Getaway Suggestions

My family and I like to do mini vacations to a hotel witha pool and room service. We play all day, relax, and just enjoy eachother.

We personally love Kansas City, we probably have gone at least twice a year since we graduated highschool! It's super affordable and there is tons of stuff to do, plus it's easy to get around. We are huge baseball fans, so we tend to go for the Royal's games, we found that it was almost cheaper to go to Royal's games than it was to go to Iowa Cubs games. You can get the cheap tickets for like $7/each. There's also this neat mini golf/arcade/go cart family fun center. It was called the cool crest family fun center I think, it's near the stadiums. The zoo there is pretty awesome too, I know the omaha zoo is cool, but I think every zoo has something unique and worth seeing. We like to watch the elephants paint at the Kansas City zoo. Have you taken your littlest one swimming before? He might actually have a lot of fun at the great wolf lodge. My baby is 7 months and he LOVES to go swimming. There's always worlds of fun/oceans of fun too. Hope you have a good trip whereever you end up!!

I am not sure how far away you are from Omaha but the Omaha Zoo is a really really nice place for everyone all ages. My daughter which is 5 loves the place and i like seeing all the different things they have. They always have something new too which is cool..

I can't think of anything other than that right now.. But if i think of i'll let you know..

gocitykids.com has attractions for major cities in the US. I havent looked for Kansas City on it, but I am pretty sure it should be, especially since Minneapolis is. It is suppose to tell about all the kid friendly attractions. I hope this helps. Good Luck!

We just recently checked out some options for my sister's family & ours meeting halfways between DSM & Denver which would be kearney, NE. the Holiday Inn there has a zero depth indoor waterpark. You can look at pictures through the Holiday inn website: www.priorityclub.com

We were just at the Omaha Zoo this past summer. and it is very nice. There are some big hills built into the zoo though so pushing a double stroller up and down them was a work out and our kids (1 & 3 at the time) got tired of walking up them. But they really liked riding the train and the under the sea exhibit (where the fish swim over you)

We've been to KC and really enjoy it. There's a indoor waterpark hotel next door to the Cabelas store. I can't remember the name, It's actually on the Kansas side. It might be called the Great wolf lodge. As I recall there's a zero depth area too, but not for certain. our kids like stores like cabelas...looking at the boats and the fish tank. If you go when it's not too busy, they don't care if the kids get in and out of the boats, just take their shoes off.

we've been there to more adult type entertainment venues than kids stuff though.

You have such an age span, it'll be hard to have time to do something for everyone, But sometimes just the adventure of getting away to somewhere different is excitement enough. especially if you bring some books or small toys along.

Maybe you guys could go to Adventureland in Des Moines, Iowa. It's about 2.5 hours from Omaha, so probably about 3.5 hours from Lincoln. I know that have some rides that would appeal to your step daughter, plus they also have a lot of little kid/toddler stuff there. Oh, wait. You wanted to go in March. That won't really work, since they're not open until May. I was also going to suggest Worlds of Fun in KC, but they're not open until May either.

Well, just in case you want to check it out for future reference, here is their website:

http://www.adventureland-usa.com/index.php

The other thing I thought of was maybe you guys could go to Chicago. It's a day's drive (about 9 hours from Lincoln, but you basically take 80 all the way there), and the Museum of Science and Industry is the best!!! I grew up in the suburbs of Chicago and all the kids lived for the field trips we took to Science and Industry. It's HUGE and interactive, geared specifically towards kids. It puts the Omaha Children's Museum to complete shame. You could also take the kids to the Brookfield Zoo, also TONS of fun, or Navy Pier (which also has a Children's Museum), although both are probably better later in the spring (warmer weather dor outdoor activities), although they are both open year round and have indoor activities that are a lot of fun too.

Here are their websites:

http://www.msichicago.org/index.html

http://www.brookfieldzoo.org/

http://www.navypier.com/home.html

Since I grew up there, I'm probably a little biased, but I have very fond memories of all these places, and I went to them as long as I can remember. I think all the kiddies would enjoy them. I hope this helps!

M.

Hi K. -

My brother and sister in law take their family to Great Wolf Lodge at least twice a year. They absolutely love it. I am sure that your family would have a great time there.

~J.

Hi K.! I'm in Lincoln also.

A friend of mine at work took his 18-month-old to Great Wolf Lodge, and they had a great time. There's an entire baby/toddler area that would be a blast for your little one.

Hey there!

I hope you guys have a great vacation. I know what it is like to get away. I would check out this website http://www.thenewparentsguide.com/family-travel-guides.htm It is a pretty good one. Also try searching by state on the google search for local things. I know of a great restaurant that Kansas City has that is pretty fun for the family it's called The Rain Forest Cafe. Have not been to the one in Kansas but have been to the one in Chicago and it's very fun. Well good luck and god bless with your travels. Have fun!

C.