Not just home to billionaire Warren Buffett, Omaha is a hotspot for cultural pursuits from theater to art to music, not to mention a world-renowned zoo. This large Midwestern city has plenty of affordable hotel options, though the most luxurious are located closer to downtown and the historic Old Market district.

Points Of Interest

• A continual favorite of even locals, the Henry Doorly Zoo offers an experience that allows visitors to walk through the animals’ actual habitats. Exhibits include the Lied Jungle, America’s largest indoor rainforest, and the Desert Dome, the world’s largest indoor desert.
• Open year-round, the 100-acre Lauritzen Gardens are a botanical feast for the eyes. It contains more than a dozen distinctive sections, including a model train garden sure to bring delight to adults and children alike.

Record-Holders To Visit

• Founded in 1924 and currently the largest community theater in the U.S., The Omaha Community Playhouse features high-energy, professional-level performances and a diverse calendar of productions on two stages.
• Fertile Ground, a 32,500-foot piece by artist Meg Saligman is the nation’s largest singly-funded mural, depicting a 3-dimensional portrait of the city’s past, present and future.