Vacation at Home
By Melanie Stewart
Temperatures have been on the rise and summer is in full swing! Did you know that spending time in nature is great for kids and adults and can improve health? Lots of people are considering saving money and being green by taking a “staycation” so what’s a nature-loving person or family supposed to do in and around Omaha?
Most of you are probably aware of options like the Henry Doorly Zoo and Lauritzen Botanical Gardens, but LiveGreen would like you to know there are LOTS of options in and around this area: hiking, biking, fishing, bird watching, trains, camping, relaxing, there’s something for everybody. Everything below is linked to easily allow you to find details and make plans for your weekends or staycations (and some have day camps for kids and teens):
- City of Omaha Parks (lists all parks, locations, and amenities)
- Lee G. Simmons Conservation Park and Wildlife Safari (Check out the calendar so you can time your visit to see enrichment activities for the Wolves and Bear. Go in the summer but make sure you come back in the fall to hear the elk “bugle”, it’s an experience you won’t forget!)
- Fontenelle Forest
- Two Rivers State Recreation Area
- Wehrspann Lake
- Mahoney State Park
- Hitchcock Nature Center
- Neale Woods – which includes the Millard Observatory
- Heron Haven
- Boyer-Chute National Wildlife Refuge
- Loess Hills State Forest
- Ponca State Park
- Omaha City Trails
- DeSoto Bend National Wildlife Refuge
- Gifford State Forest
- Blackbird Marsh County Preserve
- Fremont State Recreation Area
- Schramm Park State Recreation Area and Ak-Sar-Ben Aquarium
- Platte River State Park
- Fort Atkinson State Historical Park
- Lake Manawa State Park
Have fun and enjoy your summer!
P.S. Know of something we forgot? Feel free to share it in the comments below!
