The College World Series is back in Omaha, but what can baseball fans do between games?KETV NewsWatch 7 has put together a list of popular and some not-so-well-known attractions around town for CWS fans to check out while they’re here.Attractions9/11 MemorialOutside of Omaha City Hall building in downtown, a sculpture honoring the victims of 9/11 sits. The stainless steel sculpture wraps around a bronze ball of hands from 300 people. The memorial is known as the 9/11 Wings of Angels.Axe ThrowingOmaha has three axe throwing facilities where guests can compete against their friends and family while socializing with a cold beverage.Axe Games – 11106 Q St.Craft Axe Throwing – 2562 Leavenworth St. #100Flying Timber Axe Throwing – 1507 Farnam St.Click the links above to reserve your spot.Bob & Willie’s WonderbowlHalf the size does not equal half the fun. The bowling alley offers a unique twist on the sport, but the mini bowling still offers big experiences.Click here to reserve your lane.Bob Kerrey Pedestrian BridgeThe bridge connects Iowa and Nebraska with a line over the Missouri River where you can stand in both states at one time. The 3,000-foot-long, 15-foot-wide bridge is perfect for bike rides or strolls.Durham MuseumThis summer peek behind the curtains of your favorite Saturday morning cartoons and CGI blockbusters to see how animation and storytelling come to life at Animation Academy: From Pencils to Pixels, Opening May 31. Visitors will make their own stop-motion shorts, learn to draw their favorite characters and snap photos with stars like Gumby and Pokey, Po from Kung Fu Panda and the famous living room from The Simpsons.Click here to purchase tickets.Escape roomsEscape rooms have become a craze around the U.S., and the Omaha area has a lot of opportunities to dodge zombies, go back in time, become Sherlock Holmes, and more.The Cryptic Room – 523 S Main St., Council BluffsThe Escape Omaha – 6315 Center St., OmahaGet Out Omaha – 501 S 13th St., OmahaHouse of Conundrum – 2564 Leavenworth St., OmahaIndustrial Escape Rooms – 13837 Industrial Rd., OmahaLocked Room Omaha – 741 N 120th St., OmahaMind Meld Escape Rooms – 2819 S 125th Ave. Suite 353, OmahaThe Trap Room – 733 N 14th St, OmahaClick the links above to reserve your spot.Fontenelle ForestFontenelle Forest features 2,000 acres of lush forest, wetlands, and prairies. Conveniently located just a short drive from Omaha, it offers hiking trails, wildlife observation, and engaging educational programs for all ages.Heartland GondolasGuests can take romantic gondola rides on a serene pond near Omaha’s Old Market. The rides last about 20 minutes. It’s open daily throughout the month of June.Click here to learn more or reserve your spot.Henry Doorly ZooJourney through 160 acres of animals, unique habitats, and plants near the downtown Omaha area.Click the link here to purchase tickets.Horse-drawn carriage ridesMagical Journeys Carriage horses will take you on tours around the Old Market, Lewis and Clark Landing, and more. Multiple packages are available for hour and half hour long tours.Click the link here to book your tour.Kiewit LuminariumThe science, art, and human perception museum is a newer addition to the Omaha area. With more than 100 interactive exhibits there’s a little something for everyone.Click here to purchase tickets.Lauritzen GardensBeautiful botanical gardens near downtown Omaha that shock the senses with intoxicating aromas and awe-inspiring sights.Click here to purchase tickets.Malcolm X BirthsiteThe Malcolm X Memorial Foundation honored the Omaha native with a plaza and educational site at the place he was born. The memorial is open to the public and expands 17 acres.Click here to learn more about the site.Nebraska CrossingFor those who love to shop, the Omaha area has a one-stop shopping space that has the brands we all love. From Adidas to H&M to Crocs and more can be found at 21209 Nebraska Crossing Drive in Gretna.President Gerald R. Ford’s Birth Site and GardensA memorial for the 38th president of the United States who was born in Omaha sits at 3212 Woolworth Ave. Beautiful gardens and information pictures and kiosks provide the space with the essence of the former president.Smash ParkSmash Park, where visitors of all ages can engage in a variety of interactive games and activities. From pickleball courts to table tennis, bocce ball, cornhole, ax throwing, and shuffleboard, there’s something for everyone.Soaring Wings VineyardSip on award-winning wines and enjoy stunning vineyard views. The ideal spot for relaxation, live music events, and sampling local flavors.Vietnam MemorialThe memorial is dedicated to honoring Nebraskans who lost their life during the Vietnam War. It includes sculptures, statues, and a helicopter. The memorial is free and open to the public from sunrise to sunset. It is located at 11695 S 108th St. in Papillion.Werner ParkCatch a minor league baseball game with the Omaha Storm Chasers, the Triple-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals. Enjoy a family-friendly atmosphere with exciting promotions and tasty ballpark fare.Novelty attractionsAk-Sar-Ben RacehorseA monument sits on the corner of 67th and Center streets that honors a thoroughbred racehorse named Omaha. The horse was known for winning the Triple Crown in 1935 before he retired to Nebraska City. He died in 1959 and was buried on the Ak-Sar-Ben racetrack.Click here to learn more about the monument and the history of the Ak-Sar-Ben racetrack.Alpine InnVisitors can dine while raccoons scavenge. A popular restaurant known for its fried chicken feeds leftovers to raccoons, so guests can sit next to the wall of windows and watch the furry little guys chow down.Click the link here to learn more or see the restaurant’s menu.Angry BluejayA bronze statue of Creighton’s legendary Bluejay mascot sits in front of Morrison Stadium near 19th Street and Florence Boulevard. The 6-foot-tall sculpture that was built in 2004 wears an angry expression along with a university sweater.Boys Town’s Largest Ball of StampsThe ball is on display at the Boys Town Visitors Center, 13603 Flanagan Blvd. It is 32 inches in diameter, weighs about 600 pounds, and has an estimated 4.6 million stamps on it.Chef BoyardeeA bronze life-sized statue of the famous chef sits along ConAgra Drive in downtown Omaha. The six-foot-tall man offers a great photo-op for those who love SpaghettiOs or Beefaroni alike.Hollywood Candy”Omaha’s one-of-a-kind candy and variety store” offers everything from retro candy to vinyl records. Customers can check out the wall of jellybeans or get some homemade candies, including chocolate-covered bacon. Once they’ve had their fill of sweet treats, they can stop in the Hollywood Diner for malts, shakes, hot dogs, and more. From there, they can take a stroll on the Walk of Fame featuring names like Warren Buffett, Ariana Grande, and Alton Brown. The stars will lead guests to the extensive vinyl collection where they can find some of the greatest artists. The Hollywood Theater can be rented out for parties, offering a nostalgic experience, and best of all Mike and Sully from “Monsters Inc.” sit outside the theater, awaiting their pictures to be taken. On your way past the theater, guests will run into the Pinball & Arcade which features over 60 machines that are waiting to be played.Located in downtown Omaha at 12th and Jackson streets, the store is open Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.Click here to learn more about this unique store.Japanese Balloon Bomb SiteIn the popular Dundee neighborhood sits a plaque that commemorates the bombing of the area in 1945. A Japanese incendiary balloon exploded over the neighborhood which was noteworthy because most of the devices didn’t make it that far inland.Kenefick ParkTwo giant locomotives welcome visitors to Omaha along Interstate 80. The trains featured are the Centennial No. 6900, which is the largest and most powerful diesel-electric train ever made, and Big Boy No. 4023, which is the world’s largest steam locomotive. Visitors are welcome to park at Lauritzen Gardens and take the path to see the trains up close and personal.Click here to learn more about the big guys.O! DudeA 25-foot-tall sculpture of a man sits on top of a parking garage in downtown Omaha. The man can be seen wearing a red baseball cap with an “O!” on it, a white t-shirt, and matching red shorts. He can be seen from the northside of Farnam Street near the 20th Street intersection.Omar Bridge TrollUnderneath the Bob Kerry Pedestrian Bridge, Omar the Bridge Troll lives. The big blue guy traveled all over the city, going on many adventures before making his home underneath the bridge. Guests can watch fun videos featuring Omar that can be found on the bridge, and they can even turn themselves into Omar using a special filter on Snapchat.Click here to meet OMAR the Troll.Performance arts sculpturesThe statues sit outside of the CHI Health Center near 10th and Cass streets. They feature everything from a man on stilts to a man playing the saxophone. They even light up at night, making it a good time to see them at any time day or night.Pioneer Courage ParkSpread out through parts of downtown Omaha, there are sculptures of wild animals like buffalo, cranes, and horses to pioneers and covered wagons. The memorial honors those who settled in Nebraska. Visitors can take photos with the sculptures and walk along with the travelers throughout the downtown area.Sapp Bros water towerDeemed “The World’s Largest Pot of Coffee,” the water tower overlooking the Sapp Bros. truck stop off I-80 exit 440 on the northwestern side. Visitors are encouraged to fill up their tanks and grab a bite to eat. The truck stop has a few dining options with Coffee Kettle Cafe, Burrito Bros., a deli and food bar, and Lucille’s Famous Fried Chicken.Spinning yellow manThe mascot of the Russell Speeder’s Car Wash can be seen from a long ways away. The man dressed in all yellow stands tall, waving to people as they drive by 112th Street and West Center Road.Squirrel Cage JailThe jail was built with a three-story revolving cell block. It was the only one built that large. The design allowed jailers to control inmates without coming into contact with them. The jail was built in 1885 and cost about $30,000. There are rumors of paranormal occurrences at the jail, and it has since been turned into a museum.It’s open Thursday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. The address is 226 Pearl St. in Council Bluffs, Iowa.Click the link here to learn more of the history and how to take a tour.Stadium View Sports CardsThe shop offers a heavy dose of nostalgia. From amazing sports memorabilia to a happy Omaha welcome, the store is surely a hidden gem. Find the incredible store at 3702 S 13th St. in Omaha.Click the link here to learn more.Stile di FamigliaLocated in a residential neighborhood, the sculpture offers a larger-than-life fork that’s twirling pasta. The 15-foot-tall utensil sits near 7th and Pierce streets in Omaha’s Little Italy.NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |

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