Offering big city options but at an easygoing pace, Omaha, Nebraska is considered one of the Midwest’s Best Places to Live. All the ingredients of a great retirement lifestyle are here: friendly people, booming businesses, exciting entertainment, a central location, and tons of interesting things to do and enjoy. No wonder so many forward-thinking seniors choose retirement in Omaha!
Why choose to retire in Omaha?
At Heritage Communities, we believe retirement is the perfect time to enjoy days and evenings filled with energy, excitement and connection. And we believe the Omaha area has what you need to do just that. Here are just a few reasons why retirement in Omaha could be just right for you.
Omaha is booming!
Today Omaha is home to the Mutual of Omaha Companies, Berkshire Hathaway, and Union Pacific Corporation, and continues to be a center for food processing, metal fabricating, steel casting, diverse manufacturing, and the railway industry.
Omaha is also home to the University of Nebraska at Omaha, Creighton University, and the College of St. Mary. The city’s diversity is expressed in its beautiful arts and cultural venues, as well as the many inviting parks and other attractions. Omaha has also hosted the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship every year since 1950.
Part new and part recently renovated for maximum enjoyment, The RiverFront in the heart of downtown Omaha is a unique gathering space between the historic old Market and vibrant north downtown Omaha. Three parks are included: Gene Leahy Mall (park, performance pavilion, sculpture garden, playground and dog park); Heartland of America Park (panoramic views of the Missouri river, green lawn space, winter ice skating and warm-weather roller skating, bocce courts, a pier); and Lewis and Clark Landing (vast prairie garden, an urban beach, volleyball court and a destination playground).
There’s much to see and do in Omaha
Among the best in the world, the Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium offers year-round adventures with 160 acres of exhibits featuring animals and insects from across the globe, as well as educational sessions and special events. More than 1,000 different animal species call it home. There’s also the world’s largest indoor rain forest and largest indoor desert.
What better way to discover the best of Omaha then exploring the vibrant downtown neighborhood and uncovering hidden gems? If you’re game, take on the Omaha Scavenger Hunt, where you will crack codes, solve riddles, and unravel clues leading you to incoming landmarks and storied buildings. The whole family will love it!
Delve into Omaha history at The Old Market, once the center of commercial activity, covering approximately nine square blocks of downtown Omaha. Tour historic sites and museums, shop, enjoy live music and dine at one of the many eateries. It’s a one-of-a-kind destination that makes retirement in Omaha unique.
How about a summer evening listening to live music in the park? Live on the Lawn is a FREE, family-friendly summer concert series presented by the City of Omaha Parks and Recreation Department. Concerts are held on Fridays in July.
Jazz buffs will want to check out Jazz on the Green in Turner Park at Midtown Crossing. Bring your friends and family, your leashed pets, lawn chairs, snacks, and drinks, or enjoy food from area vendors. Thursdays from July through mid-August.
Omaha’s festivals you won’t want to miss
When you choose retirement in Omaha, you put yourself in the center of activities and events that make it easy to make new friends and enjoy new experiences. Mark your calendar for the MAHA Festival in July, a favorite music celebration featuring top musicians and bands, theater shows, excellent food and drink, shopping, and fun, free activities.
Gather the grandchildren for May-pole dancing, a magical butterfly release, castle catapult, dragons, and more at The Renaissance Festival of Nebraska, held each May. See actors portray everything from fairies to Queen Elizabeth I in authentic costumes. You and your family can participate in a variety of games and competitions, tour a pirate ship and sample the wares of diverse vendors.
Celebrate art each June at the three-day Omaha Summer Arts Festival, and enjoy the works of 135 artists from throughout the U.S.; multiple staging areas featuring dozens of talented local musicians; a huge, hands-on Children’s Fair and Young Artist Exhibition; and some of the best food in Omaha.
The arts are alive in Omaha
Reopening in 2024 following expansion and renovation, Joslyn Art Museum features art of the ancient world; European and American painting; modern and contemporary art; photography; and the American West. The museum’s collection includes 11,000 works representing artists and cultures from antiquity to the present. In addition, the Museum also offers classes and elegant spaces for performances and private events.
Headquartered in three turn-of-the-century warehouses in the Old Market District of Omaha, KANEKO is a free art museum with a vision to celebrate creativity with rotating exhibitions, performances and events. Design, ideas, performance and innovation are the major themes.
The Intergeneration Orchestra of Omaha brings together performing artists of two eras, joined through the universal language of music. Musicians may audition if they are either age 50 and older or age 25 and younger. The Orchestra’s concert season runs from September through May 1. Performances are given for senior and retiree groups, at nursing homes, private events, conferences and schools. Community-wide events include the annual spring “Pops & Pie” fundraiser concert at area performing arts venues.
History buffs will want to check out the Durham Museum in Union Station, where Omaha history comes alive with collections of photos, coins, books and documents, and more than 40,000 historical objects. Subjects range from history and culture, to science, industry and more through our affiliation with the Smithsonian Institution and strong ties with the Library of Congress, National Archives and the Field Museum.
Ready to learn something new?
Kiewit Luminarium is a place for everyone to explore the astonishing phenomena at the intersection of science, art, and human perception that shape our world, our communities, and ourselves. More than 200 interactive exhibits, a kaleidoscope of engaging programs and weekly special events await you and your family.
Dedicated to raising the quality of life of those experiencing vision loss, Outlook Enrichment provides training for seniors on how to use smartphones and computers with little to no vision, as well as adaptive sports and social activities.
Get ready for the future! Do Space is a technology library open to everyone in Omaha, offering free access to the latest software, devices, and ultra-fast internet.
The University of Omaha’s Lifelong Learning Program opens new doors for seniors and adult learners to explore topics of interest, engage with UNO faculty, and discuss ideas impacting the world in a community of inspired scholars. Topics include healthful aging, Black American culture, literature, the Chinese global economy, film history, and stress management.
Be sure to plan a visit to the Hall of History at Boys Town to learn about this Omaha landmark, how it began in 1921 and still continues its mission today.
Retirement in Omaha is an exceptional choice. Heritage Communities make it even more ideal. The Omaha area has so much to offer residents and visitors alike. And as a resident of one of our communities, you enjoy a carefree lifestyle that matches your wants and needs. Let us tell you more at Senior Living in Omaha: Everything You Need to Know. Or contact us today.