Things to Do in Omaha
With so many things to do in the area, we simply couldn't decide on just one activity. Rather than have organized events, we invite you to stop by the registration table, and we will be happy to help you and your guests find just the right activity for your free time. We encourage you to visit any of the Web sites listed below, or you can find out more about Omaha by visiting www.visitomaha.com or www.accessomaha.com.
The list is endless, but following are a few suggestions to consider when you start planning your itinerary for your visit to Omaha. We have provided a suggested amount of time to spend at each attraction. The Hilton Omaha is located at the corner of 10th Street and Cass (across from the Qwest Center). Click here for a map of Omaha.
HENRY DOORLY ZOO (2-6 hours)
Named "Best Zoo in America" by the Reader's Digest in May, 2004, exhibits at the zoo include: the Lied Jungle, the world's largest indoor tropical rain forest; Scott Aquarium, where you can walk through a 70-foot tunnel as sharks and thousands of colorful reef fish swim overhead and alongside; the Lozier IMAX 3-D Theater, where you can enjoy films on the 83-foot wide and six story high screen; the Cat Complex, which is the largest big cat facility in North America with over 675 species of animals spread throughout the 110-acre park; the world's largest geodesic indoor desert at the Desert Dome; and below that, the world's largest nocturnal exhibit. At the Gorilla Valley, walk through an enclosed glass tunnel while gorillas roam a two-acre valley all around you. www.omahazoo.com
OLD MARKET (1½-4 hours)
Original red brick warehouses are home to more than 125 businesses, including restaurants, coffee houses, unique shops, and art galleries. www.omahaoldmarket.com
DURHAM WESTERN HERITAGE MUSEUM (1½-2 hours)
Built by the Union Pacific Railroad from 1929 to 1931, the museum is the nation's first restored Art Deco railway station housing permanent and temporary exhibits of more than 100 years of Omaha history, train cars, and memorabilia. www.dwhm.org
JOSLYN ART MUSEUM (1½-2 hours)
Since its opening in 1931, Joslyn Art Museum has served as a premier center for the visual arts. One of the finest examples of Art Deco architecture in the nation, the museum's collections include European, American, Twentieth Century, Western American, and Ancient Art. www.joslyn.org
BORSHEIMS (2 hours)
America's largest independent jewelry store. Browse through the store's 45,000 square-foot showroom. www.borsheims.com
FATHER FLANAGAN'S BOYS TOWN (1½-2 hours)
Boys Town is a complete community for over 550 boys and girls. Visit Father Flanagan's home, the Hall of History Museum, the Garden of the Bible, and the Visitor Center and Gift Shop. www.boystown.org
LAURITZEN GARDENS, OMAHA'S BOTANICAL CENTER (1-1½ hours)
After seeing the development of Lauritzen Gardens' 100-acres property, some visitors find it hard to believe this is such a young institution. Although there are undeveloped portions of the property and evolution of the gardens will continue for many years to come, there is much to observe and enjoy today. A walk or tram ride through Lauritzen Gardens is definitely a multi-sensory experience for all ages. www.omahabotanicalgardens.org
STRATEGIC AIR AND SPACE MUSEUM (1-2 hours)
This museum is regarded as the nation's foremost facility of its kind. It has two aircraft display hangars, a traveling exhibit area, an interactive gallery, theater, store, aircraft restoration gallery, and a snack bar. The glass atrium is a breathtaking structure encasing the awesome Lockheed SR-7 Blackbird. www.strategicairandspace.com
WILDLIFE SAFARI (1½-2 hours)
At the same exit as the Strategic Air & Space Museum is a drive-through adventure to discover North American animals just like Lewis and Clark saw on their journey 200 years ago. www.omahazoo.com/parkweb/home/home.htm
FREEDOM PARK NATIONAL LANDMARK (1 hour)
Freedom Park showcases exhibits and memorabilia on naval history from World War II through the present. www.freedomparknavy.org
GERALD R. FORD BIRTH SITE AND ROSE GARDEN (1 hour)
Though the original home of our 38th president was destroyed in a fire, a beautiful park and rose garden now serve as a memorial. The park showcases a scale model of Ford's home, White House memorabilia, landscaped gardens, and the Betty Ford Rose Garden.
GOLF COURSES GALORE
If you'd like to take in a little golf while you're here, you have a huge choice of courses. The prices are affordable, and the wild beauty of the landscape lends itself to a scenic experience. With more public golf courses per capita than any other city with a population of 100,000 plus, over 50 courses dot the area in and around Omaha. www.visitomaha.com