Exploring South Omaha With Your Family

If you want to feel like you have traveled somewhere without leaving the city, spend a Saturday on South 24th Street. This historic stretch is the cultural heart of South Omaha, a neighborhood shaped over generations by immigrant families, and today it is one of the liveliest, most flavorful places you can take your kids. The pace is relaxed, the people are warm, and there is something to see, smell, and taste on nearly every block.

Start With the Story

South Omaha grew up around the stockyards and the railroads, and wave after wave of families made it home, from Czech, Polish, and Lithuanian immigrants to the large and vibrant Mexican-American community that gives the district so much of its color today. A good first stop is El Museo Latino, the first Latino art and history museum in the Midwest, founded in 1993. It sits near 25th and Q Streets and offers rotating exhibits of art and history from across the Americas. It is small enough not to overwhelm little ones and rich enough to spark good conversations on the way home. It is generally open Wednesday and Friday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. (as of July 2026), but call ahead or check hours before you go, since a smaller museum can keep limited days.

Walk the Murals

One of the best free things you can do here is simply walk and look up. The South Omaha Mural Project has filled walls across the district with large, bright, storytelling murals that honor the many immigrant communities who built this neighborhood. Near Plaza de la Raza you will find murals celebrating the Mexican, Native American, and Mayan heritage of the area. Plaza de la Raza itself, whose name means a gathering place for the people, has a friendly town-square feel and hosts live music through the warmer months. Let the kids count how many different flags, faces, and symbols they can spot.

Eat Your Way Down the Street

This is the part your family will remember. The panaderias, or Mexican bakeries, are a joy. Stop into a shop like Jacobo's, an authentic grocery, bakery, and tortilleria on South 24th, and hand each kid a tray and tongs so they can pick their own conchas, empanadas, and fresh bolillo rolls. The shop is open Tuesday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on weekends from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., closed Mondays (as of July 2026). It is a hands-on treat that costs only a few dollars. For lunch, the district is full of family-owned taquerias serving tacos, tortas, and aguas frescas. Because small restaurants come and go, ask a local or peek in the window for a busy dining room, always a good sign. Order a few tacos to share so everyone can taste something new.

Make a Half-Day of It

South 24th Street rewards a slow stroll. Notice the colorful tile designs worked into the sidewalks, benches, and planters, each one telling a piece of the community's story. Duck into the small grocers and shops, pick up a bag of pan dulce for the drive home, and let the kids practice a few words of Spanish with shopkeepers who are almost always happy to help.

If you time your visit around one of the neighborhood's festivals or performances at Plaza de la Raza, all the better. It is worth checking our Omaha family events calendar before you go, since South Omaha hosts some of the most joyful cultural celebrations in the metro. And if you are trying to keep the day affordable, remember to browse our Kids Eat Free guide for deals around the city.

Good to Know for Families

Parking is easiest on the side streets off 24th, and the district is very walkable once you park. Bring a stroller for younger kids and plan for an easygoing pace. Mornings are calmer if your children do better before crowds build. And come hungry, because half the fun of South Omaha is tasting your way through it.

When you are ready to explore another one-of-a-kind Omaha neighborhood, take a look at the Old Market family guide for another walkable afternoon full of character. South Omaha and the Old Market together make a wonderful weekend of discovering the city that is right in your backyard.

Prices and hours change, so always confirm the latest on each place's official website before you go — the figures in this guide are current as of July 2026.

Cover photo: SharonPapierdreams via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0).