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!

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