Visiting the Twin Cities with Kids

April 21, 2018

Special thanks to The Roseville Visitors Association for partnering with us and hosting our stay so that we can share all about the fun things there are to do in Roseville and the Twin Cities! This article may contain affiliate links.

If you are planning a trip to the Twin Cities, Roseville, MN, is the perfect hub for all of your fun adventures! Located within minutes of Minneapolis and St. Paul (just 10 minutes from both downtowns), it’s close proximity to attractions and restaurants make it the perfect destination on your next vacation to the Twin Cities!

Science Museum of Minnesota

A highlight of our trip, the Science Museum of Minnesota is full of hands-on, engaging exhibits, perfect for the whole family!

Visit multiple floors to experience interactive exhibits including The Mississippi River, The Human Body, Experiment Gallery, Math Moves, and more.

Throughout the day, enjoy presentations led by enthusiastic leaders, on a variety of engaging topics, with experiments and audience participation.

Our favorite exhibit at The Science Museum of Minnesota, Sportsology had several interactive exhibits that allowed you to test your skills with those of collegiate and professional athletes.

Como Park Zoo and Conservatory

We loved our visit to the Como Park Zoo and Conservatory! At the time of writing, it was FREE Admission (donations welcome.)

The flowers in the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory were stunning and brought a wonderful sense of Spring in the middle of Winter.

The Zoo housed a variety of animals, including an indoor Tropical Encounter Exhibit. The kids loved the Zoo, which was the perfect size for an afternoon visit.

Mall of America and Other Favorite Attractions

A fun stop for any visit to the Twin Cities is the Mall of America. With 400+ Events held at Mall of America each year, there is always something fun going on!

Nickelodeon Universe, located in the middle of Mall of America, was a special treat for our family! With 27 fun-filled rides, including some we have never seen before at other parks, it was very fun-filled day.

Outdoor Fun

Minnesota is full of outdoor activities and experiences during all Seasons of the year. Minnehaha Falls in Minnehaha Park are stunning during the Winter, and I imagine equally amazing during the rest of the year!

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As one can imagine, lakes are abundant in the Twin Cities. Even though it was Winter, there were people everywhere enjoying the outdoors, walking around the lakes, cross country skiing, and playing hockey.

The beautiful skyline!

Where to Eat in Roseville

The Country Inn & Suites in Roseville was centrally located to many delicious restaurants!

$A sign on the side of a building that reads, 13 Lucky\'s Pub in Minnesota.$

Our favorite restaurants in Roseville include La Casita, Lucky’s 13 Pub, and Pizza Luce.

Be sure to check out the Daily Specials at La Casita including a Taco Night and Kids Eat Free night!

Lucky’s 13 Pub provided a warm atmosphere, friendly wait staff, with a variety of menu options.

At Pizza Luce, the baked potato pizza was delicious, and my husband really enjoyed his Vegan sandwich.

$The storefront for Snuffy\'s Malt Shop in Minnesota.$

We happened to find this perfect little diner in St. Paul, Snuffy’s Malt Shop, with delicious food. The malts and ice cream was outstanding, too!

Where to Stay in the Twin Cities

Roseville, Minnesota, is the perfect place to stay when visiting the Twin Cities! With less traffic and wonderful hotels and restaurants, it provides a perfect resting stop after a fun-filled day.

The Country Inn & Suites in Roseville (affiliate link) was clean, family-friendly, with a friendly and helpful staff.

The rooms were spacious with a pull-out sofa, desk, seating areas, and 2 TV’s. This was perfect for our family of 4!

The beautifully decorated lobby welcomed visitors with a comfortable ambience.

This was a perfect spot to enjoy the delicious breakfast that was included every morning, or to relax and visit with friends after a long day.

My kids enjoyed the pool every night!

It’s the little things that make all the difference, and these delicious cookies in the front lobby were a perfect touch!

More Midwest Travel Resources:

Fun at Mall of America and Nickelodeon Universe!

April 21, 2018

Special thanks to The Roseville Visitors Association for partnering with us and hosting our stay. Roseville, MN, is the perfect location for visiting and exploring all of the fun things to do in the Twin Cities!

A fun stop for any visit to the Twin Cities is the Mall of America! With 400+ Events, Nickelodeon Universe, the LEGO Store, and more, there is always something fun going on!

Planning a trip to Minneapolis and St. Paul? Discover fun things to do Visiting Twin Cities with Kids!

The sheer size is something to behold!

Nickelodeon Universe

Nickelodeon Universe, located in the middle of Mall of America, is the highlight of any visit to Mall of America!

The nation’s largest indoor theme park is filled with landscaping and is all under a ceiling that allows natural light in and so you feel like you are outside. Perfect for year-round fun in the middle of winter, or on a hot Summer day!

Two fun rides we had not seen before – The Brain Surge and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Shell Shock (in the back)!

In the Ghost Blasters ride, each rider gets to shoot at various targets – see who can get the highest score!

One of the kids favorite shows when they were little, The Backyardigans!

The log ride is always a favorite, an I loved that I hardly got wet!

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One of our favorite rides is the Avatar Airbender, designed like a skateboard!

With 27 fun-filled rides, including several we have never seen before at other parks, Nickelodeon Universe was very fun-filled day!

The LEGO Store

The LEGO creations on top and in The LEGO Store are amazing! Be sure to walk around and view them from the store level, as well as the level looking down. The detail and size are incredible – this one pictured above is over 2 stories tall!

Kids will also love playing with a variety of LEGO pieces in a little play area in front of the store. Parents can get in on the fun, too!

More Fun at Mall of America

The Disney Store is a fun stop, with a small area with a video playing for kids to watch, and a little castle with an interactive mirror!

Stop in the Beef Jerky Experience to taste a variety of delicious and unique flavors of Beef Jerky!

In addition to Nickelodeon Universe, there are a variety of Entertainment Options including Moose Mountain Miniature Golf, Sea Life Aquarium, Crayola Experience, and more!

HELPFUL TIP: Take A Picture of Where you Parked

With the size of Mall of America, it is easy to forget where you parked. I took a picture on my phone to make it easier to remember!

Planning a trip to Minneapolis and St. Paul? Discover fun things to do Visiting Twin Cities with Kids!

More Midwest Travel Resources

Creative Fun at It’s Yours Pottery!

March 26, 2018

$A close up of someone hand painting an owl figurine at It\'s Yours Pottery.$

Come enjoy yourself at It’s Yours Pottery! We are excited to partner with them this year to help share all of the fun family-friendly events and activities they offer!

Get a taste of the FUN at It’s Yours Pottery here:

Family-Friendly Creative Fun

$A dining room table in front of a pottery display at It\'s Yours Pottery.$

If you are looking for a family-friendly atmosphere to express a little creativity, this is the perfect place for you!

At It’s Yours Pottery, located at 132nd & Center, guests can enjoy Paint-Your-Own Pottery, hand-building with clay, glass fusion and canvas painting.

Plus, enjoy Special Events including

Summer Camps
Kids Night Out
Family Nights
Girls Night Out
Specials
and Birthday Parties!

Paint-Your-Own Pottery

We first picked out our pottery, and had many choices including animals, decorations, housewares, frames, and perfect gifts!

Choose from a Variety of Pottery Pieces

$A display of unfinish pottery at It\'s Yours Pottery.$ $A display of unfinished pottery at It\'s Yours Pottery.$ $A love figurine ready to paint at It\'s Yours Pottery.$

Perfect Gifts for Mother’s Day and Father’s Day!

$Unfinished pottery at It\'s Yours Pottery.$ $Mom and dad mugs to paint at It\'s Yours Pottery.$

Painting!

Paint-Your-Own Pottery at It’s Yours Pottery is a fun outing you can do together as a family!

Be sure to take advantage of their Current Special Savings Days including Two-4-Tuesday and Family Sunday. Find out more here!

We loved choosing from all of the various paints they offered! This included pastel colors, bright and bold, glittery colors, speckled paints, and various shades to get the perfect color we were looking for.

$A display of painting supplies at It\'s Yours Pottery.$

Each table was prepared with a variety of brush sizes and plates to create our own palettes.

$A table with painting supplies at It\'s Yours Pottery.$

When it came time to paint – it was very relaxing! I loved watching my kids express their creativity with the colors they chose and the patience and attention to detail they showed while painting.

$A close up of someone painting at It\'s Yours Pottery.$

The Finished Masterpieces

After painting our masterpieces, we left them there for about a week to be fired in the kiln. We were so excited to see our finished projects!

Birthday Parties at It’s Yours Pottery

$A prepared group of tables for a painting class at It\'s Yours Pottery.$

Celebrate your child’s special day with Birthday Parties at It’s Yours Pottery!

Guests will be in a special section with a variety of fun projects to choose from. There was a birthday party going on while we were there, and they all looked like they were having a blast!

More Creative Ideas

Fun Door Hangers and Wood Painting!

$A table in front of a wall of unpainted wooden items at It\'s Yours Pottery.$

$A group of painted items at It\'s Yours Pottery.$

Candle-Making!

$A group of unpainted candles at It\'s Yours Pottery.$

Cactus and Succulents!

$A group of unpainted items at It\'s Yours Pottery.$

$A display of unpainted letters at It\'s Yours Pottery.$

Husker Spirit!

$A table with decorations at It\'s Yours Pottery.$

Special Events

2018 Summer Kids Camps and Classes – ‘Summer Sun…Summer ARTrageous FUN’

Pottery Painting, Clay Hand-building, Glass fusion, Candle Making, Canvas Painting and multi media projects. Find out more here!

Kids Night Out

It’s Yours Pottery’s Kids Night Out offers 2.5 hours of fun for the kids and free time for parents! Kids will enjoy pizza, creativity (Different projects each session!), games, and movie fun!

Find out about upcoming events here and ENTER TO WIN 1 Kids Night Out Session below!

Family Night

Spend a FUN family-friendly evening at It’s Yours Pottery, enjoying pizza followed with letting your inner artist out to play! Family Fun Night is the 2nd Friday of the month. Find out more here!

Girls Night Out

Gather your friends and make plans for an evening of pottery painting, glass fusion, canvas or wood decor painting, candle making or even create in our Cactus/Succulent Bar. Girls Night Out is the 4th Friday of the month. Find out more here!

Giveaway: Win 1 Kids Night Out Certificate at It’s Yours Pottery! (ENDED)

One Family Fun in Omaha reader will win a Gift Certificate good for 1 Kids Night Out (value $30). Can be used anytime through 12/31/18. Winner will need to schedule Kids Out Night and redeem with It’s Yours Pottery.

This giveaway has ended. Many thanks to all who entered! Congratulations to Elizabeth I!

GIVEAWAY ENDS: Sunday, April 8, 2018, 11:59 p.m., CST.

OTHER: Entrants must be 19 or older and located in the US only. The winners will be selected using random.org and notified via email. Winners must respond within 48 hours to claim their prize, or another winner will be chosen. Only one entry (+ bonus entries) per person. Duplicate entries will be deleted.

Disclosure: Many thanks to It’s Yours Pottery who provided the gift certificate for the giveaway. See disclosure and privacy policy here. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed, or administered by, or associated with, Facebook.

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Experience light at KANEKO

January 19, 2018

Looking for a unique experience with your family in Omaha?

Visit light at KANEKO, a FREE interactive and visual art experience that explores art and science. We loved exploring all of the different exhibits, especially the infinity room!

Watch the video below to get a taste of all that you will experience!

light at KANEKO

Dates: December 5, 2017 – March 23, 2018

Times: Tuesday – Friday, 12 p.m. – 8 p.m. & Saturday, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. (Occasionally closed for special events. It is always a good idea to visit their website and verify before visiting.)

Location: KANEKO, 1111 Jones St. Omaha, NE.

Find out more here!

Special Event: FAMILY DAY

Experience a Special Event for Families: Playable Light!

On Saturday, January 27 from 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m., visitors can participate in a variety of exploratory stations, or participate in a Scavenger Hunt around KANEKO!

Free and open to the public. Supplies are provided while they last.

Watch and listen to this video to get a taste of light at KANEKO!

Find More Fun in Omaha:

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Things to Do in Omaha with Kids this Weekend

January 5, 2018

Enjoy many things to do in Omaha with kids this weekend!

Join our growing community of Email Subscribers and keep updated on the FUN EVENTS THIS WEEKEND plus more Omaha fun and Sign up for our Free Email Newsletter!

Things to Do in Omaha with Kids this Weekend

Find the Best Events each Month:

Find more fun each Season here:

Save on Family Fun at Omaha Area Attractions

Save on family fun at several local attractions with these current discounts available now through Groupon and Living Social.

Indoor Playgrounds and Activities

Discover many Indoor Play Centers in the Omaha Area that provide a great option for active play during cold and snowy weather or hot summer days with Trampolines, Bounce Houses, Warrior Obstacle Courses, Open Gym Time, Indoor Pools, and more!

10+ FREE Things to Do Indoors in Omaha

Enjoy 10+ ideas of Free things to do indoors in Omaha, plus more ideas for $5 or less!

10 Nebraska Sites to Experience the Total Solar Eclipse

July 11, 2017

$A close up of an eclipse with overlay text that reads, \"2017 Total Solar Eclipse Viewing Events in Nebraska.\"$

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, meaning I will receive a commission if you purchase through these links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

The Total Solar Eclipse is happening on August 21, 2017, and many communities in Nebraska have fun activities planned!

To have a Total Solar Eclipse within driving distance is very exciting! The last one in the continental United States was in 1979.

Keep updated on the latest Omaha fun and Sign up for our Free Email Newsletter!

Protect Your Eyes

Be sure to protect your eyes with special Eclipse Viewing glasses. Never look at the phases of the eclipse or directly at the sun without proper eye protection, including with binoculars, a telescope, or camera unless you have specialized equipment or proper filters.

The experts recommend to buy your eclipse glasses from trusted suppliers such as Rainbow Symphony, Thousand Oaks, or American Paper Optics.

Path of Totality in Nebraska

To see the total eclipse, you must be in the Path of Totality, which runs across the entire state. The path of totality is about 70 miles wide and will run the entire length of the country.

You can see the total eclipse any place in the path of totality. However, the closer you are to the center line the longer the eclipse will be for you.

To find out when the eclipse will happen, visit Xavier Jubier’s 2017 Total Eclipse Interactive Google Map.

10 Nebraska Sites to Experience the Total Eclipse

Grand Island

Eclipse Event – Monday, August 21, 2017, FREE Admission

The “Gem Over the Prairie” Eclipse Viewing event at the Stuhr Museum of the Prairie Pioneer will provide the perfect venue for viewing the Solar Eclipse. Viewing glasses will be provided free (while supplies last). This event is free and open to the public.

Visitors are welcome to stay after the eclipse and visit Railroad Town and the Stuhr Building. Read more about visiting Grand Island with Kids here.

Nebraska State Parks

Special events planned at Indian Cave State Park, Fort Kearny State Historical Park, Fort Robinson State Park, and other state parks and recreation areas. Eclipse glasses will be available at these parks while supplies last; bring your own to ensure you’ll have a pair for safe viewing. Find out more here.

Kearney / Ravenna, NE

Kearney and Ravenna are collaborating on a weekend of events, with watch sites at the Arch Monument, various parks around the cities, and at the University of Nebraska at Kearney Cope Stadium, for a free, public Watch Party from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. The UNK Watch Party includes games, music and other live entertainment, and glasses are available for a small fee. Ravenna’s Hometown Eclipse Festival will also host several viewing events with the main locations including entertainment, souvenir vendors, food vendors, activities and more! Find out more about Kearney and Ravenna Events here.

Hastings, NE

SolFest 2017 is a weekend celebration located in Hastings, Nebraska. An incredible dinner, world-class guests, a day of live music, and Downtown Hastings transformed into an arts and crafts show. Find out more about Hastings SolFest 2017 here.

Fairmont, NE

Fairmont, NE, is located directly in the path of totality. Find out more here.

Beatrice, NE

Viewing site will be Homestead National Monument of America, Gage County Fairgrounds, Hidden Acres Golf Course in Beatrice, Blue Springs, Pickrell and Virginia. Find out more here.

Wessels Living History Farm – York, NE

They are accepting reservations for a great place on the farm to view the sky. Porta-potties will be available as well as breakfast and lunch concessions. Find out more here.

Pawnee County, NE

Reserve your place at several viewing locations in the county. Find out more here.

Lincoln, NE

Lincoln will enjoy over a minute of totality. Enjoy a Haymarket Park Science Fair and special Lincoln Saltdogs Baseball game. Find out more here.

Falls City

Observers there will see (approximately) 2m 37s of totality, one the longest in the US. Falls City will be hosting “Dine in the Dark”, a luncheon on the downtown cobblestone streets. The ticket bundle will include the protective solar glasses you need to safely view the eclipse, a commemorative t-shirt and your meal ticket. Find out more here.

Crete and Wilbur, NE

Crete and Wilbur, NE, have partnered to bring Saline Solar Shadow – Eclipse Weekend Celebration. Find out more here.

Alliance, NE

Alliance, Nebraska is located in the center of the eclipse path. Find out more here.

Omaha and Surrounding Areas

That day, Omaha will experience 98 percent of totality at approximately 1 p.m.

Some events scheduled in Omaha include:

Fontenelle Forest – Bellevue, NE

Solar Eclipse Trivia Hunt – August 14 (5 – 7 p.m.)
Wetlands Adventure – Partial Eclipse – August 21 (11 a.m. – 1 p.m.)

Wildlife Safari Park – August 21, Ashland, NE

Wildife Safari Park is right outside the path of totality. Enjoy a family-friendly viewing party of our own and other fun activities at 1 p.m. on the day of the eclipse.

Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum – Ashland, NE

The SAC Aerospace Museum is offering a Solar Eclipse event with a science education forum, free Planetarium shows, free eclipse viewing glasses, and outdoor viewing. Although the Museum is not in the path of totality, guests will see a partial eclipse from the museum.
The indoor festivities are part of general admission, and the outdoor viewing and glasses are free for all guests. General admission is $12/ adult, $11/ senior or military, $6/youth 4-12 years of age.

Eclipse at Fun-Plex

Experience the changing sky while floating around the lazy river. Arrive early and get a FREE pair of solar viewing glasses. Hours – 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. Cost – $12.95 per person.
Please note: Only the waterpark is open for the “Eclipse at the Plex” event. Rides & mini golf are not available. Solar glasses are available only while supplies last

Plan Your Visit

As Nebraska is one of the nearest locations for many neighboring states, many visitors are expected. Officials recommend arriving 1-2 days ahead of time. Most hotels within the Path of Totality have been booked for months, but some farms and other areas are opening their land for camping.

As of July 10, 2017 – Ravenna, NE (about 30 miles North of Kearney) – Just added 125 lakeside campsites. These will probably go quickly.

Helpful Eclipse Resources

Hyde Observatory

Nebraska Eclipse

Eclipse 2017

Great American Eclipse

Omaha Resources

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We are excited to experience this Total Solar Eclipse in Nebraska!

$A close up of an eclipse with overlay text that reads, \"2017 Total Solar Eclipse Viewing Events in Nebraska.\"$

View Helpful Viewing Guides in Other Cities

Greenville, SC – Kidding Around Greenville

Greenville, Columbia, and Charleston, SC – CSRAKids.com

Nashville, TN – Nashville Fun for Families

Northern Virginia and DC – Fairfax Family Fun

Southern Illinois – Chambanamoms.com

Disclosure: Contains Amazon affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. See disclosure and privacy policy here.

5 Things We Love about the Children’s Adventure Trails at the Omaha Zoo

June 30, 2017

$The entrance sign to the Children\'s Adventure Trails at the Omaha Zoo.$

The newest attraction at the Omaha Henry Doorly Zoo is full of fun, adventure, and play for kids of all ages!

The Children’s Adventure Trails, included with regular admission or membership, is an amazing new interactive space helping kids learn through play in nature!

We are so lucky to have such an amazing Zoo right here in Omaha!

Keep updated on the latest Omaha fun and Sign up for our Free Email Newsletter!

1. Three-Story Treehouse

$A group of people climbing a wooden structure at Children\'s Adventure Trails at the Omaha Zoo.$

The highlight of Children’s Adventure Trails is a 3-story tall Treehouse! Kids of all ages can climb, slide, crawl through climbing nets, and run through swinging bridges.

This also offers a wonderful panoramic view of the entire Children’s Adventure Trails area!

$A rope bridge at Children\'s Adventure Trails at the Omaha Zoo.$

The swinging bridges and climb-throughs were a big hit with my kids!

2. Animals

$Climbing activities at Children\'s Adventure Trails at the Omaha Zoo.$

Directly above all of the climbing nets and treehouse, monkeys play and crawl through their own tunnel that connects to their house. The Zoo has thought of everything, with protective barriers underneath so nothing will fall from the monkeys to the kids playing below.

Additionally, there are animal areas where kids can explore including goats, tunnels to the prairie dogs, and a Budgie Bird exhibit.

3. Splash in the Water and Play in the Sand

$A waterfall at Children\'s Adventure Trails at the Omaha Zoo.$

Children’s Adventure Trails offers multiple areas to splash and play, including this fun waterfall that kids can run behind.

$A stream in a water feature in front of a building at Children\'s Adventure Trails at the Omaha Zoo.$

Kids will love running through the water stream, crossing the bridges and log crossings. Shovels and buckets are provided to encourage children to play, climb, and explore in the sand.

4. Multiple Play Areas

$Guest platforms over water at Children\'s Adventure Trails at the Omaha Zoo.$

At Raft Crossing, families and friends can all work together on the same raft or compete with one another to pull themselves from one side to the other.

Children are invited to explore several play areas including a Web Climber, a Honeycomb Climber and an oversized eagle’s nest. For kids in strollers, they have a Stroller Coaster – a paved area with various inclines and textures.

5. Green Space

$People in a grassy area at Children\'s Adventure Trails at the Omaha Zoo.$

This beautiful space with several berms provided a wonderful space for families to relax and enjoy the area around them. Several adult and kid-sized rocking chairs also provided an opportunity to rest tired feet. After a busy day at the zoo, this space offered a nice area for parents to relax (surrounded by oversized insects) and watch as their kids play.

Helpful Tips

The Children’s Adventure Trails is open 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. daily. It is included with regular admission or membership.

It is located near the North Entrance, which is now open for the season from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. daily. Guests can exit through the area until 5:30 p.m.

$The entrance sign to the Children\'s Adventure Trails at the Omaha Zoo.$

Find more Helpful Resources:

Island Oasis Water Park in Grand Island

June 30, 2017

Our visit to Island Oasis Water Park was one of our stops on our fun visit to Grand Island. Special thanks to Visit Grand Island for providing tickets for our visit. See more about Visiting Grand Island with Kids here!

We love Waterparks and Grand Island’s Island Oasis Water Park is a perfect place to cool off on a warm summer day!

Two fun speed slides for the brave!

One of the best lazy rivers we have visited! It was long, flowed along nicely, with several water features along the way. Very fun for the whole family!

The Island Oasis Water Park included a variety of waterslides to choose from.

Large pool area, with climbing structures, basketball hoops, and a wave pool!

Loved the Zero entry and tiny waterslide in the kiddie area!

Several umbrellas provided shaded seating with a sandy beach for kids to play in.

$A sign on a building that reads, \"Island Oasis Water Park.\"$

The Island Oasis Water Park offered fun for all ages!

See more about Visiting Grand Island with Kids including the Stuhr Living History Museum here!

See more Midwest Outdoor Waterparks here!

Disclosure: Special thanks to Visit Grand Island for providing passes to the Island Oasis Waterpark for our visit. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

5 Reasons to Love Oceans of Fun

June 5, 2017

I remember going to Worlds of Fun and Oceans of Fun often as a child, making the drive down to Kansas City with my family.

Waterparks offer the perfect Summer vacation, and help create fun memories the whole family can enjoy.

I was thrilled when Worlds of Fun and Cedar Fair invited my family for a sponsored visit to experience Oceans of Fun, and share in the fun with my own children.

It was a perfect Summer day – slightly overcast and warm. Oceans of Fun exceeded my expectations, and we had a wonderful fun-filled day!

>> Find current discounts to Oceans of Fun and Worlds of Fun here! <<

5 Reasons to Love Oceans of Fun

1) Multiple Waterslides

Oceans of Fun offered a variety of waterslides to choose from for various ages and levels of intensity including numerous kiddie waterslides, the Diamond Head waterslides, Typhoon speed slides, and the Predator’s Plunge Body Slides which drop you from a standing position! (Fun to watch, but none of us attempted.)

A group of blue waterslides at Oceans of Fun.

Diamond Head Waterslides

A close up of two long waterslides at Oceans of Fun.

Typhoon Waterslides

2) Hurricane Falls

Having never experienced or even seen a 4-person waterslide, we were eager to try Hurricane Falls. Imagine a mix of a waterslide and roller coaster – it was fun, a little scary, and definitely worth the wait. It was one of our favorite waterslides at Oceans of Fun!

https://www.instagram.com/p/BU7Iwp5lz3J/?taken-by=familyfuninomaha

3) Five Amazing Tube Slides

Our family loves the Tube Slides! You can choose from a single tube or double tube, which is perfect for going down the slide with a younger child.

Shark’s Revenge offered two tube slides with varying degrees of drops – a little scary, but oh so fun! The Constrictor (purple) tube slide brought the rider through a series of tunnels and turns. The Aruba Tuba slides were the perfect blend of fun and turns, with options for single or double tubes.

Shark’s Revenge and Constrictor Tube Slides

A group of people in a swimming pool at Oceans of Fun.

Aruba Tuba Tube Slides

4) Many Kiddie Areas

Kids of all ages can enjoy Oceans of Fun, with multiple areas for little children to splash and play, ride little waterslides, and have fun!

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5) Pools, Lazy River, and Wave Pool

Coconut Cove blended a large pool with fun water features and smaller waterslides.

A group of people swimming in a wave pool at Oceans of Fun.

Coconut Cove

Love the Lazy River!

A group of people swimming in lazy river at Oceans of Fun.

Caribbean Cooler Lazy River

The Wave Pool has a fun timer so you knew exactly when the big waves were coming!

A group of people walking swimming in a wave pool at Oceans of Fun.

Surf City Wave Pool

Worlds of Fun

After our fun-filled day at Oceans of Fun, we ventured over to Worlds of Fun for a few rollercoasters and our favorite area – Planet Snoopy – full of kid-sized and parent-loved rides for kids of all ages. Read more about Planet Snoopy and our visit to Worlds of Fun last year here!

Worlds of Fun Village

Disclosure: Lodging provided by Worlds of Fun Village. All opinions are my own.

After we enjoyed every last minute of the park’s opening hours, we settled in right next door at the convenient Worlds of Fun Village. The kids loved staying in this little cottage, which offered a scenic view of Worlds of Fun and a restful night.

Overall, we loved our visit to Oceans of Fun and Worlds of Fun. With Worlds of Fun and Oceans of Fun as one park for one price, you can enjoy all of the rides, slides and attractions.

Check out their full list of upcoming special events including:

Public Safety and Military Appreciation Days
Kansas City Flavor
Father’s Day
Celebrate America
Coaster Campout
Halloween Haunt
The Great Pumpkin Fest
WinterFest (Coming November 2017!)

It brought back a lot of memories from my childhood, and created new ones with my own children!

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Cedar Fair Entertainment Company in conjunction with Blog Meets Brand, and I have been provided tickets to Worlds of Fun/Oceans of Fun and compensated for my participation. Lodging provided by Worlds of Fun Village. All opinions are my own.

Find more Helpful Resources:

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LEGOLAND Discovery Center Kansas City

August 15, 2014

Disclosure: I am a Moms Connect member of US Family Guide, and in exchange for my participation in sharing information, discount offers, reviews, and giveaways for family-friendly attractions, US Family Guide has provided passes for my family.

One word: Excitement.

From the model rooms of Star Wars to the cityscape of Kansas City, LEGOLAND Discovery Center in Kansas City was fun for the whole family!

We began the day playing on the Kingdom Quest laser ride, a favorite the whole family can enjoy. We loved challenging each other to see who could get the highest score! The flying chariot at Merlin’s Apprentice, where guests pedal to go higher and higher, was also a highlight for the kids. It was helpful that we arrived right when they opened, going before the crowds that are typical later in the afternoon.

LEGO Miniland was full of intricate replicas of popular Kansas City landmarks and city skyline. The kids loved the interactive race track, and pushing the buttons on the displays of the Wizard of Oz to see the wicked witch ‘melting’.

This year, they also have a special Miniland Model Display of Star Wars Episode II! The amazing design and detail are incredible to see. As parents, this was our favorite part, really looking at each building and seeing what it took to create the final display.

The kids loved the play area, full of adventure through climbing nets and slides. The man staffing the play land was especially sweet, taking care of the kids and making sure a parent was present when they entered and left the play area. This was especially important when there was a large amount of people around.

The Quake station tested your building skills. You can build anything you want and hit the button to simulate a earthquake and see if your building can hold up to the shaking.

The Race Track, one of the most popular areas, featured 2 tracks that you can go head to head with others that have built cars from a vast range of blocks and wheels. The kids had a blast racing their cars down the ramps with some jumping over the finish line! It was fun to see the interaction of the parents with their kids working together to create different shaped cars.

The 4D Cinema featured two fun movies that made you feel like you were part of the action with the 3-D glasses, and wind, rain, and snow providing a cool experience. Be prepared to get a tiny bit wet!

LEGOLAND Discovery Center also has a Duplo area for the smaller kids, and has birthday rooms and a café. Every hour, a Master Builder Academy is also offered for those who want to build a small model with one of the staff.

We had a wonderful experience at the LEGOLAND Discovery Center in Kansas City!

Science Museum of Minnesota

Como Park Zoo and Conservatory

Mall of America and Other Favorite Attractions

Outdoor Fun

Where to Eat in Roseville

Where to Stay in the Twin Cities

More Midwest Travel Resources:

Nickelodeon Universe

The LEGO Store

More Fun at Mall of America

More Midwest Travel Resources

Get a taste of the FUN at It’s Yours Pottery here:

Family-Friendly Creative Fun

Paint-Your-Own Pottery

Choose from a Variety of Pottery Pieces

Perfect Gifts for Mother’s Day and Father’s Day!

Painting!

The Finished Masterpieces

My daughter’s colorful owl!

I love the blue speckled background!

All of our finished masterpieces!

Birthday Parties at It’s Yours Pottery

More Creative Ideas

Fun Door Hangers and Wood Painting!

Candle-Making!

Cactus and Succulents!

Husker Spirit!

Special Events

2018 Summer Kids Camps and Classes – ‘Summer Sun…Summer ARTrageous FUN’

Giveaway: Win 1 Kids Night Out Certificate at It’s Yours Pottery! (ENDED)

light at KANEKO

Special Event: FAMILY DAY

Find More Fun in Omaha:

Things to Do in Omaha with Kids this Weekend

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Find more fun each Season here:

Protect Your Eyes

Path of Totality in Nebraska

10 Nebraska Sites to Experience the Total Eclipse

Grand Island

Eclipse Event – Monday, August 21, 2017, FREE Admission

Nebraska State Parks

Kearney / Ravenna, NE

Hastings, NE

Fairmont, NE

Beatrice, NE

Wessels Living History Farm – York, NE

Pawnee County, NE

Lincoln, NE

Falls City

Crete and Wilbur, NE

Alliance, NE

Omaha and Surrounding Areas

Fontenelle Forest – Bellevue, NE

Wildlife Safari Park – August 21, Ashland, NE

Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum – Ashland, NE

Plan Your Visit

Helpful Eclipse Resources

Omaha Resources

View Helpful Viewing Guides in Other Cities

1. Three-Story Treehouse

2. Animals

3. Splash in the Water and Play in the Sand

4. Multiple Play Areas

5. Green Space

Helpful Tips

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5 Reasons to Love Oceans of Fun

1) Multiple Waterslides

2) Hurricane Falls

3) Five Amazing Tube Slides

4) Many Kiddie Areas

5) Pools, Lazy River, and Wave Pool

Worlds of Fun

Worlds of Fun Village

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