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Meet The Local Tourists is a series that introduces you to fantastic travel sites, the people behind them, and the places they call home.
If you’ve never thought of visiting Omaha, Nebraska, one visit to Kim Reiner’s Oh My! Omaha will have you adding the Midwestern town to your upcoming family travels.
She certainly loves her hometown, but Omaha won’t be the only place you discover through her site. Kim also has the travel bug, and she highlights family adventures all over the country.
In addition to her blog, Kim’s also the author of Lost Restaurants of Omaha, an ode to the eateries that helped shape the city and give you a “taste” of the town’s past.
Let’s meet her, shall we?
Hi Kim! What is Oh My! Omaha?
Oh My! Omaha is a parent’s guide to exploring Omaha and beyond. It’s half-hyper-local exploring the ins and outs of the city and half-travel blog.
How did you get started?
I was working at a newspaper writing about arts and entertainment, and I didn’t want to give up that creative part of my life when I switched career fields. I also had this idea in the back of my mind since college that I wanted to be a travel writer. So, in 2013, I took the leap – switching careers AND launching a blog in the same month.
Someone’s visiting Omaha for one day. Where should they go?
This is my favorite thing to do – recommend things in my city! I send people downtown. For breakfast, I’d recommend donuts at Olsen’s Bake Shop. It’s a hole in the wall, but the donuts are fantastic and it’s on the way to your next stop: Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium.
You can easily spend a full day or two there. Don’t miss the indoor rain forest, Desert Dome, and if the weather’s nice, head to the Children’s Adventure Trails.
If you choose to eat at the zoo, head to The Durham Treetops Restaurant and snag a table along the windows overlooking the indoor rain forest. The view can’t be beat.
If you decide to leave the zoo for lunch, you’ve got some great options in the Old Market or try Louie M’s Burger Lust is in the charming Vinton District.
For your evening, head to the Old Market, where restaurants and chic stores line the brick road. You might be happy enough just strolling the streets and peeking in galleries and window shopping.
Grab some dinner at the wine bar La Buvette or if you’re more of a beer drinker, get a pint served with your meal at Upstream Brewing Co. Check and see if there’s a show on stage to cap your night.
The world-class Holland Performing Arts Center is within walking distance of the Old Market, as is the historic Orpheum Theater, not to mention several bars that regularly have live music in the Old Market.
For theater, check and see if there’s a show on at the BlueBarn Theatre. Ready for dessert? Head to Ted & Wally’s for the best ice cream you’ll taste. If you’re adventurous, they’ll have one-of-a-kind flavors to sample.
What can you find at home that you can’t find anywhere else?
Hands down, there is no zoo quite like ours. It’s been called the best in the world and it just keeps getting better.
What’s something unexpected about Omaha?
We have a phenomenal children’s museum. And full disclosure, I work there now, but I’ve been going with my kids for years. And in all my travels, I visit other children’s museums and science centers, and really, I have not encountered many that can hold a candle to Omaha Children’s Museum. It’s a gem.
Anything else we should know about Omaha, Nebraska?
Omaha has a surprising food scene. I didn’t get into it on my ideal day suggestions, but if you consider yourself a foodie, you will be blown away by Omaha’s restaurants. Neighborhoods to look into for great food include Blackstone District, Benson and Dundee. Head to South Omaha for authentic Mexican.
Here’s where you can follow Kim:
AND, don’t forget to pick up a copy of her book, Lost Restaurants of Omaha!
