Best Western Kelly Inn- Omaha

We are heading to Omaha July 20th and plan to stay at the Best Western Kelly Inn. I was wondering if this is a nice hotel and if the area its located in is safe? We are planning on going to the zoo and the children%26#39;s museum. Thanks!

Best Western Kelly Inn- Omaha

obtech4u ~ haven%26#39;t actually stayed at the BW, so I don%26#39;t know about the hotel, but it looks fine on the outside. The area around L Street is fine. Easy to get off the interstate and get to the hotel, lots of fast food places and restaurants, movie theaters and close to shopping. You are across town from the Zoo but it%26#39;s no big deal, because it%26#39;s a quick trip on the interstate. I think you should be fine.

Best Western Kelly Inn- Omaha

Forgot to add - it%26#39;s a safe area.

Thanks! According to the hotel the zoo is about a 15 min drive. If you have any other info about the area, I would appreciate it! We are also planning on going to the Children%26#39;s Museum and possibly Boys Town. Again, thanks for your help :)

A 15 min drive sounds about right, unless it%26#39;s during rush hour. What kinds of interests do you have? Omaha%26#39;s Joselyn Art Museum is wonderful and I think you%26#39;ll like the Children%26#39;s Museum too. It%26#39;s fun to walk around the Old Market area (lot%26#39;s of fun restaurants), and if you have any military buffs in your group they would probably enjoy visiting the SAC Air Museum which is located just outside of Omaha (to the west from where you are staying about 1/2 hr). I%26#39;m sure you%26#39;ve researched the zoo itself, which IMHO is one of the finest in the country. The rain forest has no equal anywhere in the US. Boys Town is located straight up I-680 from where your hotel is and west on Dodge Street. There is also a new shopping center located a few miles on down Dodge Street from Boys Town. You%26#39;ll have a great time!

Thanks for all your advise!! Now if only the weather will cooperate...I just looked at the forecast on Fri there is a 50% chance of thunderstorms...Fri is the day we are planning on going to the zoo

:( I know its hard to predict, but what is the weather usually like? Rain all day or just a big storm for a couple hrs then its over?

It%26#39;s Nebraska, which means anything can happen. However, according to the local news we have only a 30% chance of thunderstorms, which means probably no rain at all. If there is a storm, it will probably blow over quickly. So I wouldn%26#39;t worry. Besides, if it starts to rain while you are there go into the rain forest, the desert dome, the aquarium or take in a movie at the IMAX and you%26#39;ll be fine.

Thank you soooo much for all your wonderful info. I will have 2 very disappointed little girls if it rains. We figured if all else, we would get a room on fri nite and just head to the zoo on sat. Do you have any other suggestions for hotels? I doubt we will stay at the BW Kelly Inn again...more like we will try and find a decent room for $55-75 per night. Again, I really appreciate all your wonderful advise! If you ever come to MO, I should be able to help you out. THANKS!

Obtech, don%26#39;t worry about rain, I honestly don%26#39;t think there%26#39;s much chance of it. And like I said, even if it is raining, their is SO much of the zoo that is indoors (and the best parts IMHO, like I said the Rainforest is absolutely outstanding there isn%26#39;t an equal to it anywhere!!) I%26#39;ve been to the San Diego Zoo%26#39;s rain forest and it isn%26#39;t anywhere near as cool as the one in Omaha.

As far as places to stay, if you stay someplace close off of I-80 anyplace is AOK. You can always go for more ';atmosphere'; by staying in the Old Market area, but if you are primarily interested in the zoo, then there%26#39;s no reason to go downtown. L Street hotels and those off of I-80/72nd St are just fine, go for the best price.

I%26#39;ll take you up on the Missouri offer! Thanks!! Hope you have a wonderful visit here! And the temps are supposed to be quite bearable by the weekend after hitting 107 F here today (in the 80%26#39;s by the weekend). Have Fun!!! And Welcome to Nebraska!!!

We are back! The hotel was EXCELLENT!!!!! I highly recommend this hotel to anyone, especially if you have kids...the pool is wonderful. If did rain a little on Friday morning but cleared off. Kids loved the zoo and the Childrens Museum. We are already thinking of planning another trip to the zoo later this year.

I%26#39;ve been wondering about your trip, obtech!!

SO glad you had a wonderful time. The zoo is great, isn%26#39;t it!! For you next trip, also do the drive through Wildlife Safari a few miles west of Omaha and the SAC Museum, they are well worth the effort and I%26#39;d be happy to help you with other suggestions next time. Sounds like the hotel was SUPER!