Omaha with Teens: Exploring the Henry Doorly Zoo and Beyond

This fall, I took my teens on a long weekend trip to Omaha, Nebraska — and it turned out to be the perfect mix of fun, learning, and quality time together. With teens who are 17 and 15, I wanted something engaging for them (and budget-friendly for me), and Omaha delivered!

Omaha is only about 6 hours from the Twin Cities. Des Moines is about halfway and makes a good lunch stop, otherwise there are many other towns to stop in along the way.

Friday: Arrival and a Simple Start

We left late morning, arrived in Omaha around 5 p.m. and checked into the Microtel Hotel in Bellevue, a suburb just 10 minutes from the zoo. The Microtel hotel was clean, comfortable, and frugal-friendly — exactly what we needed for a quick getaway. Micro-hotels like this one are priced lower and slightly smaller than standard hotels, so they are great for those looking for basic accommodations on a budget. It was our first stay at a Microtel hotel and honestly, it was great. It was clean, modern, and still spacious enough to feel comfortable. We had enough room for our needs, especially since we were really only there to relax in the evening and sleep at night. My daughter liked the comfy window seat. My son liked all the places in the room to plug in devices (ha). I liked how comfortable the beds were! And we all liked the amenities including a hot breakfast, included with your stay.

After settling in, we grabbed dinner at Fazoli’s, a fast-casual Italian spot we don’t have back home in Minnesota. Fazoli’s was a cozy and easy way to kick off our trip before a big weekend ahead. My daughter is a huge pasta lover and especially enjoys their many options. (I’m hoping Fazoli’s comes to Minnesota sometime!)

Saturday: Zoo Day One and Downtown Exploration

Saturday was all about the Omaha Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium, which deserves every bit of its reputation as one of the best zoos in the country. We spent the entire day there — from opening until about 3:30 p.m. — and still didn’t see everything!

Highlights included:
🌵 The Desert Dome and the underground Kingdoms of the Night, with caves, bats (lots of them!), crocodiles, and even a recreated swamp. 
🦧 The Gorilla Valley and Orangutan Forest, where we could get right up close.
🦋 The Butterfly and Insect Pavilion where butterflies fly around you and may even land on your head! (One landed on my phone lol)
🌿 Lunch overlooking The Jungle, then exploring it afterward.
🚡 Riding the “Skyfair” ride – an open-air chairlift above the trees (similar to the one we have at the Minnesota State Fair!)

I loved that the zoo is divided up into different areas of the world. For example, you can have African cuisine for lunch, Asian cuisine for dinner. 

Check out my photo gallery of the zoo here.

We went during MEA weekend – which is when kids have no school in Minnesota – and this year my kids had not only Thursday and Friday off, but the following Monday, so we took advantage of the longer weekend. And it wasn’t crowded! Saturday was a little busy, but Sunday was super quiet. The weather was great though – we could even wear shorts.

After leaving the zoo, we headed downtown. My teens loved exploring the slightly spooky Museum of Shadows, while I wandered through the Old Market District — a charming historic area full of local shops, restaurants, and character. Be sure to pick up a free brochure with info on all there is. They even have a cool “Arc de Triomphe” and slides for all ages.

I especially enjoyed Hollywood Candy, a quirky mix of candy store, vintage arcade, and nostalgia museum all in one.

We regrouped for dinner at Zio’s Pizza, using a coupon we found in the Old Market brochure — a tasty, budget-friendly win!

Sunday: Zoo Day Two and Sweet Treats

There was still plenty left to explore at the zoo, so we spent another full day there on Sunday. The weather was great, and it was nice to take our time revisiting a few favorites and catching exhibits we’d missed the first day.

Highlights today:
🌊 The Scott Aquarium, where sharks, rays, and turtles swam overhead in a mesmerizing tunnel.
🦒 African Grasslands and Asian Highlands, filled with elephants, lions, tigers, and red pandas.
🌿 Lunch in an Alaskan-themed play area

After lunch we did both the train ride and tram ride around the park. We then went again through the Desert Dome and the many exhibits beneath it, as it was a favorite for me and my teens.

We ended our day at the IMAX Theater, where we saw an amazing film about elephants.

After leaving around 3:30pm again, we treated ourselves to ice cream at Coneflower Creamery — an Omaha favorite known for its creative flavors and locally sourced ingredients. It was unique and totally worth the stop.

We headed back to the Old Market District so I could show my teens what I’d seen the night before. It was fun seeing their reactions to the shops and atmosphere. For dinner, we drove across town to try Cheddar’s, another restaurant we don’t have in Minnesota — big portions, good comfort food, and friendly service to wrap up the evening.

Monday: Bridges, Borders, and One Last Stop

Before heading home, we checked out and made one more Omaha stop: the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge. It’s a must-do! The bridge spans the Missouri River, and you can literally stand with one foot in Nebraska and the other in Iowa — a fun photo op and a cool memory.

From there, we took a detour to the Villisca Axe Murder House in Iowa — a fascinating (and slightly chilling!) historical site that definitely grabbed my teens’ attention. It’s actually a sad, true story – a family of 6 plus 2 of their friends were murdered here in 1912, and it has been a site for visitors and tours ever since. There’s nothing gruesome or scary here, except for the story itself, but I’d say it’s more for teens and older. 

Then it was time to head home, full of great memories and photos!

What else is there to do in Omaha?

There’s a lot here for all ages. With teens, you could also go to TreeRush Adventures, which is also located in Bellevue (the city where our hotel was). Think “zip lines, suspended bridges, rope ladders and other aerial surprises in an old-growth forest.” With kids, be sure to visit the RiverFront area. There’s a cool playground and a unique museum called the Kiewit Luminarium.

There of course is much more – check out the Visit Omaha website for more (see below).

Tips to Save Money!!!!

Omaha is already an affordable city to visit, in my opinion. I checked a bunch of hotels and all were reasonable. I suggest staying at the Microtel hotel where we stayed to get a good stay for less. 

Also, be sure to sign up for the free Omaha Savings Pack! You sign up with your email address and then get all kinds of savings for places like Omaha Zoo and TreeRush Adventures.

Tips for Visiting!!!!

Omaha’s zoo is so big that you’ll definitely want 2 days here. Not everything was open when we visited as some things are seasonal, but there was still enough for us to fill 2 days. 

The only place we waited in line was at the Skyfari ride, which was busy on Saturday. I suggest going there early in the day or on a less busy day.

Final Thoughts

Omaha was such a pleasant surprise — a perfect destination for families with teens. It’s big enough to have plenty to do, but small enough to navigate easily. Between the world-class zoo, the welcoming Old Market District, and all the great food spots we discovered, we packed a lot of fun into just a few days without breaking the bank.

If you’re looking for a Midwest getaway that’s educational, affordable, and genuinely fun for all ages, Omaha deserves a spot on your list.

Thank you, Visit Omaha!

A special thank you to Visit Omaha for helping us to coordinate this visit!

Learn more about Omaha on the Visit Omaha website.

(Disclosure: We were provided with complimentary passes to the Henry Doorly Zoo. Plus, this post contains affiliate links that help support this site at no cost to you. All opinions are 100% mine.)