Wanderlust: Omaha and Lincoln, Nebraska

Last week, Daniel and I found ourselves eastward bound, road tripping to a family reunion in southern Michigan. We knew we wanted the eighteen hours of driving to be interspersed with some roadside adventures, ideally in places we hadn't been before. Usually we've driven east through Kansas, so we decided to take the Nebraska route this time, stopping in Omaha for a day on the way there and Lincoln for a day on the way back.

Most of Nebraska looks about like this, it seems.

But the thing is, my obsession with Rainbow Rowell's writing has caused me to develop a slightly irrational fondness for Nebraska, as if being in Nebraska might allow me to meet some of my favorite fictional characters who live there. So I was super excited to go.

Anyway, we made it to Omaha in time to spend a half day seeing various sights. First up, this pedestrian bridge where you can walk to Iowa.

I do have to mention that it was HOT. And more importantly, it was HUMID. After two years of living in Colorado, I am laughably ill-equipped to deal with humid air of any sort.

Missouri River.

We took a walk through the city to get to the historic Old Market district. On the way there, we passed through this cute little park.

I didn't take any pictures of the Old Market area, but it was fun. Cobblestone roads and street performers and antique shops and whatnot.

The next morning, we had brunch at a place I'd set my sights on as soon as I knew we were passing through Omaha. It's called Kitchen Table, and I found it through this article highlighting the best farm-to-table restaurant in every state.

We had a three-course brunch and it was utterly delicious. My first course was radishes with fresh salted butter which you might think weird/bland/boring but YOU WOULD BE MISTAKEN.

Here they are, half-eaten, because I was too excited to remember to take a picture right away.

Friends, I have to tell you about this granola. Join me in imagining this: Crunchy granola. Not too sweet. Nuts. Plain yoghurt, nice and tart. And also. BEETS. Golden beets, roasted to perfect softness. And FRESH BASIL. I could not have fathomed that such a nonsensical combination of foods could be so incredibly delicious but there you have it.

Frittata and baked eggs in creamy basil sauce.

Before heading out of town we stopped for a quick foray through another historic landmark: First National's Spirit of Nebraska's Wilderness and Pioneer Courage Park. You might call it a study in overly ambitious place names, but it's also the largest collection of bronze artwork in the United States, for whatever that's worth. The park depicts the westward journey of pioneers through Nebraska and beyond. 

Then we hit the road east to Michigan. Fast-forward a week to the way back from the reunion (more on the actual reunion soon). This time we stopped at a Lincoln bed-and-breakfast for a night. The house was built in 1914 and had lots of historic character.

Daniel had to work the following day, so I had a day to explore the city by myself. First, though, we had a delicious breakfast charmingly delivered to us in our room.

 After that, my first stop was Sunken Gardens.

This beautiful garden covering one city block was a Depression-era work project creating jobs for roughly 200 "family men."

 

Now it remains a public garden, a little oasis amidst city traffic.

After that, I headed to the Haymarket District, Lincoln's historic downtown.

 

It's made up of lots of old buildings, restored enough to accommodate newer shops and restaurants, but retaining their historic charm.

In one such building, I found possibly my favorite bookstore of ever, Indigo Bridge Cafe & Books. (Note the Welcome Your Neighbors sign prominently featured! It was one of many I saw in Lincoln.)

After a couple of hours exploring the Haymarket area, I moved on to the next stage of my solo adventure. Recalling my aforementioned affection for Rainbow Rowell's books, you can imagine my eagerness at being in the neighborhood of the University of Nebraska - Lincoln: the setting of Fangirl. By happy coincidence, I parked right in front of Love Library, which features prominently in the book.

 

So I walked around campus for a while too.

After that, I indulged one of my nerdier foodie habits, a relic from my years of working at Friendly City Food Co-op: Visiting other food co-ops. I didn't take any pictures, but if you ever get to visit Open Harvest Co-op Grocery, you totally should. (They had bulk soaps! And organic quinoa for $2.39 a pound!)

Anyway, that was my day in Lincoln, which aside from the oppressive heat and humidity, I absolutely loved. If ever I am forced to live in the Midwest (fingers crossed not), I will definitely choose Lincoln.

Stay tuned for more on our summer adventures!