Hike At Standing Bear Lake Park, Then Stop At Crescent Moon For A World Famous Rueben Sandwich In Omaha, Nebraska
By Ben Jones|Published September 21, 2022
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Ben Jones
Author
Ben Jones is at heart an adventurer who delights in inspiring others. A former reporter and photojournalist, he explored towns large and small as a Wisconsin correspondent for USA Today. He later became a lead photographer and senior copywriter for an award-winning destination marketing agency, before founding Boldland Creative, a company that produces photography, video, and other content for travel destinations. Jones has completed photography and content projects in more than 15 states and when he’s not looking through a camera or at his Macbook you’ll find him exploring the world’s lakes and forests.
Some of the most memorable hikes come with a tasty reward. In a single afternoon, you can enjoy a one-of-a-kind Nebraska experience: a lakefront trail that will give you a taste of the state’s natural beauty and a world-famous sandwich that’s even more delicious than the hike. Here’s what you need to know about hiking the Standing Bear Lake Loop and dining on Ruben goodness at Crescent Moon.
Start your day by working up a little appetite on a scenic trail. For a large city, Omaha has a ton of scenic hiking spots and some might have you forget you’re in an urban area. Standing Bear Loop is one of those trails.
The trail is located in northwest Omaha in Standing Bear Park. The park is maintained by the City of Omaha and it’s named after Ponca leader Chief Standing Bear.
It takes about an hour to hike the three-mile trail. It’s a smooth trail, but there are a few hills. The trail skirts the lakeshore and there are plenty of picnic tables and, benches if you feel like taking a break while enjoying the scenic trail.
After hiking all the way around the lake, you might be a little hungry. A delicious meal is waiting for you 12 miles away, in downtown Omaha.
Here, Crescent Moon serves up a delicious version of an iconic food.
The Rueben – that wonderful concoction of corned beef, Swiss cheese, sauerkraut, and Thousand Island dressing, was reportedly invented by Reuben Kulakofsky, who was a Jewish Lithuanian-born grocer residing in Omaha, Nebraska. He asked a local hotel cook to make the sandwich and an icon was born.
Today, the Crescent Moon is one of the best spots in town to enjoy this tangy and savory sandwich – its Blackstone Rueben has been named the best in Omaha. The restaurant is located just steps from the site where the Rueben was first created.
Learn more about hiking in Standing Bear Park on the Visit Omaha website. Get details on Crescent Moon, including other things to eat and drink, on the restaurant’s website. If you enjoy exploring Nebraska on foot, here’s a boardwalk hike that’s simply magical.
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