6 Reasons I Love Elkhorn | Things to Do + Where to Shop & Eat

I am a Nebraska girl.

I was born and raised in Blair, visited family in Giltner and York, went to college in Lincoln, spent summers in North Omaha, interned at Boys Town, bought my first house in Bennington, worked for Omaha Public Schools, and am raising my family in Elkhorn. I love Nebraska. I could tell you all about why I love any place in Nebraska, but I live in Elkhorn so let’s start there.

Reasons I Love Elkhorn | Where to Go, What to Eat, & Where to Shop

Elkhorn Schools

My children attend a private, hybrid homeschool. Yet, I still love Elkhorn Public Schools. And this is coming from someone who grew up in Blair, a huge rival of Elkhorn. Elkhorn schools have high standards—for students, for teachers, for administration, and for staff. The schools are well maintained. The education is top notch. And my favorite part is the Special Education Department. I am a speech pathologist who specialized in the birth to seven population. I can say from experience that students in the Elkhorn Public Schools Special Education Department are being well educated, well cared for, and well assisted.

Local Food

There is nothing wrong with chain restaurants, but I love local places. There is something about the charm of a family own eatery. Elkhorn has a wonderful selection.

Dairy Chef at 3223 N 204th St.

Dairy Chef is always busy in the summer. It’s not summer without a stop at this amazing ice cream joint. They also show outdoor movies in the summer for you to watch as you sip your malt.

Boyd and Charlie’s BBQ at 2706 N Main St.

Delicious BBQ. And if you are a hunter, you appreciate the décor ranging from a huge stuffed turkey to stuff Elk heads on the wall.

Jack’s Place at 1818 N 203rd St.

If you are looking for a hometown bar, this is it. Nothing fancy, but delicious pizza, nachos, and beer.

Bella Vita at 2620 N Main St.

Delicious Italian food nestled in a charming 100 year old brick building. Great food and great environment.

Maximo’s Cantina at 2613 N Main St.

Authentic Mexican food, margaritas, and fried ice cream. And if that’s not enough, Tuesdays are Taco Tuesdays offering $1 tacos.

Fala’s Treasures and Coffee House at 2627 N 205th St

An adorable coffee shop that serves gourmet coffee, smoothies, breakfast, and lunch. However, it’s not just a coffee shop it’s also a boutique selling adorable clothing, accessories, and home items.

Olde Towne Elkhorn 

Whether you are looking for a girls’ shopping day, a romantic date night, a fun family afternoon, or a beautiful location for family pictures, Olde Towne Elkhorn has it. It’s a charming section of Elkhorn with buildings over 100 years old. The Shoppes of Olde Town are a must see. It’s small town charm surrounded by big city amenities.

Village Pointe Farmer’s Market

This is a fun alternative to heading downtown on Saturday mornings from May to early October.

Eklhorn Parks

Local Shops and Vendors

Elkhorn has some seriously cute locally owned shops. I love shopping local and Elkhorn is where it’s at.

The Whistle Stop Country Store at 20711 Elkhorn Dr.

Absolutely adorable shop featuring vintage and farmhouse décor items. Each year the shop hosts a Twinkle Night to bring in the holiday season. This event features hot cocoa, treats, and customer appreciation gifts.

Patriot Homebrew Supplies at 2929 N 204th St #107.

A friendly staff with a great selection of homebrewing products. The offer free seminars and paid classes on all things brew related. Customers can even brew on the premise if space is limited at home.

Sugar Chic Design at 19400 West Maple Rd.

Absolutely positively the most beautifully decorated cookies. Christina is truly an artist!

Little Scandinavia at 2619 N Main St.

Carl and Leona offer authentically Scandinavia items from Ekelund towels to Danish iron to Scandinavian sweets and treats.

K Posh Boutique at 2816 N Main St.

Adorable shop, trendy and fashionable clothes, and great service.

Dreamcatcher Boutique at 2701 N Main St.

Another adorable shop with a great selection of clothes and accessories, and wonderful service.

Hooked Handcrafted Leather Earrings

Leather earrings are everywhere these days. They are lightweight and fashionable. I can throw on a pair of sweatpants and leather earrings and still feel cute. If you are looking for the best leather earring, they have the best selection, best service, and well made, Hooked is your answer.

This post was originally written in 2019 and has been updated in 2023.