Desert Dome

A really cool place to visit and see lots of animals and nature. I can see why this is voted one of the best zoos and aquariums. This is such a lovely place to visit! They have so many animals and so many different exhibits. All of which looked clean and all of the animals looked healthy.

This is a crazy and amazing exhibit of Deserts around the world. It felt so real.  The animals were so close it was amazing.  Definitely check out the basement Night Eyes exhibit as well! Tons of Nocturnal creatures! It was one of the highlights of my trip with the kids.

This attraction is awesome.  The Kingdoms of the Night is probably my favorite area in the zoo.  It is below the Desert Dome and it is very dark.  There is an area in the caves that there are open pools of water.  There is glass below the surface but it is a drop off.  Walking the swamp reminded me of Pirates of the Caribbean ride at Disneyland.  You enter the swamp through a small cabin.  Photography is very difficult but the detail is amazing.

One of the biggest domes of it's kind in the world! Tons of great exhibits including the swamp in the basement. And the bats.

Maybe my personal favorite of all the exhibits/areas of the zoo.  The nocturnal  basement area is fascinating!

Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium

I went to the zoo with my girlfriend during the Christmas festival and had a great time. We enjoyed walking around looking at the Christmas lights and hearing Christmas music. We also got to go through the aquarium and kingdom of the night while we were there. The animals are very active at night! Very cool and only $23 to get in. We had a great time. Highly recommend.

I used to come here all the time and it has been about 5 years since I was last here. Normally, this place is 5/5 for me. However, with all of the construction inside the zoo and about 50% of the animals present, it’s a 3/5. You’ll find many exhibits are closed and some of the animals missing from the smaller buildings. It doesn’t help that the two food trucks and most of the restaurants were either closed and only sold drinks/chips. I went on a Friday afternoon. Admission prices should be less if they have less to offer the public. Basically a ghost town once you get inside. I recommend not coming here this year.

Absolutely beautiful zoo. Plenty of walking area. Even though it was a rainy day they were misters that are probably amazing in the summer for those hot days. My boyfriend told me they also have splash pads they open in the summer. They were also accommodating for the cold, all the animals were still in viewing areas just brought inside which I’ve never seen at a zoo. Not to mention the aquarium and butterfly garden. Both out of this world some of the best exhibits I’ve ever seen

The best zoo in the world! If you’re visiting Nebraska it’s a must see!
If you’re from Omaha and haven’t been here in awhile or in many moons like some of my family members, you should definitely go!
Downside currently being the orangutang and gorilla exhibit is currently under construction.

Awwwwwwwsome! Now I know why this place is known as the best zoo in the entire country!! I stopped by a little later in the day, so I only got to see maybe only a fourth of the entire zoo and that was enough to make me want to come back for a special trip (we live in Idaho). This is NOT your average zoo! It’s more like a giant family playground with many cool animals in it. It is highly interactive and you’re free to climb into most of the water features!! See a stream? Don’t just look at it…get in it!!! See a water fountain? Don’t just take pictures in front of it…get in it!!!
We were here for only an hour or so, but we all had a blast!! …. Even though it rained! This is truly the best zoo in the country and I have no doubt about it.
So forget about Omaha’s over-glorified steaks! THIS ZOO IS WHAT PUT OMAHA ON MY MAP. Tons of fun for old n young!
Omaha is only 17 hours from Idaho so get going!! … and tell Mr. Buffet I said hi.

Asian Highlands

Amazing Asian continental animals. The tigers, sloth bears, snow leopards were all massive hits. It was a beautiful exhibit for the tigers with a very Tibetan feel.

Really neat part of the zoo with some of our favorite animals including the snow leopard and the sloth bear!

It is pretty nice. Designs are cool. It is a trail and then to come across exotic Asian Animals like cranes, tufted deer, red pandas, Indian rhinos and more. It is amazing! By the way, it is not fully complete yet. Part 1 is open and done and it is brand new. Part 2 is going to open spring in 2019 which is this year but we will just have to wait till spring!

It will be nice to see what it looks like once it is all done. It is only partially open right now the Asian Highlands area is not supposed to be complete until spring of 2019. So the little sad and when you walk in to tell you it's open and you walk the trail come to find out at the end of the dead end you have to walk all the way back down. With a little kid we might have waited until I was completely open to where we looked at it

The trail is cool. You get to see rare and exotic animals. By the way, phase ll is going to open spring 2019.

The Old Market

My favorite place in Omaha. Went back probably 8 or more times while I was there a couple weeks. It just feels nice even if you don't have a goal. I love it

Starting on the intersection of 10th and Howard street. Spanned over 3 blocks in each direction. The fascinating feature is its brick streets. There is a parking lot or you can meter park on street. In 7 minute walking distance from  Durham museum. I mentioned Durham museum as you can do free street parking available by the Durham museum.

Good news. Omaha Old Market is getting a makeover. In a few months a new park should reopen and construction zones will be gone. We need to solve problem with street parking.  Some private parking companies request a credit card payment online through their unsecured hack-prone website. Need more safe ATMs or card readers. Need more good and affordable restaurants, seating outside.
I would drive to the Old Market more often if it's more safe, clean, attractive, convenient parking, has more things to do and places to visit.

The food was fine, nothing mind-blowing or earth shattering.  Food did come out quick, definitely a plus given that we were a party of 7.

A very fun and cute district full of very unique shops and restaurants! I am a foodie and also like to find unique gifts and things to add to my collection and this area is definitely the place for all of that. You can do so much exploring!

Prairie Park Nature Center

Fantastic experience! The space was very well designed with lots of excellent signage and tactile opportunities for kids of various ages. It was cool to see black-footed ferrets as well as many other Kansas natives. Additionally, all of the animals seemed to be healthy and engaging with their habitat with little to no signs of stress.

They also had excellent signage for how to care for orphaned animals you may find as well as on the impact of pollution.

The only gripe I might have would be the gift shop selection, but that did not negatively impact our experience in the least.

My family really enjoys the trails to walk on. It is a nice little jaunt around Mary's lake and back up to the nature center.

Inside the nature center itself, they have all kinds of different animals as well as taxidermy and furs to feel. There is a classroom and they teach kids about different local animals.

Highly recommend going at least once! Extremely friendly and informative folks there.

Great place to take a walk and/or fish. My family love walking around the "lake". More like a big pond.

The live bird area at the center is unbelievably good. This place is really the gem of Lawrence. I loved looking at the owls and the majestic bald eagle. Moonshine and Sova are literally the cutest owls. I have visited this place 5-6 times after finding out about it couple of months ago.

I absolutely love this place!! First off, it is free to explore. The animals are amazing! I could have spent all day just chatting with them. The grounds are nicely kept up with moved paths, paved areas and the beautiful lake! I think this is now my favorite place in Lawrence and I cant wait to come back here and bring my husband!

Museum of Danish America

The staff were amazing. Super knowledgeable and really care about the history of the museum and its contents. Unique exhibits and the kids LOVED the Lego wall and Lego play area. Outdoor paths looked well maintained, and we would love to go back when it’s warmer weather to enjoy them. Family admission was $15 for our family of 5.

Don't miss taking a stroll in the adjacent prairie recreation garden/park to experience how the prairie looked before/when it was settled by Danes. When I was there (July 2020), it was full of flowers and smelled fantastic. Now there's majestic corn fields all around, in themselves also quite a sight.

Quaint museum with Danish American artists and also the history of Danish Mormon immigrants. I had hoped for more textiles. Some one else had hoped there would be sweets and coffeee. There was a spinning wheel.

Interesting museum about Danish history in a small town (pop 540) in Iowa. Just off I 80. Has a very interesting exhibit about tattoos.  Combine visit with stop at the Danish Windmill.

The Museum of Danish America is a fun place to visit to reconnect with your Danish roots! The museum “celebrates Danish roots and American Dreams”. Established in 1983 it houses a grand piano from Victor Borge, old portraits, and artifacts and historical exhibits from Danish culture in America.  Don’t forget to stop by the cute gift shop that sells Danish items as well as from local artists. There is an impressive prairie garden that is worth while walk. As a Dane living in United States, experiencing the museum brought back lots of good memories and makes one feel homesick for the “old country” for sure!

Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium

It was fun, there's an area that the kangaroos can just wonder around you. There was quiet a bit open which I was surprised since it was Dec 8, so that was nice. I was upset they didn't have any souvenir cups. We stayed for the lights, that was lots of fun. The food we got at the one restaurant was actually good food so that was nice. The train was having some issues so that was disappointing that we only got to ride it once an we bought the unlimited wrist band. Nothing we can do about that. The sky safari was fun.

Thank you for sharing the animals with us! We went the first week of December and had a blast! Lots of stations were closed but we came to see animals and we were not disappointed!!  Be sure to bring quarters for souvenir penny making and for food to feed the goats and camels 🐫  We also came back next evening for GloWild and enjoyed that just as much! Dress with warm layers! Like all zoos, there is a ton of walking between exhibits. We loved the Aquarium touch tanks!! A++ experience for our family!

I always love coming here. It’s great to walk around, the exhibits are great, the staff is super helpful, and it’s nice and open.

The new aquarium is also beautiful!!! So many cool fish to see and I LOVED the jellyfish exhibit. There were multiple types of jellyfish to stop and admire and watch. Very cool place that I am so excited to come and see again and again.

Great day trip adventure. Plenty to see and explore. It is fun for all age groups. The new aquarium is amazing and well put together. I could have spent hours in there just watching the fish in the large viewing area.

I've been to many zoos through the years, but this one is always in my top 3. The exhibits are up close and personal, the staff is always friendly, and the zoo is    clean and well-kept. There are lots of opportunities to interact with the animals, and the animals always seem happy, entertained, and well-cared for. My son loves the "endangered level" scale on the signs, and was super excited to see an animal that is extinct in the wild. Lots of baby animals too.

Missouri Town Living History Museum

What an experience! It feels like you stepped back into 1855. We attended the Independence Day celebration and the people in each of the stops were fantastic! It was fun asking them questions and seeing their wardrobes! This is something fun to do with the whole family or alone. There’s a lot to see and a lot to learn. Be sure to allow enough time!

This was the coolest little town. It has a one room schoolhouse, a blacksmith, livestock, and several other neat buildings with employees in time period clothing. Everyone is nice and informative. It was super affordable, and the gifts shop gifts are so cute.

Visited on a semi-rainy day so that did dampen( excuse the pun lol) the exploration a bit and the picture taking.
Otherwise definitely an experience to gain historical knowledge.
The staff are incredibly knowledgeable and walked observers through the various buildings, how they were transported to the venue ( some were, not all) and had insights into way of life and the animals also!
They were warm and friendly:)
Definitely a day out with the family, the kids will have a blast.

Cost to enter was $8 pp. Nice, cheap fun day out!
There are sodas and water for sale in the ticketing office that cost a dollar each.

Went December 2, 2023 for the Christmas Celebration and it was very disappointing.
Nothing was really decorated. No open fires to get warm by and no Christmas treats to enjoy. Went to the tavern first and the women in there were talking about their modern lives and ignoring people who were walking in.
So much could have been done for this celebration. Homemade wreaths to be sold, hot cider and special Christmas treats. Even homemade bread could have been baked and sold.
Each building displayed homemade food but nothing was explained or offered.
People were dressed up in character but not acting in character. Only a handful were true to their role.  There was a modern day food truck at the beginning of the town…really that stuck out like a sore thumb.
Maybe a different type of food should have been provided.
The characters could have walked around singing Christmas carols. Old time games for the children.  The General Store could have been greeting people and handing out candies.
So much could have been done. The coordinator needs help planning this event.

We did do a carriage ride and it was nice.
Looking at the old buildings made the walk pleasant but otherwise very disappointing!

The Fall Festival is worth the trip. I had not attended in probably 15 years at least, so it was a surprise at how much it has expanded. Still has all the period actors running the town as it would have been in 1855, but they have added vendors and many more food options. Last visit it was hotdogs or nothing, now there are 10 options at least and all are Boy Scout run. Plan on lots of walking and probably dust.

Limon Heritage Museum

The Farm Equipment Display outside is amazing! They have brochures available. The museum is open Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday afternoon. We were there on a wednesday and they opened it up for us!  The displays were incredible. Very impressive!  If you like history....stop by!

Unexpectedly nice museum.  I really loved the military display that connected the Revolutionary War thru Current to the community.

The museum was closed due to Covid. The website said it was open. I didn't travel far to get there so no harm, no foul. You can walk around the outside and look at the farm machinery, windmills and the train cars. Looking in the windows it looks to have many great displays. The facility is well maintained. I will come back next time I am through here.

Fun museum with lots of fun historical information about this quaint town. As well as some other historical events that took place in Colorado. Highly reccomend. We came in when it was closed and a nice woman let us walk around and look despite that.

The volunteer opened early and gave us a personal tour of this free museum. We also purchased a homemade jam. So glad we stopped! Such a treat!

Des Moines Art Center

One should definitely visit the art centre if you're in Des Moines. The exhibits are truly a work of art! Also, there is ample of parking space available outside. Free admission is a bonus!

Such a great place to go and visit for free.  Beautiful works of art, really cool sculptures, great architecture of the building itself.

It was raining and we came here before our flight out of town.  The outdoors also has some nice seating and photo opportunity areas.

A real gem.  The museum is perfectly situated on a hill in a park. Wander the grounds, the expansive gardens, admire the architecture, both outside and then inside. And inside you'll find an eclectic and fierce collection of work including Basquiat, Singer Sargent and O'Keeffe to name a few. Grab a bite at the Cafe and something at the gift shop. And drop in a donation when you leave.  After all ... admission is free.

I absolutely loved my (free!) visit to the Des Moines Art Center. I came when they were working on installing a few new exhibits, but there was still plenty to see and ponder here. The staff were overall friendly and kind without being overbearing or interruptive; the fellow who welcomed me in was pleasant and talkative, but at no time did I feel beleagured by our chat. My only complaint is that in the Richard Meier building, one of the staff seemed to get very close to me as I viewed the artpieces, and another staffperson was playing music or a video on his phone, which was quite loud to begin with and echoed up into the top floor.

The art on display was quite captivating and lovely to view, and it spans a wide variety of styles, eras, and cultural origins. The temporary exhibit, Double Take, was interesting, tho I wish there had been clear signage on which photo was staged and which was candid; not knowing made it difficult for me to engage fully with the exhibit. I absolutely fell in love with Water Woman by Wangechi Mutu and kept physically and mentally returning to her. And there were plenty of other stunning pieces I keep thinking about as well.

A stroll thru the Rose Garden afterward was nice; I remain unsure as to where the sculpture garden is. Exterior signage in this way could be improved. I also was delighted by the Little Free Art Gallery by the Center's parking lot. I wish there had been materials provided to make my own piece to add, but I did take a delightful little turtle painting by an artist of the name of Alleighlee.

One major issue I noted was the Center's accesibility. I can see that this museum is trying to be an accessible space, but a few major issues stood out to me. One is that one of two disabled entrances (the one on the north side) appears to be more of a sidedoor and afterthought. The entrance on the south side of the parking lot is a closer choice, but I'd love to see a solution worked out so that people with wheelchairs or strollers can enter thru the main set of doors.

Also, the single elevator in the Meier building was not operating the day I visited. This means that the lower and upper floors could not be accessed by anyone who is unable to use the stairs. The bathroom on the lower level of the Meier building also is *mostly* accessible (plenty of space, lower paper towel dispenser, etc), aside from the heavy doors that could be an issue for some folks to get open.

Overall I absolutely loved my visit to this museum, but as an ablebodied person, I also had a lot more freedom to roam and explore than some people may have. The artwork here is beautiful and diverse, and has given me so much to ponder.

The Des Moines Art Center is always a nice place to visit. The collection is interesting and well cared for. The gift shop has high-quality unique items, and is well managed by friendly staff. The restaurant is bright and spacious.

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