Family vacations in Nebraska can be rewarding experiences or absolute disasters — it all depends on pre-trip homework. To make planning easier, we've done all the preparation. As part of a Huffington Post Travel series on traveling with children, here are answers to some frequently asked questions about Nebraska family vacations.
Nebraska History Museum
Located in Lincoln, the
is run by the Nebraska State Historical Society and illustrates different periods in the state's history. Highlights include an exhibit about Nebraska's bid for statehood, a collection of Nebraska-made crazy quilts and an exhibit about Nebraskans' contributions during World War II.
Address: 131 Centennial Mall North, Lincoln, NE 68508Phone: 402-471-4754Hours: Open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Saturday and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Closed on state holidays.Price: Suggested donation is $2.00
Homestead National Monument of America
The
is one of the actual parcels of land the U.S. government offered to settlers beginning in 1862 in exchange for five years of residency and land development. Today, the site is a living history museum of that era, with a reconstructed log cabin, a prairie schoolhouse and 100 acres of land restored to an ecosystem similar to the one settlers found when they arrived in Nebraska.
Address: 8523 W. State Hwy. 4, Beatrice, NE 68310Phone: 402- 223-3514Hours: Open daily except Thanksgiving Day, December 25 and January 1. The trail system and parking lot are open from dawn to dusk every day the park is open.Price: Free
Beatrice Big Blue Water Park
Located in southeastern Nebraska, this seasonal water park offers a host of water activities. Among the favorites at
are the 124-foot loop water slide, the fountain bubbler and the river slide.
Address: 1200 Scott St., Beatrice, NE 68310Phone: 402-223-4114Hours: Open Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend, noon to 8 p.m. daily.Price: Infants 3 and under, free; youth ages 4 to 17, $4; adults 17 and older, $5; seniors, $3
Pony Express Station
The mail was not always delivered by the U.S. government. During the early- and mid-19th century, Nebraska mail was run from one station to another by the riders of the Pony Express. One of the most well-preserved of these stations is the
. Visitors can tour the log house and learn more about this fascinating era.
Address: 1500 Lake Avenue, Gothenburg, NE 69138Phone: 308-537-3505Hours: Open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. during the summer and from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. in May and September.Price: Free
North Platte Area Children's Museum
The
in central Nebraska features 14 interactive learning exhibits. The newest feature is Light World, which features a black light area, a laser light obstacle course, a shadow wall and an interactive Lite Brite display.
Address: 314 North Jeffers St., North Platte, NE 69101Phone: 308-532-3512Hours: Open Tuesday through Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.Price: Children and adults, $4; children under 2 years old, free; seniors 60 and over, $3
The Edgerton Explorit Center
The
, named after Nebraskan inventor Harold Eugene "Doc" Edgerton, is home to 35 hands-on exhibits. Visitors of all ages can learn about nature and physical properties with the museum's interactive displays.
Address
:
Phone
: 402-694-4032
Hours
: Open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Closed on holidays.
Price
: Adults and children ages 4 and older, $5; AAA members and seniors, $4; Children ages 3 and younger, free
Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo
Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo is home to more than 17,000 animals and 950 species. The 130-acre park's exhibits include Kingdoms of the Night, the world's largest display of nocturnal animals; Hubbard Gorilla Valley; and Desert Dome, the world's largest indoor desert.
Address: 3701 S. 10th St., Omaha, NE 68107Hours: 402-733-8400Hours: Open every day (except holidays). Hours: March 1 through October 31 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. November 1 through February 28 from 10 a.m.to 4 p.m.Price: Infants ages 2 and under, free; children ages 3 to 11, $9; adults ages 12 and over, $13.50; seniors ages 62 and over, $12
What is your family's favorite Nebraska destination?
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
It's Another Trump-Biden Showdown — And We Need Your Help
The Future Of Democracy Is At Stake
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
The 2024 election is heating up, and women's rights, health care, voting rights, and the very future of democracy are all at stake. Donald Trump will face Joe Biden in the most consequential vote of our time. And HuffPost will be there, covering every twist and turn. America's future hangs in the balance. Would you consider contributing to support our journalism and keep it free for all during this critical season?
HuffPost believes news should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for it. We rely on readers like you to help fund our work. Any contribution you can make — even as little as $2 — goes directly toward supporting the impactful journalism that we will continue to produce this year. Thank you for being part of our story.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
It's official: Donald Trump will face Joe Biden this fall in the presidential election. As we face the most consequential presidential election of our time, HuffPost is committed to bringing you up-to-date, accurate news about the 2024 race. While other outlets have retreated behind paywalls, you can trust our news will stay free.
But we can't do it without your help. Reader funding is one of the key ways we support our newsroom. Would you consider making a donation to help fund our news during this critical time? Your contributions are vital to supporting a free press.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Already contributed? Log in to hide these messages.
