The inviting metro duo of Omaha, Neb., and Council Bluffs, Iowa, is a favorite among planners who execute Midwest meetings.
The lineup of lures in place to attract group business to the area includes an amazing array of host hotels, fantastic meeting sites, and a long list of fun and memorable activities for attendees to pursue once business has concluded.
Several options on that list stand out as ‘must-do’ activities that showcase the best assets of these neighboring cities, including local architecture, food and art.
Omaha
Groups convening in Omaha are encouraged to visit the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge, otherwise known by its less formal name, Bob.
According to Keith Backsen, executive director for the Omaha CVB, Bob spans 3,000 feet across the Missouri River from Omaha to Council Bluffs, and connects more than 150 miles of walking and biking trails that provide meeting attendees a unique opportunity for group walks, runs and cycling outings.
“Something curious happens when groups run on Bob—they actually make him sway,” Backsen says. “We’ve heard from folks who have experienced it firsthand and they tell us all those feet running across the suspension bridge makes for a very unique, almost airborne feeling.”
Omaha is also home to many delicious diversions that Omaha Culinary Tours has curated for interested groups.
The tours, including Classic Steakhouse and Burgers & Brews, travel through different neighborhoods, and along the way attendees will learn about the city’s history and taste up to seven samples at favorite eateries.
“Instead of planning a typical lunch or dinner meeting offering one style of food, each tour offers stops at distinctly Omaha restaurants providing a variety of signature dishes,” Backsen says. “Think steak, Rueben sandwiches and mud balls, a chocolate ball of goodness created by the folks at the Old Market Candy Shop.”
At the Hot Shops Art Center, an interactive art warehouse where some 80 studio artists work in different mediums, attendees can roll up their sleeves for a creative teambuilding experience.
“Under the guidance of a professional artist, groups are hands-on, creating their own work of art—no artistic talent required,” Backsen says. “It’s fun to see their creations, and each person leaves with a handmade souvenir of their time in Omaha.”
Hot Shops accommodates groups of 10 to 200 people and experiences are customized for each group. Learning how to sculpt hot molten glass, mold pottery, play African drums or make wood sculptures are among the options.
And at press time, Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium, which is consistently ranked as one of the top zoos in the world and top attractions in Omaha, was on track to open a new exhibit at the end of this month. The brand-new $73 million, 28-acre African Grasslands is the largest project in the zoo’s history, and according to Backsen, groups will want to visit, or even revisit, the zoo to check it out.
“Imagine your group spending the night in an African savannah—lions roaring close by—no passport required,” he says.
Highlights of the exhibit include the African Lodge, which will be available for said overnight experiences as well as private group functions, and, of course, spectacular views of African wildlife, ranging from white rhinos and cheetahs to impalas and elephants.
In Sarpy County, located just south of Omaha, a visiting group can attend an Omaha Storm Chasers Minor League Baseball game at Werner Park.
“The family-friendly baseball stadium hosts great baseball, multiple food choices, entertainment between innings, Friday night fireworks and an altogether high-energy atmosphere,” says Linda Revis, director for Sarpy County Tourism. “It’s just a fun place to be.”
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Revis also recommends a visit to one or more local purveyors of beer and spirits, including the Nebraska Brewing Co., Lucky Bucket Brewing Co., Cut Spike Distillery and Moonstruck Meadery.
“The group could get on a bus and enjoy,” she says.
Council Bluffs
For planners interested in arranging a memorable outing in Council Bluffs, Mark Eckman, executive director at the Council Bluffs CVB, recommends Tom Hanafan River’s Edge Park, which he calls “an extraordinary location for an evening event.”
Located on the banks of the Missouri River and serving as the Iowa landing for that bridge called Bob, the park welcomes groups who would like an outdoor reception complete with a light show and fireworks.
“To start, a relaxed mood is set by the soothing sound of the river flowing past the park,” Eckman says. “As dusk settles in, the park’s great lawn is activated every half hour with choreographed sequences of light. To conclude the night, everyone’s gaze can go skyward for a fireworks display.”
Like Omaha, Council Bluffs has a thriving culinary scene awaiting group exploration.
“Conventions can simply contact the Council Bluffs CVB if they wish to cleanse their palate of the same-old, same-old meetings menu,” Eckman says.
He suggests meeting attendees eat like locals when in town, and says the Council Bluffs CVB can coordinate an evening out at local favorites such as Dixie Quick’s and Tish’s Restaurant, among many others.
Another splendid activity for groups meeting in Council Bluffs is an afternoon outing to tour the city’s 10 public artwork sites via motor coach with a guide to inform and entertain.
“Council Bluffs possesses more than its fair share of public art for a city of 60,000 residents,” Eckman says, explaining the Iowa West Public Art initiative accounts for several “larger-than-life and thought-provoking pieces.”
Among them are the four towering sculptures, known collectively as Albert Paley’s Odyssey, on the South 24th Street Bridge; Wellspring, a fountain, and Oculus, a domed performance pavilion, both located in Bayliss Park; and the Molecule Man sculpture at Mid-America Center.
Lastly, Eckman says that groups “needing to burn off some steam” should plan an outing at Joe’s Karting, where they’ll find some fast and furious indoor go-kart racing that’s geared toward adults.
“This is not child’s play,” he says, adding Joe’s Karting accommodates corporate outings and after-hours activities. “Billed as Iowa and Nebraska’s fastest indoor facility, there is nothing like the need for speed to break the ice and create some camaraderie among colleagues.”
