Things to do in Omaha with kids – weekend itinerary

Omaha might surprise you. Tucked along the Missouri River, this Midwest gem has the charm of a small town with all the adventure of a big city. Between its world-class zoo, nature escapes, and creative food scene, it’s a perfect spot for a long weekend with kids.

If you’re wondering how to make the most of your time here as a family, here’s exactly how we spent three days exploring Omaha — with our favorite places to eat, play, and stay.

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Day 1 – Zoo Day + Downtown Discovery
 Visit the Omaha Zoo & Aquarium
  Ice cream at Ted & Wally’s
 ️Shopping & stay in the Old Market 
Day 2 – Outdoor Adventures
 Platte River Airboat Tour
 Fontenelle Forest + TreeRush Ropes Course
Day3 – Riverfront Fun + Local Events
 Play at the Omaha Riverfront Parks
 Watch the Aksarben Tirc Bike Race
Tips for Visiting Omaha with Kids

Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium

If you do only one thing in Omaha, let it be a day at the Henry Doorly Zoo. Consistently ranked among the best zoos in the world, it earns every accolade the moment you step inside. We wandered for hours, moving from lush jungles to a breathtaking aquarium tunnel where marine life glides overhead. Each habitat is immersive, shaped not just by the animals but by the culture and even the food of the places they come from. In the African Grasslands, elephants, rhinos, and giraffes roam against a savanna backdrop, while lions, cheetahs, and zebras roam just across the lagoon. As we made our way to the Asian Highlands we saw tigers, leopards, and sloth bears followed by a massive orangutan exhibit. So fun!

Our kids couldn’t get enough of the desert dome (they loved spotting snakes) and the skyfari ride that gives you an aerial view of the zoo. The skyfari is an absolute must, we’ve never seen anything like it! While this zoo has all the big animals you would want to see, it also has so many little features as well. The butterfly house was a favorite of the kids, and my husband loved the Lied Jungle as you get to actually walk through waterfalls as you see turtles, frogs, monkeys, and even bats. See the map here, and plan to spend a full day here, it’s that good!

Where we stayed

After the zoo, we walked around the Old Market area and cooled off with homemade ice cream at @tedandwallys. Their rotating flavors are wild. We tried honey lavender and cookie monster, they were out of this world.

We stayed right in the Old Market area, which made exploring super easy. Before dinner, we grabbed a beer at Brickway Brewery and popped into @madeinomaha, a shop filled with local goods, art, and small-batch treats. The kids picked out stickers while we grabbed a few souvenirs.
It’s such a fun, walkable area with cobblestone streets, string lights, and plenty of restaurants nearby.

Airboat Thrills on the Platte River and the Fontenelle Forest

We kicked off our second day with an adrenaline rush: a tour with @woodysairboattours. These boats fly across the Platte River (literally, they skim the surface), and it’s such a blast for kids and parents alike. Expect speed and bald eagle spotting!

After the morning thrill, we headed to @fontenelleforest, one of Nebraska’s most beautiful nature areas. There have stroller-friendly boardwalks through the trees and a great nature center for little ones. Our favorite part, though, was the @treerushomaha ropes course. Think zip lines, bridges, and climbing fun high up in the canopy. It was our absolute highlight of the trip! While I was on the ropes course, the kiddos enjoyed the amazing outdoor playground which is a short walk away.

Explore the Omaha Riverfront Parks

Omaha’s @omaha_riverfront area blew us away. There are connected parks, creative playgrounds, and plenty of space to rent bikes or roller skates. The kids were obsessed with the giant climbing nets and splash features that can be found throughout the city. We rented electric bikes and cruised along the river before switching to roller skates, easily one of the most fun things we did all weekend.

Catch the Aksarben Tirc Bike Race & Dinner

If your visit lines up, don’t miss the Aksarben Tirc bike race which takes place mid-May! Streets close down and the whole area turns into a family-friendly festival with food trucks, music, kid-friendly activities, and racers zooming past. It was the perfect way to end our Omaha trip.

For dinner, we walked over to @innerrailfoodhall, a modern food hall with tons of great options, tacos, sushi, ramen, burgers, you name it. The atmosphere is casual but lively, perfect after a full day outside. Everyone found something they loved (always a parenting win).

Some final thoughts. Omaha was such an unexpected gem: a mix of outdoor adventure, city fun, and midwestern charm. Between airboats, treetop climbs, and world-class animals, there’s so much here for families. If you’re planning a Midwest getaway, add Omaha to your list. You’ll leave tired, happy, and maybe a little surprised by just how much this city has to offer.