"Attractions" is a funny word. When applied to a particular place, whether it be the trading floor where precious metal funds are exchanged or a really tall tree, it implies that this location acts as sort of a magnet to people, especially tourists. When you hear the name Omaha, Nebraska, you probably picture big empty open spaces, not a magnet that draws in visitors. In that case, you may be surprised to learn that there actually are a lot of attractive things in Omaha you might want to come and see.

Outdoors

Some of the most attractive things about the city are natural rather than man made protein skimmers or tall buildings. There are 26 miles of trail to tour by bike or foot in Fontenelle Forest and the beautifully manicured Lauritzen Gardens spans over 100 acres. In Omaha you can see the place where famed explorers Lewis and Clark landed, take a tour of old fashioned villages and mills to see how life was in the past, or play 18 holes with a friend.

Museums

A pupil of a language school in Toronto might be interested in the Reikes Jewish Museum or the Latin Museum. Kids will love the hands on displays at the dedicated Children's Museum and the wild life on display at the Henry Doorly Zoo, which has indoor deserts and rain forests that rank among the largest in the world. Other specialty museums include the Strategic Air and Space Museum and Union Pacific Train Museum, while dozens of others are dedicated to local and regional history.

Arts

The Joslyn Art Museum is a great place to go with the whole family, as it's got collections ranging from antiquity to modern day and it ranks among the best in the country to take kids. The Loves Jazz center is 8000 square feet of display and performance space, and you can create your own work of art, be it a painting or some vinyl wall letters, at the Omaha Creative Institute.


Shopping and Night Life

If you want to go out for a night on the town, the city's restaurants offer food from all over the globe, including Omaha farms, and there's all types of music from Irish reels to jazz. There are dozens of malls you can visit if you're searching for a gift certificate idea but the Old Market is a great place to go for hand crafted goods, souvenirs, and home baked goodies.