A First-Timer’s Guide to Omaha, Nebraska
The Gateway to the West. Omaha, Nebraska. Every year, the city of Omaha grows to almost 4x its population as college baseball fans from across America converge onto Charles Schwab Field for the College World Series. I find it poetic that the best of the best of America’s sport play in America’s heartland. And only ~1 hour or so away from the iconic Field of Dreams (Iowa).
When Auburn advanced to the 2022 College World Series, I was lucky enough to attend. George and I hopped on a plane with the team for the 2-hour flight to Nebraska for a whirlwind of a week. When I was researching Omaha travel guides (of which, there are very few), I ended up leaning on advice from friends of friends who had lived in the area. Thank GOODNESS I was able to get some local recommendations. And, of course, I vowed to put together my own guide with a Living & Local twist.
Because George was working, I had a lot of free time to explore on my own. I would typically set up shop in a local cafe to work during the day and then pop over to a brewery to try the local beer scene. It’s said the city pulls in ~$6 million in revenue during the two CWS weeks. After exploring the area and witnessing the Rocco’s Jell-O shot board first-hand, I can see how. Omaha is POPPIN’ in late June. I wanted to share some of my favorite spots, spots recommended by locals and a few tips on attending the College World Series if you’re a first-timer.
CWS Tips for a First-Timer
You will walk. A LOT. Staying downtown or in Old Market is the best place to be for the CWS, in order to have most attractions (and the baseball field) are accessible by foot. I brought my Birkenstocks, but my feet needed more support. I ended up wearing my Roger On Clouds for the seven days we were in Omaha. Almost had to resort to washing socks in the sink.
It is hot. Which shocked me, considering Nebraska is known for massive blizzards in the wintertime. I was completely under the impression that their summers would be milder than Alabama’s. Well, I thought wrong. There were multiple days during the CWS that topped 95 degrees. Pack sunscreen, a wide-brimmed straw hat and a portable fan.
The Midwest is surprisingly breezy. I tried wearing a dress to one of the games and had to return to the hotel to change. Unless you want to be constantly Marylin Monroe-ing it, I’d pack shorts.
Omaha is home to a growing craft beer scene! There are a number of fun breweries around the area to explore. Kros Brewing is located north of the stadium and will be less crowded. I loved Zipline for a pre-baseball game beer.
Fans come from EVERYWHERE. We had fans hailing from almost all 50 states. I sat next to a guy who grew up in the area, and his family has had season tickets to the CWS for over 20 years. Locals will attend the games for fun, regardless of having a team affiliation. You will see all SORTS of different t-shirts in the crowd. And lots of happy 10-year-old boys carrying around baseball gloves. I think the big draw to the CWS is the ability to watch some fantastic baseball! The fan experience was awesome – I loved meeting people from all over.
If you see souvenir swag you REALLY like, get it. There’s limited inventory. George was able to snag one of the last “Bo-maha” shirts available (he waited until day 5 to purchase). HOWEVER, if your team loses, the merch will go on sale. A true game of risk.
To Do
Baseball. Obviously.
The Omaha Zoo. Consistently ranked as one of the world's top five zoos, the Omaha’s zoo is a major tourist attraction. They have lions, tigers, bears and oh so much more (even an aquarium!). If you’re traveling with young children, I would recommend bringing a stroller.
Bob’s Pedestrian Bridge. You can literally walk to Iowa and back on this bridge! It was an easy walk from our hotel to the bridge and ~1 mile along the bridge. I can now officially say I’ve been to Iowa.
Old Market. Old Market is a historical district in downtown Omaha. They streets are cobblestone and the brick buildings are covered with ivy. It’s truly a cute area. You can pop in and out of shops, bars and bookstores.
Old Market Breezeway. A great photo op.
Steak. This is my one regret of the trip: we did not treat ourselves to a juicy Omaha steak. HOWEVER, I did eavesdrop on MANY a conversation (bartenders, coffee shop employees and hotel concierges) in addition to asking friends for recommendations … these are the three that were most commonly mentioned (and highly recommended).
Steak Houses
Spencer’s
801 Chophouse at the Paxton
The Drover
Note: Omaha extends far past the Old Market area, but it’s harder to explore without a car. In interest of saving money, we opted not to Uber everywhere. However, I’d definitely explore more of the city if I had a car!
To Eat
Jams Old Market. We LOVED this spot. I would have gone back 2-3 times for dinner/lunch/brunch. They invented a CWS-themed cocktail menu specific to each team! And the food was stellar.
M’s Pub. One of the more popular spots in Old Market and for good reason. They sling a mean martini, if you’re tired of drinking beer. And their menu will have something for everybody!
Omaha Tap House - Downtown. The best bacon I’ve ever had lives here. PRO TIP: This burger joint is located in the same building/hotel as Chophouse (the famous steak house). You know the meat will be good here. I was VERY impressed with my burger. Funny enough … I didn’t see this spot listed on any of the travel or foodie blogs I looked up. It was a stumble-upon happenstance.
Lighthouse Pizza & Fries. Fantastic pizza spot - their “Sparky” pizza was featured on The Food Network.
Ted & Wally’s Ice Cream. Classic little ice-cream parlor.
Culprit Café. Of all the coffee shops I tried, this was my favorite. I worked out of this spot while George was coordinating all the baseball media things. Coffee, baked goods, lunch options, high-speed Wi-Fi and friendly staff. Couldn’t have asked for more.
La Buvette Wine & Grocery. Fantastic patio with a great wine list and delicious food (their peach-basil summer salad was amazing).
Lula B’s Breakfast, Brunch Bar. Closer location to the ball park – good option if you don’t want sports bar food.
Sports Bars
Drink
Eateries + Spots I wanted to try but didn’t quite get to …
Twisted Fork. I’d recommend making reservations. We didn’t get to eat here, but it was highly recommended!
Block 16. Famous sandwich shop located close to Culprit Café!
Nosh (Restaurant and Wine Lounge).
I enjoyed exploring Omaha, especially during such exciting times. The city does a fantastic job hosting baseball fans from all over. The city has something for everyone from the martini sipper to the beer fanatic, zoo explorer to poolside retreat, high-end steakhouse aficionado to a burger lover. Happy trails!
Suggested Blog Posts:
5 Life Lessons from the College World Series
