Family Fun in Omaha: Kid-Friendly Adventures from Zoo to Museums and Beyond

Let me start with the crown jewel of Omaha's family attractions: the Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium. As someone who's sketched animals in zoos across three continents, I can confidently say this place stands among the world's best.

The moment we stepped into the Desert Dome—the world's largest indoor desert—my nephew Marco's jaw dropped. 'Aunt Christina, it's like we're inside one of your animations!' he exclaimed as we wandered through the three distinct desert environments. The massive geodesic dome structure itself is an architectural marvel that had me frantically sketching in my travel journal.

The real magic happened in the Lied Jungle, where we found ourselves immersed in a rainforest complete with rushing waterfalls and free-flying birds. My niece Sofia, normally glued to her kids tablet, didn't look at a screen once during our four-hour visit. Instead, she was busy pointing out poison dart frogs and sketching monkeys in the little travel journal I'd made her.

The Kingdom of the Night exhibit—the world's largest nocturnal exhibit—was particularly fascinating. The zoo cleverly reverses the animals' day/night cycles so visitors can see typically nocturnal creatures in full activity. We watched bats swoop overhead and spotted elusive creatures like aardvarks and bush babies that I'd only ever animated from reference photos.

Be prepared for serious walking—we logged over 15,000 steps! I was grateful I'd packed my trusty collapsible water bottles as Omaha's summer humidity is no joke.

As someone who discovered the joy of exploring new cities on two wheels during my Italian sabbatical, I was delighted to find Omaha surprisingly bike-friendly. We rented bikes from Heartland B-cycle, Omaha's bike-sharing system, which has stations scattered throughout downtown and along the riverfront.

The Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge quickly became our favorite route. This 3,000-foot cable-stayed bridge spans the Missouri River, connecting Omaha to Council Bluffs, Iowa. The kids were thrilled by the novelty of standing with one foot in Nebraska and one in Iowa at the state line marked on the bridge. I couldn't resist creating a quick animation of Sofia doing her 'straddling two states' dance.

We spent one perfect afternoon cycling along the Omaha Riverfront Trail, which offers 20 miles of paved pathways with spectacular river views. The trail connects several parks, including Lewis & Clark Landing and Heartland of America Park, where we paused to watch the colorful fountain show. Sofia insisted we time our ride to catch the 320-foot water jet show at dusk—a spectacular decision that resulted in some magical lighting for my sketches.

For families with younger children, I'd recommend exploring the Chalco Hills Recreation Area, which offers gentler trails around a beautiful lake. We packed a picnic and spent hours watching sailboats while the kids collected interesting leaves and rocks for their nature journals.

While I brought my compact travel sketchbook, I regretted not having my portable easel for some of the more scenic spots along the river. Next time, I'll definitely pack it for those longer creative stops.

Housed in Omaha's former Union Station, The Durham Museum is a magnificent Art Deco masterpiece that transported me back to the golden age of rail travel. As someone who's animated historical scenes for documentaries, I found myself mentally cataloging every architectural detail of the Great Hall with its soaring 65-foot ceilings and original chandeliers.

What makes the Durham particularly special for families is how it balances grown-up appreciation for history with hands-on experiences for kids. My niece and nephew were enchanted by the full-sized vintage train cars you can actually board and explore. Sofia spent nearly an hour in a 1940s Pullman car, imagining herself as a passenger journeying across America.

'This is way better than seeing it in a movie,' Marco declared as he pretended to be a conductor, checking imaginary tickets.

The museum's interactive exhibits about Omaha's history are thoughtfully designed for multiple age groups. We all enjoyed the recreated 1940s grocery store where kids can 'shop' with miniature carts. I found myself sketching the vintage product packaging—perfect reference material for a retro animation project I've been mulling over.

Don't miss the authentic soda fountain in the restored Union Station Café, where we indulged in old-fashioned phosphates and ice cream sodas. The kids declared it 'the best day ever' as they slurped their treats while I showed them how to create simple flip-book animations in the corners of their museum guides.

One particularly magical moment happened when an elderly volunteer, noticing my sketching, shared stories of traveling through this very station as a child in the 1950s. These unplanned human connections are why I prefer museums in smaller cities—the personal touches that rarely happen in overcrowded tourist destinations.

While I'd initially added Lauritzen Gardens to our itinerary as a place to gather reference material for my botanical animations, it quickly became one of the kids' favorite stops in Omaha. This 100-acre botanical oasis features both indoor and outdoor gardens with something blooming year-round.

The Children's Garden was an instant hit with its kid-sized playhouses, whimsical sculptures, and hands-on gardening activities. Sofia, my budding scientist niece, was fascinated by the pollinator garden where we spent nearly an hour watching bees and butterflies go about their important work. The garden staff provided her with a simple magnifying glass to observe the insects up close, which absolutely made her day.

The model railroad garden was Marco's personal heaven. His eyes widened watching G-scale trains wind through meticulously crafted miniature landscapes complete with tiny buildings, bridges, and waterfalls. As someone who's created animated environments for children's shows, I was impressed by the attention to detail and found myself taking notes on the clever use of scale.

What surprised me most was how engaging the Marjorie K. Daugherty Conservatory was for the children. In my experience, most kids rush through indoor plant exhibits, but the tropical waterfall and the 'talking trees' interactive exhibits kept them engaged as they learned about rainforest conservation. Sofia diligently filled out her 'plant passport,' collecting stamps at different stations throughout the conservatory.

We timed our visit to catch one of the garden's family workshops where the kids created seed bombs to attract butterflies. The staff was exceptionally patient and knowledgeable, answering Marco's endless 'why' questions with genuine enthusiasm.

No family trip to Omaha would be complete without exploring the Old Market district, a charming area of restored 19th-century buildings with cobblestone streets that transported me straight back to some of my favorite European neighborhoods. What was once Omaha's wholesale district is now a vibrant collection of restaurants, galleries, and shops.

The kids were initially skeptical about what they called 'boring old buildings,' but that changed quickly when we discovered Hollywood Candy, an eclectic candy store and vintage toy museum. The place is a sensory overload in the best possible way—floor-to-ceiling candy displays, antique arcade games, and a miniature train that circles above the store. I sketched frantically as Marco and Sofia darted from one nostalgic display to the next, their hands sticky with taffy samples.

'This is what it would look like if your brain exploded, Aunt Christina,' Sofia declared solemnly, knowing my penchant for collecting odd vintage toys as animation references.

For lunch, we visited the Omaha Farmers Market (Saturday mornings in the Old Market during summer) where the kids tried local specialties like Runza sandwiches—bread pockets filled with beef, cabbage, and spices. Marco initially wrinkled his nose at the description but ended up asking for seconds.

The afternoon brought a surprise discovery: The Makery, a drop-in craft studio where we spent two hours creating stop-motion animations using their supplies. The studio owner, noticing my sketches, asked about my animation work and ended up inviting the kids to join an impromptu animation workshop she was hosting that weekend.

We capped our Old Market adventure with dinner at Upstream Brewing Company, housed in a renovated firehouse. While I sampled their craft beers, the kids devoured mac and cheese from a children's menu that thankfully went beyond the typical chicken nuggets. The restaurant provided travel games to keep children entertained while waiting for food—a thoughtful touch that more restaurants should adopt.