Bloggers From Omaha: LeAnna Brown

Kim’s note: The Bloggers From Omaha series introduces different voices from around Omaha. Each week Whenever I can, I’ll introduce a different Omaha blogger, what his or her blog is all about, and since I love getting recommendations as much as I love giving them, I’ve asked each person to share some Omaha tips. Today’s blogger, LeAnna at Well Traveled Nebraskan, is on the hunt for all of Nebraska’s most amazing hidden gems. Want to be featured in this series? Let me know!

 

Your name: LeAnna Brown

Blog: Well Traveled Nebraskan

Find @welltravelednebraskan at: Instagram and Pinterest

 

Describe your blog in five words.

Inspiring Nebraskans to travel in our own backyard (oops- 8!)

 

What are the two most popular posts on your blog? What makes them so good?

Glamping in Nebraska

The Breathtaking Sandhill Crane Migration: A Nebraska Phenomenon

As a BRAND SPANKING NEW blog, I’m so excited to bring some fresh, new content that highlights Nebraska “Beyond the cornfields and quilt museums.”

I have a feeling my most popular posts are not going to be about specific places to go but instead on amazing experiences that you never knew you could have right here in the Cornhusker State! (think things like skydiving, wine tasting, glamping, cliff diving and more!)

 

What social media channel are you on the most and why?

I actually love Pinterest. I have surprisingly found it to be a great travel research tool for my own personal travels so I love creating Pins that others can also get inspired to find a remarkable pin and say “What!? That’s in Nebraska!?” You can follow all my pins about Everything Nebraska Travel Related here.

I also have been trying to be better at Instagram, since I know that’s where all the cool kids play 😉 And as the blog gets off the ground and more established, I LOVE doing Facebook Lives that cover really important travel tips for people who aren’t sure how/why to travel locally like “How to find the perfect accommodation” or “How to survive a long road trip with children!”

 

You get one hour to spend on writing, where in Omaha do you go?

I’m actually really lucky and have a converted bedroom into a home office. My toddler is surprisingly good at knowing that if someone is in the office then that means they are working. For a quick hour of work, I grab a cup of coffee, run upstairs, turn on my favorite Pandora station and get to work! If I must work out of the house, I’m a sucker for Scooter’s!! I’ll take a caramel latte any day!

 

If friends visit from out of town, what three places would you take them to?

Typically, my guests already want to go to the Zoo (duh!) and Omaha Children’s Museum is always on their radar if they have kids, but I love showing them other sides of Omaha in addition to the “musts” or the “usuals.”

1) My first place I like to take visitors is on a “self guided” walking tour downtown. We start at the Lewis and Clark Landing and “The Bob,” make our way through the Heartland of America Park, go on to the Gene Leahy Mall (a stop at the slides is a must!) and then go and wander through the Old Market, ending in a great dinner or lunch at any of the local favorites.

2) Depending on where they are from, as corny as it sounds, I love taking them to Runza for a lunch! It’s just something so “Nebraskan” that you don’t find elsewhere!

3) Having lived in Germany for six years, we are a sucker for a good beer. It’s great to take friends out to a local brewery and show the “hipster” side of Omaha! (In fact, we loved our time in Germany so much that we’ve even started an annual “Oktoberfest” at our house here in Omaha, complete with Liederhosen, polka music and home-made Bavarian pretzels! It’s a great way to supplement all the other amazing Oktoberfests (Gerda’s, American German Society, Huber-Haus, etc).

 

What’s your favorite free thing to do in Omaha?

This is actually SO hard for me to choose! I LOVE Omaha in the summer because there are just so many free things to do from Jazz on the Green to fantastic farmer’s markets. But honestly, I love finding some really awesome paths around local lakes right here in the heart of the city like Shadow Lake, Zorinsky and more. It feels so great to “get away” from the city at times and have a moment with nature without the long drive!

 

More about LeAnna

As a born and raised proud Omahan, LeAnna has had the opportunity to live and travel throughout the world. But even through all the amazing adventures, she still calls Omaha her “Homaha!” After learning so much about travel, it is now her passion to help fellow Nebraskans see that amazing travel, experiences and memories are right here in our own backyard of Nebraska. She shares these experiences and how-tos at Well Traveled Nebraskan, where you’ll be shocked and inspired with what is possible right here in the Cornhusker State!