8 More places you have to visit in Omaha, Nebraska!

Before I went to college in Omaha, I truly never knew all that Nebraska offered. Imagine my surprise when I visited Omaha one of the first times only to discover the multitude of things to do. Since my in-laws live in Omaha and both my husband and I attended college there, we visit several times a year. Still, we continue to find new spots that are amazing. Just a short drive from the Twin Cities (six hours or under), this is an easy road trip to make for a long weekend. When most people think of Omaha, they think of cornfields or the Henry Doorly Zoo. While I highly recommend checking out the Henry Doorly Zoo, there are many other places that you should add to your Omaha trip!

• Gene Leahy Mall

This park in the middle of downtown was recently re-done and it’s definitely worth a visit! Most large cities don’t have beautiful parks, like this one, surrounded by all the tall buildings. With a stunning walkway around the water and a collection of several, fun long slides, this spot has something for everyone. Beautiful sitting areas are scattered throughout the area. My kids loved the hammocks most. Large climbing structures allow kids to get their wiggles out. An easy walk down the mall leads directly to the next spot.

• Heartland of America Park

Heartland of America Park is another beautiful location in the middle of the city. A short walk from both the Gene Leahy Mall and the Lewis & Clark Landing, this park is also newly updated. Assorted seating areas line the park, including Adirondack chairs around fire pits. A gorgeous overlook over the Missouri River is at the end of the park. There’s also, a skate park and walking paths.

• Lewis & Clark Landing

My family has been to a lot of parks throughout the years. This one is one of the best we’ve ever been to. The design truly thought of everything. There’s water features, sand features, climbing structures, sliding structures, ziplines, spinning structures, and tunnels to climb through. We easily could have spent hours playing here. Swings are on the outskirts of the park, so parents can watch from a distance. Bathrooms were clean and easily accessible. If you’re planning a trip to Omaha, this is definitely a must-visit. Luckily, it is easy to visit Lewis & Clark Landing, Heartland of America Park, and the Gene Leahy Mall all in one shot!

• TreeRush Adventure Park at Fontenelle Forest

A definite highlight of our trip was visiting both TreeRush Adventure Park at Fontenelle Forest and Fontenelle Forest! TreeRush is a high ropes course, in the midst of a forest of trees. Not only do you get to experience breath-taking views, but you also, get to practice your climbing and ziplining skills. My son (7 years old) was able to do the adult course with me, which was such a unique experience. I loved watching our confidence grow together as we navigated the course together. There is also, a kidsrush course for kids four to six years old, which my middle daughter was able to do. She loved the course and both kids still talk about experiencing TreeRush, even weeks later. For more information about TreeRush Adventure Park, read more at this page.

• Fontenelle Forest

This is a stunning location that I can’t believe I hadn’t visited until this trip. I was blessed enough to visit on a perfect fall day. The colors of the trees were showing off and our hikes through the forest made us want to see the forest in all four seasons. Inside Fontenelle Forest, there’s animals, a make-it station, a bird watching location, a play area, a sensory spot, a raptor center, and a wide variety of other things that the kids loved. We spent most of the day here and could have stayed even longer to explore more. Another spot you want to add to your Omaha visit list! For more information on Fontenelle Forest, read more at this page.

• Kiewit Lumanirium

If you have a science/technology lover, they will love this place. Conveniently located right in between the Lewis & Clark Landing Park and the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge, there’s a lot to do in this small area. When I visited the Lumanirium, I only brought my 4 and 1 year old. One bonus is kids four and under are free! Personally, before I visited, I thought it would have appealed to my 7 year old more. I was quickly proven wrong when I realized that there was endless information I could read and tons of hands-on learning opportunities for my younger two. Without even realizing they were learning, they joined most exhibits before I even showed them what to do. There was an indoor playground that my younger kids were not able to play at, as it was for kids five or older. We spent about two hours here and easily could have stayed longer if we weren’t all getting a little hungry. Worth the visit for any age of family members you have!

• Prehistoric Putt

Such a fun mini-putt place for anyone who loves dinosaurs or who loves mini-golf! There are more than 30 life-size dinosaurs located throughout the two 18-hole golf courses. Not only are the dinosaurs fun to look at, but the golf is unique as well. Holes range from normal golf holes to a volcano to a batting cage to golfing down a slide to a plinko to a half-pipe. Both courses are fun and offer a great experience, along with a great atmosphere. Your kids will love the perfect sized dinosaurs near the entrance that they can sit on and take a picture with. Overall, this is a great spot to visit, especially going into winter where the outdoor experiences are more limited. For more information on Prehistoric Putt, read more here.

• Runza

Runza is a staple in Nebraska. If you’ve been to Nebraska and haven’t had a Runza, then you truly haven’t been to Nebraska. Despite not even liking all of the ingredients used to make a Runza, I love their sandwiches. These are located everywhere, so find yourself one before your trip ends. Now, get started planning your trip to Omaha…there’s lots of places waiting for you to explore!