Places To Visit (Omaha, Bellevue, Fremont: house, movies, community college)

[sapphire-rose]

Seeking the help of fellow Nebraskins.
I'm a transplant from MA. I've come up against a brick wall when I suggest to DH "let's get out of the house and DO something". He says; "where do you want to go. or what do you want to do"? Folks help please, I have no idea what's out here. I hate to drive (developed some insane fear of it a number of years back). Any suggestions would be helpful milage isn't a problem DH loves to drive. I'm in Omaha. Any Restraunts, or other interesting ideas.
THANK YOU IN ADVANCE

[Dave1215]

Soaring Wings Winery is a nice quite place that's a little different... some evenings and weekends (every Sunday if I remember right) they have great local music... In early spring (late April / early May) they have a Blues Festival that is fun. I love their Dragon's Red wine.

Some other ideas at Sarpy Tourism if you want to get out of Omaha but not drive more than 30-45 minutes.

Go downtown Omaha and just wander around the RiverFront and the Old Market...

Go up to Dundee and walk around and eat lunch/dinner in one of the local places...

Make your way down to the zoo for a relaxing full day.

Into planes and military history? Be sure to get down to the SAC Museum

What are your areas of interest and how far would you want to drive?

[tpabes]

Also hit Mahoney State Park this spring, which is out by SAC museum and the Wildlife Safari, also fun to visit.

Like Dave said the Henry Doorly Zoo, is an easy full day.

Go south to Nebraska City and go to the Arbor Lodge and mess around in town, maybe head south to Brownville and do the dinner boat and they have a neat little historical site.

Take the Loess Hills scenic byway in Iowa.

Go on the Fremont Dinner train (although somewhat expensive)

Want Nature but in metro Omaha, head to Fontenelle Forest in Bellevue.

Don't forget Joslyn Musuem downtown and the Casinos in Council Bluffs.

There really is something for everyone here, so if there is something specific your looking for, we can point you in the right direction. If you want things further away from Omaha, we can help with that too.

[tpabes]

I forgot restaurants, check out this thread:
http://www.city-data.com/forum/nebra...-nebraska.html
Alot of them are out of Omaha, and some quite aways, but you might find some in there you want to try.

[sapphire-rose]

Thank You Dave1215
Thank You tpabes;

Have gone to the zoo, love it. Other than that we've gone to very few places to eat.
I love Planes, trains, & Automobiles (the real stuff). Anything "Nature" Fishing included. Walks. Well anything except horror movies. Does that narrow it down? Game to try anything once twice if I like it and make it a habbit if I love it.
I appreciate your input. LOL next time DH asks the usual question I'll have clear cut answers.
Thanks
S-R

[tpabes]

Sounds like you could spend an easy day by heading west on I-80, about 15 minutes outside the edge of Omaha, take exit 426. Hit up the SAC musuem (airplanes), Mahoney State Park (nature, walk, and their restaurant isn't too bad), and even hit up the wildlife safari.

The Strategic Air and Space Museum
Nebraska Game and Parks Commission - Parks - Area Search
Wildlife Safari

[Dave1215]

Originally Posted by sapphire-rose

Thank You Dave1215
Thank You tpabes;

Have gone to the zoo, love it. Other than that we've gone to very few places to eat.
I love Planes, trains, & Automobiles (the real stuff). Anything "Nature" Fishing included. Walks. Well anything except horror movies. Does that narrow it down? Game to try anything once twice if I like it and make it a habbit if I love it.
I appreciate your input. LOL next time DH asks the usual question I'll have clear cut answers.
Thanks
S-R

For "Nature" then put tpabes two recommendations on the top of your list: Mahoney State Park and Fontenelle Forest...

When at Mahoney, remember that the SAC Museum is right next door to it and just across the interstate is another part of the zoo that not many people know about the "Wildlife Safari"- a drive thru aspect, but located in Sarpy County not by the main zoo.

Gotta run but will post more later when have time.

[Dave1215]

sorry... shout have fully read tpabes post - I just duplicated the info... sorry

[EastCB]

Try the Union Pacific Railroad Museum in council Bluffs.

[star_gazer]

Every first Saturday of the month (this Saturday)... they do 'bird banding' (in the AM) at the Aksarben Aquarium at Schramm Park State Recreation area. Along with just being cool to watch... they'll let you release birds as well (my kids love that). )

Of course the aquarium is kind of cool too (all species indigenous to the state of Nebraska).

Website: Nebraska Game and Parks Commission - Parks - Area Search

Something else not too many Omahans are aware of... Fort Atkinson State Historical Park... it's a restored frontier post restored to it's 1820's appearance. The fort is neat... but the time to go is during one of several re-enactments they do each year... doing everything from firing cannons and muskettes, to making things in the blacksmith shop, to churning butter.

Fort Atkinson website: Fort Atkinson




Both of the these activities require nothing more than a state parks permit.


Also, in the third week of August, look for the Lighter than Air Balloon Fair held at the Iowa Western Community College campus, east of Council Bluffs. They usually draw 20-30 hot air balloons... you can pretty much walk right among them on the ground... then after dusk, they have a balloon glow. Cool stuff.

some pictures on flickr.com: Lighter Than Air Balloon Fair: 2006 - a photoset on Flickr


Anyway, there are all sorts of events like these going on around Omaha... you just need to look for them... don't forget the Offutt Open House air show as well... the Thunderbirds will be doing this years show... also in August.


- Eat dinner on the River City Star River City Star - Omaha, NE | Come Cruise With Us!
- Watch the Missouri River roll by while enjoying catfish and fritters at the Surfside Cafe : google 'surfside club omaha'
- Lauritzen Gardens (botanical gardens) http://www.omahabotanicalgardens.org
- Durham Museum (old Omaha Union Station downtown) Durham Western Heritage Museum - Omaha, Nebraska
- Hot Shops Art Center in north downtown Hot Shops Art Center
- Wildlife Safari, drive through wildlife park Wildlife Safari
- Arbor Day Farm and Lodge Tree Adventure at Arbor Day Farm
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