Thanksgiving in Omaha

Omaha-area lakes offer trails with scenes inspiring tranquility. Lake Cunningham has a 6-mile concrete trail. Walk and loop back, or walk the entire path around. Nature rewards you with views of blue herons and bald eagles fishing. Waterfowl swim along the shallows. Other popular destinations include Lake Zorinsky’s 7-mile path and Standing Bear Lake’s 3-mile loop. Dogs are welcome on leash. Discover more outdoor fun here.  

If a turkey trot isn’t in the cards this year, try a simple .9K marathon across the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge, or "Bob." Stop midway across the mighty Missouri River and strike a pose with one foot in Nebraska and one in Iowa. We call it Bobbing. It’s a thing. Share your photos with us at #ItHappensOnBob for a chance to star on our social media channels.

Kids and adults both thrill at the excitement of sliding down a pair of slides at Gene Leahy Mall at The RiverFront. The promise of an exhilarating ride means you’ll want to run up the stairs, making getting your steps in a breeze. Two smaller slides nearby give younger children a less intense sliding experience. Bring wax paper for faster rides, and prepare to laugh like a child, regardless of your age.

Consider packing your bike for your Thanksgiving trip to Omaha – or see if Grandma still has a usable ride in the garage. (Alternatively, rent a bike from Heartland Bike Share.) You’ll discover over 85 miles of paved interconnected trails with wide-open views. West Papio Trail is incredibly scenic, passing several lakes and parks. Another route, the Omaha RiverFront Trail, first offers urban landscapes, including Heartland of America Park and Lewis and Clark Landing. Heading north, rural landscapes take over, ending at the beautiful Boyer Chute National Wildlife Refuge.

Take a 1.7-mile walk to view public art. Start at Charles Schwab Field Omaha to see “The Road to Omaha.” Not far south is “Fertile Ground," one of the largest murals in the country, which tells Omaha’s story. From there, take a .4-mile excursion to see “Dangos” by Omaha’s renowned sculptor Jun Kaneko outside Hilton Omaha. Next, head west on Dodge Street to Spirit of the Wilderness and Pioneer Courage Park, where you can see lifelike bronze and stainless steel works that pay homage to Nebraska’s land, wildlife, Indigenous people, and pioneers. Considering the pioneers’ trek, the .6-mile walk back to your starting point is as easy as (pumpkin) pie.