Welcome to Omaha, my home town! I am so thrilled to be in a triathlon city and one that is hosting so many amazing athletic events this year. We have been home to the College World Series and U.S. Olympic Swim Trials so far, and now it’s the USA Triathlon National Championships on August 13.
It is so exciting that OUR sport is coming to OUR town, not to mention some of our good friends who will be competing and spectating! So, if you are coming to Omaha, I want to share with you some great things about this community that you may not know, but should…
9 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT OMAHA
We have the #1 Zoo in the world as rated by Trip Advisor. Make sure you take time to visit. There are many indoor exhibits to get out of the heat. The brand new water pad area for kids is a huge hit, so make sure the kids are prepared to play. And, I would get in trouble with my Omaha Steaks kit wearing triathlete if I didn’t suggest grabbing a burger on the Omaha Steaks patio across from the aquarium.
Photo credit Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium celebrating Opal’s 39th birthday!
The Old Market makes for a great outing. Located right downtown, the Old Market has many restaurants and shops to visit. A not to be missed stop is Ted and Wally’s for ice cream. They make homemade flavors everyday and always have vegan options.
Omaha has a bursting arts community. No matter what type of art you like, it is here and you need to take advantage. From the Bemis which is home to arts in residence to the KANEKO to the worldwide known Josyln Art Museum, there is something for everyone.
We have amazing restaurants. Plus, they’re at all price points and styles of eating. We tend to stick to the Old Market area, but the foodie world extends well beyond. For more on our food scene, check out how we spend 48 hours in the Old Market on TravelingMom.
There are two great options for classic carb loading. Nicola’s, located in the Old Market at 13th and Jackson St., is a classic Italian restaurant. They have our favorite patio in town. Via Farina, located at 10th and Pacific, has pasta and pizza. The pasta is all handmade and pizzas are wood-fired. I suggest enjoying both during your stay, but you will need to make reservations at both.
Bring what you need for the race. Yes, we are hosting the USTA, but we do not have a specific triathlon shop and many bike stores are out in western Omaha. We actually use the bike shop in Council Bluffs, Iowa which is right over the river from Omaha and actually the closet shop to us.
We have a regional airport. It is small and easy to manage, but gets busy. Be sure to leave ample time to check in and get through security. We are a heavy professional and business travel hub.
We are not the only Omaha local experts. There is so much to do and see in Omaha beyond our world. We have many local Influncers who have great insight into the community. Check out their thoughts in this post on MomsGoodEats.
The Visit Omaha Center is a must stop location when you arrive. They often have information on hand that is new and the volunteers are very knowledgeable.
We are happy to answer any questions you may have about Omaha and the surrounding area. Please follow TriWivesClub on facebook and post any questions there, so everyone can see the answers.
We hope you have a great race and enjoy Omaha.
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Sherry is one of the TriWivesClub and LifeDoneWell co-founders and contributes to multiple blogs. She is a former co-owner of the California Apparel News and had a career in the healthcare industry. Her passions include traveling, real food, the environment, and animal rescue/welfare. She lives a healthy lifestyle and has been a vegetarian since 1987. She and her husband are parents to two rescue pups and reside in Connecticut.
