Traveling to Omaha?
Pack Light. Travel Happy.™ Rent baby gear in Omaha.Is the midwest calling? Maybe you’re looking for a mid-size city to travel to that has the best of both city and rural life? As the 40th largest city in the US, we think Omaha is the answer! It’s city meets the country as it is surrounded by midwest America. Omaha is home to Warren Buffet, the College Baseball World Series, world famous Omaha Steaks, and the Union Pacific Railway headquarters. But did you know that there’s also TONS of baby, toddler and kid friendly things to do throughout the city known as “the Gateway to the West”?
Here’s a list of the best things to see, do, and eat while visiting Omaha! You’ll hit a home run with your kiddos after they have tons of fun in the cornhusker state!
Stop #1 has to be the BEST. ZOO. EVER.
In 2014, Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium was ranked the best zoo in the world, and to be honest, we’re here for it! The zoo is packed full of amazing experiences that showcase regions from all over the world. Literally every kind of animal can be found at the zoo; from elephants and butterflies to zebras and penguins!
There are some other unique activities including an IMAX theater, splash pad, and even an honorary baseball field (you’ll have to go to the zoo to learn more about this!). The Omaha zoo can be enjoyed in warm or cool weather as there are tons of indoor activities. Make sure to bring lunch and enjoy it at a covered picnic table. Last but not least: walking shoes for the entire fam are a must and a stroller for the littles! You can rent one from any one of the BabyQuip Quality Providers serving the area.
The forest is calling.
Located in Bellevue, a suburb of Omaha, is Fontenelle Forest, one of the largest private nature centers in the country! They also have a location in Omaha proper and between both locations there’s over 2100 acres of forest, prairies and wetlands throughout the Missouri River region. That’s a lot of space for a lot of adventuring!
Three things to remember: check the website before you visit if you are going during winter to plan for snow or closures, kiddos under two are free (yay!), and you can pack a picnic (double yay!). Make sure to take all your trash with you; it is so important that we do our part as visitors to sustain and keep nature centers like Fontenelle safe and clean!
Indoor Omaha fun!
Omaha is cold in the winter and hot in the summer! So check out Romp N’ Roll for some serious fun. Romp N’ Roll is an indoor gym and activity center full of classes, activities, experiences and open play too! They focus on providing fun to kiddos 3 months to 5 years. You can purchase single class passes and participate in open play while you’re visiting Omaha. This is a great way to get some energy out, escape the cold or heat for a little while, and enjoy a local Omaha favorite!
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Next on our list is the Omaha Children’s Museum.
The name says it all. It’s definitely kid friendly! The OCM has been a fan favorite since it opened in 1976. That means it’s been entertaining kiddos for over 40 years! Everything from the science center to the art center and splish splash garden to the carousel is kid friendly.Some of our favorite things include: The BNSF Train ($2.50 per ticket); the Family Room near Imagination Playground (great place to unwind or get some quiet time); and the Curiosity Corner and the Wiggle Room—for guests 3 years old or younger where you can explore sensory friendly experiences. If you get hungry, the OCM has the Rainbow Cafe with lots of options for snacks and meals. Make a day of it!
Head to the old market in downtown Omaha.
Cobblestone streets make up Omaha’s Old Market district, home to local stores, great restaurants and the Durham Museum. The Old Market was literally the epicenter of the gateway to the west that Omaha is known to be. This was a Union Pacific Railway stop and was a thriving, bustling market bridging lots of cultures. It is still a culturally diverse part of Omaha and has so much character! You’ll want to pick up candy at one of the local candy shops and definitely take a horse and carriage ride if you have time!
To the theater we go!
Check out the Rose Theater which has been entertaining children and families in Omaha for almost 70 years and hosts a variety of kid friendly shows! The Rose Theater is not your typical performing arts center. It is VERY kid friendly. There are booster seats for little ones, souvenirs from shows, autograph opportunities, and even a special room for little ones who need to wiggle and get out some energy during the show. The plays, musicals, and performances at the Rose are all age appropriate for toddlers and kids. They’ll have a great time!
Get a safari experience in the midwest.
Located about 30 minutes outside of Omaha is the Wildlife Safari Park in Ashland, Nebraska. Make sure to include this in your spring or summer visit to Omaha as they are not open during the winter season. This outdoor conservation park gets you up close and personal with animals like bison, wolves, elk and more. There’s even a hands-on corral area that gives visitors the opportunity to play with farm animals!
Family friendly food options: feed your crew at these two awesome Omaha favorites.
We already mentioned Old Market, so while you’re there, grab some lunch or dinner at The Old Spaghetti Works. It’s super charming and what kid doesn’t love spaghetti?! They have an awesome salad bar and the environment is super family friendly. To satisfy your sweet tooth while in Omaha, you’ll want to make a pit stop at Jones Bros. Cupcakes. They have three locations so no matter where you are, you’ll be able to get your hands on a sweet treat!
This looks like a great Omaha vacation to us! A little bit of everything: outdoor adventures, theater, food, culture! Your kids are going to say you “hit it out of the park” with this vacation (a baseball reference is a must for the home of the College Baseball World Series!).
And don’t forget, you can rent everything you need for your Omaha trip from a BabyQuip Quality Provider. Make sure to rent a stroller for all the walking and a crib to ensure baby sleeps just like at home.
Traveling to Omaha?
Pack Light. Travel Happy.™ Rent baby gear in Omaha.
Kaylee Garcia is the mama to one sweet boy and one sweet girl, and wife to an awesome husband. Kaylee and her son (he’s only 4!) have completed over 20 trips via air travel (thank you, Alaska Airlines!) on over 40+ airplane rides! They love sharing travel tips with other families since they’ve learned a lot in the last 4 years. Kaylee enjoys spending time with family, researching baby gear, and exploring the Pacific Northwest.
The Old Market is my fave Omaha spot! Can’t wait to go back!
The Henry Doorly Zoo is our favorite zoo E V E R! The kids love the indoor desert adn riding the chair lift across the animal exhibits to see them from above. <3
I’ve heard the downtown is neat but I’ve never been to Omaha. I think this is would be a great midsized town to travel to this year and not feel scared about Covid.
Uber great blog. thanks for sharing your knowledge of Omaha with us.
I like the Spaghetti Factory. The atmosphere and the seating is fun for kids.
Not too far out of town there is the Strategic Air Command and Aerospace Museum that’s cool for kids too if they are into that kind of stuff. Maybe a 30 mintue drive.
Omaha, you had me at world’s best zoo! I can’t wait to visit and catch a show at Rose Theater.