From Wikitravel

Lincoln [1] is the capital city of Nebraska in the USA.

[edit] Understand

Lincoln was founded in 1859 as the village of Lancaster. Renamed and made Nebraska's state capital in 1867, is now the second-largest city in the state. Lincoln is Nebraska's center of government and higher education and is a regional retail and transportation center. Despite its size, it retains a friendly, "small town" feel.

There are several threads running through Lincoln's cultural composition. The university and state government have attracted many rural Nebraskans to the city over the years, reinforcing its small town feel. Its position as a college town also helps shape the city's political culture, which is somewhat more liberal than most of the rest of the state. The electorate is nearly evenly split between the Republican and Democratic parties. Once a very ethnically homogeneous city, Lincoln has become more diverse over the past 30 years, welcoming immigrants and refugees from Southeast Asia, the Middle East, the former Soviet Union, and sub-Saharan Africa.

There is a long-standing friendly rivalry with Omaha, 80 km (50 mi.) to the northeast.

Indoor worksites are smoke-free in Lincoln, so you'll be able to enjoy smoke-free restaurants and bars.

[edit] Get in

[edit] By car

The primary route into the city is Interstate 80, with Interstate 180 serving as a downtown connector. US Highways 6, 34, 77 and Nebraska Highway 2 also run through Lincoln.

[edit] By plane

Lincoln Municipal Airport (ICAO: KLNK), 7 km (4 mi.) northwest of downtown, offers flights to Denver and Chicago (United) and Minneapolis, Detroit, and Memphis (Northwest). The airport is located just off I-80 Exit 399. It is often cheaper to fly into the much bigger Omaha Airport, and hop onto a shuttle from there to Lincoln which stops at some of the major hotels. Try http://www.eppleyexpress.com or http://www.omalink.com and there are a few others.

[edit] By train

Amtrak serves Lincoln on its daily California Zephyr [2] route between Chicago and the West Coast. The westbound train stops around 12:30 AM; the eastbound train stops around 4 AM. Located in the Haymarket district; 201 N. 7th St. Downtown hotels are within walking distance.

[edit] By bus

Two bus companies serve Lincoln: Arrow Stage Lines and Burlington Trailways. Lincoln's intercity bus station is located on the northwest corner of 11th St. & Cornhusker Hwy.

[edit] Get around

Getting around Lincoln is a mixed-bag proposition. If you are planning on staying near the center of town, you probably won't need a rental. All major necessities except groceries are available in or near downtown.

Driving: Lincoln, despite its size, does not have any crosstown freeways or expressways. The city is laid out in a grid pattern; a handful of diagonal streets exist. Major through streets are generally located once per mile; there are generally 14 streets to the mile. Traffic can be heavy on major streets and in downtown during rush hour and on football Saturdays.

Buses: Lincoln's StarTran [3] service runs on weekdays and Saturdays (but only until 6:30 PM). Individual fares are $1.25 (have exact change)/seniors $0.60/trips in the downtown zone or on the Star Shuttle are $0.30. Monthly passes are $35; various discounts are available. Passes can be purchased at many businesses around town (primarily grocery stores and banks).

Hiking/Biking Trails: Lincoln's trail system extends throughout the city. A cyclist can travel across the city in an hour or less.

[edit][add listing] See

• Nebraska State Capitol: 15th and K Streets (main entrance); phone: 402-471-0448; Web: www.capitol.org. The state legislature of Nebraska is unique and unusual in that it is the only one that is unicameral and nonpartisan. Open to the public year-round, the Nebraska State Capitol building was completed in 1932 and is an excellent example of Art Deco architecture, as well as a radical departure from the traditional design of government buildings. Extensive interior art provides a symbolic representation of the history of Nebraska, its government, and its people. The observation deck on the 14th floor provides views of the entire city. Free guided tours last 30 minutes (summer) or 55 minutes (for school groups).

• Sunken Gardens: 27th and Capitol Parkway Streets; Web: [4]. The Sunken Gardens of Lincoln, at the southwest corner of 27th and D Streets, has been the pride and joy of citizens since its completion in 1931 (see Web site for complete history and photos). The newly renovated Gardens feature a waterfall, several fish ponds and terraces of flora and fauna. The Gardens are listed in the "300 Best Gardens to Visit in the United States and Canada" in the National Geographic Guide to Public Gardens.

• Memorial Stadium: 600 Stadium Drive; Memorial Stadium consists of the University of Nebraska football stadium in addition to all the training and dining facilities used by the Husker athletic teams. The latest expansion of Memorial Stadium came with some serious enhancements for the fans in the seats. These include skyboxes and luxury seats, new video scoreboards, and a larger pressbox. Memorial Stadium houses 85,000 people and has sold out for nearly 300 consecutive Husker football games. When the usual sellout of seats in Memorial Stadium occurs on a Saturday in the fall, the stadium becomes one of the largest cities in Nebraska.

[edit][add listing] Do

• Haymarket Park Haymarket parks hosts the University of Nebraska Baseball Team and an independent minor league team known as The Saltdogs. The Saltdogs' games rarely sell out, but Nebraska's games have been starting to sell out. The Nebraska games are well recommended and have a great family atmosphere. UNL students get free admission to regular season Nebraska games.
• Husker Football If you happen to be in town during a Saturday in the Fall, try and get a ticket to a University of Nebraska college football game. The town practically shuts down on gamedays, and the stadium (which seats over 80,000) becomes the 3rd largest "city" in the entire state. A truly unique experience.
• Jazz in June Free Jazz music all summer long, performed outdoors behind the beautiful Sheldon Art Gallery in their sculpture garden. Great way to start a Tuesday evening. Music starts at 7 p.m. every Tuesday. [5]
• Lincoln's Bars If you're only spending an evening in Lincoln, you should check out one of the many bars south of UNL's city campus. See the listing below for details.
• Lazlo's Beer Tour Get a tour of the award winning Empyrean Ales brewery in the historic haymarket district of Downtown Lincoln. Free beer and food is offered during the tour and the brewmaster answers questions. First Monday of every month. The line for Lazlo's beer tour usually forms around 6-6:15pm. If you come any later than 6:30, you may not make it into the tour, as only a limited number of people may take the tour on a given evening.[6]
• Sheldon Memorial Art Gallery, 1200 R St, +1 402 472-2461, [7]. If there was only one thing you could do while visiting Lincoln, a visit to the Sheldon would be it. They have a large permanent collection, as well as travelling exhibits. Their collection is primarily American modernist, but the Sheldon's exhibitions and acquisitions are of contemporary art. They also sponsor various events, such as the "Let's Talk Art" lecture series. These lectures, as well as admission to the gallery, are free. While you're there, pay attention to the architecture of this remarkable building, designed by Philip Johnson. I've heard that when it was built in 1961-1963 it was the most expensive building in the U.S. on a square-foot basis. Backpack's aren't allowed, but there's a rack in front to hang your coat and/or backpack.
• Lincoln's Parks [8] Lincoln has several great parks- check out Pioneers Park or Wilderness Park if you feel like a hike. Most of these are linked together via the bike trails. Pioneers park also has some nature centers which are great for kids. Some parks are managed by the University of Nebraska Lincoln, like Nine Mile Prairie [9], or Spring Creek Prairie [10], but these are located a short drive outside of town.
• Music, Art & Theatre For a complete list of attractions, see the website of the Lincoln Arts Council [11]. For attractions all year long, the best places to go are the Lied Center for Performing Arts [12], The Haymarket Theatre, or the UNL schools of Music, Theatre, and Film. Some of the best classical music performances can be heard at the Sheldon Memorial Art Gallery, produced by Lincoln Friends of Chamber Music- students get in for only $6. During the summer, see the Flatwater Shakespeare Company [13] at Wyuka cemetery, musicals at the Pinewood Bowl[14],classical performances at the Meadowlark Music Festival[15], or Jazz in June. Music groups that perform all year long include the Lincoln Symphony Orchestra and the Nebraska Jazz orchestra. For Art, the Sheldon is the largest gallery in town, but to get a look at the work of local artists, be sure to check out the downtown art galleries. By far the most fun time to do this is the evening of the first Friday of every month, when the galleries put up new work. Start at any downtown gallery and hop from one to the next- the new art is usually accompanied by food, drinks, and sometimes live music.

[edit][add listing] Buy

[edit][add listing] Eat

• Olive Garden. A nice Italian restaurant with AMAZING bread and salad. At lunch time they have a good deal: all you can eat bread and salad for $5.95.

• The Blue Orchid. A new Thai restaurant with by far the best Thai food in town. Despite some early hiccups, the service is sufficient and improving. Reservations are recommended for Friday and Saturday nights but are rarely needed during the week.

• Bisonwitches. A sandwich shop that also has excellent drink specials and nice, dim lighting. Staffed mostly by sorority sisters and frequented by college students from the nearby university, this restaurant offers tasty sandwiches, bread-bowl soups, and beer in a nice atmosphere. Located at 13th and P streets downtown.

• Buzzard Billy's. Cajun style food in the Haymarket.

• Dish. Downtown haven for eclectic, creative food (South American, Pan-Asian, Med influences) and a carefully chosen wine list. Chef/Owner run. Service can act a little overwhelmed at times. There's some serious craftsmanship in the back of the house. Someone just needs to slightly tighten up the front. 2 visits. 11th and O Streets downtown.

• "'El Potrero'". Spanish for "The Prarie", A casual sit-down mexican restaurant with a talented staff. Big meals for good deals, and an endless supply of chips and dip will leave you more than satisfied. In the heart of the Haymarket, somewhere in the middle of it all.

• Fireworks. Recently moved from the Haymarket district, now located at 84th and Old Cheney, wood-fired cooking. Everything I had there was fantastic, I particularly liked the BBQ Brisket sandwich, and they have an open WiFi AP. $13 per person.

• La Mexicana. Authentic Mexican food served in the back of a Mexican grocery store. Downtown on about 17th and P streets. Delicious.

• Lazlo's. Another restaurant owned by the same group that own Fireworks (discussed elsewhere), Lazlos has a menu varied between burgers and steaks. A burger is reasonable, usually around $8.00. Most notable from Lazlos is the Lavash, a thin, cracker-crust, pizza-like appetizer proper for 3 to 4 people to share. A choice of toppings goes on top of melted cheese, chicken, bacon, green-peppers, and mushrooms are excellent choices. Lazlos is associated with the Empyrean Brewing Company, so they always have excellent micro-brews on tap.

• Taqueria El Rey. Great place for tacos, with a big variety of Mexican food. Make sure to try the "tacos al pastor" --seasoned pork-- for $1.50 each. On 27th and O.

• The Oven. A downtown Lincoln classic. Started in neighboring [Omaha], the Oven serves excellent Indian cuisine in a cozy, candle-lit atmosphere. Sunday nights there is live music. Located in the Haymarket.

• Thai Garden. Tucked away at the base of the National Research building, Thai Garden is one of Lincoln's several Thai restaurants. Most consider the atmosphere to be lacking, and a few don't consider the menu to the best either. Lunch is a particularly good time to stop in and save some money. Dinner around $7.00 a plate and well worth it.

• Thai House. Located just north of 27th and Vine, Thai House serves excellent food at more than reasonable prices. The atmosphere is so-so, but the service, food, and prices are terrific.

• Maggie's. A delicious vegetarian/vegan wrap restaurant located in the historic haymarket. Serves lunch only.

• La Paz. Consistently voted the best Mexican restaurant in town by listeners of KFOR radio. La Paz is located near Westfield Gateway Mall at 56th and 'O' St. Typically quite busy on the weekends, but some people have obviously found something worth waiting for.

• El Rancho. Authentic and terrific Mexican food, and recently voted among the Top Five restaurants in Lincoln. Located at 27th and O Streets. Everything there is good. Make sure to have the refried black beans, the tacos, pupusas, and horchata.

• Wasabi. Downtown Lincoln's only Japanese restaurant and sushi bar. The food is quite good, though service gets poor marks.

• D'Leon's. There are several locations of this drive-through Mexican restaurant. The quality and price of this authentic Mexican restaurant have made it a favorite of both local Hispanics and undergraduates. A 8 inch long, 2 lb burrito is only $3. Open 24/7.

[edit] Primarily Bars

• The Watering Hole. The Watering Hole is a local treasure. Famed to have the "best wings in town" The Hole as it's frequently known, serves up a variety of traditional bar food on top of their very good wings. Those looking for a particularly tasty treat and willing to wait a little longer should order their wings "grilled". They take a little longer, but are well worth the wait. Check the specials board when you arrive as some days their wings are only $0.33 each.

The night life is a busy one. Lincoln has one of the longest main streets in the United States with a portion covered by local drinking establishments. Such highlights include "The Brick Top", "Harry's Wonder Bar" and many others. The scene on a weekend night is intense with many flocking to the area to blow off some steam.

[edit] Yummy Desserts

• Ivanna Cone. An absolutely excellent local ice-cream shop. Made fresh every day, showing up early is a must to get the more popular flavors before the run out. Directly south of Lazlos and Fireworks and directly east of the old train station, Ivana Cone is an excellent stop after dinner in the Haymarket. Ivanna Cone made me an ice-cream snob.

[edit][add listing] Drink

Most of the bars are located along Lincoln's main drag, 'O' street, which is located only a few blocks from the dormitories, fraternities and sororities of the University of Nebraska. Literally lined with bars, the best place to start for an evening of excitement is definitely the corner of 14th and 'O', which will be packed with college students during the academic year. Thursdays Fridays and Saturdays are the most busy, but there is always at least one bar that's busy -don't be afraid to wander around.

• the alley. A bar that serves it's beers in mason jars. Located off of O St so you primarily get the college crowd on the weekends. Great place to go, anytime really!
• The Bar. A popular college bar at 17th and P Streets. Known for a nice outdoor area and a late last call.
• Barrymore's. A little bit off the beaten path, located in an alley between 13th and 14th streets, Barrymore's offers a more sophisticated place for a drink. Serves a variety of martinis and has a nice decor with incredibly high ceilings.
• Bodega's Alley. Located on O St this bar is considered a hippy bar. You will often hear Phish or Moe playing when you walk in.
• The Brass Rail. Voted one of the best college bars by Play Boy a while back, this bar is usually full of football players and Sorority girls. Great place to go if you are dressed up and want to go dancing.
• The Bricktop. A newer, hipper bar in Lincoln that doubles as a dance club. The most popular night of the week for the Bricktop is Sunday, when they host "80's Night'. Hundreds of people show up--often in costume--to enjoy dancing and drinks. There is often a line. On the weekends they spin various electronic music.
• Brothers. Although painfully corporate, this bar is often busy during the school year and is a good place to see all kinds of people. Beer specials range in prices, and often make drinking here very reasonable.
• Cliff's. A local legend. Cliff's is a local 'chill-bar' where, on Sundays, their famous kamikaze drinks are discounted. These drinks are what makes Cliff's particularly fun, strong-yet-delicious, it's probably not a good idea to drink more than three unless you are truly of an iron-will. Cliff's is located downtown, just east of The Watering Hole.
• The Downtown Located on 'O' street, a nice place to go to dance to urban music.
• Duffy's. Another local bar where you can get regional beers on tap. Good atmosphere overall, with a beer garden and a stage. Known for their fish bowls, which are great to share with several friends. Some nights, those when they have a band, the bar has a small cover. Particularly fun on St. Patrick's Day, this bar is well worth a visit if you're in town on around this time of year. Free amatuer comedy workshop on Monday nights. Duffy's is located downtown on 'O' Street.
• Duggan's Pub. This bar is located off of O St but is a great bar if you want to sit down and drink and listen to some local music.
• Empyrean Brewing Company. Perhaps not a bar so far, but certainly an excellent source of drinks. This local micro-brew is available all over the city and is quite good.
• Iguana's'. The typical college bar, though slightly more hip. Monday nights, patrons will be asked to pick which NFL team they think will win the night's game, and will be awarded free shots each time that team scores a touchdown. Attached to the back of Iguana's is a small cocktail bar called Voda which serves specialty martinis.
• Main Street. This bar gets a lot of the Fraternity and Sorority crowd. They have great drink specials every night.
• O'Rourke's. All bars in Lincoln must close at 1 a.m., and this little hole in the wall has the latest last call in town.
• The Q. A gay bar that is a wonderful place to find drag shows, amateur strip contests, and a good time dancing.
• The Starlite Lounge. Located beneath Buzzard Billy's restaurant, this dark hideaway serves up 1950's style cocktails with an atmosphere to match. Waitresses and bartenders dress the part. A great place to go for a unique drink.
• Sur Tango, Located on P street near 13th. Salsa and Latin Music on Thursdays, Saturdays and Hip Hop other days.
• W.C.'s. Located on P street near 13th. Pool tables, dart boards, pitchers, enough said.
• The Watering Hole. "Hole" is probably the perfect word for this place, however, Thursday through Sunday they offer a penny-pitcher discount. First pitcher of beer is regular price, second pitcher is, you guess it, a penny. There's a cleaner version on West A St., which has the best grilled hot wings around, $.33 between 5 and 7.
• Woody's Pub.
• The Zoo. A blues bar, with live music almost every day. Wednesday is jazz evening.

[edit][add listing] Sleep

I am currently staying at the Mariott Cornhusker. Very nice hotel, although the promised shuttle driver went home for the night when we needed a ride home from the bar. Good price for the location.

[edit] Contact

[edit] Wireless

The following locations provide free WiFi Internet Access:

• The Mill Coffee Shop in the Haymarket district.
• Fireworks restaurant in the Haymarket district.
• The Coffee House on 13th and 'P' Street
• Duffy's Bar on 'O' Street
• Brother's Bar on 'O' Street
• Cici's Pizza on North 27th Street
• The Bricktop at 1427 O Street
• Bagels 'n' Joe at 48th and Old Cheney

[edit] Wired

Although there are no 'internet cafes' in Lincoln, you can often find free wired internet. Check on campus in the Union you can often find open computers for use (technically only for students).

[edit] Learn

• University of Nebraska at Lincoln
• Southeast Community College
• Nebraska Wesleyan University
• Union College
• Lincoln School of Commerce
• College of Hair Design

[edit] Get out

Lincoln is surrounded by numerous lakes and state recreation areas.

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