12 Free Places for Indoor Fun When It's ❄️Cold❄️ Outside

Our TownLincoln NE 68502

Description

Winter is on its way and while some days you can get bundled up and have fun outside, other days it is just too cold. Itching to get out of the house but don't want to spend a lot of money on experiences? There are places in Lincoln and close by that are open FREE to visitors all throughout the year. 

• Go to the Nebraska State Capitol Building. Have you been to the capitol? Kids love to explore the cavernous building, find secret hiding places, making phone calls on the pay phones and looking out over Lincoln.
• Our amazing library system is always free and they have an abundance of events!

  
  

• Tuesdays at Spring Creek Prairie are free admission. I know what you're thinking, "She said indoor fun!" Spring Creek Prairie Audubon Center has an education building that is included in your admission cost. You can go outside and explore or you can just go to the building and learn about the prairie. 
• The Nebraska History Museum on 15th St and P St is newly renovated and offers free admission. They have family programming throughout the month. If you go and there isn't family programming, it is a fun way to spend a morning walking through the exhibits.
• Train tables are like magnets for young children.  Barnes & Noble SouthPointe has a train table and Indigo Bridge Books has a train table too. Both book stores offer story times geared towards children. To find a story time click here.

  
  

• On bad weather days, I like taking my kids to the Sheldon Museum of Art on UNL's campus. Seeing art through a child's eyes is so refreshing and sometimes hilarious. I see a red square on the wall and they see a volcanic eruption. To learn how to introduce your child to an art museum click here.
• Look down on the busy streets of Lincoln from one of the six sky walks. My children (and I) love to find these and spend 10 minutes waving at the passing cars.
• The new Scheels has a lego table, an aquarium, a ferris wheel, an indoor playground, a candy shop, a fudge shop, a mini bowling area, a putting green and more. The ferris wheel and mini bowling cost money but everything else is free to use.
• The Gateway Mall has an indoor play area where your kids can jump some energy out!
• The Front Porch is a coffee shop located in Cross the Line Church at 5925 Adams St. The play area at the Front Porch is great. The indoor area has a climbing structure with a slide and many smaller things to play in including some beloved pieces from the Ager Center including the hippo. It is free to play. The coffee shop not only has a variety of drinks but also sandwiches, salads and pizza.
  

Don't mind driving to Omaha? Enjoy a day centered around art at the Joslyn and Kaneko, both free and both are guaranteed to inspire your children and you.

• The Joslyn in Omaha is free and has one of the best child-areas that I've ever seen! It is absolutely worth the drive. Click here to read our review.
  
  
• While you are in Omaha head over to the Kaneko galleries in the Old Market. These galleries are housed in three warehouses and are conceived of as “open space for your mind.” Click here to learn more about Kaneko.

Want to know about all the great family events in our area? Click here to get a free weekly email from Macaroni Kid that helps you plan your week with your family! Every Thursday at 3:30 PM, you'll get Lincoln's family fun in your inbox.

Who

The whole family

Cost

FREE

How

Just show up!

+ Add to Google Calendar   + Add to Apple Calendar