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Planning a vacation in 2018?

Keep in the mind the 2018 Free Entrance Days in the National Parks!

On the following days in 2018, all National Park Service sites that charge an entrance fee will offer free admission to everyone.

Mark your calendar for these entrance fee–free dates in 2018:

• January 15: Martin Luther King Jr. Day

• April 21: First day of National Park Week

• September 22: National Public Lands Day

• November 11: Veterans Day

Find one of the 400 National Parks here!

Every Kid in A Park

Do you have a Fourth grader this year?

The Every Kid in a Park program provides all 4th grade students and their families with FREE admission to National Parks and other federal lands and waters for an entire year!

What a wonderful way to explore beautiful nature and get outdoors with your family!

More Helpful Resources:

• Current Discounts in Omaha
• Kids Eat Free
• Free Things to Do in Omaha

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!

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This Summer, we were looking to go on a Weekend Road Trip close to Omaha. With Grand Island a little less than 2.5 hours from Omaha via I-80, it was a perfect destination to explore with kids!

Special thanks to Visit Grand Island for partnering with us by providing passes and hotel accommodations for our visit.

Stuhr Living History Museum

The Stuhr Museum of the Prairie Pioneer invites visitors to immerse themselves in a Living History Experience. The mission of Stuhr Museum is to “preserve and portray the inspiring era of the pioneer townbuilder who settled the first communities in Nebraska.”

Take a walk through Railroad Town and explore life as it was in 1897. Visit with costumed historians who are in the homes and businesses in town engaging in the activities of their day, ready to answer questions and help visitors understand life in the 19th century.

One of our favorite stops was the Tinsmith Shop. A very skilled tinsmith shared how he made each item in the shop inviting the kids to help him with various steps. As a retired schoolteacher, he was excellent in helping the kids learn while also sharing interesting facts about life in 1897.

It was fascinating to watch the authentic old tools being used and how creative and skilled they were in making various cups, lunch buckets, and more. He also helped my kids make a bit of tinsel for the Christmas tree.

In the Mercantile Shop, visitors can browse a variety of items and candies. This young man engaged my kids in a fun popular game in one of the houses!

Visitors can walk through several homes full of authentic furniture and decorations, including bedrooms, children’s toys, kitchenwares, a dumbwaiter, and more, with historians eager to help answer any questions visitors have.

My kids were fascinated with the Fire Station!

The Stuhr Museum has over 60 historic and recreated structures, including this Post Office, Blacksmith Shop, Bank, Telephone Exchange, and Silver Dollar Cafe – perfect for lunch or a refreshing drink.

After Railroad Town, follow the circular drive to the Rural Schoolhouse and Church, 1893 Farmstead, Taylor Ranch, and Pawnee Earth Lodge. The Visitors Center is in a beautiful building – they were preparing for a wedding while we were there!

Be sure to stop by the Antique Farm Machinery and Auto Exhibit! It is FULL of unique cars and farm machinery and equipment. Kids will enjoy following the signs just for them helping explain fun facts.

I remember going to the Stuhr Museum when I was younger, walking along the boardwalks and exploring Railroad Town. It was fun to share this experience now with my children!

Photo provided by The Stuhr Museum

Special events take place year round including the 4th of July celebration, Christmas Past & Present event, Memorial Day event, Cowboy Night, Prairie Princess Party and others.

FREE Admission Sunday, July 30, 2017

Celebrate the Stuhr Museum’s 50th Anniversary Celebration with FREE Admission, Noon – 5 p.m. on Sunday, July 30, 2017.

The day will also include the “Painting the Legacy of Nebraska” exhibit and a FREE ice cream social in Railroad Town at 2 p.m.

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

The “Gem Over the Prairie” Eclipse Viewing event 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.

Island Oasis Waterpark

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

With a variety of waterslides, amazing lazy river (one of the best we have experienced!), and wave pool, it was a day full of fun!

Read more about our visit to Island Oasis Water Park here!

More Fun Sites to Explore

Stolley Park is a beautiful park in the middle of the city. Kids will love Kids Kingdom castle-like park, and can take a train ride on Stolley Park Railroad.

Mormon Island State Recreation Area offers swimming, camping, fishing, and picnic areas.

A fun restaurant that recently opened in Grand Island, Kinkaider Brewing Co. offers delicious food, a fun atmosphere, and extensive beer choices in the Railside Area in downtown Grand Island.

Holiday Inn Express & Suites

Special thanks to Visit Grand Island for providing lodging during our visit at the Holiday Inn Express & Suites.

With an indoor pool and free delicious breakfast (and yummy cinnamon rolls!), the centrally located Holiday Inn Express & Suites offers a wonderful family-friendly stay.

Upon check-in, we were given a free box of Thanks-A-Lot Girl Scout Cookies! What a treat, and an example of how Holiday Inn Express goes above and beyond to make sure their guests feel welcome.

The cozy lobby welcomes guests upon their arrival.

Comfortable beds and a clean room provided a great rest after a busy day.

Both kids and adults loved the pool!

Fun Stops Along the Road Trip from Omaha

We love the Nebraska Passport Program! It is like a scavenger hunt across our beautiful state showcasing attractions, shops, plazas, and more.

There are several Passport stops between Omaha and Grand Island (including the Stuhr Museum!), with a few more if you want to venture on to Kearney.

The Hastings Museum was a nice surprise offering 3 levels of exhibits with several interactive activities for kids. It is the largest municipal museum between Chicago and Denver, featuring a planetarium and the history of Kool-Aid, the famous soft drink invented in Hastings.

Additionally, with our Omaha Children’s Museum Membership, we were granted FREE Admission to both the Hastings Museum and the Edgerton Explorit Center (below) with their Reciprocal Membership Program (as of June 2017. See list of currrent participating museums here).

The Edgerton Explorit Center, located in Aurora, NE, offers a variety of hands-on learning experiences for kids of all ages.

Special Events in Grand Island

The Total Solar Eclipse on August 21, 2017 (the first total eclipse in the U.S. since 1979) crosses directly over the city of Grand Island. Enjoy many activities including the “Gem Over the Prairie” Eclipse Viewing event at the Stuhr Museum.

Additionally, Grand Island provides an excellent destination to view the Sandhill Crane Migration every Spring.

The Nebraska State Fair is held annually in August at Fonner Park in Grand Island.

Be sure to stop by Visit Grand Island to help plan your next trip to this fun city!

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

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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.

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.

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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!

GROUPON (Limited Time Available) – (affiliate) Single-Day Admission Pass to Worlds of Fun & Oceans of Fun 

Upcoming Specials 2017

Public Safety and Military Appreciation Days – August 7 – 11, 2017

• Worlds of Fun would like to express appreciation to all police, correction officers, firefighters, EMTs and active, reserve, retired & veteran members of the military for all you do!
• Present your official, professional photo I.D. at any Worlds of Fun or Oceans of Fun Front Gate ticket window August 7 – 11, 2017, and receive free admission to Worlds of Fun and Oceans of Fun!
• Eligible professionals only will receive complimentary admission to Worlds of Fun and also a discount for up to six (6) members of their immediate family on admission, at $36.00 + tax each, August 7-11, 2017.

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.)

Diamond Head Waterslides

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!

One of our favorite water slides at #OceansofFun – Hurricane Falls! @worldsoffun #sponsored #WorldsofFun #WeOwnFun

A post shared by Family Fun in Omaha (@familyfuninomaha) on Jun 4, 2017 at 9:15am PDT

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

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!

My kids favorite part at #OceansofFun Paradise Falls! #sponsored #WeOwnFun #WorldsofFun @worldsoffun

A post shared by Family Fun in Omaha (@familyfuninomaha) on Jun 5, 2017 at 8:16am PDT

5) Pools, Lazy River, and Wave Pool

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

Coconut Cove

Love the Lazy River!

Caribbean Cooler Lazy River

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

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.

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Disclosure: This is a sponsored post written by Mutual 1st Federal. 

With young kids, planning an eight hour car ride could seem like a rough beginning to a weekend trip. You’re already imagining your child screaming in the back seat “Are we there yet?” and the formation of a headache. That is, if you didn’t plan ahead to keep your children happy and chillin’ in the back seat!

Mom, do yourself a favor and make the car ride a breeze with these easy tips:

1. Pack the snacks

Your child can’t complain if they have food in their mouth. Ok, maybe they can but it’s far less likely with their favorite fruit snacks in hand. This will help you spend less cash since you won’t have to hit up drive-thru’s along the way. Keep in mind the messiness of the snack, cheese flavor powder or sticky fingers may not be ideal. When the mess can’t be avoided, don’t forget baby wipes are great for finger cleaning. A trash bag already in the car will help with a fast cleanup, just ask your kids to throw wrappers in there instead of on the floor. For drinks pack small juice boxes, since they usually have less juice in them than what a sippy cup can hold. It will quench your child’s thirst without them over drinking and keep the bathroom breaks to a minimum.

2. Get comfy

Pack blankets and pillows in your backseat. This isn’t just a great tip for your child’s comfort but for yours, too! You’re going to be sitting for a while, might as will make your car’s seat into a throne of fluffy comfort (unless you’re in the driver seat). Bonus: if your child happens to fall asleep for a couple hours.

3. Entertainment Galore

Plan on more games than your child will be able to play; this is the make or break of a complain-free zone. Load the iPad with game apps or pack some DVDs for the portable player. Pack books; if your child is younger have an older passenger read to them. You can also play fun car games. Some great ones include:

• Windmill: whoever spots a windmill calls it out and gets a point. This one is great for driving through the Midwest.
• 21 Questions: someone thinks of something and you can only ask 21 questions to figure it out. Whoever guesses right gets to start the next round.
• Spotting cows! Twist the classic game up a bit. Play left side of the car verse the right side. See a cow on your side say “Cows on my side!” See one on the other side before they do, steal their point and say “Cows on your side!” If you see a cemetery say “Ghost Cow” and steal all the other side’s points.

Find out more about Mutual 1st Federal Home Equity Loans and Auto Loans here:

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post written by Mutual 1st Federal.

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Note: Many thanks to The Dixie Stampede for inviting us to experience their show, as part of our ongoing goal to help find and share family-friendly fun in cities where we travel. 

On our recent trip to Branson as a family, we knew we wanted to go to one show, a family-friendly event that appealed to even my youngest child. We decided to go to Dixie Stampede, one of the most popular shows in Branson, and thoroughly enjoyed the pre-show, four-course feast, main arena production, and exciting audience participation!

Carriage Room Pre-Show

Immediately upon arriving, we were greeted by a friendly host and passed by the beautiful horses that were going to be a part of the show. About 50 minutes before the main show, we were treated to an amazing pre-show in the Carriage Room.

My kids were mesmerized by the magician’s amazing act, full of fun tricks, silly jokes, and cool feats. At one point, he was spinning 13 plates on 13 poles, the same trick that his dad performed on the Ed Sullivan show years prior! The highlights included juggling fire and balancing everything on his chin, even a 8 foot ladder!

The Feast

Immediately after we were seated, we were served pop or tea, warm biscuits, and creamy vegetable soup. As soon as one course was finished, the next course came, all served without interruption or distraction from the show. The main dish was plentiful: whole rotisserie chicken, pork loin, corn on the cob, and baked potato. A delicious apple pastry for dessert topped it all off. A doggie bag was provided to take home enough food for another meal!

The best/most interesting part was that you are not given utensils to eat! Good old finger licking fun. (A warm wash cloth and plenty of wipes were provided.) Definitely added to entire experience!

The Dixie Stampede

Throughout the meal, quick-paced, exciting acts entertained the arena audience. We all loved watching the performers as they rode on horses performing various tricks, including one man riding on two horses, and another jumping through a ring of fire! Various other thrilling acts included barrel racing, wagon racing, and stunt tricks. Between the performance, Clete, the work hand, would provide humor that the whole arena enjoyed.

Throughout the show, members of the audience were invited to participate in various games. Our daughter was selected to join in the chicken race, with one other little girl who was celebrating her birthday. It was so fun to watch her run out in front of the entire audience and participate in the fun. She had the biggest smile on her face!

The entire experience of going to The Dixie Stampede was so much fun, and was a highlight on our trip to Branson!