thit_cho

If I recall correctly, at least one frequent poster is from Nebraska, where I am headed (I'm writing from the NWA lounge in MSP). Nebraska will be my 49th state (only Vermont to go), and I'm looking for things to do today. The US/Canada-specific version of "1,000 Places to See..." recommends Omaha's Zoo, so I may visit. Does anyone have any information on this zoo (I'll also post on the US branch).

Thanks, Michael

Lingo

I'm from Omaha (in MSP now!) and have been to the zoo a few times. If you like that kind of thing, its one of the best zoos in the country. There is an indoor rain forrest, an indoor desert, and a very cool aquarium. There will be lots of kids and families on a weekend. There's not a lot to see in Omaha, so I guess I would recommend the zoo over anything else.

Local2542

You should try to visit - they built one of the first rain forest environments, and more recently added a desert environment, both in huge, self-contained dome-like buildings. It has been about 5 years since my last visit, but it is enjoyable.

The rest of the zoo, like the large cats (they had a huge tiger population) is still a zoo - but they are very conservation focused.

If you have time, give it a try. I'd love to hear what you think.

thit_cho

Thanks, my flight has been canceled and I've been re-booked on a later flight, which is not scheduled to land in OMA until 3:45, so I won't have time to visit the zoo. Looks like I'll have time for a steak dinner, and then I fly back to MSP tomorrow for a Monday business meeting.

cooncat3

Michael! I'm in Lincoln! I wish you had let me know you were coming! I've been to the zoo and parts are nice and parts are disturbing. I don't like seeing gorillas and big cats in glass enclosures. (Not a big zoo fan here.)

What brings you here? If you get this, call me on my cell - it's on the timeless africa web site or e-mail me. I could drive up and have dinner with you.

cooncat3

bump.

thit_cho

Sharon, I'm just now getting on the Internet -- I wish I had read your kind invitation earlier. I did make it to the zoo -- I thought they closed at 5:00, but 5:00 was the cut-off to purchase tickets, and the zoo remained open until 7:00. I actually thought it was very interesting, with an incredible desert/nocturnal animal exhibit. The nocturnal exhibit was the best, by far, that I have seen -- great aardvark exhibit, very active beavers, large collection of naked mole rats, fossa from Madagascar (I would venture that I was the only visitor at the zoo todaya who has seen fossas in the wild in Madagascar -- they are very rare and I got very lucky).

I had a steak at Johnny's, and now am at the hotel before catching a 7:00 am flight to MSP.

Basically, I came to Nebraska b/c I hadn't been before. I started the year needing 6 states to complete the list (Idaho, Oregon, Alaska, Oklahoma, Nebraska and Vermont), and since I have a business meeting in Minnesota on Monday, it was very easy to get to Nebraaska (if my morning flight hadn't been canceled out of MSP I would have seen much more of the city, but I really only spent a half day). For the record, I have now visited 5 of those 6 states (I haven't made it yet to Vermont, which is, by far, the nearest of those states to my home).

Sharon, thank you again.

I'm sure I'll get back to Nebraska -- I do want to visit to see the sandhill cranes.

Michael

cooncat3

Oh - this is just too bad. You know, I nearly headed on up to the airport with your name on a sign! But I had no idea what your plans were or why you were here and I didn't want to intrude.

I'd have loved to visit the zoo and have some dinner with you. Next time! The cranes are fabulous and a must see (and hear). Glad you liked the zoo. I recall that they have a relationship with conservationists in Madagascar.

Did you see the meerkats in the desert dome?

Cheers,
Sharon

atravelynn

How was the steak?

thit_cho

Not great.

I have largely given up red meat, but I didn't feel I could visit Omaha and not have a steak (the same for Oklahoma City, where I had a steak -- an excellent one -- at Cattlemen's).

Johnny's is written up on roadfood.com, and it was OK -- the place is a time capsule of 1950s decor. I'm sure there are much better places for steak in Omaha, but I did very limited research, and Johnny's was a short drive from the zoo (the zoo, by the way, is great).

cooncat3

Ha ha! Lynn - great question. Yes, there are better places to eat in Omaha - but I suppose you couldn't beat the ambiance? I'm not a meat eater so I've never been to Johnny's. Heard of it though, of course.

I'm glad to hear positive things about the zoo. I was there in 2006 when I got my photo gear and wanted to try it out before heading to Zambia. I know it has many fine attributes but seeing gorillas behind glass and cheetah pacing in their very small enclosure really gets to me. Don't want to start a debate on zoos, but I am glad you thought it was a good one.

Cheers!
Sharon

PS = Lynn you and Michael should come for the cranes in March. Perhaps we could get Divewop and Predator B to come out from Colo, and have a mini GTG! (Of course anyone else is welcome, too!)

divewop

Sharon, thanks for the invite!

Speaking of GTGs and road trips, Predator Biologist and I just went up to Rocky Mountain National Park this past Thursday to catch the elk rut. My first time, but PB's been previously. Pretty cool stuff. The bulls staking out their cows and the bugling which accompanies it. Fun to watch and hear.

We tried to get some decent photos but most of the elk were a little too far to get any real "keepers". We later saw five coyote, also in the distance, and went on a short hike to one of those wonderful mountain streams.

So if any of you guys want to come out this way to Colorado to go up to RMNP sometime, it will be Big Horn mountain sheep time in November and Moose time coming up soon too.

I think this would be a mighty fine place for a GTG!