Family travel can add up fast. Tickets, lunch, parking, snacks and the gift shop. But there’s a cents-savvy solution to family fun just a day trip away. Omaha has free things to do, value-packed stops and neighborhoods worth exploring. Here’s how to stretch your dollar without skimping on the fun. Start with

On your next trip to Omaha, give your teen a few hours to explore downtown Omaha on their own. The neighborhood is compact, walkable and safe. If you’re staying outside the urban core close to Dodge Street, getting there is simple. The ORBT bus travels from Westroads Mall eastbound through downtown and connects many

Omaha has soccer bars, watch party venues and neighborhoods worth exploring during 2026 summer tournaments. Whether you’re a traveler on a road trip between matches in Kansas City, or a visitor looking for the city’s best watch parties, here is how to plan your perfect soccer-centric stay in Omaha. Explore

The finish line puts you steps from downtown Omaha’s best restaurants and some of the city’s nicest outdoor spaces. Here’s where to go. The Old Market is a five-minute drive from the finish line and Omaha’s most walkable dining neighborhood. Le Bouillon is a French bistro with small plates

One cent. That’s what Lula B’s charges for mimosa refills on Monday mornings. Downtown Omaha has 14 more reasons to eat and drink well on the industry’s day off — whether you’re here for a convention, a meeting or a game. Morning & Lunch Lula B’s Breakfast, Brunch & Bar

Omaha has a botanical garden that rivals anything in the Midwest, riverfront parks that cost $300 million to build and an ice cream shop that churns ice cream with 20% butterfat. You can experience all of it — plus coffee, lunch and a sunset — for about $50. 8 a.m.

USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards has nominated four Omaha institutions. Voting is open through March 9. You can vote once per day in each category. Awards like this do two things. They validate what locals already know. They persuade new visitors to put Omaha on the list. Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo

Omaha’s future streetcar route is already packed with incredible local spots — and the Future Riders Passport Program rewards you for exploring them now. Grab a passport, collect stickers at participating businesses and enter to win prizes ranging from coffee dates to full staycations. Think of it as a treasure hunt through Omaha’s most

Don’t slip on these opportunities to hit the ice. Omaha’s got rinks for every style — many free or at prices that won’t give you cold feet. Cruise scenic outdoor rinks or take the fun indoors. UNMC Ice Rink Bundle up and head to UNMC’s outdoor rink for classic winter

Dolomiti Pizzeria & Enoteca co-owner Tim Maides dishes on why Millwork Commons is Omaha’s small-but-mighty foodie hub and shares his favorite way to experience the city, from biking gravel roads to bar-hopping in Benson. Q: How would you describe Omaha to someone who’s never been? Unassuming and surprising.