Omaha

On the curving pedestrian bridge over the Missouri River, you can stand with one foot in Nebraska and the other in Iowa – Omaha sits right on the state line. A trip to Omaha takes you to one of the best zoos in the world, a brick-paved historic district with cobblestone streets, and the steaks the city is famous for. For a city break in the heart of the Great Plains, Omaha is a pleasant surprise.

Gateway to the West

Named after the Omaha people, the Native American nation of the same name, the city was founded in 1854 and became the starting point of the Union Pacific Railroad, which from 1865 drove construction of the first transcontinental railroad westward. Stockyards and meatpacking plants made the city grow. Today Omaha is home to several major corporations, including Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway, whose shareholder meeting draws tens of thousands of visitors every spring.

Sights in Omaha

The Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium is considered one of the best zoos in the world, with the Desert Dome, a nocturnal swamp and the Lied Jungle, one of the largest indoor rainforests in the world. The Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge over the Missouri and the redesigned riverfront parks with the Gene Leahy Mall invite you to stroll. The Art Deco Joslyn Art Museum, with a new addition, shows art from antiquity to the present day, with free admission. The Durham Museum, housed in the former Union Station, tells the story of the city with a restored waiting hall and vintage trains. In June, the College World Series takes place, the championship of college baseball.

Neighborhoods and Food

The Old Market in Downtown, with brick warehouses, cobblestone streets, galleries, horse-drawn carriages and restaurants, is the heart of the city. Benson is the neighborhood for live music and bars, Blackstone for craft cocktails, and the Reuben sandwich is said to have been invented at the Blackstone Hotel there. Aksarben Village is a newer district with restaurants and concerts, and Millard in the west is a family-oriented suburb. Omaha's restaurants are best known for steaks from Nebraska beef, served in old steakhouses with wood paneling. Runza, a pastry pocket filled with beef and cabbage, is a regional specialty that goes back to German-Russian immigrants.

Culture and Sports

Omaha has a surprisingly lively music and arts scene. The Holland Performing Arts Center is home to the Omaha Symphony, and the Orpheum Theater hosts touring Broadway shows. Indie bands play in small clubs in Benson and the Old Market. The Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts is an internationally acclaimed artists' residency with exhibitions. The Lauritzen Gardens are in bloom from spring through fall, and at Charles Schwab Field in the middle of the city, fans celebrate college baseball in June with tailgate parties in the parking lots.

Getting Around, When to Go and Day Trips

Eppley Airfield is just a few minutes from Downtown. Metro buses and the ORBT bus rapid transit line on Dodge Street serve the city, and a car is handy for day trips. The best time to visit is between May and October; winters are cold, and summers are warm with frequent thunderstorms. Day trips lead to Lincoln, the capital of Nebraska, to the Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum between the two cities, and to the Loess Hills in Iowa.