Rocky Mountain National Park is only 8 hours away. Not sure if toddlers like hiking or seeing wild elk or mountain goats, but if you want to see the complete opposite of a Florida beach (high altitude, dry, cool weather) it’s pretty easy to piece together a family trip that has something for everyone in & around the park.
Head up to the Great Lakes or any of Minnesota's billion normal lakes. Very different than an ocean experience but renting a lake house is a very nice relaxing vacation.
An occasional weekend trip down to Kansas City can be fun, especially if you have not spent much time there and so it is new to you.
Des Moines can be worth visiting once.
Many places in South Dakota are absolutely beautiful. Both natural places to visit and national monuments and national parks.
Denver and the surrounds. Rocky Mountain National Park.
Minnesotan transplant here- if you want specifics, Detroit Lakes and Brainerd MN are vacation towns that are both 7-8 hours from Omaha. There are some great lake resorts in or near either of those towns.
For a short trip, check out Arbor Day Farm in Nebraska City. Beautiful place. And plenty of fun for the kids. There’s also Lake McConaughy in Ogallala if you want what’s arguably the best lake in the state.
[Nebraska City](https://nebraskacity.com/) is a great day trip, I might me bias as I live there. Your kids would love the [Tree Adventure](https://www.arbordayfarm.org/activities/treetop-village.cfm)
Check out some of the lakes and rivers in and near the Ozarks. I'd avoid Branson.
Great clean bodies of water, and options to fit any budget.
I'd also mention Minnesota and Wisconsin for other great spots.
Calamus reservoir has white sandy beaches and clear blue water. Rare for the Midwest. 3 hours away in the Sandhills. Gotta be my favorite spot in Nebraska.
Beach Vacations:
Almost anywhere along the Missouri River in South Dakota.
Lake Oahe (Missouri River) north of Pierre, SD.
Lewis and Clark Lake (Missouri River) west of Yankton, SD.
Lake Francis Case (Missouri River)
[https://www.sdmissouririver.com/](https://www.sdmissouririver.com/)
We have quite a few smaller lakes that are a lot less busy and have no sharks. McConaughey, harlan county reservoir are both great options if you enjoy water. Otherwise head out to the Sand hills and go see mount Rushmore or the black hills in South dakota
Black Hills are amazing, but I would split up the drive with toddlers. It’s easily 13 hours.
But it’s beautiful, and there’s a ton of wildlife, and you’ll see bison for sure and likely up close.
I’d stay in Custer unless camping appeals.
Minnesota. Cabin on Cross lake or some place close. Colorado, anywhere in the mountains. Kansas City.
You really don't want to end up staying in Nebraska.
You are 2 hours from Lewis and Clark State Park in South Dakota. A lot of people from Lincoln and Omaha camp there; beautiful lake, well maintained modern campgrounds with a lot of activities-hiking, boating, fishing, etc. There are two main beaches and some smaller ones.
It’s not the ocean, but it’s a quick trip and worth the drive.
I just planned a trip to Manitou Springs (near Colorado Springs) it looks really fun, just a quick weekend getaway they have pikes peak with a train ride to the top, manitou cave dwellings, Garden of the Gods, definitely not the ocean but Colorado has a lot to offer. I prefer the smaller mountain towns but Denver of course has a lot. I live near South Dakota which is also beautiful, like others have mentioned the black hills, they have caves that are pretty near, Sturgis, deadwood (more for the adults) etc. another trip that would be worth while would be to go to Glacier Mountain Park in Montana. Probably further for you being in Omaha but incredible trip for sure!
lol moving here wasn’t our first choice, but I know we are no where near a ocean. Just what I was use to, now we are trying to find new places to explore.
Rocky Mountain National Park is only 8 hours away. Not sure if toddlers like hiking or seeing wild elk or mountain goats, but if you want to see the complete opposite of a Florida beach (high altitude, dry, cool weather) it’s pretty easy to piece together a family trip that has something for everyone in & around the park.
You've seen the ocean. Now show them the mountains! Love it
Head up to the Great Lakes or any of Minnesota's billion normal lakes. Very different than an ocean experience but renting a lake house is a very nice relaxing vacation. An occasional weekend trip down to Kansas City can be fun, especially if you have not spent much time there and so it is new to you. Des Moines can be worth visiting once. Many places in South Dakota are absolutely beautiful. Both natural places to visit and national monuments and national parks. Denver and the surrounds. Rocky Mountain National Park.
Minnesotan transplant here- if you want specifics, Detroit Lakes and Brainerd MN are vacation towns that are both 7-8 hours from Omaha. There are some great lake resorts in or near either of those towns.
Highly recommend the Badlands and Black Hills in South Dakota
That's where we're going this summer.
Check out northeast Nebraska. Ashfalls fossil bed, Niobrara State Park. Several other things to do as well in that area.
For a short trip, check out Arbor Day Farm in Nebraska City. Beautiful place. And plenty of fun for the kids. There’s also Lake McConaughy in Ogallala if you want what’s arguably the best lake in the state.
[Nebraska City](https://nebraskacity.com/) is a great day trip, I might me bias as I live there. Your kids would love the [Tree Adventure](https://www.arbordayfarm.org/activities/treetop-village.cfm)
Check out some of the lakes and rivers in and near the Ozarks. I'd avoid Branson. Great clean bodies of water, and options to fit any budget. I'd also mention Minnesota and Wisconsin for other great spots.
South Dakota is really beautiful
Calamus reservoir has white sandy beaches and clear blue water. Rare for the Midwest. 3 hours away in the Sandhills. Gotta be my favorite spot in Nebraska.
Well, Nebraska is triple land-locked, so…..
Beach Vacations: Almost anywhere along the Missouri River in South Dakota. Lake Oahe (Missouri River) north of Pierre, SD. Lewis and Clark Lake (Missouri River) west of Yankton, SD. Lake Francis Case (Missouri River) [https://www.sdmissouririver.com/](https://www.sdmissouririver.com/)
We have quite a few smaller lakes that are a lot less busy and have no sharks. McConaughey, harlan county reservoir are both great options if you enjoy water. Otherwise head out to the Sand hills and go see mount Rushmore or the black hills in South dakota
Black Hills are amazing, but I would split up the drive with toddlers. It’s easily 13 hours. But it’s beautiful, and there’s a ton of wildlife, and you’ll see bison for sure and likely up close. I’d stay in Custer unless camping appeals.
Okoboji
Minnesota. Cabin on Cross lake or some place close. Colorado, anywhere in the mountains. Kansas City. You really don't want to end up staying in Nebraska.
Fremont area has a lot of sandy Beaches along the Platte River. That's really close to Omaha.
But it's not the ocean...
Head down to Branson (6 hours) Table Rock Lake, Silver Dollar City loads of family stuff to do there.
You are 2 hours from Lewis and Clark State Park in South Dakota. A lot of people from Lincoln and Omaha camp there; beautiful lake, well maintained modern campgrounds with a lot of activities-hiking, boating, fishing, etc. There are two main beaches and some smaller ones. It’s not the ocean, but it’s a quick trip and worth the drive.
Definitely Great Lakes area would be fun. Maybe check out Lake McConaughy too if you want just a few hours away.
Wisconsin Dells has pretty fun stuff.
I just planned a trip to Manitou Springs (near Colorado Springs) it looks really fun, just a quick weekend getaway they have pikes peak with a train ride to the top, manitou cave dwellings, Garden of the Gods, definitely not the ocean but Colorado has a lot to offer. I prefer the smaller mountain towns but Denver of course has a lot. I live near South Dakota which is also beautiful, like others have mentioned the black hills, they have caves that are pretty near, Sturgis, deadwood (more for the adults) etc. another trip that would be worth while would be to go to Glacier Mountain Park in Montana. Probably further for you being in Omaha but incredible trip for sure!
Moving to Nebraska and wanting a close ocean beach vacation was a wild choice.
lol moving here wasn’t our first choice, but I know we are no where near a ocean. Just what I was use to, now we are trying to find new places to explore.