Embarking on a big adventure doesn’t have to include a long car ride. In fact, some of Nebraska’s best discoveries can be found close to home courtesy of the state’s many family-friendly museums. From aeronautical exploration to zoo animals, you can find it all. Get started at VisitNebraska.gov. Simply type “museum” into the search field for a list of museums in the state.

On Feb. 19, the Strategic Air & Space Museum will host the Nebraska Robotics Expo 2011. A competitive event sponsored by Nebraska 4-H, the expo will feature Nebraska students and the robots they’ve built. Also included will be a First LEGO League robotics tournament in which students will demonstrate LEGO robots and compete against others. The students will receive feedback on their creations from UNL engineering students on hand to serve as mentors. While at the expo, be sure to visit the museum’s outstanding permanent exhibits. It’s a fantasy world for any aeronautics enthusiast!

The Omaha Children’s Museum’s Big Backyard is filled with outdoorsy fun, including the newly restored Richman Gordman Zooland Animals. The exhibit spans 10,000 feet, giving kids plenty of room to explore the wonders of nature in a safe, warm environment. Everyone—even Mom and Dad—will enjoy the many hands-on learning opportunities these animals provide. Introduce yourself to the blue elephant, yellow kangaroo, green hippo and orange camel, all repaired and reinforced for today’s youth. It’s a historically significant exhibit you won’t want to miss, so check it out before April 10.

Baseball fans can kick off the 2011 season by visiting the Museum of Nebraska Major League Baseball in St. Paul. Packed with information, photos, news stories, trading cards and artifacts, the museum chronicles the careers of the more than 140 major leaguers with Nebraska ties. Exhibits include current MLB players (Joba Chamberlain, Brian Duensing and Alex Gordon) along with displays of other notable players such as Les Nunamaker of Malcom, Johnny Hopp of Hastings and Rex Barney and Tim Burke of Omaha. The museum is easy to find in its historic location in downtown St. Paul, just a few blocks off of U.S. Highway 281.

Details about museums and events across the state are available at the Nebraska Division of Travel and Tourism’s website—VisitNebraska.gov. It’s a great resource for attraction and destination information, road trip ideas and accommodation reservations. You can also view and order a copy of the 2011 Nebraska Travel Guide. So what are you waiting for? It’s time to get out there and have some fun!

DO THE ZOO

It’s a great idea to devote an entire day to Omaha’s internationally acclaimed zoological park. Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo was named Best Zoo in America according to Reader’s Digest, May 2004 edition.

The Lied Jungle – the world’s largest indoor tropical rainforest with some really interesting residents to amuse and awe you.

The Scott Aquarium – where you walk through a 70-foot tunnel as sharks and thousands of colorful reef fish swim overhead in their 850,000 gallon tank.

With more room the Hubbard Gorilla Valley gives the Omaha Zoo gorillas more room to enjoy all of their favorite activities, including watching visitors! The gorillas are usually very interactive with visitors.

Enjoy the Cat Complex that is home to Siberian, Bengal and Sumatran tigers, plus African lions, snow leopards and jaguars.

Recently opened in May 2010, the Madagascar Exhibit is the perfect addition to the zoo. See the wonderful features of this African island including the featured lemurs.

There are plenty of things at the Henry Doorly Zoo to excite and educate your family. If you plan to spend large amounts of time at the zoo consider purchasing a membership, which pays for itself in just a few trips. Visit the Henry Doorly Zoo’s website for more details.

LOADS OF HISTORY, LOADS OF FUN

The Omaha Children’s Museum provides exposure to the arts and sciences through hands-on displays and activities. The museum has a Creativity Center and a Science and Technology Center. Memberships are also available. Keep checking the Children’s Museum website for updated exhibits and special events.

The Durham Western Heritage Museum, an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institute, is located in the beautifully restored Art Deco-style Union Station. Exhibits highlight the railroad history of the region. A model train exhibit represents a 1950s Union Pacific route. The Byron Reed Coin Gallery features rare coins, medals, tokens and autographs. The Smithsonian connection brings outstanding traveling exhibits to Omaha.

Joslyn Art Museum is Nebraska’s largest and most distinguished art museum, featuring art from antiquity to the present and offers a wide range of exhibits, music and educational programs. This museum is probably best for school age children.

THE GREAT OUTDOORS

Early morning is a great time to start your visit at Lauritzen Gardens – Omaha’s Botanical Center. On this 100-acre site you will experience the beauty of a Victorian Garden, a rose garden, a bird sanctuary and a children’s garden. Song of the Lark Meadow features native wildflowers and grasses. Housed within a large and beautiful Visitors Center are a floral exhibit hall, seasonal flower displays, local art hangings, a popular gift shop and a resource library.

In Bellevue, just south of Omaha, visit Fontenelle Forest Nature Center. Fontenelle has 17 miles of walking trails of wetland and marshland viewing within its 1,400-acre forest. History exhibits and a children’s interactive nature gallery are within its resource center.

DOWNTOWN OMAHA – HOT AND COOL

Hot Shops – Glowing metal, molten glass or ceramic firing forms the heart of this working art center housing over 80 studio artists. In addition, there are three art galleries with local resident displays. It is a cool place when the heat is turned up! The Hot Shops is located just a short 10-block drive north of downtown Omaha.

The beautifully appointed River City Star riverboat offers public excursions and private charters on the Missouri River. The River City Star has three fully equipped and staffed party decks, each with its own theme and ambience: The Main Deck features historic, Victorian-era riverboat décor. The Garden Deck features Kwackers, a special place for kids of all ages. The Patio Deck on the top of the boat features the Rio Loco Sandbar, with frozen specialty drinks, and, yes, sand to play in.

The Old Market is a historic downtown neighborhood that has been hosting visitors and residents for over 30 years. Rich with unique shops, boutiques, pubs, restaurants, bookstores, bakeries, art galleries clothing stores and more. Fun anytime of the day or evening, and a “must visit” on your agenda.

WEST OMAHA DAY TRIP

Take a trip to west Omaha and visit Father Flanagan’s Boys Home – Boys Town. This is a National Historic Landmark, with a Hall of History, the Father Flanagan House and a Visitors Center. The facility is handicapped accessible.

Leaving Boys Town, take Dodge Street east to I-80. Head toward Lincoln until you cross the Platte River and take Exit 426. To the left you can go to Lee Simmons Wildlife Safari and Conservation Park. This ride-through safari park – Nebraska style. See bison, elk, cranes, pronghorn antelope, wolves and other native animals in the scenic Platte River valley. You can also get out and hike through a flower garden or the aviary, where you will see a variety of animals as well.

If you had taken a right turn when you exited I-80, you would have come upon the entrance to the Strategic Air & Space Museum. Or if you go a little farther, you will find the entrance to Mahoney State Park.

The Strategic Air & Space Museum is one of the nation’s best. This $30 million museum has two aircraft display hangars, a traveling exhibit area, a children’s interactive gallery and an aircraft restoration gallery. There are great aircraft and missile displays in this beautiful facility.

Mahoney State Park is a 700-acre park open year-round, boasting 51 modern, housekeeping cabins along with the Peter Kiewit Lodge with 40 guest rooms. In addition, there are 149 spacious, hard-surface camping pads. Mahoney offers horseback riding to swimming and sliding in their water park, plus nature trails. In the winter, there is an ice skating pavilion.