Trip Motivation
In June 2019, we drove to Omaha, NE to watch the Vandy Boys baseball team in the College championships: The College World Series. We went for the round of 8 and loved cheering on the team and briefly exploring some of the sights of the city.
Where We Stayed
We stayed at the Ramada Plaza by Wyndham. Although not downtown, it was an easy 10-minute drive. When we visited 2 years ago, there was a waterpark in the hotel, but it has since shut down. When there are big events happening, the locations that are close are always going to be much pricier than locations a little farther away. It’s worth looking at and comparing various options. If we return again, we may look at the Hyatt Place in Downtown, about a mile away from the baseball stadium. This would be a good hotel to pre-book with points far ahead of time and cancel if your team doesn’t make it or travel plans end up not materializing.
Activities with Kids
College World Series
This was the reason we made the long drive. The baseball game was awesome, and it was especially great watching our team win. There are also tons of events before the games for kids including ziplines, bounce houses, and mascots and cheer squads. For the game itself, the environment was unmatched. Tons of cheering and excitement. So fun!
Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo
We love zoos and the Omaha Zoo is one of the best. We spent several hours here and had a blast. They have a great splash area and all the animals. The gorillas were the fave. There was also a really cool walk-through tunnel in the aquarium area.
Pedestrian Bridge
Near the downtown area and the baseball stadium, there is a nice riverfront area. There is a small free exhibit and open areas to run around. You can also walk across Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge and stand in 2 states at one time. I grew up in Hawaii, and state lines always amuse me. Love it!
Other Activities
Wildlife Safari Park: We didn’t visit with the kids on this trip, but Ben and I did this drive-through safari a few years ago and loved seeing bears and bison up close.
Nebraska Football: If you’re in town at a different time of year, tailgating and seeing a football game could be a fun way to spend an evening. You can get nosebleed tickets outside the stadium for cheap.
Children’s Museum: Omaha has a large interactive children’s museum. This museum is on the ASTC pass, if you have a reciprocal membership. (You should get one!)
Lauritzen Gardens Botanical gardens are always a fun activity with kids as they can run around while we see cool plants or art exhibits. Many also participate in reciprocal memberships.
Restaurants
Our time in Omaha was limited and we didn’t get to experience many local restaurants. We ate at our hotel restaurant, the zoo, and at the game. Our stand-out dining adventure was at 801 Chophouse. This is a fine dining steakhouse but kids are welcome, and on Sunday, they have a special that is a phenomenal deal. They had a 3-course prime rib or filet dinner for $50 and kid’s meals for $20. It was pricey but more than half off typical prices for a steakhouse of this caliber. So good. The best steak I’ve ever had. Ellie agrees.
