Why go there

On the Missouri River, Omaha and the metropolitan area is home to more than 800,000 people. The city’s river front and downtown have seen a recent revival. Today they offer a host of restaurants, shops, bars and art galleries.

What to do there

If you are a sports fan, Omaha has 17 golf courses and the NCAA College World Series. As for those more interested in scoring some bling, Omaha is home to two shopping giants thanks to billionaire Warren Buffett. Check out Nebraska Furniture Mart and Borsheim’s, which is the country’s largest independent jewelry store. Omaha has opera houses, the largest community theater in the United States and several world-class museums. And if you want to head outdoors, check out Lauritzen Gardens, a 100-acre site that holds an arboretum, bird sanctuary and many different kinds of gardens.

Must see

Henry Doorly Zoo has the world’s largest indoor desert and nocturnal exhibit and one of the world’s largest indoor rain forests. Outside, the zoo has a Skyfari, giving visitors a bird’s-eye view of rhinos, giraffes, monkeys, elephants and cheetahs.

Save this date

On Aug. 14-15, the Nebraska Balloon and Wine Festival in the west Omaha area mixes hot air balloons, award-winning wines and live entertainment.