plan­—please tell me your secrets!” Well you’ve heard of a 5k and a 10k, but what about a 0.9k? I’m 3,000 feet long, which is 0.9k in marathon terms.

So walk across me, take a photo, and show it to my peeps at the Omaha Visitors Center to get an official marathon sticker. Put it on your car to be really cool.

Fun Fact: I also connect 150 miles of trails, so my over-achieving friends can keep running, or rolling, or crawling along.

FIVE THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT ME, BOB.

1 2 3 4 5

I’m not just a path to marathon glory, I’m also a magic trick! I curve over water by mere cables which means I literally float over the Missouri River!

No joke, you can actually feel me swaying in the wind while you walk over water. Sure, I’ve got two 210-feet-tall towers that keep me grounded, but seriously, I’m all MAGIC! Probably my coolest trick happens when you reach my midsection and “POOF” you’re standing in two states at the same time. Striking a pose and taking a pic while standing in two states at once—it’s called “Bobbing,” trust me, it’s a thing. It’s time for you to get in on the strike-snap-share movement!

I’m online and you can reach me anytime! My handle on Twitter and Instagram is @BobTBridge or you can holler at me with #ItHappensOnBob. I love when friends share photos of us together. Holding up the Tower of Pisa. Kissing the Blarney Stone. Walking on Bob. All selfie bucket-listers.

I’m a cheap date and literally have couples floating on air. I’ve seen a lot of engagements in my day… I inspire romance.

My future is so bright, I gotta wear shades. Seriously, the tops of my towers light up the sky and the Mighty Mo. #GlowUp!

Learn all about me and check out my vlog (video blog) at BobTheBridge.com

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WILD THING, I THINK I LOVE YOU

Imagine your family spending the night in an African Savannah – lions roaring close by. The Sleeping Bag Safari is just one unique experience available to families all year round at Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium. If your family includes all adult children, the Adult Only Safaris might be more your style. It includes gourmet dinner and drinks, an evening hike, movie, snacks, a morning hike, an animal visit, plus a free day at the zoo. Young, old, and in-between, Omaha’s Zoo is a wildlife experience that will excite families of all ages.

ZOO TIPS FOR FAMILIES

• • •

Plan to spend a full day at the zoo, there’s more than 160 acres to explore.

Winter can be a great time to visit, there’s seven acres of indoor exhibits and it’s less crowded.

If you’re traveling with grandparents, the train offers a nostalgic way to cover a lot of ground without all the walking.

Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium

FAMILY FUN

A weekend in Omaha is an adventure for the whole family. Explore the world’s largest indoor desert, have a ball with the Super Gravitron ball machine, create an original work of art at a world-class museum, but most of all… make memories.

WALK BACK IN TIME

The Durham Museum, designated as a National Historic Landmark in 2017, is an Omaha gem filled with an extraordinary array of permanent exhibits including restored train cars, 1940s store fronts, numerous artifacts showing the history of the region, and the Byron Reed collection, which includes some of the rarest coins and documents in the world.

Climb aboard and stroll through historic passenger trains from the 1940s and ‘50s and feel what it was like to travel back in the day. If you listen closely, you’ll hear the travel stories of people who may have once passed through the station from the life-like statues strategically placed throughout the Great Hall.

DURHAM MUSEUM TIPS FOR FAMILIES

• • 26

Check out the 1930s soda fountain inside the museum and enjoy an old-fashioned phosphate or root beer float.

Plan a trip around the holidays, Christmas at Union Station is a must-do for creating long-lasting family memories.

The Durham Museum

JUST WEST OF OMAHA

Strategic Air Command and Aerospace Museum

Omaha Children’s Museum

A 20 minute drive west of Omaha at Exit 426—you’ll find the Strategic Air Command and Aerospace Museum, a 300,000-square-feet aviation playground featuring a flight simulator, children’s learning center and an impressive collection of iconic and rarely seen aircraft.

IT’S PLAYTIME

Ranked as one of the top children’s museums in the country, Omaha Children’s Museum makes learning an adventure all year-round. With more than 45,000 square feet of hands-on adventures, the museum is a playground for the imagination.

Families love the mega Super Gravitron ball machine. Drop in a ball, guess where it will land and track its path, all leading to a massive ball drop! Scramble to add more balls to the center before it drops again.

The new STEAM Cave exhibit, a hands-on science lab, is designed for young explorers.

Imagination Playground has a kid-friendly hospital, bank, barn, grocery store, and more. The Art Smart Center, a vibrant space for painting, dancing, and creating, will bring out the artist in both kids and adults.

CHILDREN’S MUSEUM TIPS FOR FAMILIES

• •

Lee G. Simmons Conservation Park and Wildlife Safari

Nearby families will enjoy exploring the Lee G. Simmons Wildlife Safari. Drive your own car on an actual safari, coming face-to-face with North American animals such as bears, wolves, elk, bison, white-tailed deer, and pronghorn antelope.

Mainly geared toward kids aged 3 to 10, but all ages will be thoroughly entertained.

Kids will be climbing, playing and creating – so comforable clothes are a must.

LET YOUR CREATIVTY GO CRAZY

Joslyn Art Museum

Joslyn Art Museum is a pink marble masterpiece made of 38 types of marble from around the world, and that’s just the outside. Inside, admire Dale Chihuly’s monumental glass sculpture on your way to the permanent collections of art ranging from ancient times to the present. Unleash your inner artist at ART WORKS, a 1,500-square-feet interactive space complete with nine activity stations so you may create your own masterpieces like stop-motion animation and hi-tech paintings. Make your way outdoors to the garden galleries, notably the colorful Discovery Garden complete with 20 artworks. Joslyn offers free admission year-round as well as mobile and guided tours, perfect for families of all sizes and ages.

Joslyn Art Museum

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FAMILY FUN Big Mama’s Kitchen

FAMILY-FRIENDLY DINING PIZZA

Noli’s – Blackstone District Pitch – Dundee Zios Pizza – Old Market Dante Pizzeria – West Omaha Mama’s Pizzeria – Central Omaha Frank’s Pizzeria – West Omaha

GRILLED CHEESE

Dundee Dell – Dundee Kitchen Table – Downtown Don & Millie’s – Southwest Omaha Shirley’s – West Omaha (Corn Flake Frenchie)

HAMBURGERS

Block 16 – Downtown Petrow’s – Midtown King Kong – South Omaha Runza – Midtown Bronco’s – West of Metro

Go to VisitOmaha.com for a complete list of family-friendly restaurants.

Mormon Trail Center at Historic Winter Quarters

BLAST FROM THE PAST

At the Mormon Trail Center at Historic Winter Quarters, experience what it was like to live in a makeshift cabin, pull a handcart, and “travel” by covered wagon like families did during the great Mormon exodus of the 1800s. The Mormon Trail Center offers free admission and optional guided tours. The General George Crook House is a living history museum where your family can see how a commanding officer lived on the frontier back in the 1880s, complete with authentic clothing and furniture. The heirloom garden has more than 110 varieties of flowers and plants, and during November and December the Crook House is all decked out for the holidays.

Did you know that our 38th President was born in Omaha? Visit Gerald R. Ford’s Birthsite and Gardens featuring presidential mementos, and a rose garden complete with a colonnade in honor of former First Lady Betty Ford. Another notable Omaha birthsite is that of human rights activist Malcolm X. The 14-acre developing memorial features a plaza with a historical marker commemorating where Malcolm X first lived with his family. Omaha’s El Museo Latino is a lesson in Latino and Hispanic art and history. One of only 17 Latino museums in the country, this quaint museum is located in South Omaha, a community diverse in cultures from around the globe.

El Museo Latino

OMAHA SAVINGS PACK

Visit Omaha’s Savings Pack delivers more than $300 in savings right to your phone. Get an all-access pass to discounts at top Omaha attractions. With nothing to download, the Savings Pack will be delivered via text and email, and allows for easy mobile redemption.

For more information go to VisitOmaha.com/SavingsPack.

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The Amazing Pizza Machine

Dolci

ICE CREAM TOUR

Ice cream is one of the sweetest ways to explore some of Omaha’s historic neighborhoods. Design your very own Omaha Ice Cream tour at these popular artisan ice cream shops and discover a new favorite.

Eat, play, ride, repeat at The Amazing Pizza Machine, a 60,000-square-feet indoor funhouse filled with rides, arcade games, and… oh yeah, pizza. This arcade experience includes Amazing Quest Laser Tag, indoor Go Karts, Bumper Cars, Mini Bowling, the Frog Hopper, and Wild Ride Coaster, plus more than 170 of the latest and greatest arcade games.

Dolci Ice Cream & Desserts in the Old Market delivers an ice cream spaghetti and sweetballs dish you have to see… and taste. It’s a “pasta” dish like no other.

Coneflower Creamery in the Blackstone District concocts its artisanal ice cream and cold treats from locally sourced milk, cream, and fruit. We dare you to stop after one scoop. eCreamery in Dundee offers rotating flavors of specialty ice cream, gelato, and dairy-free sorbet. Featured in Oprah magazine and The New York Times, and on Shark Tank.

Ted and Wally’s in Benson and the Old Market serves premium all-natural ice cream churned the old-fashioned way with rock salt. Look for unusual flavors daily such as White Chocolate Golden Beet, Black Molasses & Granola, and Girl Scout Lemonades Cookie. YUM! Freezing in Aksarben Village serves Thai Rolled Ice Cream, poured onto a frozen pan, chopped, mixed, spread and rolled right in front of you – it’s as fun to watch as it is to eat.

Boys Town

World-renowned Boys Town, a National Historic Landmark District, features a beautiful Chapel in the likeness of a 15th century Gothic church. Learn more about the organization at the Hall of History exhibit and see the world’s largest ball of stamps. Don’t forget to pick up stamps from the “penny bin” to take home.

Vala’s Pumpkin Patch

Bellevue Berry Farm is a great spot to pick berries during the spring and pumpkins during the fall. Vala’s Pumpkin Patch is a fall harvest wonderland filled with more than 50 attractions, activities, and shows; hayrack rides, and a huge pumpkin field ripe for the pickin’.

Ted & Wally’s

For more tips from locals go to VisitOmaha.com/52weekends

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Lake Zorinsky

EVERY GREAT LOVE STORY HAS A GREAT ESCAPE Omaha. Where the Wild Things Are. In Omaha, couples can get a little wild… at the zoo of course. More than just a zoo, Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium is a biological park with world-renowned attractions around each corners. Take an international expedition through the world’s largest desert dome while exploring desert life from across the globe, and just a few steps away, the nation’s largest indoor rainforest is home to 90 species surrounded by the relaxing woosh of waterfalls.

The Asian Highlands and African Grasslands each offer unique animals to visit while experiencing their native habitats. A stroll through the world’s best zoo will inspire in-depth conversations and make a lot of memories.

Escape the routine of daily life and take the time to reconnect, recharge, and remember why that special person matters the most. Omaha offers the right backdrop for a romantic getaway with that special someone. A wide range of experiences will entertain everyone from the outdoor adventure seekers, to the culinary curious, to the bucket list checkers, and everyone in between.

When nature calls, Omaha is the place to answer with hundreds of miles of hiking and biking trails, comfortable lakeside campsites, and picturesque outdoor attractions. Area lakes, prairies, woodlands, and riverbanks make Omaha a relaxing birding hotspot. The city’s prime location near the wooded Missouri River Valley and along a main migratory path offers ample opportunity to find and view rare bird species. With nearly 20 miles of trails, Fontenelle Forest boasts thousands of acres of forests, oak savanna, prairie, and wetlands and more than 600 different species to view. Lauritzen Gardens is a quiet, serene locale to reconnect with nature and each other. More than 100 acres of fragrant gardens, colorful plant life, and a babbling brook.

For tips from locals go to VisitOmaha.com/52weekends 30

LOCALS TIP

Omaha couple Pat and Marisol love going to the zoo for quality time. They suggest going early in the morning to see the animal feedings and taking the time to read the species’ information cards to collect fun trivia facts. For more local tips from couples go to VisitOmaha.com/52weekends.

For the Love of Art

Couples searching for unique art experiences find a cultural oasis in Omaha. Dynamic public art pieces and murals pepper the city like colorful monuments to creativity. The public art pieces invite interaction that spark originality and result in selfie gold. Omaha’s art ranges from the quirky to classic masterpieces. The Joslyn Art Museum is an artistic powerhouse filled with more than 11,000 works of art from heavy hitters such as Chihuly, Rembrandt, Renoir, and Monet. Spend the day handin-hand browsing exhibit halls with works representing different eras. Joslyn offers free admission and a full day of viewing in and outside of the museum. The ultra-hip Hot Shops Art Center is 92,000 square feet of glass blowing, pottery making, bronze casting, blacksmithing, and more.

This art-in-creation house is home to more than 80 artists who open their studios for public viewing. Visitors can see how the art is created and, in some cases, join in the fun.

Every corner of the city offers a different art experience with galleries and shops selling one-of-a-kind artwork and memorable souvenirs.

Hot Shops Art Center

Hers and His-tory

Omaha’s storied and diverse past is well preserved in different areas of town. Based on interests, couples can enjoy a variety of historical experiences. The Durham Museum is a fully restored art deco train station now showcasing traveling and permanent exhibits. Couples can leisurely walk through train cars, view one of the world’s rarest coin and document collections, and share a sweet phosphate at the authentic soda fountain.

Florence Mill

In many ways, Omaha’s Florence neighborhood is reminiscent of a Norman Rockwell painting with idyllic tree-lined streets and history around every corner. The Mormon Trail Center walks guests through the 1846 Mormon migration. Fully immersive exhibits include a full-sized log cabin, covered wagon, and hand cart. During winter months, elaborate gingerbread displays help celebrate the season. The Florence Mill connects agriculture, history, and art. Couples enjoy walking through the re-established mill complete with an art gallery and museum. During summer and fall months, the neighborhood farmers market offers more than fresh produce, there also opportunities to feed and pet alpacas.

Omaha’s historic North 24th Street pulsates with a musical past. The area is known for attracting jazz greats Duke Ellington, Count Basie, and others. The area continues to celebrate its jazz roots with the Love’s Jazz and Arts Center, a culture center showcasing live musical performance.

Fontenelle Forest

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EVERY GREAT LOVE STORY HAS A GREAT ESCAPE

Old Market Entertainment District

NEED COFFEE?

Omaha coffee shops provide visitors sweet caffeine dreams and add a kick-start to the day… night… and in-between.

A number of Omaha cafes roast and bag their own coffees.

Archetype concocts its beverages in two minimalistic but cool locations. Amateur Coffee serves up vegan coffee and beverages alongside sweet and savory goods in their coffee parlor. Hardy Coffee Co. has three locations selling coffee and specialty baked goods (try the cinnamon rolls).

Other coffee spots include: Blue Line Coffee Culprit Cafe & Bakery Farine + Four Himalayan Java Coffee Howlin Hounds Coffee Sozo Coffeehouse Urban Abbey Zen Coffee Company

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Love You a Brunch

On the weekend, brunch is the most important meal of the day. A hearty brunch with a little savory, a dash of sweet, and a lot of bubbly (mimosas anyone?) starts the day off with plenty of laughs and yums. Omaha’s brunch scene is an Instagram-worthy dining adventure.

Saddle Creek Breakfast Club has quickly become a new Omaha favorite with locals flocking (and often waiting in lines out the door) for the tasty morning fare. The neon pink sign in the window serves as a beacon calling all breakfeasters to chow down on dishes like banana pancakes, made light and fluffy, topped with thinly sliced bananas and peanuts; biscuits and gravy that are creamy, dreamy, and served with housemade biscuits; and the hearty steak-and-eggs burrito. Over Easy is a classic breakfast and brunch diner serving locally sourced ingredients in colorful dishes. Fans enjoy the hash brown rounds, chicken and waffles, and seasonal housemade pop tarts. Other brunch hot spots include Kitchen Table, Timber Wood Fire Bistro, and Bailey’s.

Over Easy

Mode de Vie

Eat, Drink, Repeat

Omaha’s dining scene is built for bonding... and stretchy pants. After all, a couple that eats together stays together, right? Welcome to a city with plenty of intimate restaurants with cozy, quiet corners and travelworthy food. With an abundance of thriving farms sprinkled throughout the state, Omaha restaurants like The Boiler Room built a fan base on having unique menus based on seasonal availability. Located in the Old Market Entertainment District, Boiler Room’s cool atmosphere, low lighting, and picturesque food make for a memorable night out.

Also on the forefront of the farmto-fork movement, Baela Rose is a hip, cozy eatery focusing on classic cooking techniques with a menu designed to allow each diner to create an individual tasting. Drawing inspiration from around the globe, the ever-changing menu is eclectic with an Omaha twist. Other romantic restaurants include Monarch Prime & Bar, The Grey Plume, Kith & Kin, Dolce, and Stirnella.

Wicked Rabbit

Cheers to Us

Omaha’s nightlife scene bubbles and brews with elegant champagne bars, comfortable craft breweries, heart-pumping dance clubs, magical speakeasies, and cozy lounges. The Wicked Rabbit invites couples to step through the looking glass into a Wonderland-themed speakeasy serving high-end craft cocktails with plenty of flair. Mad bartenders and servers rock brightly colored wigs and clothes in the intimate lounge.

It’s an adventure for the curiouser and curiouser... as long as you know the secret phrase (psst, tell the clerk you’re looking for the Wicked Rabbit). Mode de Vie is a classic champagne bar. The atmosphere is relaxed elegance – with plush seating and walls washed in the color of royalty. On warm summer nights, Skyview Terrace in the Holland Performing Arts Center offers an outdoor lounge with a breathtaking view of downtown Omaha.

Sprinkled throughout the city, Omaha’s entertaining neighborhoods are filled with unique dining options, live music venues, craft breweries, lounges, and photo-worthy moments. The Old Market Entertainment District is a mini romantic getaway for couples.

Strolling cobblestone streets together while stopping into boutiques, friendly pubs, sweet shops, and galleries will inspire some flirting and maybe a kiss or two. The Benson neighborhood is a not-so-mild mannered entertainment district with live music pouring out of the nationally recognized venue, The Waiting Room. The Benson “strip” is lined with laid back bars, cool breweries, and even an adult arcade.

Beercade is wall-to-wall arcade games such as Skeeball, Pac-Man, and Mortal Combat (what couple doesn’t love a little friendly competition?) Other fun neighborhood date sites include Midtown Crossing, Blackstone District, and Dundee.

For tips from locals go to VisitOmaha.com/52weekends

Soaring Wings Vineyard

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A MAN’S GOTTA DO WHAT A MAN’S GOTTA DO

Huber-Haus

Getting the guys together for a trip is a job for a true weekend warrior. Omaha makes it easy. With a nationally recognized music scene, a buzzed-about craft brew community, mountain biking trails, golf courses, sporting events, and casinos paired with a city known for its great food, planning a guy’s trip to Omaha is a no-brainer.

Iron Horse Golf Course - Saunders County

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AXE THROWING, CIGAR SMOKING & SPORTS (what more can a guy ask for?)

Kros Strain

BELLY UP

The light zest of a cold ale, the mild flavor of a frosty lager, or the heavy malt taste of a dark stout, Omaha continues to gain accolades as a top beer city. With 12 unique craft breweries peppered throughout the city, enjoy a variety of innovative concoctions created by craftsmen who have made beer their life and Omaha their home. Lucky Bucket, Nebraska Brewing, and Brickway Brewery offer brewery tours; typically 30-40 minutes in length and include samples. Or you can explore Omaha’s craft beer scene onboard the Omaha Brew Bus, a four-hour guided tour filled with tastings and behind-the-scene access to top breweries.

Homy Inn

Axe Games

Safari Cigars and Lounge

It’s the tri-fecta of guydom, a little axe throwing, some cigar smokin’, topped with a side of sports. Omaha is filled with unique spots to enjoy all three.

Axe throwing is the newest “sport” trending right now, and in Omaha, Axe Games and Flying Timber offer unique spaces to let your inner lumberjack out. The concept is simple, grab an axe, throw the axe at a target on the wall, pull the axe out of the wall, and watch your friends throw axes. (We’re told it’s harder, and safer, than it looks).

If throwing back a little whiskey and smoking a stogie is more your style, Havana Garage in the Old Market Entertainment District offers a cool, casual place fitting of its name, complete with walk-in humidor. Jake’s Cigars and Spirits is a mainstay in the historic Benson neighborhood (think “Cheers” but with cigars), and Copa Cabana in west Omaha offers a cigar smoking lounge along with one of the largest whiskey collections around.

If watching the game (any game) is what you’re after, The Stadium Club and Lefty O’Toole’s in the Old Market, and the Old Mattress Factory, DJ’s Dugout, and Beer and Blatt near the downtown arena and stadium, are all popular hangouts before, during, and after sporting events in the city. Northwest of downtown, Legends Patio Grill & Bar boosts 30 flat screens and a great outdoor patio, and Ice House, just 3 miles farther, has more than 50 televisions, including private flat screens in each booth. The Good Life Sports Bar & Grill in west Omaha has more than 35 flat screen TVs, including four sprawling 80-inchers, plus a large outdoor patio with a fire pit and six more 60” flat screens.

MANLY FOOD (ok, women will enjoy too, we’re just keeping with the theme here) Twisted Fork serves chicken-fried bacon with a side of peppercorn white gravy.

Try the Ultimate Triple Decker Dinker Burger at Dinker’s, it’s 21 oz. of meat magic.

The Diner (now located inside Billy Frogg’s) serves thick-cut bacon cooked with a secret brown-sugar glaze. We dare you to eat just one.

The Stellanator, a mere 4,900-calorie, six-burger meat tower, is free at Stella’s IF you can finish it in 45 minutes.

The Homey Inn has champagne on tap (considered a food group in some circles.)

For dessert try the Griffinator at the Ralston Café & Ice Cream Shoppe, 12 scoops and ALL (and we do mean all) the fixin’s.

La Casa Pizzeria and Mama’s Pizza and are two local favs – think REAL meaty and REAL cheesy.

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A MAN’S GOTTA DO WHAT A MAN’S GOTTA DO

BUCKET-LIST WORTHY

If you hadn’t heard, Omaha has been home to the NCAA Men’s College World Series since 1950. Visit Omaha in June for what’s called “The Greatest Show on Dirt” and check it off your bucket list. Ten days of the best college baseball you’ll ever watch, in a city that goes into full festival mode the entire time. In addition to baseball, you may have heard a little something about the state’s football team. The Nebraska Cornhuskers (Go Big Red) play just an hour away at Lincoln’s Memorial Stadium, hotel rooms, however, can be easier to find in Omaha during the Husker season, and it’s an easy drive south on I-80 to the game.

And while we bleed red, we also bleed blue. Part of the Big East, the Creighton Bluejays basketball season runs from October through March (they’ve made it to the NCAA Tourney 20 times so far), catch a game at the city’s downtown arena.

TD Ameritrade Park Omaha

NEIGHBORHOOD SHOUT-OUT

Scriptown Brewing Company

The Benson and Blackstone District neighborhoods offer a variety of craft breweries, bars, live music, and locally owned restaurants. Park, walk, and make a day or evening out of it. North Downtown (NoDo) is close to the stadium, there you can check out the Slowdown, a hot spot for Indie music. And in Saunders County, a 25-minute drive west of Omaha, you’ll find Iron Horse Golf Club, an award-winning course that Golf Digest considers one of the best.

POKER FACE

Omaha hits the jackpot with casinos just a short drive from downtown right across the Missouri River. The legendary Horseshoe Casino caters to the serious gambler with some of the highest table limits in the heartland.

Ameristar Casino specializes in slots and video poker with over 1,500 machines. Play the odds at the Craps tables at Harrah’s and catch a show, featuring national acts at Harrah’s Stir Cove.

All offer plenty of ways to test your luck and play the night away.

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For more tips from locals go to VisitOmaha.com/52weekends

LET’S HIT THE TRAILS

The beauty of Omaha-area biking trails (besides the beauty) is that they offer something for every ability and skill level, they’re easy to find, and they are a little like rollercoasters—there’s always something demanding your attention and keeping you engaged.

The most used trail is Tranquility Park, a nine-mile trail with a lot of flat terrain—you don’t have to be an expert to ride, but it offers challenges fit for most skill levels. Swanson Park in Bellevue is 4 miles long, a fast, flowing course that is constantly twisting and turning, you’ll always be pedaling—no coasting. If you’re fit and into a more difficult challenge try Lewis and Clark Monument trails (known locally as L&C).

It’s a 5-mile trail that will test your legs and your lungs—it’s up, down, up, down, and then up, up, up (800 feet of climbing). TrailsHaveOurRespect.org is a great website for more specifics about the area’s trail system.

Heartland B-cycle at Lewis and Clark Landing

Keystone Trail

Omaha has a bike sharing system, Heartland B-cycle, which includes 35 stations and 199 B-cycles. Pick up and return your B-cycle at any station.

Download the BCycle App to check out bikes and get directions from your cell phone.

LOCALS TIP

If you’re into aviation, the Strategic Air Command and Aerospace Museum is filled with the nation’s most prized and rarely displayed military aircraft. Visitors can get close to iconic aircraft including: the magnificent SR-71 Blackbird; nine bombers, such as the B-36J “Peacemaker,” B-17 ‘Flying Fortress’ and a B-1A “Lancer;” the Apollo Command Space Module; and a collection of artifacts from Nebraska Astronaut Clayton Anderson.

Every Thursday, typically between 5:30 and 6:30 p.m., bikers (the pedaling kind) head out on a 10-mile ride on the Wabash Trace Nature Trail. They stop for a taco special at Tobey Jack’s Mineola Steakhouse, maybe enjoy a cheap margarita, and then head 10 miles back. Hundreds, sometimes thousands take part. Most riders start at the trail head in Council Bluffs south of the Highway 92 and Highway 275 intersection near Lewis Central School. Follow @TacoRide on Twitter for the most up-to-date info.

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Old Market Entertainment District

RETAIL THERAPY AT OMAHA’S UNIQUE BOUTIQUES

Hello Holiday - An arbiter of indy fashion and design in Omaha’s historic Dundee neighborhood.

Girlfriend Getaway Pack your bags and get excited for some major girl time.

Pretty in Patina - A wonderland of gently loved and new designer goods including handbags, clothing, and jewelry. Think Chanel, Louis Vuitton, and Coach.

The Fold - Stocked with elevated, chic fashions curated by a former blogger and personal stylist.

Togs - Lined with modern pieces, from cheeky textbased tees to faux fur coats.

Garment District - A shop with New York City as its inspiration stocked with innovative pieces from well-known and emerging designers.

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Shops of Legacy

At least one of your 52 weekends should be spent traveling with your gal pals.

Whichever weekend of the year you land on, Omaha has all the ingredients for year-round fun with the girls. Bond and make memories with uniquely Omaha experiences, from shopping special boutiques to sipping mimosas at one of the city’s culinary gems. Declare a spa day, experience Omaha’s past and present with a guided tour, and have fun in a neighborhood (or two) tailored to everyone in your group. Plus, when the sun goes down the night is only beginning at entertaining hot spots around the city. Go ahead, carve out a weekend for girls-only fun—you deserve it.

La Buvette

SHOP TIL YOU DROP

Omaha is speckled with collections of unique boutiques, making shophopping a memorable event. Find vintage, designer, and trendy pieces in the Old Market Entertainment District and chic, highly-curated fashions (for the kiddos too) in Countryside Village. Farther west, unique boutiques please a variety of age groups at Rockbrook Village while a sprinkling of trendy and exclusive Omaha-owned boutiques await at Shops of Legacy. And of course, there’s plenty more to be browsed, tried on, and scooped up in the neighborhoods in between.

EAT YOUR HEART OUT

Lucky for you, morning, day, and night present ample opportunities for culinary experiences, Wheatfields meaning more ways to indulge in all the delicious dining options Omaha has to offer. Start off the day at Wheatfields, where classic bakery treats like cinnamon and pecan rolls meet an extensive menu of comfort food dishes. For lunch, be transported to a European cafe at La Buvette, where bottles of wine line the airy interior and people vie for a seat outdoors on the charming patio. Or check out Kitchen Table, which serves fresh sandwiches, soups, and more, all with a unique spin, in an open space filled with plants and sunlight.

When dinnertime calls, Modern Love offers swanky vegan comfort food in an equally swanky, yet approachable, space. Foodies have fallen head-over-heels for Au Courant, which serves beautifully plated “New European” style dishes in a minimalist yet chic atmosphere.

TIP: Chocolat Abeille in Omaha’s Old Market Entertainment District serves a collection of hand-painted confections great for gifts (and the ride home).

SPAAAH TIME

Rest and recharge (shopping and eating is so much work) while luxuriating at a number of salons and day spas around the city that will leave you feeling refreshed and ready for more fun. Gloss offers a “Mom 2 Be” package complete with a one-hour massage, half-hour reflexology, and express pedicure. Victor Victoria, an edgy loft-style salon and spa, offers Swedish massage and classic mani/pedis. Urbane is a full-service salon offering aroma massages, body wraps, natural microdermabrasion and chemical peels, and more. Dark Horse touts “laid-back luxury” with a Himalayan salt stone massage, Eastern massage, and a variety of facials.

Indulging has never felt so amazing.

GIRL TALK OVER BRUNCH

5 PLACES TO INDULGE

Baela Rose - Farm-to-fork dishes with a twist in a bright setting complete with fresh flowers. Try: cinnamon roll with mascarpone and orange icing. Plus: bottomless mimosas.

712 - The dishes, like its walls, burst with color and local flavor.

Try: chicken and waffles with sweet chili sauce.

Le Bouillon - Comfort food from rural France in an upscale setting, including an outdoor patio. Try: warm donuts and Nutella.

Railcar American Kitchen - Inspired by the traditional dining car experience with a menu of rich breakfast favorites. Try: Lemon Ricotta Pancakes with fresh cream, raspberries, and maple syrup.

Early Bird - Enjoy brunch every day in Omaha’s hot Blackstone District. Try: Cereal Killer Pancakes with sweet vanilla glaze and your choice of kid-approved cereal.

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GIRLFRIEND GETAWAY

Kaneko

DAY TRIP

Lauritzen Gardens

CHEERS TO A GNO

Toast to your next Girls Night Out at a host of fabulous nightlife hot spots guaranteed to illicit selfies and a whole lotta fun.

Margaritas, anyone? Kick off your margarita crawl at Hook + Lime, which specializes in tacos and tequila (an unbeatable combo). Make your way west to California Tacos and More, where being a “dive” is a badge of honor and the Mega Margaritas bring foodies by the car full. Next, Mula Mexican Kitchen & Tequileria, a certified tequileria, where you gotta enjoy a margarita with top-shelf tequila along with “street style” Mexican fare. Continuing west, last stop is Julio’s, its house classic comes in original, strawberry, peach or raspberry. Cheers to girlfriends!

TIP: For a drink with a view, head west to Soaring Wings Vineyard where over 20 wines from dry to sweet can be accompanied with spectacular views of Nebraska’s countryside.

Hook + Lime

Driftwood Paddle Adventures

Mula

Old Market Entertainment District

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Fill your schedule morning to night with a memory-packed itinerary that will appeal to everyone in your party.

Relaxing options in nature include a stroll through Lauritzen Gardens or an easy hike in Fontenelle Forest, which includes a mile-long boardwalk. Cultural endeavors include browsing traditional art a Joslyn Art Museum, and much more contemporary art at Kaneko, where world-renowned artist Jun Kaneko showcases many of his one-of-a-kind sculptures. The Bemis Center for Contemporary Art is nearby and offers edgy what-will-they-think-ofnext art. Hot Shops Art Center is a great place to browse through more than 80 art studios and shop for oneof-a-kind pieces. If you want to be the artist, paint and sip at the Corky Canvas or make almost anything under the sun at The Makery, both offer instructors who make DIY fun and easy.

For more tips from locals go to VisitOmaha.com/52weekends

TOUR DE OMAHA

Joslyn Castle

Whether you’re looking for compact ways to experience the city, or a more immersive endeavor, a tour is a fun way to spend time with the girls. For a condensed taste of Omaha’s food scene, Omaha Culinary Tours offers a mix of neighborhood-based walking tours and citywide bus tours with pizza, sweets and pastries, steak and more as the focus. The historic Joslyn Castle, a Scottish Baronial mansion dating back to 1903, offers public tours a few days out of the month. Cruise down the Missouri River with the River City Star and take in skyline views of the city on a sightseeing, dinner or themed cruise. Hoping for water and sun? Driftwood Paddle Adventures offers stand-up paddleboard tours at a handful of area lakes.

TIP: Slip into the Passageway in Omaha’s Old Market Entertainment District for a great place to take photos with friends. You can also shop the cool boutiques that line this enchanting brick enclosed walkway.

Our Corner Cottage - Saunders County

WHERE TO CATCH THE ACTION

Many of Omaha’s neighborhoods are the complete package with food, entertainment and shopping options, and each offers a unique and special backdrop.

Omaha’s Old Market Entertainment District downtown offers boutiques, sweets, art galleries and restaurants connected by cobblestone streets. Regency offers big name shopping and dining options indoors. Aksarben Village is a mixed-use development offering shopping, food, and a variety of entertainment options from a Sunday farmers market to free concerts on Saturday nights in the summer. Shops of Legacy is a great showcase of locally-owned shops and restaurants. Village Pointe offers big name shopping in an al fresco setting.

Saunders County, a quick drive from Omaha, offers outlet shopping and wineries.

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ACCESS TO EXCEP TIONAL

CONNECTIONS UNO’s network of Mavericks stretches across Omaha and beyond.

You’ll have access to programs that lead to internships, careers, and lifelong relationships within a thriving, global community of Mavericks. At UNO, sharing ideas and discovering your purpose are only limited by your imagination.

[ K NO W.UNOM A H A .EDU ]

THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE BASED ON RACE, COLOR, ETHNICITY, NATIONAL ORIGIN, SEX, PREGNANCY, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, GENDER IDENTITY, RELIGION, DISABILITY, AGE, GENETIC INFORMATION, VETERAN STATUS, MARITAL STATUS, AND/OR POLITICAL AFFILIATION IN ITS PROGRAMS, ACTIVITIES, OR EMPLOYMENT. 0062ADUC0818

Omaha’s

Authentic German Restaurant Family-owned since 1976

Serving traditional German cuisine and freshly made breads, strudel, baked goods, donuts and cakes.

10 minutes from Downtown Omaha 5180 Leavenworth 402.553.6774

gerdasgermanrestaurant.com

OMAHA MAGAZINE it’s about all of us.

We publish stories about interesting people who live next door and fascinating former Omahans. Read stories about the arts, the food, the music, and the events that make Omaha the cultural epicenter of the Midwest.

OmahaMagazine.com/Subscribe

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Public Art

With hundreds of public art pieces, this doesn’t even scratch the surface of Omaha’s art scene – but it’s a start.

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O

maha boasts an impressive concentration of murals, sculptures, and art pieces, all of which are free and open to the public. Get ready to experience some of Omaha’s past and present through art.

Discover some of Omaha’s most interactive public art. Pioneer Courage Park and Spirit of Nebraska’s Wilderness Park, one of the world’s largest collections of bronze and stainless steel, spans five city blocks downtown and features installations depicting Omaha’s pioneer history. In front of Omaha’s downtown convention center and arena is Illumina, a collection of six bronze, larger-than-life circus performers.

Meaningful murals have been popping up in all corners of the city. The 32,000-squarefeet Fertile Ground downtown is one of the largest community murals in the country.

The South Omaha Mural Project has spurred the creation of several colorful building-wide murals depicting the diversity of the area, with more murals in the works.

In North Omaha, Black Skies is a tribute to the Omaha Tuskegee Airmen.

Military fans are especially in for a treat. Omaha has two tributes to World War II. Victory ’95, dedicated on the 50th anniversary of the end of the war, depicts four scenes reminiscent of that time, including a returning soldier with children; and the Heartland Airborne Memorial is a testimonial to Airborne veterans. Adorned with 1,000 rose bushes, Memorial Park is a memorial for the men and women who have served in the armed forces with a Korean-Vietnam Peace Memorial sculpture as its centerpiece.

SOCIAL MEDIA CENTRAL

Snap a pic of these iconic Omaha works of art STILE DE FAMIGLIA “FAMILY STYLE” 1115 S. 7th St. A 13-feet tall fork in the heart of Omaha’s historic Little Italy neighborhood.

For more information on public art in Omaha, visit PublicArtOmaha.org where you can also download the Downtown Public Art Walking Tour.

Art-lovers should go to VisitOmaha.com for a complete listing.

MONUMENT TO LABOR 400 Riverfront Dr. Second-largest labor monument in the United States.

LOVE MURAL near 24th & Lake streets.

“Love” spelled out on the side of a building in retro letters and colors.

BULL BISON Standing Bear Lake True to size metal sculpture of a bison.

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Eugene T. Mahoney State Park

OUTDOOR RECREATION

Omaha is an outdoor enthusiast’s playground.

Tree-lined walking and biking trails wind through the city, lakes and rivers provide a variety of boating and fishing opportunities, and the city’s vast array of parks and gardens each offer their own unique fresh-air experience.

Omaha campgrounds and RV parks are conveniently located close to major interstates, highways, and on the outskirts of the city near rivers and lakes.

Each one promises a peaceful and picturesque place to spend the night.

GOLF Rolling hills and tree-lined fairways punctuated with water hazards and sand traps ensure each course has its own character and competitive challenges. From executive-style to championship courses, swing your way through Omaha’s unique golf landscapes.

27-HOLE GOLF COURSES • Indian Creek Par 72 • Stone Creek Par 72 • Tiburon Par 72 (Semi-Private)

18-HOLE GOLF COURSES

• Benson Championship Par 72 • Elmwood Park Par 68 • Johnny Goodman Championship Par 72 • Knolls Par 72 • Miracle Hills Par 70 • Pacific Springs Par 70 • Pines Country Club Par 72 (Semi-Private)

9-HOLE GOLF COURSES • • • • • • •

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Eagle Run Par 32 Elkhorn Ridge Par 27 Milt’s Par 27 Spring Lake Par 33 Steve Hogan Par 27 Warren Swigart Par 27 Westwood Par 27

LAKE & RIVER ADVENTURES Located in varies parts of the metro area, Zorinsky, Glenn Cunningham, Standing Bear, Flanagan, Youngman, Wehrspann, and Walnut Creek lakes each offer their own unique outdoor experience and are typically stocked with largemouth bass, bluegill, crappie, and channel catfish.

Check out Driftwood Paddleboard Adventures sunset paddleboard tours, or go it alone by renting a kayak or standup paddleboard from Neighborhood Offshore. For a more leisurely experience, try tubing or tanking down the Elkhorn River. To figure out which way to float, first determine how wet you’re willing to get.

Tanking entails riding in an 8-foot diameter stock tank complete with custom-made picnic tables, while tubing is more of an all-in experience involving sitting in a commercial grade inner tube. If you need a little speed, hop aboard one of the Bryson Airboat Tours and take off on a 60 mph wind-in-your-hair ride down the river.

HIKING & BIKING

Omaha’s trail system is appropriately called Paths of Discovery—each twist, each turn, winds through a different part of the city. More than 85 miles of paved, interconnected trails have been developed, creating a nature wonderland for walkers, joggers, bicyclists, skaters, and cross-country skiers. The system is also accessible to people with disabilities.

Recharge while taking in the sights and sounds of the great outdoors. Fontenelle Forest, a National Natural Landmark and a National Historic District, offers 19 miles of walking trails and 1,400 acres filled with more than 600 unique species of plants and animals. Visit its Raptor Wildlife Refuge and get up close and personal with hawks, owls, falcons, and other birds of prey. Sunrise and sunset canoe rides offer a way to soak up the seasons. In the winter, rent snowshoes on site and discover a nature wonderland filled with furry creatures.

Tubing and Adventures

Fontenelle Forest

Lee G. Simmons Conservation Park and Wildlife Safari

BIRDWATCHING

Located along the wooded Missouri River Valley and along a main migratory path, Omaha is a birding hotspot. Spring and fall are peak birding seasons, but because the area offers diverse birding habitat—lakes, prairies, woodlands, and riverbanks—a variety of bird species can be found most any time of year. Fontenelle Forest, Omaha’s lakes, and Boyer Chute National Wildlife Refuge north of Omaha are great places to bring the binoculars for birding.

YEAR-ROUND OUTDOOR FUN

Thrill seekers should head to Mt. Crescent Ski Area. In the winter, hit the slopes reaching up to 2,400 feet in length; sledders, snowboarders, and spectators are welcome. In the summer and fall, zip down one of the country’s longest ziplines, the Screaming Eagle. Find fun for the entire family in a lush setting at Eugene T. Mahoney State Park.

Nestled along the Platte River, the 700-acre park offers warm weather activities like miniature golf and a driving range, tennis, horseback riding, hiking, paddle boating, and fishing, along with cold weather fun like cross-country skiing, sledding, tobogganing, ice skating, and ice fishing.

Mt. Crescent Ski

More adventures await you at VisitOmaha.com 47

IS STEAK SAUCE A CRIME? A juicy steak should be dripping with flavor, but should it also be dripping in steak sauce? Depends on whom you ask. In Omaha, our steakhouses are more concerned with the cut of the meat, the mesmerizing marbling pattern, and the intricate preparation process that all culminates in the perfect bite every time.

With an industry dating back to the 1880s, steak is in Omaha’s DNA and calls to all carnivores to make the pilgrimage for a legendary cut of beef.

360 Steakhouse

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I

t’s tempting to believe steak is inherently delicious, but there’s more to a cut of meat than just the quality. Preparation is key, and this city takes it seriously. Flame-broiled, wood-fire-grilled, or whiskey-doused—all delicious, and all techniques Omaha has used to perfect the steak. The right grill times and temperatures are also crucial. Well-done and medium are options, but true steak connoisseurs know to go medium-rare or rare.

Monarch Prime & Bar

Gorat’s

The Drover is a landmark chophouse and home to whiskeymarinated Certified Angus Beef steak. After enjoying a bourbon at the bar, savor your meal in the cozy dining area complete with candlelight and fireplace.

Monarch Prime & Bar is a modern steakhouse, featuring a first-of-itskind, in-house, dry-age process that infuses steaks with a rich flavor—it will change the way carnivores view beef. Each dish is prepared with the freshest, locally sourced produce, promising that each bite bursts with flavor.

Omaha Prime is one of the few restaurants in the country to serve only the best USDA Prime steaks and chops selected based on marbling, quality, and flavor. Steak and red wine are fine culinary complements; enhance dinner with a glass of vino from their impressive selection.

An Omaha steakhouse since 1922, Johnny’s Café serves savory hand-cut, aged-on-premises beef in a classic Western atmosphere.

It’s only appropriate that Warren Buffett is a steaklover. At Gorat’s, an Omaha institution for more than 70 years, look to a neighboring table and you may see the Omaha billionaire dining out at one of his favorite spots.

For a complete list of Omaha Steakhouses go to VisitOmaha.com

The Grey Plume

LOCALLY-OWNED STEAKHOUSES Visitors enjoy the delicious thrill of finding the best steak in Omaha. Locals engage in friendly debates on the topic. But something everyone can agree upon is that hunt is delicious. So who serves the best steak? It’s your pilgrimage to make, but here are a few of the classics:

•

801 Chophouse at the Paxton

• • • • • •

801 Grill

• • • • • • • • •

Gorat’s

Anthony’s Steakhouse Brother Sebastian’s Cascio’s Steak House The Drover Farmer Brown’s Steakhouse

The Grey Plume J’s on Jackson Jerico’s Restaurant Johnny’s Café Monarch Prime & Bar Omaha Prime Steak and Grapes Tavern 180 49

OMAHA’S ORIGINAL STEAKHOUSE

• Proudly serving visitor & locals for 90 years.

• Featured on CNN.com Best Meat Cities in America • Serving hand cut steaks, aged on premise and slow roasted prime rib with pride.

402.731.4774 johnnyscafe.com 27th & ‘L’ St., Kennedy Frwy, ‘L’ St. Exit 8 Minutes from Downtown Omaha.

Best Of Omaha 13 Years Running

WHERE WHERE GOOD FOOD AND GOOD SERVICE SERVICE NEVER NEVER GO GO OUT OUT OF OF STYLE. STYLE.

Famous

OMAHA S TE AK HO U S E S

7220 F. Street • Omaha, NE 68127

402.331.7575 • anthonyssteakhouse.com

The Original Whiskey Steak 2121 S. 73 St. | (402) 391-7440 www.droverrestaurant.com

6 years in a row

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STEAKS • CHOPS • SEAFOOD • ITALIAN SPECIALTIES 7 private party rooms | Seating up to 400 Lots of parking

www.OmahaSteaks.com 1-800-228-9055

402-345-8313

96th & “J” Street North of “L” St. 402-593-4223

Eppley Airfield Kiosks 402-346-9151

Lakeside Plaza 17390 W. Center 402-330-2260

Tower Plaza 78th & Dodge 402-392-1290

1620 S. 10th Street | www.casciossteakhouse.com

Tradition Meats Deliciousness • Locally owned • Reservation accepted • Private Parties 11732 W Dodge Rd, Omaha, NE 68154 402 · 496 · 0222 | jericosomaha.com

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REUBEN HOT SPOTS

REUBEN THE CLASSIC rleycorn • Barrett’sGBa rill Pub & Mo on t en • Cresc et Tavern • Jackson Stre i • Razzy’s Del b P Report In u

•

IST H A NEW TW REUBEN WIT Irish Pub • Brazen Head • The Drover l • Dundee Del r & Grill Ba • Go ldberg’s ashburn • Wilson & W

T

he Reuben sandwich was invented in Omaha back in the early 1900s.

We don’t care what New Yorkers say, this is our story and we’re sticking to it. During a late-night poker game at the Blackstone Hotel, a local grocer was asked to “ante up” and create a new dish. The ingredients he had on hand resulted in an American menu staple.

How do you create a national treasure? You start with two pieces of grilled marble rye and stuff it with slow cooked corned beef topped with sauerkraut, bubbly Swiss cheese and creamy Russian or Thousand Island dressing. Omaha continues to perfect the classic while local restaurants add their own unique spin.

A FEW TASTY TAKES ON THIS OMAHA CLASSIC: Brazen Head Irish Pub’s Rachel Reuben is made with tender smoked turkey, sauerkraut, Thousand Island dressing, and Havarti cheese all between the traditional marble rye.

Barrett’s Barleycorn Pub & Grill takes the classic approach of corned beef, Swiss cheese, sauerkraut, and Thousand Island dressing on grilled rye.

The Drover’s Reuben swaps out the corned beef for a mound of slow-roasted prime rib covered in melted Swiss cheese, creamy dressing, and sauerkraut.

Wilson & Washburn’s Reuben starts with their house-smoked brisket and includes all of the traditional fixings like Swiss cheese, sauerkraut, house dressing all stacked between two slices of Russian rye bread.

Across the street from the Blackstone Hotel is the Crescent Moon, a local favorite still serving the original recipe.

The Reuben has been a menu staple at the Dundee Dell since 1934. Choose from corned beef or turkey, and taste test their super-secret sauce.

Get a bigger bite of Omaha’s Reuben scene at VisitOmaha.com 52

BORN AND BREAD Home to the original Reuben sandwich

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DIVE IN TO OMAHA’S QUIRKY SIDE In Omaha, being a dive is a badge of honor. These Instagram-worthy dining spots offer friendly, flakey goodness, challenging mountains of meat, and even a few wild dining companions. So grab a fork and dig in to a wholly original style of fare.

Runza

Big Mama’s Kitchen

A

nswer the call of the wild at Alpine Inn, where everyone loves the fried chicken... everyone. Evening diners (okay, raccoons) sit outside the restaurant’s windows feasting on chicken scraps—your dinner party just got a lot bigger.

The chicken’s perfectly seasoned crunch gives way to tender, juicy meat—after just one bite, folks (and animals) fall in love.

Cali Taco

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California Tacos and More is a beloved college-joint-turned-food-attraction after being featured on the Food Network’s Diners, Drive-ins and Dives. “Cali Taco” is known for its signature tacos (housemade fried, puffy taco shells stuffed with meat and fixings) and entrees with Mexican flair.

SOME DISHES NEED TO BE CONQUERED

The Stellanator at Stella’s Bar and Grill weighs in at 4.5 lbs. and contains a mere 4,900 calories. It includes… wait for it… six burger patties, six fried eggs, six pieces of cheese, 12 pieces of bacon, lettuce, tomato, fried onions, pickles, jalapenos, and peanut butter. If you can eat it in 45 minutes, it’s free. Only 28 have succeeded, 587 others have tried and failed. The current record is held by a skinny girl named Molly, it took her just 3 minutes and 40 seconds to eat the whole thing plus an order of fries.

Bring on the meat sweats!

A saucy challenge awaits at Fat BBQ Shack. “The Shack” is known for a variety of smoked and barbecued meats, but perhaps the most challenging dish is the Shack Attack: layers of fresh-cut fries loaded with your choice of toppings.

The Surfside Club

How about crispy, crunchy chicken-fried bacon dipped in peppercorn white gravy? Yeah, it’s real and visitors across the country crave this appetizer from Twisted Fork.

A less challenging, but equally delicious, meal can be found at The Surfside Club. Here’s the short and sweet menu: chicken, pork tenderloin, catfish, and corn fritters – all fried, and all delicious.

Located 25 feet from the Missouri River, Surfside offers a relaxing atmosphere fit for casual food feasting.

Big Mama’s Kitchen is another Diners, Drive-ins and Dives alumni and was featured on the Travel Channel’s 101 Tastiest Places to Chow Down. This soul food joint, is known for dishes like the Afro Burger, Pig Ear Sandwich, oven-fried chicken, and sweet potato pie ice cream.

Stop for a cozy and portable Runza, aka “a meal in a bunza” at Runza. A local favorite and Nebraska invention, the Runza is a pocket of dough filled with beef, cabbage, seasonings, and sometimes cheese. They’re so popular out-of-towners order them by the case and take them home.

Since the early ‘50s, B&G Tasty Foods has been thinking inside the bun and really shaking things up. The 60-year-old loose meat sandwich recipe (affectionately called the Bee Gee) has grown into a local treasure. Don’t worry; we’re willing to share with out-of-towners!

Bronco’s, another Omaha fast-food tradition, opened nearly 60 years ago when “fast food” was still a new concept.

Known for its 100 percent ground-beef burgers, Bronco’s still makes its French fries daily from fresh whole potatoes.

See more of Omaha’s Quirky side at VisitOmaha.com

Alpine Inn

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Sweet treats

Monarch Prime Sweet Magnolias

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Coneflower Creamery

Freezing

Jones Bros Cupcakes

Lithuanian Bakery

Chocolate Abeille

Sweeten your Omaha getaway in a city where indulgence is never far away.

S

tirnella’s Gooey Butter Bar—banana curd, Nutella ice cream, and shortbread crumble—has been the talk of the city. Locals rave about Lithuanian Bakery’s Napoleon torte, a three-day labor of love built with 17 layers of wafer, and vanilla and lemon buttercreams, met with a luscious apricot surprise at its center.

The humble donut has received a facelift at a number of area bakeries. Bob’s Donuts serves up square donuts in flavors like Fruity Pebbles, Oreo Delight and Maple Bacon. TIP: The massive The Bob donut is a crowd pleaser.

Culprit Café, so popular it opened a second location, serves a variety of gourmet flavors so good a local food critic claimed it as Omaha’s best donut.

Meanwhile, red velvet glazed donuts fly off the cases at Mad Ox Bakery.

If you’re craving melt-in-your-mouth confections, try Sweet Magnolias Bake Shop in the historic Joslyn Castle neighborhood, the lemon bars, signature Cardamom cake and French macarons are fan favs. For pastry as big as your head, try a Yo-Yo at the International Bakery in the South 24th Street neighborhood, this authentic Mexican bakery only takes cash, but your dollar goes a long way. Other delicious standouts include Jones Bros. in Aksarben Village, Cupcake Omaha in the Old Market, and The Omaha Bakery in the central part of the city (be sure to ask about the daily quiche specials).

CHOCOLATE TOUR

The unofficial guide to Omaha’s top chocolate stops Stop 1: The Cordial Cherry Whimsical confectionary whose cherries were one of Oprah’s Favorite Things.

Stop 2: Farine + Four Bakery specializing in sourdough bread and homemade bonbons almost too pretty to eat (almost).

Stop 3: Chocolat Abeille A dreamy shop, like straight out of a movie, that serves hand-painted confections, including custom chocolate shoes.

Stop 4: Old Market Candy Shop Feel like a kid in a candy store at this old-school sweets shop, where options range from homemade fudge to truffles to their famous Mud Balls.

SIGNATURE DESSERTS

There’s so much more to enjoy around the city DUCK FAT DONUT & ICE CREAM The Grey Plume OLD-FASHIONED PHOSPHATE The Durham Museum SORBET Della Costa S’MORE SUNDAE Coneflower Creamery HOMEMADE CANNOLI Pasta Amore

Cupcake Omaha

Sample even more sweets at VisitOmaha.com

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Farm to Fork...

TO WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN ALL MY LIFE? Welcome to farm country, where food is so fresh you can taste the sunshine.

W

hen thinking about Omaha’s agricultural background and central location, it makes sense that the city would be at the forefront of the fresh food movement. New and classic Omaha restaurants have dedicated their kitchens and menus to highlighting the best meat and produce from local farms.

At Omaha’s Block 16, die-hard fans line up and out the door on a daily basis. The locally sourced, award-winning burgers are piled high with fresh produce and covered in a secret sauce that keeps every mouth watering. (Locals recommend ordering extra sauce!). It’s not just about the burgers, you gotta try the fries. The award-winning Poutine, fries Block 16

topped with cheese curds drenched in creamy gravy, the Gangsta fries—covered in green onions pork rinds, then drizzled with Chipotle sauce— have you driving back to Omaha for more.

and and will

Known for wood-fired Neapolitan pizza bursting with local flavor, Dante is a true experience, with a full menu of rustic Italian faire and perfectly paired vinos. Considered one of the greenest restaurants in the country, The Grey Plume’s award-winning chef and owner Clayton Chapman maintains the vision of a fine dining experience where food is art—even the plates are created by local artists.

Stirnella Bar & Kitchen is a refined gastro pub serving approachable food inspired by local and seasonal ingredients. Friendly staff can share from which local farm the meats and vegetables were sourced. (TIP: Don’t miss the Gooey Butter Bars!) Modern Love inspires vegans from across the country to plan their foodie excursions to Omaha. Popular vegan cooking personality Isa Chandra Moskowitz leads with the focus of providing “swanky vegan comfort food” made with local ingredients.

For more restaurants go to VisitOmaha.com

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The Grey Plume

Modern Love

Via Farina

FARM-TO-FORK FACTS The nation is taking notice of the city’s fresh fare.

Omaha is home to three of the top 100 certified restaurants on the Good Food 100 List—The Grey Plume, Dante, and Kitchen Table are recognized for their strong commitment to sustainable sourcing.

Coneflower Creamery is known for creating homemade ice cream with creativity and a love of local ingredients.

J. Coco’s creations start with local, organic, and natural ingredients. The restaurant uses the fresh herbs and vegetables from their on-site garden. It doesn’t get any fresher than that!

Omaha farmers markets run weekends from May through the first part of October and offer everything from farm-fresh produce and cooking demonstrations to handmade soap and pet-friendly treats.

Stirnella

FRESH FORK FINDS

Au Courant Baela Rose The Boiler Room Block 16 Coneflower Creamery Dante Dante Pizzeria Napoletana Dario’s Brasserie Farnam House Brewing Company J. Coco Kitchen Table La Buvette Le Bouillion Marks Bistro Modern Love Over Easy Society 1854 Stirnella Bar & Kitchen The Grey Plume Via Farina

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The

OLD MARKET D IS T R I C T

1116 Jackson Street • Old Market

drinkbrickway.com 1116 Jackson Jackson Street Street • Old Old Market Market 11161116Jackson Street •• Old Market 1116 Jackson Street • Old Market

drinkbrickway.com drinkbrickway.com drinkbrickway.com drinkbrickway.com

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Old Market Passageway 1022 Howard St. • 402.345.8990 • vmertz.com

BEER AND SPIRITS BEER AND SPIRITS BEER AND SPIRITS BEER AND SPIRITS BEER AND SPIRITS

LOCALLY CRAFTED LOCALLY CRAFTED LOCALLY CRAFTED LOCALLY LOCALLYCRAFTED CRAFTED

An Omaha fine-dining tradition. We offer a unique gastronomic experience, weaving classic, contemporary, and local flavors and texture into an extraordinary, progressive cuisine. Whether the occasion is business, a celebration, a gathering of old friends, or an intimate evening for two, V Mertz provides the perfect setting.

Open for dinner at 5:30 pm Tuesday thru Saturday

HAVANA GARAGE CIGAR LOUNGE

Omaha’s Premier Cigar and Spirits Lounge 1008 Howard St. | The Old Market 402.614.3800 • thehavanagarage.com

at SG ROI Tobacconist.

OMAHA’S MOST BELOVED RESTAUR ANT IS BACK! Contemporary American Cuisine

chip goes here

We offer the finest selection of premium cigars, imported cigarettes, pipe tobaccos and hookah shisha tobacco. We also carry a wide variety of humidors, gifts, products and accessories for the distinguished smoker.

SG ROI

Tobacconist

Nebraska’s premier If we don’t have it, you don’t cigar store. need it.

M’s Pub ★ Premium Cigars ★ Pipe Tobaccos ★ Accessories M - SAT 11am -1am / SUN 5pm -1am 422 S. 11t h St / 4 02.342.255 0 MsPubOmaha.com Reser vations Recommended

Old 503Market S. 11TH ST. 1021 Galvin Rd. S. (402) (402) 504-3991 503 S.341-9264 11th St. (402)341-9264 sgroitobacconist.com

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SHOP, SHOP, SHOP...

Old Market Passageway

O

maha is filled with one of-a-kind boutiques, art galleries galore, offbeat shops, expansive malls, and quaint shopping centers. With a little something for everyone, you’re sure to discover your new favorite place

UNIQUE BOUTIQUES

Fashionistas will love Omaha’s wide array of local boutiques. Find just the right fit among well-known premium denim at Denim Saloon in Aksarben Village, then pop into LuvBird for a collection of whimsical and chic silhouettes. The Shops of Legacy offers a stylish variety at shops like Mesh, Katina’s, Togs, Jade Love, and more.

Find vintage and vintage-inspired apparel at Lion’s Mane in Benson and at Flying Worm Vintage in the Old Market.

Hollywood Candy Nebraska Furniture Mart

Vincent Outfitting Co.

For men looking to freshen up their wardrobe, the guys at Vincent Outfitting Co. will help you pick out something one-of-a kind. Their large selection of classic and vintage pieces will allow you to make a statement without saying a word. The team at McLovin can recommend the latest trends in menswear for the boardroom or happy hour. In the western part of the city, Grae is a place where a guy can stop in, have a drink, and buy clothes, does it really get any better than that?

ARTSY EMPORIUMS

Art lovers can bring home a piece of Omaha with unique works from local galleries. In the Old Market District, Mangelsen Images of Nature Gallery offers exquisite limited edition photographs taken by world-renowned nature photographer Thomas Mangelsen. The Passageway Gallery and Old Market Artist Gallery are each home to more than a dozen artists. For a broad range of contemporary and fine art prints, stop by Gallery 72 in the historic Vinton Street neighborhood of South Omaha.

ODDITIES

Benson Soap Mill - Delicious smells fill the room with a variety of handmade beauty products created from local and sustainable resources.

Hollywood Candy - A specialty shop with retro candies, a PEZ collection like no other, and an authentic soda fountain.

Imaginarium - Antiquers and collectors have an opportunity to happily get lost among the many treasures that can be found.

Jackson Street Booksellers - This bibliophile’s dream is stocked floor-to-ceiling with used, rare, and out of print books.

Moksha - Beautiful handcrafted gifts from India. Includes jewelry, clothing, silk scarves, leather goods, and more.

Old Market Sundries - Your one-stop shop for genuine Nebraska and Old Market gift items.

Village Pointe

SPECIALTY SHOPS

Owned by Omaha billionaire investor Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway, Borsheims is the nation’s largest independent jewelry store. The signature silver box with burgundy ribbon ensures the gift inside is a gift worth opening. Another Buffet retailer and can’t miss, Nebraska Furniture Mart is the country’s largest (450,000 square feet) home furnishing store. Located in Central Omaha, Spruce Interiors offers original home décor plus a mix of fantastic finds. Vintage meets modern at Artifact in the Old Market, where they hand-make unisex bags, accessories, and home goods.

TIP: Out-of-town visitors will receive a special Village Pointe coupon book by going to VisitOmaha.com and requesting the Omaha Savings Pack.

Village Pointe’s open-air design replicates a nostalgic “Main Street” shopping district where customers can enjoy more than 60 retail shops and restaurants.

Go to VisitOmaha.com for a complete list of Omaha shopping options

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THIRSTY?

Named one of the “Top 10 Beer Cities” by the Travel Channel, Omaha’s craft brew scene is definitely worth all the buzz.

In Omaha, we believe “a penny saved is a pint earned” and out-of-town visitors can savor the savings with the Omaha Craft Brew Penny Pack. Request a free Omaha Craft Brew Penny Pack and enjoy “Buy 1 Get 1 for a Penny” coupons good at 12 featured breweries.

Request the Penny Pack at VisitOmaha.com/PennyPack 64

MEET OUR MAKERS

True craft beer is all about innovative brewing ingredients, the re-interpretation of traditional methods, and the development of new styles. These 12 Omaha craft brewers do it best.

Benson Brewery: A cozy neighborhood brew-pub that’s been brewing beer on-site since 2013, known for its stellar pub fare and hidden outdoor beer garden.

Kros Strain Brewing: Experts in high quality hop-forward IPAs as well as traditional lager styles, its funky tap room is a great place to grab a glass of Fairy Nectar IPA or a Koala Tears Project Boysenberry Sour.

Scriptown Brewing Company: Specializing in session-strength beers, with a lower alcohol content, allowing customers to enjoy several pints in “session” with friends or family.

Brickway Brewery and Distillery: One of Omaha’s first production craft breweries since prohibition, enjoy sipping craft beer brewed with locally sourced ingredients or an exclusive single malt whiskey.

Lucky Bucket Brewery: Hoppy libations, barrel-aged ales, bold stouts, tart sour beers–you name it, they brew it! Lucky Bucket is known for real beers that any beer drinker can enjoy.

Soaring Wings Vineyard & Brewing: From velvety smooth stouts to incredible Germanstyle pilsners and Belgian fruit beers, enjoy hand-crafted beer and wine with stunning views overlooking the Platte River Valley.

Farnam House Brewery Company: Specializing in styles from artisan farmhouse ales and traditional European lagers to American sours and wild beers, this pub also serves up a mean House Spent Grain Pretzel.

Nebraska Brewing Company: The largest craft brewer in the city continues to build a broad portfolio of incredible handcrafted ales.

The company’s taproom offers tours through its 24,000 square foot production brewery.

Upstream Brewing Company: Known for its fresh-brewed draught, cask-conditioned, and barrel-aged beers, along with a full menu of New American pub fare.

Infusion Brewing Company: Using a classic 7-barrel pub brewing system, Infusion serves their craft beers year-round while changing the seasonal brews almost weekly. Home of the Vanilla Bean Blonde and Radial IPA.

Pint Nine Brewing Company: Focused on aroma-driven American ales and complex Belgian beers that are highly fermentable and digestible while being scientifically sound and artfully executed.

Vis Major Brewing: Combining something ancient with something new, Vis Major’s complex recipes for a variety of ales, IPAs, and stouts provide unique flavors that have won over fans from all over.

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Omaha Nightlife The Max

Numerous nightlife neighborhoods throughout Omaha are guaranteed to entertain well into the evening. Here’s a list of some of the top spots.

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Benson: A historic and trendy atmosphere, walk the “strip” from bar to bar. Try one of Krug Park’s famous Bloody Mary concoctions or get some fresh air at 1912’s popular rooftop patio. Remember to keep an eye out for the Benson bar cat, Shooter, greeting patrons and nuzzling bartenders. The other party animal is Sam, the beloved of those at Burke’s Pub. The friendly Great Dane adds to the bar’s carefree vibe.

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Blackstone District: Rich in history and rich in flavor. Nite Owl is a shabby chic craft bar with a late-night food menu featuring thick burgers and salty fries. Home to the original Reuben recipe, Crescent Moon is also ranked one of the top beer bars in the country by DRAFT Magazine.

Sit back and enjoy some fine tequila off Mula Mexican Kitchen and Tequileria’s extensive menu while you enjoy authentic “street style” Mexican food.

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Downtown/Old Market: An array of entertainment in a charming part of the city. A perfect spot to grab a glass before heading to a downtown event, Nosh Wine Lounge lets you choose from 26 wines by the glass and offers a collection of single-malt scotches that will please any palate.

Visit La Buvette and choose from over 100 bottles of wine in a French setting, sit on the patio in the heart of the Old Market, and people-watch like a true Parisian. Fun and friendly options include Laka Lona Rum Club, which welcomes patrons to paradise with a playful atmosphere and over-the-top fun craft cocktails. The Max is Omaha’s high-energy gay bar and dance club. A 12,000-square-foot multiplex regularly hosts themed parties, promising a new experience every night.

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Krug Park

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The Capitol District: Offering guests a modern twist on the traditional town square, more than a dozen bars and restaurants make it easy to unwind. Grab a drink at Annie’s Irish Pub, Beer Can Alley, or Burdock + Bitters.

Laka Lona Rum Club

Beer Can Alley

Home to a vast bar scene and live music venues that fill the city, Omaha’s nightlife heats up when the sun goes down.

S

peak easy as you enter into some of Omaha’s quirkiest craft cocktail bars.

The Wicked Rabbit takes guests through the looking glass into a wonderland-themed lounge, shaking and serving extravagant drinks for the mad at heart. An oasis inspired by Japanese street-art, Kaitei mixes cocktails made out of traditional whisky, unfiltered sake, and popping lychee Boba. At Osteria Segreto, old school meets modern with Italian themed cocktails served up tableside. Inspired by the pre-Prohibition era, Berry & Rye puts an experimental and contemporary perspective on drinks made with a reverse osmosis water system that ensures the purest water possible for its craft ice program, alongside the sodas, syrups, and bitters made in house.

NIGHTLIFE TIP

Looking for an alternative to the bar scene?

Race against the clock at one of the city’s escape rooms: Entrap Games, The Escape Omaha, House of Conundrum and Get Out: Omaha. Claim a table at the Board Game Café, enjoy improv at The Backline, or catch a show at the Funny Bone, Omaha’s premier comedy club.

Boiling Room

Jazz on the Green

Music

Known for its Indie music scene, Omaha is hub for underground artists and nationally-known acts. Whether you’re interested in rock, folk, blues, or jazz there’s a live music venue to enjoy it.

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he birthplace of nationally known artists such as Conor Oberst, The Faint, and Cursive, Omaha’s indie music scene continues to grow. Sokol Underground is the original Omaha indie concert hall, and The Slowdown, one of the best indie-music venues in the nation, lives up to its name, giving music lovers a place to chill and be entertained.

Benson is home to some of The Slowdown the coolest venues in the city. The Waiting Room Lounge is one of the hottest venues for hosting a variety of local, national, and international stars. Funky neighborhood bars such as Barley St. Tavern, The Sydney and Reverb Lounge host performances nightly.

Love’s Jazz and Art Center

For more than 90 years, Omaha Performing Arts provides the best Broadway, jazz, blues, dance, comedy, family, and popular entertainment. Its landmark venues, the Orpheum Theater and Holland Performing Arts Center, present world-class performances and events year-round.

Omaha’s downtown arena seats 18,300 and attracts everything from top touring acts to intimate shows.

In the summer months, catch Jazz on the Green every Thursday night. Latin, reggae, big band music, and more fills the outdoor Turner Park in Midtown Crossing.

Omaha Symphony

Omaha’s live music scene lights up all week long in bars, clubs, and pubs throughout the city, including The Down Under, The Hive, and Lookout Lounge.

See more nightlife and music options at VisitOmaha.com

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OMAHA

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LODGING

With more than 15,000 hotel rooms in the Omaha area, there are a variety of options for your stay.

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rom pet-friendly boutique hotels and Four Diamond properties to water parks and suite-style lodging, Omaha offers comfort and class along with a heavy dose of hospitality. Wherever you stay, you’ll find restaurants, shopping, and fun things to do conveniently located nearby.

Go to VisitOmaha.com for a full list of Omaha hotels with TripAdvisor reviews.

TIP: Check out the Book A Room feature on VisitOmaha. com. You can search a variety of Omaha hotel options all at once and book directly with the hotel of your choice.

You can also view hotel availability two months at a time and compare rates surrounding your selected dates.

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IT’S A NEW STAY.

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A PRODUCTIVE STAY NEVER FELT SO RELAXING

St. Frances Cabrini COURTYARD BY MARRIOTT AKSARBEN VILLAGE

RESIDENCE INN BY MARRIOTT AKSARBEN VILLAGE

1625 S 67TH STREET | OMAHA, NE 68106 402.951.4300 | marriott.com/omawt

1717 S 67TH STREET | OMAHA, NE 68106 402.551.8000 | marriott.com/omakv

The spiritual home of the Little Italy and Old Market neighborhoods since 1857.

stcabriniomaha.org 10th and Williams Street

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COMFORTABLE, CLASSY, & CENTRALLY LOCATED IN OMAHA SPACIOUS GUEST ROOMS (Handicap Accessible available) COMPLIMENTARY HOT AND HEARTY BREAKFAST ∙ OUTDOOR POOL 24-HOUR FITNESS AND BUSINESS CENTERS ∙ GUEST LAUNDRY COMPLIMENTARY HIGH-SPEED WI-FI ∙ MEETING ROOM

11515 MIRACLE HILLS DR., OMAHA, NE 68164 402.496.7500 ∙ DAYSINN-OMAHA.COM

Call for information on 1 to 3 hour tours

402.968.8534

t s e m r a W n i e m o c l We Omaha!

It starts with the warm welcome of our signature chocolate chip cookie. And that’s just the beginning of your stay with us.

Whether your travels are business or pleasure, the can-do attitude of every member of our staff ensures an enjoyable stay.

DoubleTree by Hilton.

Where the little things mean everything.

TM

402.346.7600 | 1616 Dodge St. Omaha, NE 68102 | OmahaDowntown.DoubleTree.com 71

“BOYS TOWN has not only been LIFE CHANGING

for me, but

l ife

saving.”

LYNN

Lynn’s story is one of heartbreak and triumph. Her story has a beautiful new beginning with Boys Town.

Over the past 100 years, Boys Town has helped millions of children and families.

Just as each story is unique, so is the story they tell.

See the stories for yourself and experience the magic that is Boys Town.

1808-187-02b

1-800-625-1400 72

boystown.org

The place for

fun & memories memories PERMANENT EXHIBITS EXHIBITS PERMANENT ArtSmart SmartCenter Center Art

S.T.E.A.M. Cave

CharlieCampbell CampbellScience ScienceCenter Center Charlie ImaginationPlayground Playground Imagination

Tinker Lab Lab Tinker Walker Tire Tire Service Walker Service Center Center

Zooland Zooland FantasticFuture FutureMe Me Fantastic

Sandy’s Splish Splish Splash Sandy’s Splash Garden Garden Bay Family Family Carousel Bay Carousel and and BNSF BNSFTrain Train

2019SPECIAL SPECIAL EXHIBITS EXHIBITS 2019

October 13, 2018 - April 14, 2019 October 13, 2018 - April 14, 2019

March 2 - September 1, 2019 March 2 - September 1, 2019

Most MostVisited VisitedMuseum Museum in inNebraska Nebraska 40,000 40,000sq sqftftof ofFun Fun Award AwardWinning WinningExhibits Exhibits Daily DailyPrograms Programs&&Shows Shows

May 25 - September 1, 2019 May 25 - September 1, 2019

October 12, 2019 - April 11, 2020 October 12, 2019 - April 11, 2020

500 S. 20ththStreet 500 S. 20 Street WEST OF THE OLD MARKET WEST OF THE OLD MARKET

ocm.org ocm.org

402-342-6164 402-342-6164

PACK LIGHT.

NO, LIGHTER. Travel to the African Safari, Sahara Desert and Asian Highlands in one trip to Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium. Just grab your keys and you’re set. Plan your visit at OmahaZoo.com.