Northwest Omaha - Omaha, NE

The United States first acquired the Omaha city area as part of the Louisiana Purchase, and following treaties with the Omaha Tribe, the city grew in importance for settlers traveling west. Northwest Omaha traces its history to significant farmland outside Omaha, and the area began its housing developments following suburban migration in the 1960s and 1970s. The construction of Standing Bear Lake Park and Tranquility Park cemented the neighborhood's attractive position for suburbanites and the business elite escaping the downtown area.

The neighborhood doesn't have any museums in the area, though residents can travel to downtown Omaha to discover the historical General Crook House Museum or the acclaimed Joslyn Art Museum. Perhaps the best way to discover Nebraska history and culture comes from the Bicycle Ride Across Nebraska (BRAN) annual event. Residents can head to the BRAN Inc. main office on 101st Street for more information and to register.

As a prominent and well-cultivated community development, Northwest Omaha residents have many options when looking to dine at a fancy restaurant or discover world cuisine at acclaimed international eateries. Some of the most loved restaurants in the area sit along West Maple Road, though a handful of culinary gems lie scattered throughout the neighborhood.

As the winner of several awards from Diners' Choice and Omaha Magazine's Best of Omaha, Dolce rests as the most popular restaurant in the Northwest Omaha neighborhood. This small and trendy establishment serves up traditional Americana classics with an innovative twist, such as duck cassoulet and scallops for dinner or braised American Kobe beef steaks for lunch. For a truly elegant evening, locals recommend the five-course chef's dinner.

Located just off the Eagle Run Golf Course on North 129th Street, Salt combines posh and trendy dishes with an unpretentious, casual atmosphere. Salt bases its menu off an exploration of Italian and Mediterranean cuisine and culture, and patrons can discover everything from brick-oven pizza to salt and pepper calamari. As a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence winner, this restaurant encourages visitors to accompany their meals with a choice of over 100 different wines.

Escape the fine-dining fare and pig out on hearty Western cuisine at the Railcar Modern American Kitchen. Specializing in locally crafted food and drinks that one would discover on the westward-bound railcars of the past, Railcar blends together flavors and cooking techniques that span America's diverse history. Some popular menu items include the asiago chicken schnitzel and the coffee rubbed all-natural ribeye. Stop by on Sunday and Monday nights for half-off bottles of wine.

Speaking of wine, Northwest Omaha houses a diverse and trendy nightlife scene packed with sports bars and eclectic lounges. For the next Cornhusker game or for a relaxing evening with friends, head to Bogie's Bar and Grill. This bar mostly features a younger crowd, though Thursday Pint Night attracts visitors from all over the western part of the city. For an older crowd, head over to The Den on North 114th Street.

Large distances between neighborhoods and amenities throughout Northwest Omaha and the greater Omaha metropolitan area mean locals need a car to conveniently get around. Northwest Omaha sits among a wide assortment of spacious highways, thin side streets and nearby interstates. Interstate 680 connects with Interstate 80 to the southwest, heading towards Lincoln. West Maple Road cuts through the heart of Northwest Omaha and allows commuters to travel to downtown Omaha in about 20 to 30 minutes.

When returning home, locals can always expect to find free curbside parking on many of the smaller roads. Taxis coming from the Omaha city center may pass along West Maple Road or West Dodge Road, but residents shouldn't expect to hail one from the curb. Instead, call ahead to arrange a pick up. Locals can also take advantage of ride sharing services such as Uber. Omaha Metro reaches the eastern boundaries of Northwest Omaha, and locals have three routes to choose from, including Route 98, Route 14 and Route 22.

Flat and well-cultivated streets supplement the growing bicyclist culture throughout Northwest Omaha. Bikers may not be able to find sufficient bike lanes in the neighborhood, but courteous drivers who give bikers the right-of-way increase bicyclist safety during both day and night. In addition to flat streets, abundant sidewalks and well-lit side roads provide safety and convenience to walkers.

Sitting on the outskirts of Omaha, the Northwest Omaha neighborhood makes it easy for residents to get out and enjoy the miles of open countryside and outdoors recreation in the area. An abundance of neighborhood parks cater to visitors of all ages, while the Standing Bear Lake Reservoir and several wooded ponds in the area appeal to fishers and nature lovers.

Standing Bear Lake Park and its 135-acre reservoir attracts visitors from all over eastern Nebraska for its variety of hiking and bicycling trails as well as nature study opportunities. A 131-acre wildlife area on the west side of the park houses hundreds of bird and mammal species, ideal for local photographers. Enjoy no-wake boating and fishing in the summertime, and bring the ice skates during the winter. Admission to the park is free, though fishing boats need to have proper Nebraska registration and fishing licenses.

Tranquility Park remains the other high-profile park in the area that attracts most of the neighborhood children and sports enthusiasts. From 17 soccer fields and eight baseball diamonds to its authorized 6-mile mountain biking trail, Tranquility Park allows locals to stay active year-round. Dogs must remain on a leash in both Standing Bear Lake Park and Tranquility Park.

To let Fido run free without a leash, residents only need to head to the Hefflinger Dog Park located south of West Maple Road. With 5 acres for all dogs and a special 2-acre section for smaller dogs, this park brings local dog lovers together while giving their pets substantial space. This park doesn't require an admission fee.

Northwest Omaha residents looking to discover one of the largest indie music celebrations in eastern Nebraska only need to head to Aksarben Village for the MAHA Music Festival. Located along the city bike trail about 7 miles southeast of Tranquility Park, this one-day event features both homegrown talent and popular national acts, including bands such as Death Cab for Cutie and The Head and the Heart.

Northwest Omaha carries a slightly lower cost of living when compared to Omaha averages, though residents can enjoy several luxurious amenities in the immediate vicinity. Newcomers to the area should expect the average rent for a one-bedroom apartment to hover around $718.

Traveling to the city center via Omaha Metro costs $1.25 for a one-way ticket. Car owners pay about 14 percent less than national averages on gas. Locals looking for a pint of beer at local pubs only need about $3.

Northwest Omaha may not have the widely diverse and high-end boutique scene found in downtown Omaha, but residents do have a wide variety of options available right in their backyard. Located only 3 miles away off North 102nd Street, Westroads Mall stands as the most convenient option when shopping for name-brand items. Anchors at this mall include GAP, JCPenney and the Von Maur department store.

One unique store that stands out among the droves of chain department stores and shopping malls in the area, Next Millennium located off North 93rd Street features new age and spiritual items. This small and eccentric store encourages visitors to relax and browse at their own speed. With a variety of self-help and hard-to-find books, aromatherapy products, home decor and much more, this establishment provides Northwest Omaha residents with items that give their living spaces a more serene and exotic aura.

In addition to spiritual and soothing items, Northwest Omaha locals can also stock their homes and gardens with a massive diversity of plants and flowers by visiting Mulhall's. This huge gardening and floral shop on North 120th Street includes everything from outdoor furniture and home decor to house plants and bird baths.

Northwest Omaha residents have a few options when looking to stock up on brand name foods and kitchen staples. The Hy-Vee supermarket off Fort Street stands as the one-stop-shop for groceries, kitchen supplies and much more, while the Bag'n Save off 108th Street supplies residents with an assortment of discounted groceries and fresh produce. For organic fruits and vegetables as well as sustainable meats straight from the outlying farms, locals often head to Wenninghoff's Farm. The specialties here include sweet corn and tomatoes, though shoppers can browse among 30 different varieties of fresh produce between spring and fall.