Posted: 02/09/2007--25/11/2008 || Rate this Article: 3 || Views|| Sign In || Register ||Hello Guest
Whether you are driving across Nebraska to another destination, or you are native to the state, Nebraska has many kid-friendly attractions conveniently located just minutes off of Interstate 80.
Beginning in Omaha, try the Henry Doorly Zoo. This attraction at I-80 Exit 454 features a walk-through aquarium and boasts both the worlds largest indoor rain forest as well as its largest indoor desert. You can also visit the zoos Gorilla Valley, where visitors can look through an observation bubble at the animals in their native habitat. Take the train to different locations around the zoo grounds, catch a film in the IMAX Theater, or eat lunch in the cafe.
Just a few miles west on I-80, at Exit 426, the Strategic Air and Space Museum gives an up-close look at over 30 aircraft. This museum has a childrens gallery with hands-on activities, and for an additional fee you can ride a flight simulator.
For something offbeat thats fast, fun, and free, stop at Lincolns National Museum of Roller Skating at 4730 South Street. More widely known (and visited) is the Lincoln Childrens Museum at 13th and O Streets. The whole family will enjoy spending an hour or so exploring the craft and science activities there.
For much of its trek across Nebraska, I-80 parallels the Platte River. The state has reclaimed gravel pits and fashioned them into recreation areas that are readily accessible from the interstate. Whether you just want to stretch your legs and skip some rocks, or you need a place to camp for the night, your family will especially enjoy the Windmill Recreation Area at Exit 285 near Gibbon, which offers camping, picnicking, hiking trails, boating, fishing, and swimming.
People have journeyed westward across Nebraska for over 150 years, with some of the earliest travelers being the Oregon Trail pioneers and the Pony Express riders. Among the many historical attractions in central and western Nebraska is an original Pony Express station, located in Gothenburgs city park. In North Platte, visit the Buffalo Bill State Historic Park. If you time your visit right, you can sample buffalo stew at an evening cookout, or take a one-hour trail ride. And in Ogallala, you can visit the Boot Hill Cemetery, which got its name because the cowboys were buried with their boots on.
Other interesting stops for your family are located far from I-80, but they are worth the drive. One famous landmark on the Oregon Trail was Chimney Rock, located near Bayard. At the nearby Oregon Trail Wagon Train, you can get a guided covered wagon tour of the area with local historians who really know how to make the Old West come alive. During the summer, these folks serve a grilled rib eye dinner with all the fixings (reservations required), followed by campfire entertainment.
At Scottsbluff National Monument, you can hike up or down a 1.6-mile trail from the Visitor Center to the summit. There is also a road to the summit, where on a clear day you can see the Laramie Mountains, 70 miles away.
Fort Robinson State Park, located in the northwestern corner of the state, is a destination park for families. Jeep rides in the nearby hills, stagecoach rides, hayrack rides, and horseback riding are offered. You can stay overnight in the campground, the lodge, or in one of the original officers bungalows or cabins. Throughout the summer, organized activities such as rodeos and campfire sing-alongs are scheduled.
Finally, try an afternoon of tubing along the Niobrara River, in north-central Nebraska near Valentine. Several outfitting companies in the area offer canoes, kayaks, and giant tractor inner tubes for floating down this gentle, relaxing river. Trips can be as short as two hours or as long as all day, with overnight trips available from some providers.
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