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Located in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, Omaha is the capital of Nebraska. The name Omaha is a Native American word that means “those who go against the current,” describing why this city and its people are very unique. Not only does Omaha have the highest number of millionaires per capita in the United States, but the highest number of restaurants as well. With a high number of universities and colleges, Omaha is filled with many young people and has excellent nightlife. Omaha has a wide variety of museums, events, landmarks, and activities to do, so search for your discount student flight right away!

Omaha Pictures

Things to do in Omaha

Omaha, Nebraska is a great place for tourism because there are so many things to see: from interesting museums, to great landmarks, parks, events, shopping areas, theaters, and a zoo. To begin with, a couple of the art museums include the Joslyn Art Museum and the Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts. Other museums to check out include the Strategic Air & Space Museum, Children’s Museum, and Durham Western Heritage Museum. As for landmarks, check out the Malcolm X Birthsite in North Omaha. Take a tour of the Joslyn Castle, which has four stories and 35 rooms. Also, visit the Gerald R. Ford Birthsite and Gardens to see where President Ford grew up. Beautiful parks and gardens are scattered through the city, and are perfect for walking, relaxing, or having a picnic. One of these is the Gene Leahy Mall, with paths, a playground, and horseshoes. Other parks include the Heartland of America Park (nice fountain), Memorial Park (floral displays), Elmwood Park (golfing, swimming pool), and the Lauritzen Gardens (botanical gardens). When in Omaha, check out a sports game, whether it be football or baseball. Every Thursday in the summer, Jazz on the Green is held, which is an exciting musical concert series. In the wintertime, the Holiday Lights Festival takes place with ice skating, tree lighting, singing, and fireworks. When in Omaha, definitely head to the Henry Doorly Zoo, which is Nebraska’s number one attraction, with the world’s largest nocturnal exhibit, indoor rainforest, and indoor desert.

Nightlife in Omaha

Although Omaha probably isn’t the first place you would think of for great nightlife, you would be surprised at everything this city has to offer. Head to Old Market and you will find a wide selection of cafes and bars worth checking out, including The Dubliner, a great Irish pub. Also, a great dancing nightclub is located in this area of the city, called Banana Joe’s. Also in the Old Market district, Cactus Cafe is a wonderful bar to have a drink with friends or even meet new ones. Gambling and drinking go hand in hand in Omaha, so head to either Harrah’s, Ameristar, or Horseshoe. Harrah’s is popular among a younger crowd for its dance club named Stir. A few other recommendations for your night out include the Dundee Dell, Homy Inn, Saddle Creek Bar, and Upstream Brewery.

Dining in Omaha

Omaha is known for having the highest number of restaurants per-capita in the nation. Knowing this, the wide variety of places to dine is endless in Omaha. The meal that Omaha is typically known for is steak, known as an “Omaha steak”. This can be found pretty much anywhere, as many restaurants offer great steak dishes. If you are dining on a budget, a few good restaurants to consider are Katie’s or King Kong (Greek), Azteca or Los Portales (Mexican), Petrow’s (American), or Zio’s Pizza. In the mid-price range there are a few more options, such as Cheeseburger in Paradise, or the Jimmy Buffet island-themed chain. Charlie’s on the Lake has a gorgeous view of the city and serves delicious martinis. Ahmad’s Persian Cuisine has very authentic food of Persia located in the Old Market. If you are looking to spend a bit more at a restaurant, head to Gorat’s Steak House, where they serve “the finest steaks in the world”. Either that, or check out Mahogany Prime Steakhouse, Mark’s Bistro, or Piccolo Pete’s.

Shopping in Omaha

With many different types of shops and markets, Omaha can fulfill pretty much any of your shopping needs. If you are looking for a typical mall with a variety of stores, check out either the Westroads, Oak View, or Village Point. Village Point is an outdoor shopping experience with many different stores to choose from. The Old Market provides a unique shopping experience, with interesting shops, boutiques, restaurants, and cute passageways. Borsheims is the largest independent jewelry and gift shop in the United States. Head to the Nebraska Furniture Mart, which offers furniture, electronics, and home decorations and is known as the largest LazyBoy retailer in the nation. For a great second-hand bookstore, check out Jackson Street Booksellers, where you can get a wide selection of used books at reasonable prices.

Omaha Travel Tips

• Omaha is located in tornado alley, so beware of weather alerts particularly between the months of April and August.
• Never insult Nebraska Football or speak in favor of Iowa, because most people in Omaha have pride for their team and have a huge dislike for the people of Iowa.
• Drive carefully in Omaha. The I-80 is a ten-lane highway in which people tend to drive very fast which is a bit scary if you are not used to it.