What good is travel if it doesn’t get you out of your comfort zone? Going to Omaha, Nebraska might not be a bad idea. Although, as a person of color, I have to admit, I’m a little scared. I only hear stories of racism coming out of these parts of the country. Although, it’s my personal opinion that bad stories travel faster than good stories. So, here I am. Omaha, Nebraska.
It’s a short trip. I’m only here for 48 hours… maybe more like 52 but who’s counting?
My partner and I arrive at the airport. Eppley is the tiniest of things… We get to the rent-a-car shuttle and the person driving is a person of color. It made me feel so much better. I know this might be a little thing but I was under the impression I was going to be yelled at for being Latino upon arrival. To be honest, it kind of scared me. However, I am pleasantly surprised that Omaha is actually a decent-sized city with plenty of diversity. Also, I didn’t see any cornfields! I know, right!
I can’t say what it’s like to live here. I’ll leave that for my little brother to figure out.
Omaha, Nebraska in October
As a Cali boy, it was cold and rainy. I took a decent winter coat to keep me warm. I thought a scarf would help but my partner vetoed it.
The rain, although annoying, did not deter anyone from enjoying ourselves. As the weekend moved along, the more drained I felt. I wondered if it was the weather… By the end of the first day, I wanted to lay in bed all day. It turns out I caught the flu.
You can’t do it all in one weekend but Omaha, you impressed me. My little brother is such a great tour guide for his city. He showed me a few must-see sights.
Four things to do in Omaha, Nebraska
1)
The coolest part about Omaha, in my opinion, is the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge or Bob as the sign says. This bridge is not only a modern spectacle but it goes over the Missouri River.
The wind made the bridge sway slightly. I felt the wind chill in my bones. We walked halfway down the bridge and saw the state line. Hitting two states in one trip is a pretty cool feeling. I waited in line for the tourists to disperse before being a tourist myself. I took a couple of pictures of my little brother and some of my feet standing on both US States at once.
We finished our walk to Iowa and landed upon a nice courtyard where we sat and observed the Omaha skyline for a few minutes.
2)
For brunch on a rainy mid-morning, we ventured to Downtown Omaha and found the cutest French restaurant, Le Bouillon. The waiter was attentive, nice with a mid-western charm. The food came out quickly. The quality of each dish is, without question, impressive.
The restaurant itself is so cute. It teeters on an old art deco style with an edgy artsy vibe. There’s a quilted tree at the end of the room made of bright fabrics. It made a statement.
Each painted frame on the wall was an abstract work of art that represented the reproductive functions of both men and women.
With the rain, a great meal, good company and a nice cup of coffee, Le Bouillon is a restaurant that should be on your list.
3)
Downtown Omaha or the old market is a cute warehouse district composed of old refurbished warehouses that accommodate the new and exciting. The cobblestone streets give the area an ambiance I didn’t expect. It’s like walking into a set where the old world began to clash with the Wild West. I can see everyone in their cowboy hats and their gowns. The horse and carriages strutting around the area also helped paint a picture. I didn’t expect Omaha to have this much character. The Old Market is only a few blocks by a few blocks but it’s beautiful. It’s well laid out and it has everything you need. This includes a giant cock (which I didn’t take a picture of) with a sign that says “please do not touch, suck, or hold the cock.”
4)
Harrahs Casino and Steakhouse 360 is technically not in Omaha. It’s actually in Iowa but only by a few feet. If you walk over the pedestrian bridge you can see Harrahs Casino. Therefore, I’m including this in my Omaha list of places to visit while in town. Although I gotta say, it wasn’t about Harrah’s casino. It was more about the steakhouse.
Steakhouse 360 not only has a spectacular view of the Omaha skyline, but the food is incredible. I was told the beef would be good. However, the beef wasn’t good. It’s spectacular! I’m surprised by the culinary delights I’ve had on this trip. Everywhere I went was full of flavor. The food always came out fast (faster than LA) and the waiting staff was always superb.
Steakhouse 360 is a giant restaurant with floor to ceiling windows on one side. I took a picture but it didn’t come out as good as I hoped. Too much glare.
I got the 4-ounce steak with some mac and cheese and a Cesar Salad. It was all perfect.
Let Me Break It Down For You:
Omaha, Nebraska has impressed me. Even though I was only here a weekend, Omaha is a city, diverse enough, with enough character to make it feel unique. Even though it’s smaller than Los Angeles I am very glad my little brother is living his college life here. He’s found a great community where he will thrive, away from the chaos that LA has. They say college is about expanding your horizons… So why not expand in a place that has the room to do it?
Racism? I’m sure there’s racism… I didn’t experience any. There’s racism in LA and LA is extremely diverse… But I am happy to report that the diversity of the city means you’re not going to get told to “go back to Mexico” for being a Latino on a daily basis like I imagined before arriving here.
I enjoyed Omaha but mostly I enjoyed watching my little brother be happy. I enjoy watching him thrive.
The four places I think you need to check out in Omaha, Nebraska:
- The Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge
- Le Bouillon
- Harrahs Casino or Steakhouse 360
- Downtown Omaha or The Old Market
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