Omaha's outdoor destinations include zoos, gardens and accessible beauty spots for all ages and abilities. Let's explore six of the best outdoor spaces Omaha has to offer.
The Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium is just a 10-minute drive from the Hickory Villa community and an ideal destination for days out with visiting grandchildren. There are plenty of outdoor environments to explore, including an immersive Asian Highlands exhibit with resident red pandas and tufted deer.
Other highlights include the Owen Sea Lion Shores, where visitors can watch sea lions and harbor seals swimming around a 275,000-gallon pool, and 5 acres of adventure trails, where families can find hands-on exhibits and play areas. The zoo also runs community volunteer days, enabling seniors to contribute to its essential conservation projects.
For guests with mobility issues, the gift shop offers scooter and wheelchair rentals. The grounds also feature a train, tram, and Skyfari cable car ride for accessible views of the zoo's exhibits.
Perfect for boating and fishing enthusiasts, the Zorinsky Lake and Recreational Area features rare native tallgrass prairies and a 255-acre lake. Here, you'll discover miles of picturesque hiking trails, including a paved 7-mile loop around the lake's perimeter.
The lake features an ADA-accessible fishing dock, enabling visitors of all abilities to fish for trout, catfish and bass. Alternatively, several companies offer kayak and raft rentals and boating tours for stunning views from the water.
If you're planning a multigenerational visit, you'll also find plenty of land-based activities to entertain family members of all ages. The park is home to two playgrounds with modern play equipment, as well as baseball and football fields for friendly contests with loved ones.
Famed for its unique themed gardens, Lauritzen Gardens offers multisensory outdoor experiences across a sprawling 100-acre site. The attraction boasts over 20 gardens containing rare and regional plant species, water features and majestic architecture.
The plants and colors on display change with the seasons, providing new perspectives every time you visit. In springtime, the 800-foot Daffodil Walk is awash with cheerful yellow blooms, while the Color Burst garden comes alive with vibrant flowers and butterflies in the summer. The gardens also contain various cultural artworks, including rustic Lithuanian wood sculptures and a Mount Fuji replica surrounded by authentic Japanese stone lanterns.
Lauritzen Gardens welcomes service dogs to enhance accessibility, and the gift shop offers manual wheelchair rentals. There are also narrated tram tours around the garden from April through October for an educational guide to the gardens' history and habitats.
Downtown Omaha is home to Heartland of America Park, which forms part of the city's Riverfront Revitalization project. This free attraction is best known for its iconic lake and fountain and its exceptional views of the Missouri River. More recent additions include bocce courts, shaded seating areas and a spectacular 200-foot pier.
Local revitalization efforts have helped native plant species reestablish themselves, forming idyllic prairie gardens between paved walking paths. This makes the park the perfect place to see local flora and wildlife while enjoying a picnic or gentle hike with family and friends.
While trees and power lines may sound like an odd theme for a recreation space, the OPPD Arboretum combines them to create a place that's both educational and beautiful. Established in 2004 to teach the public about which trees to plant near power lines, this unique utility-owned park now offers an eclectic mix of formal gardens, native plant collections and educational exhibits.
The park provides fascinating demonstrations of the techniques energy company forestry departments use to trim trees and shrubs and manage vegetation. Visitors can explore a power substation, see examples of power line-friendly trees and learn how plants help us conserve energy. While the park delivers a serious message, the grasslands, wildflower meadows and wooded areas offer tranquil spaces to hike and take family photos.
Strolling along a bridge is a great way to view city skylines, but vehicles can make walking dangerous for children and older adults. The Bob Kerrey Bridge is fully pedestrianized, allowing you to safely enjoy aerial panoramas of the Omaha cityscape and Missouri River.
This suspension bridge connects Nebraska and Iowa, so visitors can hop between states by crossing the 3,000-foot trail. Stand at the midpoint and you'll be in both states simultaneously. As you might expect, the middle of the bridge is a popular photo spot, and snapping a selfie here is now affectionately known as "bobbing."
Grandkids will enjoy visiting Omar the troll under the Omaha side of the bridge. This whimsical life-size sculpture sits on a rock ready for visits and photos, and you can also browse the Omar website for entertaining stories about his origins. His sister, Omai, isn't under the bridge, but kids can find her blue footprints at landmarks around Omaha and collect free pin buttons along her trail.
