Omaha
Rising out of the prairies and cornfields of the heartland, Omaha serves as a cultural wellspring and economic powerhouse for the region. Downtown has seen a lot of development in recent years, and now serves up a huge selection of trendy shopping, dining, and entertainment, particularly around the Old Market; the Blackstone neighborhood has also emerged as a new hotspot for adventurous restauranteurs and hip nightlife. The robust live music scene in Omaha is one of the city’s worst-kept secrets, with national publications singing the praises of popular venues like the Waiting Room and the annual Maha Music Festival at Stinson Park. Omaha is serious about college sports – the University of Nebraska’s Cornhuskers are hometown heroes, and the city is the longtime home to the College World Series every summer. For more relaxing downtime, soak in views of the Missouri River (and wave to Council Bluffs, Iowa) from Heartland of America Park, or pack up your picnic basket and head over to Standing Bear reservoir.
Elkhorn
Elkhorn rests along the western frontiers of Omaha. Among the suburbanite apartments and well-cultivated green space, this neighborhood proudly showcases its Western history with century-old architecture and traditional American design in the neighborhood center. Omaha residents love this neighborhood for its countryside peacefulness and old-town feel, plus its comfort and two golf courses. Miles of open countryside and nearby parks cater to neighborhood children, and a range of shopping and dining options can be found at Village Pointe center. From the excellent school system to plentiful outdoor recreation opportunities, Elkhorn ensures a healthy, active lifestyle.
Bentonville
People around the world know Bentonville as the birthplace and corporate headquarters of Walmart, the global economic powerhouse that began as a humble Main Street storefront. And even though Walmart is the undisputed business center of the city and the region (including the hundreds of vendors who have set up shop in the area to be closer to the retail giant’s home office), Bentonville retains a very cozy, down-home environment. Even after seeing explosive growth in recent decades, the local population is still only around 50,000, the crime rate is very low, and the public schools earn top marks. Downtown is a charming district of historic buildings and hosts the monthly First Friday celebrations, which draw thousands of folks to enjoy free music performances and check out local artists at work. The Crystal Bridges area is an extremely popular area, with its beautiful namesake bridges, renowned art museum, and an extensive network of trails and footpaths converging around the site.
