Beat the Heat: 20 Fun Ways to Stay Cool in Omaha!

When the summer heat hits Omaha, there's no need to sweat it out under the sun. With plenty of indoor activities to choose from, you can stay cool and entertained all day long. Catch a blockbuster film at one of the local theaters, check out the latest releases or classics in air-conditioned comfort. For some high-flying fun, head to a trampoline park where you can bounce around and burn off some energy. Feeling competitive? Hit up a mini golf course or bowling alley for some friendly competition with friends or family. Whether you're looking for a relaxing day indoors or an action-packed adventure, Omaha has you covered with endless options to beat the heat and have a blast.

1 - SPRAYGOUNDS, LOCAL POOLS & HYDRANT PARTIES
Before they close for the season, take advantage of the many Spraygrounds or City Pools that the Omaha Metro have to offer!  And cross the river to take part in the last 2 Council Bluffs hydrant parties of 2024, so check them out this week!

2 - BOWLING
Sign up for Kids Bowl Free and you'll get two free games every day! (Just remember, you might have to pay for shoe rental.) Parents can also buy a family pass so they can join in on the fun. In Omaha, you can bowl for free at places like Maplewood Lanes, Papio Bowl, Spare Time, and West Lanes. Some of these places just have bowling, while others have cool stuff like laser tag too!

3 - ESCAPE ROOMS
Escape rooms in Omaha include Get Out Omaha, House of Conundrum, The Escape Omaha, Entrap Games, and Locked Room Omaha. Escape rooms are super fun for older kids and groups of friends. If you're younger, you might enjoy the escape rooms at the Millard branch of the Omaha Public Library. Just check the calendar to see when they're happening!

4 - GYMS FOR KIDS
Check out these playgrounds where you can run, jump, and climb without getting in trouble! Some of these gyms have special hours where anyone can come play, like KIDS body shop and PE 101 Kids Gym. And if you're into gymnastics, tumbling, or parkour, you should check out Premier Gymnastics’ open gym. The best part is, you don't even have to be a member to go have fun at the open gym! How awesome is that?

5 - MINI GOLF
Looking for a fun activity to do with your friends in Omaha? Try out indoor mini golf! There are cool places in the city where you can play on themed courses with tricky obstacles and colorful decorations. Whether you're aiming to get a hole-in-one through a windmill or avoid a sneaky sand trap, indoor mini golf is super exciting. So, if it's raining outside or too hot to play, grab your friends and head to places Fat Putter (Downtown), Medieval Putt (Elkhorn) & Prehistoric Putt (Millard) for a fun round of mini golf!

6 - TRAMPOLINE & BOUNCE PARKS
If you're looking for a fun place to jump around in Omaha, you've got three awesome options: Sky Zone Trampoline Park, Urban Air Trampoline and Adventure Park and Altitude Trampoline Park. Urban Air might cost a little more, but it's worth it because they have cool stuff like an indoor ropes course and a ninja course. The Hub in Council Bluffs is another great indoor trampoline park to check out. And if you're more into bouncing than jumping, BounceU is a huge indoor bounce house center that you'll love!

7 - CLIMBING WALLS
If you're looking for some cool places to go climbing, check out Mahoney State Park, Approach Climbing Gym, UNO, and MW Climbing. Mahoney State Park has a climbing wall and bouldering wall at their Activity Center, but you have to pay to get in. Approach Climbing Gym is another option for anyone looking to climb. UNO has a climbing wall that's free for students and not too expensive for non-students. And if you're looking for a new spot to climb indoors, check out MW Climbing. Have fun climbing!

8 - ICE SKATING
If you really want to cool down, lace up your skates and hit the ice!  Be sure to check out many of the ice rinks around Omaha: Moylan Ice Plex, Grover Ice, Motto McLean Ice Arena, Ralston Ice Rink.

9 - DURHAM MUSEUM
If you're looking for a cool place to check out in Downtown Omaha, you gotta visit the Durham Museum! It used to be a train station, but now it's a super awesome museum with tons of cool stuff to see. They've got displays about history, culture, science, and even industry. And get this - they're connected to some big-time museums like the Smithsonian and the Field Museum in Chicago. So, if you're into history, this is the place to be!

10 - DO SPACE
Head on over to Do Space for some hands-on tech activities for kids. From playing with robots to 3D printers, there is something for everyone!  And it’s FREE! Check out the link for the calendar and all that Do Space has to offer. Located at the Milton R. Abrahams Branch Library (5111 N. 90th St.).

11 - ENTERTAINMENT CENTERS
Looking for a fun place to hang out with your friends or family? There are lots of cool spots in Omaha that cater to different age groups. If you're into arcade games, laser tag, and other fun activities, check out places like the Amazing Pizza Machine, Bowlero, Spare Time and Dave & Buster’s. No matter what you're into, there's a place for everyone to have a blast in the city!

12 - OMAHA CHILDREN’S MUSEUM
The Omaha Children’s Museum is like a giant playground filled with cool stuff to do and learn about. It's won a big award for being awesome and educational. They have all kinds of fun things to check out, like the Imagination Playground, the Charlie Campbell Science Center, and the Tinker Lab. Plus, they switch things up with different exhibits throughout the year. It's a great place to explore and have fun!

13 - OMAHA ZOO DOOR EXHIBITS
Who knew the Omaha Henry Doorly Zoo could be a cool place to hang out when it's scorching hot outside? Our zoo has tons of indoor stuff to check out, like the Desert Dome, the Suzanne and Walter Scott Aquarium, and Lied Jungle. There's a whole 6 acres of indoor exhibits to explore, so you can have fun all year long. And don't forget to chill out and munch on some popcorn while watching a movie on the Lozier Giant Screen Theater!

14 - KIEWIT LUMINARIUM
Have you heard of the Kiewit Luminarium in Downtown Omaha? It's like a super cool place where you can learn and have fun at the same time! It's kind of like a mix between a workshop and a museum. You can check out all sorts of cool stuff that shows how science, art, and how we see things all come together. It's a place where anyone, no matter how old you are or where you come from, can have a blast exploring and learning new things.

15 - UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD MUSEUM
If you're into trains, you've gotta go to Union Pacific Railroad Museum in Council Bluffs! It's super cool and has been around for over 150 years. You can see all kinds of cool stuff about the Union Pacific Railroad and guess what? It's totally free to get in! So grab your friends and head over there for a fun day of learning about trains.

16 - INDOOR ACTIVITY CENTERS
You’ll find some awesome indoor play areas locally at the Kroc Center in South Omaha (don’t forget to check out their indoor pool too), Chick-fil-A restaurants in the Metro or take a drive out to Ashland and check out the activity center at Mahoney State Park.

17 - ARCHERY GAMES
You should totally give Archery Games a shot with your buddies! It might be a little tricky at first for the younger kids to get the hang of using a bow and arrow in the archery arena, but the older kids will probably pick it up quickly. Have fun and see who can hit the bullseye!

18 - AXE THROWING
Looking for a cool activity to do with your friends, siblings, or even your crush? Axe throwing is a blast! Some places, like Axe Games, let younger kids join in on the fun as long as they have an adult with them. Just make sure to give them a heads up that a kid will be tagging along. Other places to check out are Flying Timber Axe Throwing and Craft Axe Throwing. Get ready to show off your skills and have a great time!

19 - MOVIE SERIES
Be sure to check out Film Streams and Marcus Theaters for some awesome movies. Film Streams has this cool series called Forever Young Family & Children’s Series where they show new movies or classics from when our parents were kids. And get this - tickets are only $5 for the whole series! You can catch these movies at the Dundee location of Film Streams. Marcus Theaters also has some great deals on kids' movies at their Village Pointe, Majestic, and Twin Creek locations. So grab your friends and head to the movies for a fun time!

20 - CRAFTS
If you're looking for a fun place to get creative, try out The Makery for a laid-back crafting experience. For a cool hangout spot in Downtown Omaha, check out Creative Culture and treat yourself to one of their delicious milkshakes. And if you're in West Omaha, don't miss It’s Yours Pottery for some pottery painting fun!