Located along the Missouri River, this Nebraska city has grown from a frontier town into a business center with Fortune 500 companies, the world-class Henry Doorly Zoo, and active arts scene.
Omaha, Nebraska's largest city, stretches along the Missouri River. You can walk the cobblestone streets of the Old Market, watch penguins swim underwater at the Henry Doorly Zoo, or catch a Broadway show at the Orpheum Theater. Local restaurants like Block 16 serve farm-to-table burgers, while Yoshitomo crafts modern sushi. Walk across the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge for river views, or join thousands of baseball fans at the College World Series each June in Charles Schwab Field.
Exploring the Old Market District
The Old Market district spans several blocks of 19th-century warehouses in downtown Omaha. Art galleries, coffee shops, and restaurants fill the brick buildings, while musicians play on the cobblestone streets. Walk through the indoor passageways to find local artisans at work. After sunset, especially on weekends, restaurants and bars draw crowds of locals and visitors.
Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium
Across 130 acres, the Henry Doorly Zoo includes the world's largest indoor desert and rainforest. Walk through three levels of waterfalls and tropical plants in the Lied Jungle, or see meerkats and fennec foxes in the Desert Dome's recreations of the Namib, Australian, and Sonoran deserts. The aquarium includes a 70-foot tunnel surrounded by swimming sharks, while the Kingdoms of the Night exhibit lets you watch nocturnal animals during their active hours.
Museums and Cultural Sites
Step into restored train cars at the Durham Museum, located in the 1931 Union Station building. The Joslyn Art Museum displays American West paintings from the 19th and 20th centuries alongside European art from the 1400s to 1800s. Try hands-on physics experiments at the Kiewit Luminarium. The Great Plains Black History Museum holds photographs and artifacts documenting Omaha's African American community since the 1860s.
Getting Around Omaha
You'll need a car to explore most of Omaha due to its size. Metro buses run between downtown, main attractions, and residential areas every 15-30 minutes on routes 2, 4, and 15. The Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge connects to Council Bluffs, Iowa across a 3,000-foot span. A new streetcar line will link downtown districts beginning in 2026.
Events and Entertainment
Watch college baseball teams compete at the College World Series in Charles Schwab Field each June. The CHI Health Center hosts basketball games, hockey matches, and concerts throughout the year. The Cinco de Mayo parade and carnival takes over South 24th Street each May, while the Juneteenth Freedom Festival brings music and performances to North 24th Street. From May through September, the RiverFront parks host weekly concerts and community events.
Weather and Seasons
Summer temperatures reach 86°F (30°C) in July with humidity above 80%. Winter brings average lows of 13°F (-10°C) and about 28 inches of snow annually. Thunderstorms occur frequently in spring (March-May), sometimes with tornadoes. Fall months (September-November) stay between 60-70°F (15-21°C) with less humidity.
