Omaha Weekend Family Guide

If you've been following my blog and Facebook the last couple of weeks you know that my family and I went on a vacation to Omaha, Nebraska earlier this month.  So far on the blog I've highlighted a few places we went to, but that doesn't include everything.  So here are our recommendations on how to plan an Omaha Weekend Family Getaway.

Day 1

Omaha Children's Museum

The Omaha Children's Museum is a perfect way to start your family's Omaha Weekend.  Kids can explore, create and learn while venturing through the two levels of exhibits.  Be sure to check out the Super Gravitron Ball Machine and the Imagination Playground while you are there!  With activities for all ages, your family is guaranteed to have several hours of fun there.  Learn more about our visit here.

Watch a Baseball Game

Omaha is the perfect place to go to a baseball game.  Omaha is home to the minor league team, the Omaha Storm Chasers and is home to the College World Series.  When we were visiting earlier this month the Storm Chasers were in town and were actually playing the Iowa Cubs.  So we rooted for both teams 😉  We had a great time sitting in the McDonald's Berm section of Werner Park, and the night we went they had a special where the first 50 kids in the Berm got in for $1!  You can't beat that!  If you plan on sitting in the Berm (the lawn area behind the outfield) be sure to bring a blanket or two the watch the game, and if you are lucky like we were, fireworks afterwards!

Day 2

Durham Museum

Start Day 2 off with a stop at the Durham Museum.  This museum includes two levels of exhibits that will have you go back in time and discover the beginnings of Omaha, housed in the original Omaha Union Station.  From Native Americans, to trains, to Omaha native Warren Buffet - there is something unique to check out around every corner.  I will admit, my family and I enjoyed the Durham Museum more than I thought we were going go to.  They had a lot of interactive exhibits that the whole family enjoyed, and we all were in awe of how they restored the Great Hall of the Union Station.  Learn more about our visit here.

Old Market

Then go next door, and walk the cobblestone streets of the Old Market area.  This historic business district is full of unique dinning and shopping locations, including Ted & Wally's Ice Cream as seen above.  Ted & Wally's eclectic decor and ice cream flavors is worth the stop to see and taste.  If you look in the bottom right side of the photo you can see two large ice cream makers that they make all of their homemade ice cream in.  I had the Roasted Street Corn ice cream when I was there and loved the creamy, unique flavor.

Gene Leahy Mall

On the North side of Old Market is the Gene Leahy Mall.  This park includes waterfalls, unique outdoor art, and two giant slides.  Our family enjoyed walking along the pathway throughout the park that encompasses four blocks, and we all took a trip down the pair of huge slides, many, many times. 😊

Heartland of America Park

Continuing exploring this side of Omaha by then traveling East to Heartland of America Park.  We found a picnic table while we were here to have lunch on and enjoyed watching the 320 foot water fountain (that you can see behind us in the photo).  If you go in the evening they put on a light show in the water fountain!

Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge

Lastly, head North to the Bob Bridge.  This pedestrian bridge links Omaha and Council Bluffs.  Be sure to take your photo standing in both Nebraska and Iowa while you visit!  The Bob is a curvy bridge representing the Missouri River, which it is over.  Our family enjoyed going "Bobbing" and earning our .9K badge.

Day 3

Henry Doorly Zoo

Because you can't see all of Omaha in just two days, make it a long weekend and dedicate an entire day visiting the "World's Best Zoo", the Henry Doorly Zoo.  With over 17,000 animals from around the world over 130 acres, you are guaranteed to see something new and exciting for every member of your family.  And there is a chance that even with one full day at the Zoo that you won't be able to see it all!  With both indoor and outdoor exhibits, the Zoo is the perfect place to visit anytime of the year.  Check out the highlights from our visit here.

We thought Omaha was a fun place for the whole family and that it was very family friendly.  Have you ever been to Omaha before?  What would you add?  What spot on our Weekend Family Guide makes you want to plan a trip to Omaha?  Remember to Comment for a Cause!

Have a Wild Time at Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo

*I received complimentary admission to facilitate this review.  

All views and opinions shared are my own.*

A trip to Omaha isn't complete without a visit to the Henry Doorly Zoo.  With over 17,000 animals from around the world over 130 acres, it is no wonder it is the top attraction in Omaha and is also known as the "World's Best Zoo".

After stepping through the entrance it can almost be a little overwhelming on how to start.  For our family the easiest thing to do was decide which animals we wanted to see and go from there.  First up were monkeys.

There are several species of monkeys at the Lied Jungle, North America's largest indoor rainforest.  A one-way trail brings you through the entire exhibit that showcases animals from three continents.  Our family loved seeing all the monkeys, birds and hippos freely roaming and swinging through the rainforest.  It was a favorite location at the zoo for the entire family, especially our daughter Miss L, our monkey fan.

Miss L in amazement and awe
watching the monkeys at the Lied Jungle

The next animal on the must-see list were penguins requested by our son Mr. K, so we headed to the Scott Aquarium, the largest zoo aquarium in the country.  Our family enjoyed seeing the wide variety of fish and ocean-life, including the different species of penguins.  The highlight of the aquarium was the 70 foot shark tunnel, where you literally walked through an aquarium with fish, sea turtles and sharks swimming all-around and above you.

Walking through the Shark Tunnel in the Scott Aquarium

The final animal we had to see were elephants.  We visited the African Grasslands to not only check out Miss A's request of elephants, but also to see giraffes, rhinos, and wild cats.  We also hopped on the zoo train in this area, which was the perfect way for our family to see even more places we wanted to see, as well as kick up our feet and sit down.

While on the zoo train one area that the kids added to the must see list after glancing at it from the train was the Alaskan Adventure splashgrounds.  This was the perfect way to cool down at the end of the day.  I have never seen such a large splashpad before.  In the splash area is an 18 foot high humpback whale, orcas, sea lions, puffins, salmon and brown bears, all animals that the zoo doesn't currently have, but allows the kids to learn about some animals in Alaska.  Our kids had a blast.  Be sure to bring your swimsuit!

Mr K posing next to some puffins in the Alaskan Adventure splashgrounds

There was literally so much to see and do at the zoo that our family wasn't able to see it all in one day!  I guess that just means we'll have to make a return visit! 😉 What are your must-sees on a zoo visit?  Have you ever been to Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo before?  Make sure to plan a visit and Comment for a Cause!

Also, be sure to check out my other Omaha Weekend posts:

• Fun at the Omaha Children's Museum
• Climb Aboard History at The Durham Museum

Climb Aboard History at The Durham Museum

*I received complimentary admission to facilitate this review.  

All views and opinions shared are my own.*

From the first step into The Durham Museum you will marvel at the art deco architecture in the renovated Omaha Union Station.  From the terrazzo tile floors, to the gold-leaf decorations in the ceiling 60 feet up, you will be amazed at the work and dedication that went into preserving the history of this Nebraska landmark.

The Great Hall of the Omaha Union Station

Our family had a great time exploring The Durham Museum on our Omaha Weekend family vacation.  My Farmer and I enjoyed learning about the history of the Union Station and the Omaha and Nebraska history exhibits on both floors of the Durham.  Here is a fun fact for you - The Omaha Union Station was used as a train station from 1931-1971 and then in 1973 the Union Pacific Railroad donated the building to the City of Omaha, which the city turned into a museum in 1975.  This building has now been used longer as a museum than operated as a train station.  And one extra side note - in 2016 the building was designated as a National Historic Landmark.

This wasn't just a great history museum for adults, our kids had a fun time too.  Downstairs in the Durham Museum they have many exhibits covering Omaha's history including displays on the area's American Indian history, the Lewis & Clark expedition, passenger trains that you can hop on board of (as seen above with our kids exploring one of the trains), and a replica of the Buffett Grocery Store, highlighting the career of Omaha native Warren Buffett.

Our family also enjoyed the Top Secret: License to Spy exhibit currently on display at The Durham Museum.  They had one part that led you around the exhibits on the lower level through clues, where you unveiled a message by decoding Morse code.  The second part was a hands-on, highly interactive display where you received a "spy file" that gave you clues and a list of suspects to help you solve the mystery of whole stole the "world's most powerful computer chip."  We all enjoyed figuring out the clues and codes at the different exhibits.

The Durham Museum is a must-visit stop on any Omaha Weekend vacation, especially if you are a history or train buff.  Plus, it is conveniently located near Old Market, Gene Leahy Mall and Heartland of America Park.  What is your favorite part of The Durham Museum?  Be sure to check out their website to learn more and remember to Comment for a Cause!

If you are planning an Omaha Weekend be sure to check out my other Omaha family vacation posts:

• Fun at the Omaha Children's Museum
• Have a Wild Time at Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo

Fun at the Omaha Children's Museum

*I received complimentary admission to facilitate this review.  

All views and opinions shared are my own.*

Last weekend my family and I traveled to Omaha, Nebraska for a family vacation, so this weekend I'll be sharing a few posts about some of the places we visited.  The first place we visited was the Omaha Children's Museum.  It's a place for your children to explore, create and have fun.

After entering the doors of the Omaha Children's Museum our kids could hardly contain their excitement and eagerness to explore.  The museum is nicely laid out so you can make your way throughout each floor and not miss a single exhibit.

The Super Gravitron Ball Machine

Having kids ages 6 to 1 year old, I appreciated that the Omaha Children's Museum had activities where all of my kids could play in the same space.  One of those spots was the Charlie Campbell Science & Technology Center.  The main attraction in that space was the Super Gravitron Ball Machine seen above.  All four of our kids had fun putting balls into the machine, following the balls through the machine and then catching the balls as they dropped.

Platte River Water Table in the Imagination Playground

Another area that was perfect for our family was the Imagination Playground.  Our youngest two, ages 2 and 1, couldn't get enough of the OCM Engine House No. 1.  They loved pretending to drive the fire truck and going through the firehouse climbing structure.  Our 4 year old Miss A enjoyed playing pretend at the Grocery Store, Omaha Steaks Grill Station, Farm House and Hospital.  Mr. K our 6 year old could have stayed all day at the Platte River Water Table.  In fact, after we went through the entire museum we let the kids go back to one exhibit and this is where he returned.  He loved figuring out how to change the direction and movement of the river to turn turbines and generate power.

Dancing and "Moving with Light"

The Omaha Children's Museum has a great mix of both permanent and traveling exhibits.  They also have a great line-up of special events, programs and camps available.  If you are traveling to Omaha or live close by, I encourage you to check out their schedule and make a visit with your family.  Our family spent 5 hours at the Children's Museum, which included having a picnic outside of the museum at some of their tables and benches available.  At the Omaha Children's Museum your family is guaranteed to have a fun time and you may even luck out by having a couple sleeping kids by the end of your visit. 😉

Miss R and Miss L had so much fun at the Omaha Children's Museum
they couldn't handle anymore and had to take a nap 😉

What do you look for in a Children's Museum?  Be sure to check out the Omaha Children's Museum on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and remember to Comment for a Cause.

If you're planning an #OmahaWeekend vacation be sure to check out my other posts about our Omaha family trip:

• Have a Wild Time at Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo
• Climb Aboard History at The Durham Museum

2017 Family Summer Bucket List

Yesterday was the last day of school for our oldest son.  Mr. K was both excited and a little sad.  He said he was going to miss his teacher and friends but was looking forward to summer and eventually becoming a 1st grader!  To get him, and the rest of the family excited for summer, we did our annual tradition of filling out our Summer Bucket List!

I'm a list person, so creating a Family Summer Bucket List the last few years (2016, 2015, 2014, 2013) has not only been fun to create with our kids, but also fun to cross off.  Our past Summer Bucket List items have not only created a lot of great memories, but several have even become family traditions.

Create your own Summer Bucket List with my FREE Printable

Every list person's fantasy - bullet notes and calendar space to put annul events and activities so you can think how to schedule everything 😉

We're excited to try some new things this summer, first of which, is visiting Omaha this summer, including going to the Henry Doorly Zoo.  Our family loves going to zoos every year and we're especially looking forward to going to the "World's Greatest Zoo".  We've been told to be sure to check out the Rainforest and the Gorilla Valley.  Have you ever been?  Where do you recommend we make sure check out?

Next on our list is to make crafts at Kelly Gau Studio in Albert Lea.  Our kids love making crafts and building things, so we're excited to get inspired with Kelly.  I have personally been up to the Kelly Gau Studio a couple times for a Girls Night Out but the kids have never been.  Kelly is offering a special Summer Kids Club that we're looking forward to participating in.

Our list wouldn't be complete without including reading.  Each year we enroll in our local library's Summer Reading Program.  The kids made a special request to do include some "fun reading" on our Summer Bucket List, and what is more fun then going on a Story Walk.  Throughout the month of June, the Hampton, Iowa Public Library is partnering with local business to create a Story Walk.  Participants will get a map at the library and then walk to the different businesses around downtown where they will read page by page of a story.

With the Franklin County Freedom Rock in place in Coulter, Iowa, our family has been excited to check out other county Freedom Rocks throughout the state of Iowa.  We hope to see the "original" Freedom Rock in Adair County on our car ride to Omaha for our family summer vacation too.

We didn't complete this item off our 2014 Summer Bucket List, so we've added checking out RAGBRAI (Register's Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa) back to this year's list.  Each summer thousands of bicyclist ride across Iowa, Missouri River to Mississippi River, through this event.  The ride rotates every three years of going through Northern, Central and Southern Iowa, and this year RAGBRAI travels across North Iowa again.  Our family would love to check out all the bicyclists and festivities as they bike through our area.

Next on the list is exploring one of our favorite places for summer fun in our area: Clear Lake, Iowa.  We love camping in the yurts, participating in the youth programs at the Surf Ballroom, swimming at City Beach and eating ice cream at the Viking Drive-Inn, but one thing we have never done is take a cruise on the Lady of the Lake boat.  Well, that is going to change this year!  We are excited to experience this Clear Lake icon.

We're excited to take a new spin on a family tradition this summer and take our Friday Night Movie and Pizza outside!  With our personal projector and a computer set up with Netflix, nothing is stopping us from watching a movie outside.  We've taken different spins on this family favorite by going on Pizza and Park Dates and participating in a Pizza Taste Off, but have never taken a new spin on the movie aspect of our tradition.  The kids are especially looking forward to this bucket list item!

Last on the list is to go to a Baseball Game.  We've been to I-Cub and Minnesota Twins games in the past, but it has never been an "official" bucket list item.  And this year, with Mr. K in T-Ball, we really want to make a trip to watch a baseball game.

Whew!  Good thing the "unofficial" start of summer begins this weekend!  We're excited to do some new things this year and make a lot of memories along the way.  What is on your Summer Bucket List?  Don't forget to download my Summer Bucket List Free Printable and start planning today.  I would love to hear your bucket list plans so be sure to Comment for a Cause!