Things to Do in Lincoln

You'll be greeted with Midwestern hospitality in this friendly plains city, where you can enjoy all of the unique attractions it has to offer.

NEBRASKA STATE CAPITOL

Leap head-first into Nebraska history with a visit to the Nebraska State Capitol building, open seven days a week. You'll find most of the government functions—like the Governor's office, the legislature and the Supreme Court— as well as exceptional murals recounting stories from the state's past. But the tower—rising 400 feet above the flat earth—is what makes the building exceptional. Take the tiny elevator to the 14th Floor Observation Level for stunning views of the surrounding city. While there, enjoy the eight murals representing “heroic enterprises" of Nebraskans painted by native artist Stephen Roberts.

LINCOLN’S THRIVING MUSIC SCENE

Just listen; you can hear music bursting out all over Lincoln's capital—in farmers markets, on big stages and in small, dark blues bars like the Zoo Bar. But come in February or October to attend citywide music festivals like Lincoln Exposed and Lincoln Calling. Both feature local bands and regional artists. For a bigger stage and bigger names like Jay-Z or the Eagles, cart the gang off to the Pinnacle Bank Arena in the historic Haymarket District, where the restored, turn-of-the-century warehouses throb with all kinds of creative activity.

SUNKEN GARDENS

Built during the Depression on the site of a former garbage dump, Lincoln's Sunken Gardens is a fabulous and free public park. Take the whole gang to this oasis of color and fragrance in the city center. It's only 1.5 acres in size and set lower than the streets that border it, but—alight with blossoms spring, summer and fall—the park was tapped by National Geographic as one of the best gardens to visit in the U.S. and Canada. If you're arriving in May, take the family to Wake Up the Garden, a yearly event where you can help the park's gardeners plant annuals.

MEMORIAL STADIUM

Hoot and holler with hundreds of other Nebraska Cornhusker fans at a home game in the packed Memorial Stadium. If you have never been to a Cornhuskers home game, the sea of red and the excited screams as the team comes out of the tunnel will dazzle you. To indulge in the complete experience, arrive early enough to tailgate with your gang; then enter Memorial Stadium in the wake of the marching band. Take time to ooh and aah at the national championship trophies in the stadium's Hall of Champions.

MUSEUM OF AMERICAN SPEED

Grab the fast-car lovers in your family and head for the Museum of American Speed, a huge collection of automobile artifacts with a definite focus on racing. This is a museum unlike any other—educational and cool to boot. You'll find vintage cars and hot rods—some restored, others not—as well as a large pedal car collection that attracts gearheads from all over the world. The docents are knowledgeable racing fans themselves and offer information-laden tours. Tickets are reasonably priced, and military personnel and children under 5 years of age get in free

CHILDREN’S MUSEUM

If you come to Lincoln with small kids, build, dance, play, climb, create, sing or laugh with them at the Lincoln Children's Museum, ranked among the 20 best children's museums in the country. Explore the museum's three stories, including 23,300 square feet of hands-on exhibits (think "Dr. Frequency's Astounding Sounds Laboratory") and imaginative programs (think "Johnny Carson Theater and 10/11 TV Studio"). If you visit in summer, get those kids in the Kids' Club where they enjoy a different fun activity every weekday in the Artist's Studio—from building to making music to solving crimes.

PIONEERS PARK NATURE CENTER

Bison, elk and raptors, oh my! Venture into the natural history of Nebraska and the Great Plains in the 668 acres of tallgrass prairie, woodlands and wetlands that comprise the Pioneers Park Nature Center. The entire family will enjoy the Nature Center, an environmental education facility that doubles as a wildlife sanctuary. So go ahead, hike the trails, explore the prairie gardens or join one of the varied programs the park offers in summer to learn about composting and collecting rainwater, or to catch frogs and count butterflies—enough natural excitement to keep everyone happy.

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