My friends and I often discuss how lazy we are….that we never go and see the historic or tourist locations in our own home town. I am absolutely the worst about this……as much as I love to travel you would think that I would be better about that….especially since I have lived in some pretty cool places! I grew up in Annapolis and never really did the “tourist” thing there…..there are a lot of places in Annapolis that I would like to go back and check out. Last year I spent 10 months in Alexandria, VA which is on the outskirts of DC……I did nothing! I was so busy with my “life”. Now that I am in Omaha I am realizing how many things that I missed when I lived here back in 2003.
Since I am low on funds I have made up a list of FREE things to do in Omaha that I will be exploring FIRST. Then I will move on to the CHEAP things to do 🙂
The other day I went and visited The Boys Town Museum and the Boys Town Chapel. 
Living in Omaha you hear about Boys Town all the time….but for me it was just a matter of seeing the signs all over the place for advertising….I never really knew the significance of the place. I wasn’t around when the movie came out in 1938. The museum was a lot nicer than I really expected it to be and the Chapel was gorgeous. You can easily do the museum in 30 to 45 minutes (depending on how detailed you are on reading every single word). This would be a great place to bring slightly older children (I had a 7 year old with me and she was mildly interested but bored quickly)….small children will not be real interested. There is a bus that you can climb into and explore which was really fun for the 7 year old but the rest of it was only mildly interesting to her.
If you have small children there are several splashparks around. This is a great alternative to crowded public pools. My friend and I found one in Millard on Seldin Drive and spent a few hours there with his daughter. I wish these had been around when my children were small. The smallest child could play without too much danger….certainly no drowning. There was plenty of grass and open spaces for families to spread out blankets and have picnics and that is just what we did. There is also a regular playground and porta potties!
Today I am going to go explore the Mormon Trail Center…..yet another thing I never explored when I lived here…..and it’s FREE!! Saturday I am going to go to the Joslyn Art Museum to see the Egyptian Exhibition. Saturday mornings from 10 to noon the Joslyn is open to the general public for FREE.
Below I have listed some other free things to do in Omaha…..I will be exploring them over the next few weeks.
Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts
Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail Visitor Center
Gerald R. Ford Birth Site & Gardens
Jazz on the Green
Playing with Fire Concert Series
Shakespeare on the Green
Sadly I never visited any of these places myself, either. I remember watching the Boys Town movie when I was a kid, on tv of course, with Spencer Tracy and the story of starting the home for troubled boys. It’s a wonderful institution. I also am old enough to remember the song He Ain’t Heavy, He’s my Brother which comes from their.
One of my favorite places in Omaha that you didn’t mention is the Old Market which of course if you follow my blog is the old historic shopping district in the warehouses by the river.
And don’t forget to drive by Warren Buffet’s house in Dundee.
Have Fun!
Yeah, Yeah I know the Old Market…..I love the Old Market but it’s hardly free unless you count drooling in the shops as free!!! I went there one of the first nights I was here and got depressed LOL…..gonna wait to go back when I have a few spare dollars to go shopping! I found this really great indian shop that had the coolest stuff and it was very inexpensive…..definitely going back there!
Anywhere that involves shopping is a big huge no no for me right now!!
Lance just posted that the Henry Doorly Zoo was voted the best in the country, so that was pretty interesting.
I don’t remember meeting Ed in Annapolis but it’s possible. I was there from 78 to 97 and lived several places too besides Hillsmere. I landed finally off West Street behind the new Loews hotel.
Hi Jena —
Thanks for filling us in on all there is to do in Omaha. I went through Omaha twice in 2010 – once on my way to Oregon to record two audio books with an author in eastern OR (ultimately ending up in Fresno/Clovis, CA via Yosemite visiting some outlaws – former in-laws) and the second time on my way to Rapid City, SD to complete my residency change and get my drivers license. I’m sure I’ll be going through Omaha again in the not too distant future so I’ll make plans to stop and see all this stuff I didn’t know about.
Also, we’re going to have to talk about Annapolis sometime. You were just a kid when I lived there from 74 til 84. But, you may have encountered my young sister-in-law or brothers-in law who migrated out from Fresno CA to Annapolis/Edgewater in 77 they ranged in age from about 10 to 16. I attended Heritage Baptist Church on Forest Drive. I lived in Edgewater much of the time I was in the Annapolis area. But, I did live in Hillsmere Shores over by Eastport for a couple years. Anyway, it would be run to learn what you remember and compare notes.
The world truly is smaller then we realize.
Enthusiastically,
Ed
Hey Ed – Yes there is a lot to do in Omaha – and I only listed the FREE stuff LOL! When I first told people in Annapolis that I was moving to Omaha they thought I was insane! Every single person wanted to know why I would want to live in the middle of a corn field…..one person even gave me the Children of The Corn movie as a going away present!!! Silly people! I have tried to tell people on the east coast (since I moved back) that I actually had a lot more to do in Omaha then where I was living now (Fredericksburg, VA) they don’t believe me!! I love Omaha.
I think we moved to Annapolis when I was about 10ish so that would have been 78. I’m 43 now. I went to Hillsmere Elementary, Key School (for one miserable year), Annapolis Middle and then Annapolis Senior where I graduated in 87. We lived in Hillsmere but then I moved many, many, many times over the years…..I think I lived in at least 10 different areas of Annapolis!
I think you have been talking to my mom about meeting up at some point. Maybe you 2 knew each other in Annapolis?? I would love to meet up sometime as well and “compare notes” 🙂
Jena
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