Everyone’s got their favorite Omaha spot, right? This whole blog is basically my compilation of favorite things to do, places to eat and things to see.
I learn a thing or two about this city when I listen to others when they share their favorites. One of my favorite posts was a compilation of Omaha dads sharing their favorite places to take their kids. Those were points of view I could never have.
Enter Airbnb. They’ve developed quite a presence in our city – even putting out a Local List (see below) about what to see and do in Omaha. It made me wonder if the hosts take advantange of their platform to share their favorite things to do in Omaha with their guests. Where do individual hosts send their guests? Does everyone agree with me on great places to eat?
I doubted it.
I was wrong.
The hosts
The chance came up to talk to some local Airbnb hosts, so I asked them where they directed guests to go for a good place to eat and fun things to do.
Lisa and Bruce
A little about these hosts: They’ve hosted the most guests and for the longest amount of time. Being seasoned Airbnb hosts, they already have a guide mapped out for people staying at their place on where to go based on what was within walking distance of their house.
Restaurants: California Taco, Marrakesh, the restaurants at Midtown Crossing, “anything in the Blackstone District,” and they always recommend Crescent Moon (my kind of people!)
Things to do: Joslyn Art Museum since they’re big into art and it’s free; the Durham Museum; “obviously, we tell everyone the zoo if they have the time”
Eleanor and Brad
A little about these hosts: They’re the youngest couple I talked to and fairly new to the hosting business. Interestingly, they’re the kind of couple who prefers to be in town when they have house guests so there can be a personal connection.
Restaurants: Block 16, Modern Love, Pitch Pizzaria, Infusion Brewery (solid choices)
Things to do: While they think people expect to be told to go to the Old Market, they tend to send their guests to Dundee or Benson for a different experience; they also sent an art-loving guest to the Old Market to visit art galleries and a book lover to Jackson Street Booksellers
Eddith
A little about this host: She will be hosting her first guest for the Berkshire Hathaway shareholders weekend. She’s an artist and covers art for The Reader.
Restaurants: Modern Love, Kitchen Table (Great choices for the veg fan out there)
Things to do: First Friday art walk (there’s one in the Old Market and one in Benson); Modern Arts Midtown, which she loves the most; Film Streams; Joslyn Art Museum
Joyce and Herb
A little about these hosts: They live in Plattsmouth, so they offered a different perspective to Omaha in that they’re first to recommend things not technically in the city. They’re into making their own wine, and Herb works at Soaring Wings. This all plays into things below.
Restaurants: Two Sisters in Plattsmouth, which they described as a quaint place that served Thai and German (I’m intrigued)
Things to do: Tour the wine trail and visit local wineries and tasting rooms, including Slattery Vintage Estates in Nehawka (which I know them for the “glamping”) and Soaring Wings in Springfield; Old Market; the zoo; Lauritzen Gardens
The Local List
I met the hosts this past weekend at the Local List Airbnb event at the Mastercraft Building in NoDo. I went to pick the brains of hosts, but also to indulge. How could I resist when they had ice cream from Ted and Wallys, beer from Upstream Brewing Co., poptarts from Over Easy, cookies from Aromas, and oh my lord, goodies from Kitchen Table, Modern Love and gin cocktails from the new-to-me bar, Berry and Rye?
Side note: Berry and Rye is the second place to prove that I can, in fact, like gin. Try a French 75. For those keeping score at home, Spirit World was the first place.
And how did those places get picked? A bunch of people were polled about their favorite places to go in Omaha and they won out.
I browsed the Local List guide and found places I had never heard of. Add them to my to-do list.
More Airbnb events
I suspect Airbnb is taking over Omaha. If you want to learn more about them there are several more events planned:
Airbnb Hosts House of Loom
When: Friday, March 13, 8 p.m. to midnight
Where: House of Loom, 1012 S. 10th St.
Airbnb Presents: St. Paddy’s Day with Brickway Brewery
When: Saturday, March 14, noon to 5 p.m.
Where: Brickway Brewery, 1116 Jackson St.
Omaha Trunk Show
When: Saturday, March 21, noon to 6 p.m.
Where: The Airbnb Pop-up at the Old Market, 1125 Jackson St.
Your turn! What places would you recommend to visitors coming to Omaha for the first time?
Diane Bruce
Tuesday 10th of March 2015
BB Classic Dogs would a great place for the Berkshire or any group to come to. Best hot dogs around and with lots of fun toppings and a great arcade for all ages:-)
Thanks!!!
Kim
Wednesday 11th of March 2015
Thank you for the tip!