Outdoor Activities in Omaha

Omaha is home to the the College World Series, a thriving downtown and plenty of family-friendly attractions. It's also home to a variety of outdoor activities that are perfect for nature lovers and adventure seekers.

A Wintry Blast

Ski, snowboard, sled, tube or zibob your way down the snowy 1,500-foot slopes of Mt. Crescent, a year-round fun spot in Iowa's Loess Hill, just 15 miles from downtown Omaha. Bring your own gear—or rent it there—from late December to early March. Patient instructors guide first-time skiers or snowboarders through the basics with inexpensive group lessons. If snow sports aren't your thing, soar 300 feet above the ground at 50 mph on the 1,600-foot Screaming Eagle zipline. Weather permitting, it's open Wednesday through Sunday all year. Whether you’re into winter sports or not, you’ll have a place to relax in Omaha with beautiful snowy Nebraska surroundings.

The Big Ohhhh!

No, it's not an affectionate nickname for Nebraska's largest city, the Big Ohhhh! is Nebraska's only roller coaster. You'll find it—along with hours of adrenaline-pumping fun—at Fun-Plex, Omaha's oldest amusement park. Hit the Wild Ride Park's Ferris wheel, go-karts and bumper cars, then plunge into the Fun-Plex Wet & Wild Water Park. Take a stomach-dropping dip in the Motion Ocean wave pool, hurtle down five-story Typhoon Falls' twists and turns, or chill out in a rented tube and wind your way along the Lazzzy River. Tip: Kiddie Land has down-sized, no-parents-allowed versions of all the grown-up rides. Fun-Plex is open from late May to early September.

The Meadow, the Maze and the Model RRs

Bask in nature at Lauritzen Gardens, Omaha's Botanical Center, a 100-acre oasis in the heart of downtown. From spring to fall, count the dozens of butterflies and birds flitting among The Song of the Lark Meadows'; native plants. In fall, kids lose themselves in the Children's Garden's Sunflower Forest or Corn Maze. Cool off along the stream in the shaded, serene Garden in the Glen, or find magic at the Model Railroad Garden, where seven model trains chug past backdrops of all-natural miniature landscapes and recreations of Omaha landmarks. If you’re traveling with Fido, he is welcome on his leash between 5 and 8 p.m. during mid-May to mid-September Garden Twilight hours.

Rivers of Fun

As a river city, Omaha has an abundance of above- or on-the-water activities. Walk or bike the 3,000-foot Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge as it curves 51 feet above the Missouri River between Nebraska and Iowa. Be in two places at once when you stop at the plaques designating the border and plant a foot in each state. Or, beat the summer heat at RiverWest Park on the Elkhorn River. Wade, splash or swim at the private beach, or let the water do the work for you as you float down the Elkhorn in an inner tube as you soak up the sun and scenery.

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