mrwunrfl

Got a ticket to Omaha this weekend ($135 roundtrip from LAX) with a couple of casino-comped rooms. Arriving on Saturday around noon.

Saturday night at the Hilton Garden Inn in downtown Omaha (somehow this place is related to the Horseshoe Council Bluffs). Sunday night at Harrah's Council Bluffs. No particular reason I'm changing locations.

My half-formed plan is to go to the September Fest on Saturday afternoon and then to the Old Market district. Also an obligatory stop at the Horseshoe.

Sunday, maybe rent a car and to out to the Strategic Air and Space Museum. After that, I am more than half-seriously considering driving out to Des Moines to see some racing at Prairie Meadows (starts at 5PM). Then back to Council Bluffs for the night.

What is the September Fest like? Seems like a county fair inside a convention center?

If I were to take my time at the SA&S Museum how much time would I take?

I could use other recommendations for Sunday that would not include 4+ hours of flying down I80 and back.

Keith

I am a moderate aviation buff and for me the SAC museum is good for about 2.5 hours. There is a drive through zoo with North American animals in the same area as the museum.

But if you like zoos at all, the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha is outstanding! My favorite of all the zoos I have ever visited.

http://www.mightymac.org/zoosac1.htm has my photos and comments from visiting all three of those attractions two years ago.

Keith

4khansen

I've never been to SeptemberFest and have lived in the metro area for 29 years.

It is actually in the parking lot of the convention center. More of a street fair, midway, a few craft booths etc. There is a large union parade (sometime Saturday?) run by the labor organizations of Omaha. I certainly wouldn't schedule my weekend around it...

4khansen

Also Horseshoe has dog racing instead of driving 2 1/2 hours to the eastern side of Des Moines for horse racing. I think the dogs run at 4 p.m. on Saturday nights?

If you have plenty of Harrah's rewards points I highly recommend you eat an evening meal at Jack Binion's at the Horseshoe. Excellent steaks!

I agree with the other poster in that you might enjoy the zoo, or visit Mahoney or Platte River State parks out by the Strategic Air and Space Museum more than the drive to Des Moines for horseracing.

dmlove

I've been to Omaha just once, but will put in my $.02 anyway -- the SAC museum is very interesting if you have only a slight interest in transportation/history,and the Henry Doorly zoo is outstanding. We're baseball fanatics, so for us, one of the highlights of our trip was a minor league baseball game at Rosenblatt stadium (where the College World Series is played annually).

dmlove

I should rephrase that - the SAC is interesting EVEN IF your interest in transportation/history is only slight, not ONLY IF.

mrwunrfl

So, the zoo is that good. I will consider it.

From the September Fest webpage I gathered that it might not be worthwhile.

Maybe I'll get a car on Saturday and go to the SA&S Museum from the airport.

I definitely will use my TR points at Binion's, thanks for the reccomendation.

Baseball gets my attention. But the Omaha Royals are in Des Moines playing the Iowa Cubs this weekend. Day game on Sunday, so after the game I could make it to Altoona for 1st post.

The Durham Western Heritage Museum, "an easy walk from Old Market", sounds like it might be worth an hour. ?

4khansen

Yes the Western Heritage Museum is pretty good, if nothing else than to see the railroad station it is in. A Beautiful building from the turn of the century (last century . Anyway, have fun.

mrwunrfl

Was up before 4am with 3hrs sleep yesterday to catch my 5:45 flight to DEN and then to OMA.

On the plane, talked to a guy who was coming home to go with his mother, wife, sister, bil, niece to the Nebraska football game. "It's what we do here", he said smailing. On the radio as I went to Ashland every 10th word on the talkshow was "Huskers".

The Strategic Air & Space Museum was great. Loved the SR-71 at the front door. The real treat was the B-17, a real beauty, with engines that a man was working on. It did take 2.5 hours. There was also a traveling exhibit of Landsat photos, framed and with explanations, that by itself was worth the trip down from Omaha for me. At the gift shop I got some big band CDs and asked the girls how them Huskers are doing. They were both a couple of years from entering NU, but one said "WE" are up 21-10.

Went to the Horseshoe last night. Nice enough place. One of the dealers asked how them Huskers were doing, saying that he heard it was 21-10 at the half. It was obviously too close for comfort for him.

Saw a couple of dealers make multiple mistakes. One was in the house's favor which I pointed out.

Went to Binion's as advised. Took the option of eating in the lounge and sat at the bar. When I expressed indecision about prime rib (up to 30 ounce) or filet mignon the bartender immediately said "filet". It was excellent, along with a football-sized potato, and a crab&corn soup.

Took the shuttle back to the Hilton G&I and crashed. Slept until almost 1PM today. Yesterday was sure I would go out to Prairie Meadows, but it's going to be SeptemberFest, Old Market, and Harrah's today. And the W.Heritage Museum.

Keith

When I read your next to last line, I read it as Crane Meadows, and thought that was a long way to drive when the Cranes aren;t migrating

Go to Nebraska for that some February or March and you will have an experience you will remember all your life!


Keith

4khansen

I should have warned you about the "Huskers" mentality of the place on football weekends or that matter year around. I try to block it out of my mind! I live on the right side of the river.... go Hawks! haha.