Art Museums Historical Places
- Joslyn Art Museum offers Free general admission every day! While there, be sure to visit the ART WORKS interactive space for all ages and the Peter Kiewit Foundation Sculpture Garden.
- Explore the Union Pacific Railroad Museum in Council Bluffs.
- Visit Boys Town including the Hall of History, Dowd Chapel, Father Flanagan House, and Leon Myers Stamp Center, and see the worlds largest ball of stamps.
- Kenefick Park displays two of the greatest locomotives ever to power Union Pacific Railroad, highly visible to drivers passing on I-80. Free admission to the park, and free parking at Lauritzen Gardens. Kenefick Park shares the same hours of operation as Lauritzen Gardens open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. year-round except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years Day.
- Visit the Hot Shops Art Center, with four hot shops featuring glass blowing, pottery, bronze casting and blacksmithing, and more than 80 artists. Their Spring or Fall Open Houses are especially fun times to visit.
Things To Do This Winter With Kids In The Omaha Area
During the colder months of winter, it can be a bit more difficult to keep the little ones busy, as our usual outdoor activities, like swimming and going to the park, are on pause until spring. But dont fret there are plenty of things to do with kids during the winter in the Omaha area, from going to a childrens museum to ice skating, and archery arena tag to virtual reality games.
See how many of these kid-approved, winter-proof activities you can check off your to-do list before spring break!
NOTE: As of Wednesday, January 12, 2022, the city of Omaha is under an emergency mask mandate. Please wear a face covering while participating in these activities and double check with each establishment before your visit for information about their latest COVID protocols.
See A Show At The Rose Theater
For more than 70 years, The Rose Theater has remained committed to inspiring young people and their families to discover the magic of theater, to find their voices, and enrich their communities. They do just that with classes in theater, directing, musical theater, singing, dancing, and more and an impressive lineup of performances drawing kids of all ages each season. The remainder of the 2021-2022 season includes Carmela Full of Wishes , Giraffes Cant Dance: The Musical , and The Sound of Music . Single tickets are $20 for all regular season shows, with a $5 ticket fee applied to tickets purchased by phone or online.
Photo Courtesy of Omaha Virtual Reality
At Omaha Virtual Reality, you arent just playing a game youre in the game. This modern arcade uses virtual reality to create a fully immersive experience, with both single and multiplayer options for all interests and skill levels. Virtual reality headsets can be rented by the half hour, hour, or as a party package. No matter what, your entire group will have a blast, from kids to grandparents, and everyone in between! Take advantage of Kids Happy Hour from 46 p.m. MondayFriday, available by appointment only.
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The Henry Doorly Zoo And Aquarium
Omahas Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium is a great place for kids to visit because it has something for everyone. There are tons of different animals from all over the world, as well as special exhibits and tours that have plenty of kid-friendly interactive activities.
Animals at the zoo include gorillas, tigers, elephants, bears, sloths, and much more. Have a blast going on a safari adventure tour and exploring a rainforest habitat!
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“First, I’m a bit skewed to like Chuck E. Cheese. I went there MANY times when I was raising my daughters in Denver Colorado. I took a great old friend and his new girlfriend and her 5 year old son to the Chuck E. Cheese in Omaha. “Yikes”Pretty normal food for Chuck E. Cheese. Not great but passable.They no longer serve beer. No salad bar. Hmm…About 20% of the kids’ games were out of commission. The standard stage for hourly performances was shut off with plastic tarps. All in all pretty disheartening. Great staff made the day work out okay. They gave her son a game and he was happy. It may need a few months to work out the problems but I know that I’ll be back.”
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Kearney Area Children’s Museum
At the Kearney Area Childrens Museums, there are several expansive areas of play and learning, where kids can create unique projects in an art studio that allows them to explore their creative side, or conduct experiments and learn about the world around them in the science center. Theres a train depot where kids can play and take a ride, a miniature grocery store, a fire station, and a farming area where kids can learn about the food they eat and where it comes from. All around Kearney Area Childrens Museum, kids are invited and encouraged to play, touch, and interact with the exhibits around them.
5827 4th Ave, Kearney, NE 68845, Phone: 308-698-2228
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Henry Doorly Zoo And Aquarium
If you ever tell someone who is from Nebraska that you went to Omaha, the first thing they will ask you is if you visited the Henry Doorly Zoo. Children of all ages love the Zoo! Theres hardly a kid out there that is not gung-ho about seeing animals. However, the Henry Doorly Zoo is one of the top Zoos around the world they just keep making the displays more intriguing and adding new animals to keep visitors coming back for more. It is definitely one of the top things to do in Omaha with kids.
Even on their most busy weekends, the Zoo is both enjoyable and an interactive space. The train inside the Zoo is definitely one of its most popular attraction and kids love it!
*Pro Tip* You can take snacks and drinks inside with you and thats a plus refreshments are a bit pricey inside the zoo. For lunch, I suggest the Omaha Steaks burger available at the Omaha Steaks Grill & Patio. Its delicious and super filling too!
I cant believe I am saying this about a zoo, but given the sheer number of activities and rides, its best to do a two-day visit to completely enjoy everything the Zoo has to offer. There is usually an offer of $20 for a wristband that gives you access to the Zoo without any ticket. Minus some of the special rides like the Skyfari and the railroad everything is open. This is an adventure that your kid will remember for years to come.
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Be A Kid At The Omaha Childrens Museum
The Omaha Childrens Museum will surely be a highlight of your visit to Omaha with kids if you have young children.
Housed on two floors, the museum is dedicated to play-focused learning and simple fun. The Imagination Playground has a grocery store, fire house, bank, and more. The Creative Arts Center offers places to build and paint. The Ball Matrix uses mechanical, pneumatic, and ballistic power to move the balls.
Outdoors there is a small spray park, a covered patio with a small fire truck, and a playground, with signs around encouraging families to run, play, and picnic. There are also daily science shows in the summer and rotating temproary exhibits that make this museum worth visiting again and again.
+ Things To Do With Kids In West Omaha
West Omaha was my stomping grounds growing up. Now that I live in Midtown and work downtown, that sprawling section of the city has been filed in out of sight, out of mind in my world. But Im ready to make up for it because there is a lot of things to do with kids in West Omaha. Its not a comprehensive list, but this will keep you busy for a while.
UPDATE: This post was first written in 2015 and updated in March 2021 to reflect closures and new businesses that have opened. If you see something on this list that has closed, please let me know!
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Get In The Water At Fun
Photo courtesy of Fun-Plex
Fun-Plex is one of the best parks in Omaha complete with waterpark attractions, rides, and mini golf. As the summer sun arrives in the Midwest, run through Makana Splash, lounge in the Lazzzy River and dive into the Motion Ocean! Parents can also enjoy Nebraskas only swim-up bar. After youre done in the water, you can experience Nebraskas only roller coaster, race in one of four car and boat driving attractions, hop on the classic ferris wheel or explore Kiddie Land. Youll want to come back more than once this summer to try it all!
Fun Things To Do In Nebraska With Kids Of All Ages
Whether its for a week or just an afternoon, it can feel so good to get away from life for a bit. But when kids are involved, the logistics of travel and activities can get a little more complicated. Luckily, there are plenty of kid-friendly attractions in Nebraska, and families can delight in the wide variety of ways to keep busy…and tire out those little ones. Nebraska is home to childrens museums where kids can learn about science, history, and art, zoos and aquariums where they can get up close and personal with some exotic and local wildlife, and outdoor natural areas where families can hike, picnic, camp, or go boating for a wonderful adventure under the sun. No matter the season, theres always an excuse to get out of the house and see what Nebraska has to offer. Certain attractions may be temporarily closed or require advance reservations. Some restaurants are currently offering pickup only. Hours/availability may have changed.
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Lauritzen Gardens / Kenefick Park
We always love a stroll through a botanical garden, and in Omaha the Laurizen Gardens are the place to be! And youll find much more than flowers here.
There are a number of themed gardens, a hiking trail and waterfall, a model railroad garden, an arboretum, and a bird sanctuary. You can take a tram tour through the gardens, and they offer lots of events throughout the year, including holiday celebrations, outdoor concerts, and summer camps for kids.
See if you can find all the gnomes that are hiding throughout the gardens! Kids will love looking for them!
Activities In Omaha With Kids
Only in Omaha can you go Bobbing. Thats standing in both Nebraska and Iowa at the same exact time on the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge over the Missouri River.
Another thing to do in Omaha with kids is to visit the Old Market neighborhood downtown. Enjoy its historic brick-lined streets, art galleries, street performers and dozens of eateries and funky shops.
While in the neighborhood, check out the nightly light show at Heartland of America Park and Fountain. Its really cool, but most importantly, the kids are sure to be wowed when one of the three fountains shoots water 320 feet in the air.
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Tips For Visiting The Omaha Zoo
The Omaha Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium is one of the best family attractions, and we are lucky enough to have it right here in Omaha! We have an Omaha Zoo pass and go several times each year. My kids love it, and we always feel like we are on vacation when we visit the zoo!
Read on for some of our favorite Omaha Zoo Tips!
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Outdoor Activities In Omaha For Kids
A post shared by Fontenelle Forest on Apr 23, 2019 at 8:50am PDT
Home to more than 80 miles of walking, biking and hiking trails, youll find plenty of outdoor activities in Omaha for kids. Fontenelle Forest has two large areas of woods, prairie and wetlands for hiking and animal encounters. The 103-acre TreeRush Adventures aerial park is slated to open in summer 2019. Itll have a special section for kids ages 4-6 to have the same fun as the big kids, but just a few feet off the ground.
Take time to smell the flowers on your family vacation in Omaha at Lauritzen Gardens, a 100-acre botanical center. Among its many gardens is one just for kids and another with model trains running through the landscape. Occupy the family even more by printing out the scavenger hunt list of what to see, smell, hear and touch before going.
If you want some fun in or near water with your family in Omaha, Tubing & Adventures is a one-stop shop for tubing, kayaks, fishing and camping on the Elkhorn River. Its partner The Neighborhood Offshore provides stand-up paddle board rentals and yoga.
Make a splash at Fun-Plex, Nebraskas largest waterpark with dozens of waterslides, 18-hole mini golf, go-karts, cabana rentals and even an adults-only swim-up bar.
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Things To Do In Omaha Nebraska With Friends
Visiting Omaha, Nebraska is always fun but it can also be overwhelming, depending on the group youre with, Omaha, Nebraska has everything to offer. If youre in Omaha, Nebraska with your crowd, read on, my friend, as this guide will help you pick and choose fun activities to do in Omaha, Nebraska.
Omaha, Nebraska is a huge city, and so is the number of ways in which you can have fun here. We hope youve found something to your liking, which is highly probable, especially considering how unique and innovative some of the activities listed here are. Have as much fun as you can, and dont forget to like the article
The Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge
Did you know that you can be in two places at once in Omaha, Nebraska? Just walk across the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge that connects Nebraska and Iowa. This bridge overlooks the Mississippi River and the background is beautiful and scenic. In recent years, theyve also added a blue troll named Omar, who can be found under the bridge. If youre looking for things to do in Omaha for free, its definitely worth checking out.
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Things To Do On Winter In Omaha Nebraska
Omaha, Nebraska is without a doubt one of the most amazing places in the world to visit during any season. But this city is especially beautiful in winter. Lots of tourists come there during this season, but not all of them know about all fun activities they can experience. So here for those, who have no idea where to go in Omaha, Nebraska during these three cold months, are 15 budget or free things to do in Omaha, Nebraska in winter.
But because winter in Omaha, Nebraska brings dark evenings, cold days, and often rainy days, it is a good idea to have a few things that are definitely good things to do in Omaha, Nebraska in winter on your Omaha, Nebraska itinerary so you dont get too cold and wet and end up not enjoying this incredible Omaha, Nebraska
Read our guide for the lowdown on the events, parties, cultural happenings, and things to do taking place in Omaha, Nebraska in December 2021.
Explore The Tree Tops At Fontanelle Forest
Fontanelle Forest is a pretty awesome spot for families just south of Omaha in neighboring Bellevue. This 1400-acre hardwood forest in the middle of an urban area is a National Natural Landmark with hiking trails, including a boardwalk above wetlands along the Missouri River. But wait, theres more!
There is also Acorn Acres, a one-acre natural playscape in the forest, Habitat Hollow where children can learn about animals and play nature games, and Raptor Woodland Refuge where you can visit rescued birds that live in a habitiat thirty feet above the forest oor.
Adventurers ages seven and up will love TreeRush Adventures where they can climb and zip through the forest canopy on an aerial course. Kids ages four to six can play at KidRush which is a course designed just for them.
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Stand In Two States At Once On The Bob Kerry Pedestrian Bridge
The Bob Kerry Pedestrian Bridge is a 3,000-foot bridge that spans the Missouri River, connecting Nebraska with Iowa. You can acces this bridge from the Council Bluffs, Iowa side but it is much easier to reach on the Omaha side.
Park in the lot off Riverside Drive, near the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail building. This whole area is in the midst of a major rehab, but the building is still worth peaking into.
After walking the bridge to admire the views and get the obligatory standing in two states picture, families will be thrilled to know there is a splash pad near the base of the bridge. It is a great place to cool off and play during those blazing Midwestern summer days.
