YEAR VISITED: 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2015, and 2018.
FAVORITE CITIES AND EXPERIENCES: While I have enjoyed exploring Nebraska, and consider it my favorite mid west state, I have to admit 99% of my experiences all revolve around Omaha in June and the Baseball College World Series. It all started at Dean and Jodi’s, my brother and sister in-law’s, wedding in 2005. At their reception I was sitting at a table with another family that at the time was unknown to me. I introduced myself, found out I was talking with Cousin Steve, and spent the majority of the reception connecting with him and his lovely family. Steve informed me he lives in Omaha… I told him I always wanted to go to the Baseball College World Series… and he fatefully said, “you’re more than welcome to come on out anytime and stay with us.” While I am sure he was just being nice, the very next summer I took him up on his offer and the family and I flew out for our first of six visits to Omaha and the College World Series.
Moral of this story is be careful what you say around the Castro family, we very well may just show up on your doorstep. Personally, this has been a dream come true as I absolutely love the pureness of college baseball. My many trips have had many different travel companions ranging from Jill and the girls, multiple baseball coach friends, and best of all my dad.
June in Omaha definitely holds a special place in my heart. While I have had a blast with each group of people I have traveled with, the people I have enjoyed the most and the constant to every trip are the Dunn Family; Steve, Janine, Tyler, Lauren, and Westby.
Their generosity and willingness to open their home to near strangers is beyond compare and will forever be appreciated. Looking back on my many trips, what I value the most is my friendship with Steve’s son, Tyler. I can’t help but smile when I think back to all the fun he and I have had exploring the fan-fest area outside the stadiums (especially the tents holding all the CWS gear), autograph hunting, and of course going to the games.
I consider Tyler a lifelong friend and look forward to our paths crossing again; hopefully in Omaha in June!
STADIUMS AND/OR SPORTING EVENTS: June of 2006 was our first trip to Nebraska. Jill and Bailey (who was under one year old) and I flew out. Steve picked us up at the airport and drove us directly to Rosenblatt Stadium where he had tickets behind home plate all lined up. While this was already a dream scenario to me, the cherry on top was the fact ESPN television cameras chose cute baby Bailey to focus on for their nightly broadcast.
I will never forget the feeling of pure joy I had sitting 15 rows behind home plate at Rosenblatt Stadium, watching the OSU Beavers eliminate the Miami Hurricanes, while my daughter was consistently featured on TV. I experienced three different CWS’ at Rosenblatt (2006, 2008, and 2010), including the very last series in 2010. While they have since torn the ‘Blatt down and moved the event to a brand new stadium located in downtown Omaha, Rosenblatt Stadium will forever hold a dear place in my heart. The feeling of pure joy at the very first game I ever attended in Omaha is the exact feeling that overcomes me every time I reflect on my favorite memories of my trips. In particular I loved the fact paid parking was in the front and back yards of the residents that happened to live close to the stadium. I loved that the right field bleachers would chant “Left Field Sucks” or vice versa and would smuggle beach balls into the stadium.
I loved eating at the original Zesto’s burger and ice cream stand.
I loved the breathtaking sunsets and how the sky looked at the time of the 7:05 first pitch. Most of all I loved how the town of Omaha 100% treats you like family when you are there. While there is no doubt I prefer Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium over the new stadium, I have visited TD Ameritrade in 2012 (the 2nd year of it’s existence), 2015, and 2018 and it is pretty spectacular in it’s own right.
The move has allowed Omaha to do it up bigger and better than ever before as the stadium is now downtown. There are more stores, more restaurants, and more bars than could have ever been possible around the old stadium; more of everything. This is where I was able to bring my dad and share this experience with him as well as cheer on my hometown Washington Huskies with coaches I used to work with at Lower Columbia College.
Other friends that I have had the pleasure of sharing the Omaha experience with are Dr. Sean Weaver and Scooter Watts. Altogether Omaha is where I have some of my favorite memories and highly encourage anyone to visit the Omaha and the Greatest Show on Dirt.
ADVENTURE(S): The Henry Doorly Zoo, located just across the parking lot from the old Rosenblatt Stadium is one of the highest ranked zoo’s in the United States. While I have to admit I don’t know the criteria used to rank a zoo, I would concur this is a fantastic family destination.
I was impressed to learn the zoo has seven acres of indoor exhibits, making it a perfect destination rain or shine. Our family has visited on multiple occasions with the highlight being the world’s largest indoor desert and the rainforest exhibit.
In 2010 I got adventurous and drove roughly an hour to downtown Lincoln. I have always enjoyed watching the storied Cornhusker football program and wanted to see the stadium as well as explore downtown. While I did get to walk around famed Memorial Stadium, unfortunately the weather didn’t cooperate. Torrential downpours lingered most of the day and subsequently I decided to cut my visit short and return to Omaha. Seeing a Cornhusker football game is high on my list of ‘travel to-do’s.’
NOTABLE DESTINATIONS & STOPS: Old Market in downtown Omaha is a must stop destination. I would estimate this area to be three to four blocks of picturesque turn of the century style neighborhoods equipped with quaint shops, art galleries, and restaurants. Multiple streets retain the brick paved streets and it is not uncommon to see street performers, artists, and horse drawn carriages.
We have greatly enjoyed our time exploring this area and the one time we had dinner in Old Market was at the Old Spaghetti Factory located in a charming old brick warehouse.
The Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge is another site worth seeing in downtown Omaha. It crosses the Missouri River and connects Council Bluffs, Iowa to Omaha, Nebraska.
I would suggest seeing it lit up at night and the kids got a kick out of standing in two states at one time. Of all the destinations we have visited throughout the country, Omaha Nebraska is one of our all-time favorites.
- OUR LIST TO VISIT OR RETURN TO:
- Strategic Air and Space Musuem
- Scotts Bluff National Monument
- University of Nebraska football game at Memorial Stadium
- University of Nebraska baseball game at Haymarket Stadium
‘Stros on the Road 