A Rationalization of Vacation Destination

Maybe it's strange for someone to feel the need to rationalize their family vacation destination. We're going to Omaha, Nebraska for a few days next week. I think some explanation is in order.

Originally we were planning to go to Chicago. The idea was that we'd drive down and stay in the O'Hare area and then do the Museum circuit. It was a pretty decent plan, overall, but the more we looked at it the more we didn't really want to go. Or at least I didn't want to go. I can't explain why I have such a limited interest in Chi-Town, but I just don't much care for it. I've been there, I've seen it. It's a place. I feel pretty confident that at some point we'll get there because neither of have done the museum circuit. However, between the cost of the trip and my disinterest in going, we started considering other destinations.

The first alternate destination we considered was Duluth. Of course, we've done Duluth. What Twin City resident hasn't, right? It's a wonderful place, but it just seems so plain and uninteresting to do for this trip, and we really wanted to get out of the state. Moreover, the majority of the attractions in the area are not open until after May 29th. It seems silly to vacation someplace where more than half of the attractions are closed. Given all of this, and after a great deal of looking and considering we started looking at southern Minnesota.

We looked at Lac Qui Parle and the Pipestone area, and then the idea of taking the kids between Minnesota, South Dakota, and Iowa came to mind. It would be fun for them to say they'd been in three states in a day. After some searching I came up with the idea of running down through Omaha, NE, and then running through Sioux City, IA and Sioux Falls, SD. Then the kids could say they were in four different states.

That seemed agreeable. The next step was to look at all the attractions throughout our proposed destinations. Looking at Omaha was very illuminating. It turns out that there are lot of things to do in Omaha. After picking our way through the travel guide sites, and considering the fact that neither of us had spent any time in Omaha, but had instead just driven through it. We decided we'd just make it a trip to Omaha.

Now, I'm well aware how this seems unusual. No one vacations in Nebraska, right? It's like Cleveland, you just don't go there on purpose.

I won't lie, though, part of my motivation is to see the place the Counting Crows have been singing about for so long.

So, the plan is that we'll be heading to Omaha, NE. We'll be staying in Council Bluffs, IA, because it's cheaper and oddly closer to things to do in Downtown / Midtown. We'll be checking out the Old Market, Henry Doorly Zoo, The Durham and Union Pacific Museums, and various other sites and attractions.

Perhaps this will spawn a series of unusual trip destinations. There's a lot of vacation spots that are off the beaten path, places that people don't normally travel. Perhaps we’ll spend some time in Billings, Montana, Casper, Wyoming, and Idaho Falls, Idaho.

Until then, you can bet that I'll be updating this very blog at some point in the near future with images and information about our trip.

Don’t worry, I’ll be certain to tell you whether everything is on the up and up, or if we’ve been duped and suckered by a skillful marketing campaign by Omaha’s tourism board.

Adieu.