Omaha zoo
 

We are planning a trip to the zoo in Omaha for early September. We will be traveling with our children, ages 1 and 3. How much time should we allot for the zoo? Are there other things that would be of interest to small children in the area? Any suggestions for dining and hotels?

I haven't been yet, but we're heading to Omaha next month. Apart from the zoo, perhaps they'll enjoy Lauritzen Gardens?
www.lauritzengardens.org

Allot as much time as you think that the little ones will be able to enjoy. Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo is the finest of the more than 40 zoos which I have visited.

Even in bad weather, there are enough indoor areas to fill hours: The two acre Gorilla Valley. The enormous Scott Aquarium with a glass tunnel where you can walk through an 850,000 gallon coral reef tank. Lied Jungle is the world's largest indoor tropical rainforest. The Desert Dome features a 30' tall sand dune, dynamic sandfall, hummingbird canyon and a 55 ft. tall central mountain.

Keith

Last month we stayed at the Hilton next to the Qwest Center. Very nice hotel, great location, and we will definitely stay there again. I liked being able to walk to the Old Market area. We had breakfast in the hotel restaurant one morning and it was very good.

Omaha Zoo is very good zoo for little ones. September should be fine time to visit as it will be cooler and perhaps animals will be a little more active.

One suggestion is to bring strollers or wagons. There are a lot of 'hills' in the zoo that may wear little ones out.

Be prepared for a day of it as the others have said as it keeps getting bigger and better.
The Childrens Museum on South 20th Street is always a hit with our grandkids.
The SAC Museum a short drive south on I80 next to Mahoney State Park are two sites to explore as well.

Hi - I live in Lincoln.

Early Sept can be very warm (90 plus degrees). Hopefully it will be cooler but it may still be very warm.

If your kids were older - I would recommend this: http://www.cocokeyresort.com/locations/omaha/index.aspx

I think they may be too young for that.

I would also suggest either Platte River State Park or Mahoney Park. There is lodging at both places also or you can visit for the day. They are right outside of Omaha.

The zoo is fantastic. I recently went to the San Diego zoo and realized that our Omaha zoo stacks up pretty darn good to the San Diego zoo.

Enjoy Omaha!

I just happened to read your post and then was checking something on the Qwest Center sight. I noticed that Disney on Ice is there the 18th - 21st. I don't know whether that fits into your schedule, but that would certainly be a kid-friendly activity!

We have stayed at both the Hilton Garden as well as the Embassy Suites and both were excellent. Embassy has a pool, but I'm not certain about the Hilton.

We have also stayed at the Hampton Inn in Council Bluffs, but it's just across the river near the Ameristar casino. This was also very nice.

I'd try Embassy Suites, right in the middle of the Old Market area. The Upstream Brewery and restaurant is close by--nice casual atmosphere and fine for families. It used to be an old firehouse. The Old Market Spaghetti Works is also great for families and is close to Em. Suites.

We've been to zoos all over and the Omaha Zoo has most of them beat--plan on spending the day if your little ones cooperate. Have fun!

The zoo is great--my kids are older but we've been going there since they were tiny. In addition to the major exhibits, there's a children's petting zoo and merry-go-round to your left and down the hill when you enter the zoo. They'll love the train--it's an old steam engine that goes around the entire perimeter. There's also a baby animal nursery near the major exhibits as you enter (check the map) --my kids have always loved it--they put all the new babies and their mothers on display there. They just opened a new butterfly pavillion this year too--you walk in the enclosure with the butterflys flying around you. The sculpture throughout the zoo is designed for kids to climb on--the entire place is very child friendly.

I'm not familiar with the Omaha children's museaum, (we're from another nearby city) but I've heard it's great--all interactive creative play--I'd try that as well for those ages. Have fun!

One more thing--I haven't been there yet, but they've opened up a new indoor water/park hotel in Omaha called Cocoa Keys. Friends who've taken their children really enjoyed it--it might be fun for one day/night, especially for your 4 year old. Have fun!