I can’t believe it took me this long to go to Omaha. We spent a beautiful girls’ weekend in October and had an amazing time. We enjoyed delicious food and drink and saw the sights.
Omaha Zoo
Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium is rightly famous. Don’t miss the “kingdoms of the night” nocturnal exhibit under the desert dome (can I get a dessert dome?), the butterfly pavilion, and the jungle. Most of all, feed Lola at the giraffe encounter in Africa (open Saturdays and Sundays weather permitting). That was the highlight of the trip.
You could spend days at the zoo, but we spent a great four hours.
Food and Drink
How I love good food! Omaha did not disappoint.
- I had the best cheesebread of my life at Noli’s Pizzeria
- Delicious mini-shell, smoked gouda mac and cheese with shrimp at Jams in the Old Market
- Heavenly breakfast potatoes at Good Lookin’
- Fun at Proof: whiskey bar and craft cocktails.
- (links below)
The Old Market
We spent an enjoyable afternoon exploring the old market. Hollywood Candy is worth a visit. We were pleased with how welcoming Omaha appears to be to the LGBTQ+ community, especially in The Old Market.
Bob the Bridge and Lewis and Clark
We enjoyed a beautiful morning walking along the Missouri River, crossing “Bob” the Pedestrian Bridge crossing between Nebraska and Iowa, and checking out the Lewis and Clark National Park Service Visitors Center (another check on my friend’s national park list).
Lodging
We found great lodging at an Airbnb in Little Bohemia. We picked our spot for its great location, affordable price, and ample space for playing board games at the dining room table and in the spacious living room area. We will have to check out the nearby Omaha Dog Bar next time.
Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium Location
3701 S 10th St, Omaha, NE 68107
Travel and Parking
Omaha is a three-hour drive from Kansas City. Directions include “keep going north for 113 miles”. We rocked out to some good road trip tunes from Spotify.
The zoo has plenty of free parking. The Old Market has paid parking: parking map here. Our other stops had street parking with or without meters (check both sides of the meters for various payment options like coin, card, or app). Our Airbnb had a designated spot out back and street parking. We took an Uber to Proof.
Links to learn more
Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium
Visitor Experiences at the Zoo (feed Lola the giraffe!)
Pet-friendly Airbnb (good for playing board games)
Noli’s Pizzeria (for the best cheesebread ever)
Jams: an American Grill (Old Market location for delicious gouda mac and cheese with shrimp)
Proof Whiskey Bar and Craft Cocktails
Good Lookin’ (for the best breakfast potatoes)
Hollywood Candy: More than a Store, It’s an Experience