Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium

If you have ever visited the Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium, you know this zoo is one of the best! Even after being there several times, we have yet to see every single thing. Recently, we spent a very full day there (from around 9:15 to 4:00) and still only saw glimpses of the zoo. Visiting from Minnesota, this is 100% worth the drive to Omaha by itself. From the twin cities, it is a six hour trip with fairly minimal traffic and an easy, carefree drive. While visiting in the summer does have more things available, the other seasons do allow for cheaper tickets and the ability to see most of the zoo in a day.

Since this zoo is large, make sure you bring shoes that are comfortable to walk in and accommodations for your kids (strollers, carriers, or wagons) as I did log around 11,000 steps on this day. We started with the Hubbard Gorilla Valley. The kids loved the variety of gorillas and monkeys throughout the exhibits. Next, we ventured to Owen Sea Lion Shores and watched the Sea Lion show. Our kids enjoyed it as it was engaging with lots of movement from the sea lions and informative, with lots of information from the show host. This was also, a good opportunity for the kids to sit and rest their legs, grab a snack, and watch. Despite the weather forecast predicting no rain for the day, it did begin to rain during the show. Yet, the host continued on without a beat and kept the show going, as if it was a perfectly sunny day.

Our next stop was Adventure Trails. We stopped for water bottle refills, diaper changes, and bathroom breaks before heading fully into the exhibit. There were also, nursing rooms and family bathrooms here. Adventure Trails is definitely a spot to stop! In this exhibit is a petting zoo, a water feature for kids to play in, a natural playground for kids to explore and play on with a three story treehouse, and a bird exhibit where they fly all around you. We could have spent hours here. One of my favorite parts included a tunnel where monkeys ran up and down that was intertwined above the playground. Halfway up the treehouse, a zoo employee was sitting with activities to do with the kids. If you are visiting the zoo with kids, this truly is a must-see spot to let your kids explore.

Next, we stopped for lunch at the Glacier Bay Landing. We brought lunches from home and were easily able to find tables to sit and enjoy with our large group of 15 people. In the Glacier Bay Landing area, there were a variety of food places that you could pick from if you wanted to just get food there. Also, there was a playground in the middle of the table area that allowed kids to run and play while some of the adults finished eating.

After eating, we began to explore more of the exhibits. We walked through the lagoon, Asian Highlands, and the Scott African Grasslands. The kids loved all of the animals, especially a baby giraffe. Throughout this time, it continued to rain off and on, so we did have to take another break to wait out the rain. This time, we stopped at Truhlsen African Lodge and got an elephant cookie for all to enjoy. My son had remembered this treat from last time and had requested another one for this trip. It’s a huge chocolate chip cookie and everyone was happy to enjoy some.

Our next stop was the aquarium, which also has an exhibit where you can touch some sea life. The aquarium concludes with a walk through a clear tunnel under the aquarium where a wide variety of sea creatures are spotted. After the aquarium, we stopped at the Grewcock Butterfly and Insect Pavilion. What a wonderful experience! As you step into the wonderfully fragrant greenhouse, butterflies fly carelessly throughout. If you love butterflies, this is a must visit area. We ended our zoo day with the famous desert dome and the Mahoney Kingdoms of the Night. These are both such unique experiences, complete with a bat cave, an alligator lagoon, and a true desert area.

All that being said, we STILL did not see it all! You could truly spend a full two days at the zoo if you wanted. Yet, even a day here is worth the drive and trip. Their unique animals, fun playing areas, and plethora of informative exhibits are enough to teach you a ton, give you a workout, and leave you thankful for the experience. Definitely a must visit zoo and experience for people of all ages!