Omaha

Omaha is the largest city in Nebraska with about 486,000 residents, located on the Missouri River border with Iowa. The city is famous for the Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium, the nation's top paid attraction, and hosts the NCAA Men's College World Series every June. Omaha has a surprising number of restaurants per capita and is known for high-quality corn-fed beef steakhouses. The Old Market district in Downtown offers historic cobblestone streets with upscale shopping and dining.

Omaha Eppley Airfield (OMA) is the main airport served by Alaska, Allegiant, American, Delta, Frontier, Southwest, and United airlines with flights from most major US cities. The airport offers free high-speed WiFi and on-site rental car services. Ground transportation includes Navigator Airport Express shuttles to surrounding Nebraska cities and Omalink service to Lincoln. Intercity bus services (Burlington Trailways, Express Arrow, Jefferson Lines) depart from Jackson & S 16th St. Omaha is also served by Amtrak's California Zephyr route.

Omaha is served by the Interstate highway system with I-80 running east-west and I-29 running north-south along the Missouri River. Major streets include Dodge Street (US-6) and Farnam Street. The city is spread out, making a rental car the most practical option for visitors wanting to explore beyond downtown. Taxis and rideshare services like zTrip operate throughout the metro area.

Omaha has a continental climate with hot, humid summers (average high 88°F in July) and cold, snowy winters (average low 15°F in January). The best time to visit is late spring through early fall (May-September) for comfortable weather. June is peak season due to the Men's College World Series baseball tournament. Summer severe weather including tornadoes can occur April-August. Winter visitors should prepare for snow and icy conditions.

Downtown Omaha and the Old Market area offer the most walkable accommodations including the Embassy Suites by Hilton Omaha Downtown Old Market and Hilton Garden Inn Omaha Downtown/Old Market Area. Midtown Crossing has the Element Omaha Midtown Crossing. Budget options include Best Western Plus Midwest Inn near the airport. Hotels near I-80 provide easy access for those with cars. Rates vary widely; the Berkshire Hathaway Annual Meeting in early May drives prices significantly higher.

Omaha and Nebraska are known for high-quality corn-fed beef, with famous steakhouses including Gorat's Steak House (a Warren Buffett favorite), Mahogany Prime Steakhouse, and Spencer's for Steaks and Chops. The city has more restaurants per capita than almost anywhere in the world. Local specialties include Runza sandwiches (a Nebraskan staple) and fried puffy-shell tacos at California Tacos and More. Smoking is illegal inside all restaurants. All bars must close by 2AM, and hard liquor cannot be served before noon on Sundays.

The Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium (3701 S 10th St, $29.95 adults) is Nebraska's number one paid attraction featuring the world's largest indoor rainforest and nocturnal exhibit. Art museums include the free Joslyn Art Museum (2200 Dodge St) with works by El Greco, Degas, Monet, and Renoir. The Durham Western Heritage Museum (801 S 10th St) is housed in an art deco train station. The RiverFront is a newly completed urban park along the Missouri River. Sports fans can catch the Men's College World Series in June or hockey at Baxter Arena.

Omaha is generally a safe city, but the majority of violent crime occurs in North Omaha, roughly defined as the area north of Cuming St between 24th and 72nd St. Exercise additional caution in this area, especially after dark. The city is in Tornado Alley; severe weather can occur April-August with main threats of hail, high winds, and flooding. Outdoor warning sirens are installed throughout the city and tested on the first Wednesday of each month at 11AM. During winter, be prepared for cold temperatures, snow, ice, and occasional blizzards.

Eppley Airfield offers free high-speed wireless internet. Most hotels and restaurants in downtown and Old Market areas provide WiFi. Coffee shops like Blue Line Coffee and 13th Street Coffee Company offer free WiFi. The city uses standard US electrical outlets (120V, types A/B). Mobile carriers including Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Sprint provide 4G/5G coverage throughout the metro area.

Omaha is relatively affordable for a US city. Budget travelers can find hostel-style accommodations around $80-120/night. Eating at local spots like Runza, California Tacos, or El Pollo Tote runs $8-15 per meal. The Henry Doorly Zoo costs $29.95 for adults. Most museums like the Joslyn Art Museum are free. Public transit is limited, so budgeting for rideshare or rental car ($30-50/day) is important. Daily budget for budget travelers: $100-150.

Council Bluffs, Iowa is just across the Missouri River with casinos (gambling is illegal in Nebraska). Lincoln, 50 miles west on I-80, offers museums and University of Nebraska football games. Nebraska City, about an hour's drive, has orchards and vineyards including Kimmel Orchard and Vineyard and Arbor Day Farm. Bellevue, La Vista, Papillion, and Ralston offer shopping opportunities.

From Omaha, the California Zephyr Amtrak route connects west to Denver and east to Chicago. Interstate 80 leads west to North Platte and east to Des Moines. US-75 runs north to Sioux City and south to Topeka. Lincoln is 50 miles west on I-80 with additional museums and shopping. The nearby cities of Bellevue, La Vista, Papillion, and Ralston have various shopping areas.