Visit Omaha

Omaha’s visitor economy has been breaking records in recent years, and a new leader at Visit Omaha plans to keep that momentum going. Jasmyn Goodwin has been appointed executive director of Visit Omaha, the city’s official tourism authority. Goodwin has grown with the organization. She started as a marketing assistant in 2007 and most recently served as vice president of marketing and communications. In that role, she led the launch of “Find Your Happy Place in Omaha,” the most recent campaign (and the third she’s launched), designed to spark connections with travelers and boost the city’s visibility. Under her leadership, Omaha has seen a 23 percent jump in visitation from key target markets in the past five years. Goodwin is known for creative, crowd-pleasing projects — from the viral Peyton Manning “Omaha, Omaha” tweet that brought national attention, to the award-winning redesign of VisitOmaha.com, to OMAI the Troll’s citywide scavenger hunt. As executive director, she will guide...

Omaha’s commitment to family-friendly amenities is on full display in its creative, inclusive playgrounds. From the imaginative rope forests and water features at The RiverFront’s Gene Leahy Mall and Lewis and Clark Landing to ALLPLAY’s fully accessible design at Seymour Smith Park, these spaces are investments in quality of life for residents and visitors. Nature takes center stage at Sofia’s Play Garden in Lauritzen Gardens and Acorn Acres in Fontenelle Forest, encouraging kids to explore, imagine and connect outdoors. Meanwhile, indoor options like We Rock the Spectrum, KIPP, Playful Pines and Kiewit Luminarium’s Geometry Playground ensure that the fun doesn’t stop when the weather isn’t cooperating. For developers, hospitality pros and civic leaders, these playgrounds — and so many more throughout Omaha — highlight how thoughtful design can attract families, strengthen neighborhoods and elevate Omaha’s visitor appeal. After all, a city that makes room for play is a city focused...

National Ice Cream Day is Sunday, July 20. It’s the perfect excuse to explore Omaha’s growing ice cream scene. From heritage soda fountains to inventive small-batch shops, the city’s ice cream makers are building destination-worthy experiences that support local jobs, attract visitors and add character to our neighborhoods one treat at a time. Old-school favorites like Graley’s Creamery & Confections and The Durham Museum’s Soda Fountain and Candy Shop preserve the timeless joy of floats in authentic vintage settings. Ted and Wally’s is a magnet for locals and tourists alike, drawing crowds with its daily-changing roster of ultra-premium flavors. Innovation thrives in spots like Coneflower Creamery, where “farm-to-cone” partnerships with area producers turn local cream and fruit into seasonal art. eCreamery in Dundee offers creative small-batch flavors (and personalized pints for gifting), while Freezing Thai Rolled Ice Cream and Mixins turn dessert into an interactive show....

Deborah Ward, executive director of Visit Omaha, will retire on July 31 after more than 18 years dedicated to growing the city’s tourism economy. Ward became executive director in 2020, steering the organization through the pandemic and laying the groundwork for three straight years of record-breaking tourism numbers. Under her leadership, Omaha’s tourism industry grew into a $2 billion annual economic driver for the city supporting more than 15,000 local jobs. A former journalist, Ward brought a storyteller’s perspective to destination marketing. She led award-winning advertising campaigns that boosted visitation by 25 percent, helped secure a 10-year funding agreement between the City of Omaha and Douglas County, and led the City of Omaha Hotel Stimulus Program that delivered millions of dollars in relief to Omaha hotels during the COVID-19 pandemic. Ward gave a voice to the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge, producing unique videos that gave “Bob” a chance to speak as only a bridge...

This summer, Omaha’s Pride celebrations highlight the city’s growing visitor economy and welcoming spirit, with Heartland Pride’s July 12 parade and festival expected to draw thousands downtown. Colorful floats will travel down Capitol Avenue to CHI Health Center Omaha for post-parade festivities. But Omaha celebrates its LGBTQ+ community all year in its sports, its arts and its community. Union Omaha’s “One Means All” motto is a promise of inclusivity on and off the field. Omaha ForUs advances equity across the region by hosting support groups, educational workshops and social events that create space for connection, growth and empowerment. Omaha’s arts scene embraces diverse voices in theater, music and visual art — from the long-running River City Mixed Chorus to Benson First Fridays and performances at Blue Barn Theatre and the Omaha Community Playhouse — showcasing work that reflects many experiences and identities. In Omaha, belonging isn’t about a single month — it’s about...

Omaha’s deep train roots make it a perfect destination for a family-friendly staycation packed with history, fun and locomotive magic. Start at The Durham Museum, where you can walk through vintage train cars and admire the grandeur of Omaha’s former Union Station. Interact with a depot and diorama representing Union Pacific’s double track main line from Omaha to Ogden during the 1950s. Then cross the river to Union Pacific Railroad Museum in Council Bluffs – free to visit and full of historic treasures, including china, menus and uniforms from the golden age of passenger rail. Hop aboard the Omaha Zoo Railroad at Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium for a real steam train ride. Or visit the Watson Steam Train in Missouri Valley for pint-sized thrills. At Lauritzen Gardens, tiny trains glide through garden landscapes in the model railroad display. Grab a photo at Kenefick Park, where two massive engines tower over the city skyline. For active fun on rail trails, walk or bike the...