How can you be in two places at the same time? If you’re on ‘The Bob’ in Omaha

It’s the only pedestrian bridge in the United States connecting two states. It may also be the only “talking” pedestrian bridge in the country. The Bob Kerrey pedestrian bridge connects Nebraska and Iowa via the Missouri River. It’s also a major tourism attraction for Omaha.

“The Bob,” as it has affectionately become known, wasn’t welcomed by all in the metro area. Some people thought the $20 million used to construct the 3,000-foot bridge was a waste of money. Some still do. I never felt that way. I loved the concept of a walking and biking bridge connecting Omaha to Council Bluffs along the riverfront. The bridge is named after former Senator Kerrey, from Nebraska, who secured the federal funds for the project.

If you watch any of the College World Series on ESPN, you’ll see a shot of The Bob often, as the cable production comes back from commercial breaks. TD Ameritrade Park Omaha is a short walk from The Bob. Plans eventually call for another pedestrian bridge to actually connect from the ballpark area to The Bob.

The pedestrian bridge has become the anchor of the riverfront’s attractions. You can stroll from the Old Market retail and entertainment district through the Heartland of America Park, up to the boardwalk area, known as the Lewis and Clark Landing. The Bob is right there – always within view.

The Century Link Arena – home to concerts, Creighton University men’s basketball, as well as national college tournaments and international competitions – is a few feet from the pedestrian bridge. The National Park Service has its district office at the foot of the bridge.

North of The Bob is a  river boat, popular for river cruises, and offices. The River City Star offers some unique photo opportunities of the bridge as you float beneath it.

People love posing for photos at the state line. You can be in two states at one time.

Lisa and I are major fans of The Bob. We love taking walks along the riverfront and crossing the bridge to check out the River’s Edge Park on the Iowa side. The park is home to several concerts during the spring and summer. Council Bluffs hosts a free concert series on Memorial Day weekend, which have featured the Beach Boys and Chicago as headliners. The city has walking paths in both directions of the river.

On the Omaha side, Lewis and Clark Landing is used for major events, such as the Septemberfest labor celebration, over Labor Day weekend, Santa Lucia Festival and Taste of Omaha. We lucked out at Taste of Omaha, as we ran into one of our favorite food trucks – Scotty’s.

As The Bob has grown in popularity, it has been marketed as an attraction. You can buy T-shirts at the local visitors center that say “I walked The Bob.”

“Bob the Bridge” has a website  –  www.bobthebridge.com – and Twitter account. People can post comments or photos to the site.

In 2011, the “Salute to Labor” statue near the bridge played a role in gauging the daily water level during a major flood. The Army Corps of Engineers had to release more water than expected due to major snowfall and rain runoff from the Rocky Mountains upriver. It took out Interstate 29 from Sioux City south to just north of Kansas City.

“Labor” – the statue – became a symbol of the flood. People would visit the area and use it to gauge the depth of the water. A plaque recognizing the flood is located next to the sculpture.

We all survived the flood, and eventually things returned to normal. The Bob was only closed for a short time, suffering no damage.

The Bob is opened year-round, except during inclement weather. The city will close access to it if it’s too icy or windy. It rarely happens.

I like to mark early Spring with a walk across the bridge. It’s my way of convincing myself winter is truly over.

Summer and Fall are the best times for walks, in my opinion. The leaves are both full on the trees and green and the warm weather just makes it a nicer experience. Fall shows us the changing colors of the leaves, with a slight crispness in the air. Again, though, any time of the year is a good time to visit The Bob.

I love the view of downtown Omaha from the Kerrey bridge. We may not have a lot of skyscrapers, but we do have a pretty skyline, in my opinion.

When in Omaha, ensure you take the time to visit the Bob Kerrey bridge. You won’t be disappointed.

For more information on the Bob, check out www.visitomaha.com.