Discover Omaha: Zoo, Parks and Culture

Omaha offers several focal points for a stay: a ride on the Skyfari at Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium, a group of three parks downtown, offerings at The Durham Museum, and the historic Old Market Entertainment District. Seasonal events hosted by Omaha’s Old Market are another option. When looking for a hotel in Omaha, you can first decide whether you want your trip to center on a zoo attraction, a group of parks, a museum, or a neighborhood. These differences give you a concrete framework for making your choice.

Zoo and RiverFront: Ride or Group of Parks

Rides on the Skyfari are offered at Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium. This makes a specific ride one of the zoo’s offerings to choose from. As a travel option, this focus differs from RiverFront and its three parks or The Durham Museum and its exhibitions and visitor experiences: Skyfari refers to the ride, while the other names identify a group of parks or a museum visit. If you organize your Omaha itinerary by activity type, you can think of the Skyfari as a zoo experience and distinguish it from the other focal points.

RiverFront brings together three parks in downtown Omaha under one shared name: Gene Leahy Mall, Heartland of America Park, and Lewis and Clark Landing. RiverFront is the collective name, while each of the three parks retains its own name. This distinction gives you two levels of orientation for planning your trip: you can keep the group of parks in mind as a whole while also identifying the individual park names. This makes it easy to recognize a shared focal point without losing sight of the three parks under a single name.

Culture at The Durham Museum

The Durham Museum is located in Union Station, one of Omaha’s unique treasures. The Harriman Family Line includes railroad cars from the 1940s and 1950s. Visitors can also step inside a rawhide tipi or sit by the fire in a replica earth lodge. The museum thus offers different ways to engage with its themes: on the one hand, railroad cars set in a particular period; on the other, experiences that involve stepping inside and sitting down. If you want to distinguish between exhibits and spaces you can experience firsthand during a museum visit, these details provide a concrete basis for your choice.

Historic Character in the Old Market Entertainment District

The Old Market Entertainment District is a vibrant, historic neighborhood with cobblestone streets, brick buildings, and nostalgic charm. The cobblestones and brick make the neighborhood’s architectural character tangible; its nostalgic charm adds a distinctive atmosphere. This sets it apart from a single attraction or exhibition: the focus here is the neighborhood itself and its streetscape. For travelers who want to include a historic neighborhood in their stay in Omaha, these features offer a concrete impression of its character.

Seasonal Events in Omaha’s Old Market

Omaha’s Old Market hosts seasonal events throughout the year, including the Omaha Farmers Market, festive light displays, and parades. The calendar thus features different types of events, rather than one recurring event that stays the same. Check the dates for the specific event when planning your trip. This lets you plan around the market, a light display, or a parade you’d like to experience. The year-round schedule and seasonal nature go hand in hand: events take place throughout the year, while each example has its own dates.

Discover more destinations: Papillion, La Vista, Bellevue.

See the broader travel overview: Sarpy County.