Omaha Articles and Blogs

September found us on the road, or in the air, as we headed towards Omaha, Nebraska and Council Bluffs, Iowa. Who would have guessed that we would make two visits to two different air and space museums on either end of our trip?

OMAHA, Neb. -  How Midwestern is Omaha?

It’s so Midwestern that hotel rooms come with descriptions explaining the difference between tornado watches and tornado warnings. It’s so Midwestern that several important establishments are named Ak-Sar-Ben — that’s Nebraska spelled backward. It’s so Midwestern that a pedestrian bridge spanning the Missouri River is named Bob.

The Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge in Omaha is a very impressive structure — in both its architecture and especially in its quirky new personality.

The cliché is that Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium has everything from aardvarks to zebras. It does have zebras (of course), and it does have aardvarks, and if you’ve never seen an aardvark you really should because those things are totally bizarre.

In perhaps Nebraska’s most innovative and entrepreneurial city, the changes are balanced by the constants: music, art, cuisine — and, of course, Warren Buffett.

Nebraska isn’t just landlocked; it’s actually the only triple-landlocked state in the country. That means that you have to travel through at least three states (or two states and a Canadian province) to reach an ocean. Knowing this, it might seem a little unusual that there’s an impressive naval museum here, including a warship and a submarine.

Omaha, Neb., and Council Bluffs, Iowa, are far from twin cities, but their proximity to one another makes for a multifaceted destination equipped to serve a wide variety of meeting preferences. While Omaha percolates with urban excitement and Council Bluffs has a more laid-back vibe, both offer groups outstanding amenities, accessibility and services.

In less than three hours you can drive from Kansas City to Omaha, Nebraska. Once there you will find a multitude of attractions, activities, and oddities to keep you occupied. We have made this trip on multiple occasions, and it seems that we always find plenty to keep us busy. This place makes for a wonderful three day weekend destination, and you can still get back home early enough on the Sunday to catch your breath.

Just south of Omaha you will come across the Offutt Air Force Base. This fairly nondescript area happens to be the headquarters of the U.S. Strategic Command. Nestled in the middle of farmland, just off exit 426 from Interstate 80, travelers will come across the Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum.

You might not think there’s much happening in the so-called flyover city of Omaha, but those who’ve been here know there’s a whole lot more than cornfields and cows.

The largest city in Nebraska is as friendly as any other in the Midwest with a bustling historic district, impressive foodie scene, and plenty of fun to be had for both parents and kids alike.