Recommended: Henry Doorly Zoo

If you've ever lived in Omaha it would be impossible not to have heard about the Henry Doorly Zoo. It is supposed to be one of the best zoos in the nation, after San Diego and Washington D.C., but it is also a central source of pride for the Omaha community. Tucked away at the southern end of 10th street next to what will soon be the bones of Rosenblatt Stadium sits this little gem of the midwest.


As you approach the zoo you can see the Desert Dome from a distance. Home to variety of birds, mammals and nighttime creatures, it seems to be the natural place to begin your zoo trip. Although many animals are contained with netting, many more are given the opportunity to fly freely around the enclosed complex. The birds that are behind netting are beautiful shades of vibrant colors and ornate feathers, and the mammals are charmingly unique to a desert lifestyle. Although the exhibit is extensive, and expensive costing over $30 million, it does begin to get a little repetitive.
One of my favorite exhibits is the Scott Aquarium, a perfect place to cool off on those sticky summer days in Omaha. Fish exhibits are always one of my favorites because they are so colorful and there is so much variety between all the species. The great thing about this aquarium though is that it is so much more than just fish. Set up similarly to that of a stage for performers the penguin exhibit allows you to watch several different kinds of antarctic penguins zip in and out of the water, and can even be watched at home from through the zoo's webcam. As you move along you find salt water tanks that even simulate the waves of a tide pool, a 70 foot-long tunnel full of 900,000 gallons of salt water as well as large sharks, stingrays, and fish. The tunnel gives you an opportunity to see these animals from several angles and literally surrounds you with ocean life.

If you start to get a little tired from walking around you can always take a ride on the steam train (although I must warn you that it is extremely loud), the tram or skyfari. I was surprised to learn that the skyfari ride is just a little over year old, but allows you to view many of the African animals (giraffes, rhino, elephants) from overhead. Although a little nerve-wracking to be suspended so high up its definitely worth the $2 to take a one-way trip, just make sure you don't lose your sandals over any of the outdoor complexes... I'm not sure you'll get them back.

The great thing about the zoo is that it has enough entertainment to make an entire day's worth of entertainment, or you can go catch a couple of exhibits in just a few hours. Either way, at just eleven dollars you're able to go do something different, and help support a pillar of the Omaha community. With over 25 different complexes with animals from around the globe there I'm pretty sure there will be something that catches everyone's eye and will always provide a different experience with each visit.