Our Holiday activity Guide!

The cold months have closed in on us.  The days are shorter.  The air is freezing.  We start to get a little bit of cabin fever.  And crap, Thanksgiving and winter break are quickly approaching ~ WHAT WILL WE DO!???

I have a wealth of places to go... and things to thwart off restlessness... on a shoestring budget!  I can attest that all of these things, if approached right, are good for a child like Espen ~ high energy and very wiggly! 

Mulhulls Garden Center ~ not only is it warmish, but they have an amazing variety of trees, both decorated and not, to see & smell AND if you visit from November 22-December 20, they have real reindeer there to see up close!!  And it is FREE!!

Old Market ~ Carriage rides, the Christmas store, LeWonderment (a local amazing toy store),  Overland, Omaha Cupcakes, Ted & Wallys, Hollywood Candy... a few of our favorite places.

Explore the Joslyn Art Museum. This pink marble masterpiece is filled with more than 11,000 works of art from antiquity to the present featuring work from Monet, Renoir and Pollock.

Visit the ever-changing and always-impressive art exhibitions found at the Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts.  Seasoned artists and up-and-coming talent create remarkable works in edgy, creative atmosphere.

Artist Co-Op is an amazing free space to see a great variety of local art in a unique space in Old Market. 

Ice Skating ~ we typically go to Motto McClean.  They have a variety of open skate hours.  But during break we go to the outside rink, weather permitting. 

Swimming!  Oh yes in the winter.  The Lied Center in Bellevue has open swim hours that are affordable for Bellevue residents.  On a special occasion, the Sarpy YMCA has drop in rates (we are not members).  This year we are determined to go to the KROC Center and check out their pool ~ we hear it is cool. 

A great time is at Defy Gravity!  We can all jump for an hour and on the way home get some cupcakes from Small Cakes! 

The Holiday Lights Festival offers tons of FREE family fun including music and lighting and activities!  And while you are down there, dress the kids in the snow pants and slide down the metal slides at the river.... a joy in the summer and the winter!!

Mahoney State Park offers some winter fun!  We go to ice skate, play in the activity center and sled on the toboggan run (it is FAST and dangerous)!  They also have a theatre & other amazing activities!  While the activities are very inexpensive, you do need a park pass (either day or annual). 

Shadow Lake Towne Center has the annual tree lighting on Thanksgiving Eve.  It is a small parade & tree lighting but the fireworks have been INCREDIBLE.  (I am not 100% sure there are fireworks this year).  There is also an amazing Santa workshop there! 

Michaels Kids Club has some great and affordable make & take crafts.  We will be checking out a couple of them over the next couple weeks!

Bass Pro is always a favorite place to go!  From November 15 - Christmas, there is tons to do there!  They have activities and fish and Santa.  Espen loves to visit with Santa & will generally sit with each and every one he sees.  Best of all, you don't have to buy anything to just be there!  We ride the elevator, shoot guns and do a craft! 

Midtown Crossing has some clever window displays and new this year, every night at 7pm there will be a light and music display!  Of course if you are down there, eat at Ingredient or grab some ice cream from Cold Stone!

Scheels of course can not be overlooked!  You can play some games (up stairs near the hockey stuff) and ride the Ferris wheel as well as have a little snack!  And naturally if your child can manage it, you can check out the shops at Village Pointe.  Mine can not, but there is a fantastic toy store across the street ~ Fat Brain Toys.  They will even WRAP the dang present while you shop!  And if you are there, GiGi's Cupcakes is pretty tasty!

There are some fun things to do in the Dundee neighborhood.  Start with some icecream at ECreamery (featured on shark tank)!  $2 Tuesday is our favorite!  Pitch pizza is a wood fire pizza spot that is super fun to visit.  There is a great little merchant, the Dundee Gallery, that sells local artisan stuff. 

The Omaha Zoo!  Is a family favorite!  We go in all sorts of weather and enjoy what we can!

The Lincoln Children's Museum is one of our favorites!  A bit of a drive so plan your day!  But it is totally worth it!

The Strategic Air and Space Museum.  Have you been?  It is a giant place to explore!  There are some hands on activity areas and lots of big planes to see.  On a cold day, the ability to explore a big space inside is worth the admission price!

The Durham Museum has a giant indoor train and some amazing Christmas activities.  Be sure to stop at the soda fountain on the way out! 

This is how we will spend our time!!  Visiting places, touring around, being active!  If you would like to join us.... we welcome you!!  If you have an amazing place to go, let me know!!!