I had just returned to NYC from a week in Hawaii and told myself I needed to “lay low” for a while- build my savings back up a bit, take care of a bunch of ‘administrative’ things back home, and basically just recharge my batteries. Then, as fate would have it, I receive a text from my cousin Allie who told me she was out in Omaha, Nebraska for three weeks for work, and invited me to come stay with her. She had a hotel room, a rental car, a per diem for food- the only cost for me would be the airfare. Plus, Omaha is on the border of Iowa, which would help me knock off 2 more states on my journey to visit all 50. How could I say no?!
I booked a flight for the next weekend.
One of the best parts about living in NYC is the endless amount of travel opportunities. There are three major airports (JFK, LGA, and EWR) with nonstop flights to just about anywhere you want to go. I was able to snag a nonstop flight after work on Friday, returning on Sunday night. I would only be there 48 hours, but we were going to make the most of it!
When I landed at Eppley Airfield on Friday night, I had to laugh at the quietness. I am used to hectic airport pickups, so was texting Allie every few minutes to keep her posted- when we landed, at the gate, walking off – so she could be prepared to pull up right when I walked out. Hilariously enough, none of that was necessary. I walked outside and she was one of only about three cars in the pick up area. She was able to put the car in park and sit there for over 20 minutes while I deplaned. At JFK, we get honked at mercilessly if my Uber has to wait more than 10 seconds for me to put my bag in the trunk. We decided to head to the hotel and charge up for our packed day tomorrow!
We woke up bright and early on Saturday morning and went to Harold’s Koffee House for breakfast. This is Midwestern hospitality and home cooking at its finest (and dirt cheap!). It had a 1950’s diner feel with bright teal booths and a U-shaped bar in the middle where locals sipped coffee and read the morning paper. You can’t stop here without getting one of their homemade donuts. They’re worth it, trust me.
After we fueled up, we decided to head downtown and explore.
In the week and a half I had to plan for this trip, I kept seeing the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge popping up on every travel site as a “Top Thing To Do”. I was skeptical. “It’s just a bridge” I thought. “How cool could it really be?” Turns out, VERY.
Omaha is a quirky city (in all the best ways) and I love how they created an entire identity (and social media presence) for the bridge known simply as “Bob”. #ItHappensOnBob is their official hashtag and big signs as you walk onto the bridge encourage you to use the tag in your posts.
Bob is a 3,000 foot suspension bridge that crosses the Missouri River from Omaha, NE to Council Bluffs, IA. If you walk across the whole bridge, you are awarded a sticker for completing your .9 k! However, the coolest part about Bob is taking pictures straddling the state line. A must-have shot along my journey to all 50 states!
Once you cross the border and continue down the S-shaped bridge into Council Bluffs, there is a riverside park filled with public art displays to enjoy with the city of Omaha in the background. A lot of the art is inspired by Lewis and Clark, who had stopped along the banks of the Missouri River in Omaha while exploring the Louisiana Purchase.
After we walked back across Bob back into Omaha, we made our way downtown to explore the Old Market and more of the waterfront. Immediately after we parked, I spotted something incredible across the street- a bright green Lime scooter. I was so excited! One of my favorite and the most fun ways to explore a new city is by scooter! We immediately snagged the first two we could find and scooted away!
Heartland of America park was the perfect place to scoot! The walkways are big and wide, and scooting around Conagra Lake was easily one of the highlights of the trip- just watch out for all the geese poop! From there, you can easily scoot along the river through the Lewis & Clark Landing, and back up to Bob.
The area on and around Bob is a “low speed” zone with scooters. Once we started getting close to the bridge, we noticed our scooters going slower and slower, never exceeding 5 mph. At the time, we figured it was just because we were going uphill, but that theory was disproved as we were going downhill off the bridge and still maxing out at 5 mph. Lime has a GPS on every scooter and once you enter a pedestrian-only area, it automatically limits your speed until you leave the area. Something to consider in any city, not just Omaha!
After about an hour scoot, we parked them outside of the Old Market and set out to explore by foot. We stopped for lunch at The Monster Club, which- as you can probably guess- is a monster themed bar/restaurant in the heart of the Old Market. A super quirky and fun stop to recharge after a long morning.
The Old Market is exactly what it sounds like- an area in Downtown Omaha that is about 5 blocks x 5 blocks that is filled with old historic buildings that vendors used to set up shop in during the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. It’s incredibly picturesque and you can just feel the history as you walk down the cobblestone streets!
My favorite place in the Old Market was the Old Market Passageway. This covered alleyway has a small entrance on Howard Street. There is a small sign indicating the entrance, but very easy to over look if you’re not keeping an eye out!
Once inside, you’ll find a few restaurants, shops, and art galleries and greenery everywhere. It was absolutely beautiful. They have a strict rule only allowing phone photography of the passageway. Absolutely no big cameras allowed!
We then ventured up to the Blackstone District, which we were told is the most “up and coming” neighborhood in Omaha. The University of Nebraska Medical Center occupies a good chunk of the neighborhood, giving it a young, energetic vibe. Obviously we had to stop and take pictures with their What Lifts
You murals. Kelsey Montague a famous artist known for painting gorgeous angel wings onto buildings for the ultimate Instagram selfie. Her famous murals can be found in cities all over, from Nashville to NYC. They never disappoint!
After a long day of exploring, we went back to the hotel to rest for a bit before heading to dinner. If you go to Omaha and don’t eat at a steakhouse, did you really go to Omaha? The answer is no! Ask any local what the best steakhouse in the city is, and you’ll get a different answer every time. The short answer is- they’re all good. We decided to go to Brother Sebastian’s in West Omaha. We had heard good things about the ambiance and the food, so decided to check it out. At first glance, it was nothing special, and slightly creepy. It’s located in a strip mall with a solid door and no windows. We sat in the car for a few minutes wondering if we should go inside! After some deliberation, we had to hear what the hype was about and we ventured in- and what an experience it was! You’re immediately transported into a monastery, with low lighting and all the staff wearing monks’ cowls. There are several rooms, each with a different theme, ranging from library to wine cellar. We couldn’t put our finger on what exactly our room was, but it felt like an outdoor garden filled with statues of apostles and religious figures. One thing that Omaha restaurants do well is themes. They definitely have the “go big or go home” mentality!
The next morning, we got up early and drove out to the Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum. Allie is in the Air Force, and I love airplanes, so this was something we both could enjoy!We ooh’d and aww’d at the size of the engines, the wings, and got to sit in the pilot’s seat of a fighter plane. I’m usually not much of a museum person, but this was one that is definitely worth your time! There are two huge hangars filled with dozens of bombers, fighters, and recon planes as well as exhibits about the pilots who flew them. One of the most fascinating things to see was this small half dollar coin that actually contained a small needle and a lethal dose of cyanide that pilots would wear around their neck. If they were ever captured as a POW, they were supposed to inject themselves with the poison as to not reveal any secrets. They had one of the actual coins on display, which was really interesting to see. Whether you’re interested in aviation, the military, America, or just really cool stuff- this is a must-do!
My time in Omaha was running short, so we decided to spend my last few hours exploring new parts of the city. One of my favorites was this giant statue of a fork and spaghetti that we found in Little Italy. More proof of Omaha’s charm and quirkiness!
We stopped for lunch nearby at The Burlington League, a sports bar where we could rest our feet and watch the Bills game. The broasted wings were to. die. for. The juiciest wings I have ever had! (And that’s coming from a Buffalonian who was born and raised on chicken wings!)
With that, it was time for my Omaha adventures to come to a close. I left completely blown away by how much the city had to offer and wishing I had time to do more. I would love to devote two full days just to the zoo, and explore the rest of eastern Nebraska. Next time!
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