Magazine | Explore Omaha

Explore OmahaSep 16, 2026

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Worth the Drive: 4 Great Day Trips from Omaha

You don't have to leave the metro for a full day out, but sometimes it's worth the drive. Here are four of our favorite day trips within about forty minutes of Omaha — a state park, a scenic byway, an aerospace museum, and a living-history festival.

Explore OmahaSep 9, 2026

Omaha History

Omaha's New Tallest Building: Mutual of Omaha's Downtown Tower Caps Off 2026

Mutual of Omaha's 44-story downtown headquarters is now the tallest building in Nebraska, and it's set to open this fall. Here's what to know, and why it's worth a family trip downtown during the holidays.

Omaha's Zoo Is #1 in America Again: A Warm-Weather Escape for Winter Break

Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium was named the #1 zoo in America again for 2026. With its giant indoor exhibits, it's one of the best cold-weather, holiday-break outings a family can plan.

Lauritzen Gardens Through the End of 2026: What's Blooming and On Display

From the last roar of the animatronic dinosaurs to autumn mums and the twinkling holiday poinsettia show with model trains, here is what's blooming at Lauritzen Gardens through the end of 2026.

Downtown Omaha Is Booming: A Year-End Look at What's Being Built (and Why It's Worth a Family Visit)

As 2026 wraps up, downtown Omaha is in the middle of the biggest building boom in a generation. Here's what's rising, what's coming, and why the holidays are the perfect time to bring the family down to see it.

The Best New Omaha Restaurants to Try in 2026

Omaha is having a delicious year, and a fresh wave of family-friendly restaurants is opening across the metro. From a new drive-thru Indian kitchen to gourmet paletas near Charles Schwab Field, here are the new and soon-to-open spots our family is most excited to try in 2026.

Seasonal & Holidays

Omaha's Best Fall Festivals of 2026: A Family Bucket List

These are the last big outdoor family celebrations before winter and the holidays roll in. Here are the best fall festivals in and around Omaha for 2026, with verified dates and official links, from Vala's and AppleJack to glowing hot air balloons and a free kite festival.

Seasonal & Holidays

Your 2026 Omaha Holiday Lights and Events Planner for Families

The holidays sneak up on every Omaha family. Get ahead of the season with our planner of the metro's most beloved holiday lights and family events, complete with 2026 dates and official links so you can pencil them onto the calendar now.

Omaha's Best Holiday Shows and Winter Performances of 2026

From A Christmas Carol at the Omaha Community Playhouse to The Nutcracker and the Omaha Symphony's Christmas Celebration, here are the live holiday shows and winter concerts worth planning around this season, whether it's a family outing or a quiet date night.

Explore OmahaJul 20, 2026

An Open Door: Raising Children Who Know How to Welcome Others

Hospitality is not a talent reserved for people with big houses and perfect furniture. It is a habit of the heart, and it is one of the most quietly powerful things you can teach your children. Here is how an open door shapes an open heart.

Explore OmahaJul 20, 2026

Tell Them Where They Come From: Why Your Children Need the Family Stories Only You Can Give

Your children are hungry for something no store sells and no screen streams: the stories of their own people. When you tell them where they come from, you give them roots, courage, and a place in a story bigger than themselves.

Explore OmahaJul 15, 2026

More Than Please and Thank You: Raising Children Who Truly Respect Others

Manners can be memorized, but respect must be grown in the heart. A letter to the parent who wants to raise children who honor others not because they were told to, but because they have learned to see the worth in every person they meet.

Explore OmahaJul 14, 2026

Finish What You Start: Raising Children Who Persevere

Every child hits the moment when the fun runs out and the work remains. What you do in that moment shapes who they become. A letter to parents on raising children who finish what they start.

Explore OmahaJul 13, 2026

The Gift of Gray Hair: Why Your Children Need Their Grandparents

In a world that celebrates the new and the young, your children are quietly hungry for something older. The grandparents in their lives carry stories, patience, and a kind of love that no one else can give. Here is why making room for them may be one of the wisest things you ever do as a parent.

Bookstore Date Nights in Omaha

A bookstore is the most underrated cheap date in Omaha: quiet, no reservation, and you actually end up talking. Here are the metro's best shops to browse side by side.

Day Trip: DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge

Thirty minutes north of Omaha, DeSoto refuge pairs a real steamboat time capsule with skies full of snow geese and bald eagles. A cheap, wide-open family day trip.

Cooking Class Date Nights in Omaha

Taking a hands-on cooking class together is a date you actually remember, and you eat well doing it. Here are the real Omaha spots that teach couples to cook, minus the wine-bar gimmicks.

The Best Disc Golf Courses Near Omaha

Disc golf is free, easy to start, and a great way to get the whole family walking a park together. Here are the best beginner-friendly courses in and around Omaha.

Paint-Your-Own Pottery Studios in Omaha

Paint-your-own pottery is the rainy-day activity that ends with something you actually keep. Here are the Omaha studios where the whole family can sit down and make a mess.

Day Trip: Fremont, Nebraska with the Family

Fremont is about 40 minutes northwest of Omaha, and its sandpit lakes, small-town downtown, and free splash pads make an easy, cheap family day. Here's how to spend it.

Roller Skating and Ice Skating in Omaha

Where to go skating in Omaha, on wheels or on ice. An honest guide to the one real roller rink, the year-round ice arenas, and the downtown ribbon that does both.

Day Trip: Fort Atkinson State Historical Park in Fort Calhoun

Fort Atkinson in Fort Calhoun is one of the best cheap history days a family can do from Omaha. Living-history weekends, a reconstructed 1820s fort, and the details parents need.

A Family Guide to Bennington, Nebraska

Bennington sits in the northwest corner of the Omaha metro, a small town the suburbs never quite swallowed. A family guide to the downtown, the ice cream, the lake, and Bennington Daze.

The Best Korean Restaurants in Omaha

Korean food might be the most underrated dinner out in Omaha. Where to get barbecue, bibimbap, home cooking, and Korean fried chicken across the metro, from Ralston to Bellevue.

The Best Cheap Family Eats in Omaha (Under $10 a Plate)

Omaha is full of cheap, honest, family-run places to feed the whole crew for under ten dollars a plate. Tacos, gyros, fried chicken, pizza by the slice, and the local classics.

Sporting-Event Date Nights in Omaha

The best date night in Omaha might be two seats at a ballgame. Cheap, easy, and genuinely fun, from Storm Chasers baseball to Mavericks hockey, Supernovas volleyball, and Creighton hoops.

Scenic Drive and Sunset Date Nights in Omaha

The cheapest good date in Omaha is a pretty drive, an overlook, and a sunset. Here are the metro spots with the best views to end the day together.

The Best Trampoline Parks in Omaha

On a rainy or too-hot Omaha day, an hour at a trampoline park is the fastest route to a tired, happy kid. The metro's big-jump spots, plus the grip-sock, waiver, and toddler-time details parents need.

A Gentle Answer: Raising Your Children Without Raising Your Voice

Every parent knows the moment the volume starts to rise. But a raised voice wins the moment and loses the heart. This is a letter to the parent who is tired of yelling, about the quiet strength of a gentle answer and how to make it the sound of your home.

Explore OmahaJul 10, 2026

Just You and Me: The Quiet Power of One-on-One Time With Each Child

In a busy household, love often gets handed out in bulk. But every child carries a quiet question: am I known, or just included? This is a letter to the parent who wants each child to feel like the only one in the room, even for a little while.

A Promise Kept: Why Your Word Is One of the Strongest Things You Give Your Child

Your children are keeping a quiet ledger of every promise you make, and every one you keep. Long before they understand words like integrity or faithfulness, they learn what those things feel like through you. Here is why the small promises matter most, and what to do when you cannot keep one.

Explore OmahaJul 9, 2026

The Gift of Being Heard: Why Listening Is One of the Greatest Things You Can Give Your Child

Your child does not need you to have all the answers. More than anything, they need to know that when they speak, someone who loves them is truly listening. Here is why the simple act of hearing your child may be one of the most powerful things you ever do as a parent.

Explore OmahaJul 8, 2026

The Gift of Saying "I Was Wrong": Why Apologizing to Your Child Makes You a Stronger Parent

There is a moment every parent knows: the sharp word spoken in frustration, the punishment handed down too quickly, the sigh that landed harder than we meant it to. What you do next may teach your child more than a hundred lectures ever could. Here is why saying "I was wrong" is one of the strongest things a parent can do.

Explore OmahaJul 7, 2026

Millard: A Family Neighborhood Guide

Millard is Omaha's largest bedroom community for a reason, with top schools, quiet streets, and easy access to Zorinsky Lake, trails, and shady neighborhood parks.

La Vista With Kids

La Vista is small, tidy, and easy to love with kids, from City Centre gatherings to the municipal pool and a growing lineup of indoor fun for rainy days.

Day Trip: Mahoney State Park

Just off I-80 near Ashland, Eugene T. Mahoney State Park packs an aquatic center, a 70-foot tower, trails, mini-golf, and an indoor playground into one of the easiest family day trips from Omaha.

Let Them See You Love Each Other: Why Your Marriage Is a Gift to Your Children

Children draw their deepest sense of security not from what parents give them, but from what parents are to each other. A letter to every mother and father on why the quiet, faithful love between husband and wife may be the greatest inheritance a child ever receives.

Day Trip: The Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum

Just off I-80 in Ashland, the Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum is a perfect rainy-day family day trip. Giant aircraft, hands-on kids' exhibits, and a planetarium await.

A Family Guide to West Omaha

West Omaha is where families come to shop, dine, and get outside. From Village Pointe to Walnut Creek Lake, here's a warm, practical guide to a full family day out west.

A Family Guide to Ralston

Tucked inside the Omaha metro, Ralston keeps a small-town heart. Here's a family-first guide to its arena, aquatics center, walkable Main Street, and friendly community parks.

Exploring North Omaha With Your Family

North Omaha's 24th Street corridor is one of the most historically rich parts of the whole city. Here's a warm, family-first guide to visiting its museums, arts spaces, and beautiful old parks.

The Best Indian Restaurants in Omaha

Warm naan, rich curries, and sizzling tandoori. Here are the Omaha Indian restaurants families love, plus tips for ordering with kids.

The Best All-You-Can-Eat Buffets in Omaha for Families

When everyone wants something different, a buffet saves the day. Here are Omaha's best all-you-can-eat spots for hungry families.

The Best Thai Restaurants in Omaha

From cozy neighborhood spots to buzzy West Omaha dining rooms, here are the Thai restaurants Omaha families come back to again and again.

The Best Mediterranean Restaurants in Omaha

Warm pita, crispy falafel, and juicy gyros. Here are the Omaha Mediterranean restaurants families love, plus easy tips for ordering with kids.

Day Trip: Platte River State Park

Just half an hour from Omaha near Louisville, Platte River State Park offers waterfalls, observation towers, hiking, paddle boats, and cozy cabins and tepees. Here is how to make it a perfect family day trip.

A Family Guide to Little Italy, Omaha

Just south of downtown, Omaha's historic Little Italy offers century-old bakeries, a beautiful old church, a beloved summer festival, and easy access to the riverfront. Here is how to enjoy it as a family.

A Family Guide to Omaha's Blackstone District

Omaha's Blackstone District is a compact, walkable stretch of Farnam Street known for award-winning ice cream, great coffee, and easy family strolling. Here is how to make an afternoon of it with the kids.

Exploring South Omaha With Your Family

Historic South 24th Street is one of Omaha's most colorful corners, rich with Mexican-American culture, murals, museums, and some of the best tacos and pan dulce in the city. Here is how to explore it with the whole family.

Daytime Date Ideas in Omaha

For couples working with school hours or a sitter, here are relaxed daytime dates in Omaha, from lunch and coffee walks to farmers markets, gardens, and antiquing in Dundee and Benson.

Movie & Drive-In Date Nights in Omaha

From Film Streams' Dundee and Ruth Sokolof theaters to a summer drive-in in Valley and cozy nights at home, here are the best movie date nights for Omaha couples.

Spring Date Ideas in Omaha

From the daffodils at Lauritzen Gardens to reopening farmers markets, patios, and riverfront bike trails, here are warm, simple spring date ideas for Omaha couples.

Making School Mornings Peaceful: A Calmer Routine for Omaha Families

Rushed, frazzled mornings don't have to be the norm. Here are simple, doable ways Omaha families can trade the daily scramble for a calmer, kinder start to the school day.

Free Date Ideas in Omaha

You do not need to spend a thing. From the RiverFront and Bob Kerrey Bridge to free admission at the Joslyn and Benson First Friday, here are the best free dates in Omaha.

Helping Your Child Build Real Friendships

Friendship is one of childhood's greatest gifts, but it doesn't always come easily. Here's how parents can quietly help their kids build the skills to make and keep good friends.

The Family Meeting: A Simple Weekly Habit That Strengthens Your Home

A short weekly family meeting can bring more peace, connection, and teamwork to your home. Here's a simple, low-pressure way to start the habit and make it stick.

Teaching Your Kids to Handle Big Emotions

Meltdowns, frustration, and big feelings are part of growing up. Here's how parents can help kids name, understand, and work through their emotions in healthy ways.

A Family Guide to Elkhorn, Nebraska

Tucked into the far west edge of Omaha, Elkhorn keeps its small-town heart with brick streets, easy parks, and a soft-serve stand that families have loved since 1969.

Fall Date Ideas in Omaha

Orchards, pumpkin patches, corn mazes, cider donuts, and cozy autumn dinners, here are the best fall date ideas in Omaha for couples looking to slow down together.

Foodie Date Night in Omaha

Tasting menus, shared small plates, food halls, and chef-driven kitchens, here is how to plan the perfect foodie date night in Omaha for couples who love to eat.

Winter Date Night Ideas in Omaha

From ice skating at The RiverFront to holiday lights, cozy cafes, and warm museum wanders, here are the best winter date night ideas in Omaha for couples and busy parents.

Game Night Dates in Omaha

Bowling, arcades, Topgolf, axe throwing, and indoor mini golf, here are the best game night date ideas in Omaha for couples and families who love a little friendly competition.

The Best Brunch Dates in Omaha

Who says date night has to be at night? A slow weekend brunch is one of the most underrated ways for busy couples in Omaha to reconnect. Here is where to go.

Anniversary Date Ideas in Omaha

From candlelit tables in the Old Market to a slow walk under the string lights, here are warm, wholesome ways to celebrate your anniversary right here in Omaha.

Summer Patio & Rooftop Date Nights in Omaha

Warm Nebraska evenings were made for eating outside. Here are Omaha's most inviting patios and rooftops for a summer date night under the string lights.

Double Date Ideas in Omaha

Some of the best nights out are shared with another couple. Here are fun, easygoing double date ideas around Omaha, from friendly competition to a shared table.

Raising Humble Children in a World That Shouts "Look at Me"

The world tells our children to build a stage and stand on it. But the quiet strength of humility will carry them further than any spotlight ever could. Here is how to raise children who don't need applause to know who they are.

Explore OmahaJul 5, 2026

Raising Children Who Serve: Teaching Little Hands to Look Outward

Every parent wants to raise a child with a good heart, but a servant's heart doesn't appear by accident. It is taught, modeled, and practiced in a thousand small moments at home. Here is an encouraging word on raising children who look outward instead of inward.

Explore OmahaJul 4, 2026

The Lifelong Gift of Sibling Friendship: Raising Brothers and Sisters Who Truly Love Each Other

Long after you are gone, the longest relationship your children will ever have is with each other. Sibling friendship does not happen by accident — it is planted, watered, and tended by parents who treat it as one of the great works of family life. Here is how to raise brothers and sisters who become lifelong friends.

Explore OmahaJul 3, 2026