Struggling For Activities To Do On This Memorial Weekend in Nebraska? We Have You Covered.

This weekend is Memorial Day weekend, and unlike Memorial Days of the past, it falls onto the calendar during rather unique and strange times.

Due to COVID-19, many of us are/have been trying to be safe while still having fun.

So, with that said, “how can I still have fun” is a question I have been receiving and hearing a lot.

Because of this question, this article now has a reason to exist! We got you covered!

Read below for some fun and exciting activities to do alone, or with a small group of others this weekend.

Enjoy the outdoors?

Living in Omaha can often be a frustrating thing for younger people. I always hear people saying there’s not much to do here.

Well, that’s just not true.

What is true is that because of our geographical location, we just have to try a little harder to find things to do.

First on the list for my outdoor lovers is two fantastic hiking locations, just a two hour drive away.

Located in Dixon County, Ponca State Park is almost directly north of Omaha.

Situated in the picturesque Missouri River bluffs in northeastern Nebraska, Ponca State Park is the eastern gateway to the 59-mile section of the Missouri National Recreational River, one of two picturesque, unchannelized stretches of the river bordering Nebraska.

The park is popular for its forested hills, scenic vistas, great wildlife watching, and, during the spring months (AKA now), the wetlands at Ponca State Park are a popular layover spot for many migrating bird species.

I recently visited and saw some of these beautiful birds for myself, so I can personally attest that they’re out there!

(I captured all these on a Canon M6 Mark ii with a 85-300mm lens)

Directly south, and similarly two hours away, Indian Cave State Park is a fantastic hiking and wildlife landscape to visit this weekend as well.

Named for the large sandstone cave within the park, Indian Cave State Park encompasses 3,052 rugged acres bordering the mighty Missouri River.

The park is well known for its beautiful camping and picnicking spots, as well as for its 22 miles of scenic hiking and biking trails.

The carvings within the stone near the cave also boast unknown origins. Nobody has confirmed who made the art, how old it truly is and where it came from, so that alone adds some fun mystery to your weekend.

(To learn more about the history of the area, this link tells the story in a great way: https://journalstar.com/news/local/jim-mckee-the-history-of-indian-cave-state-park-and-st-deroin/article_84b9862c-a3eb-516e-bbeb-8cebf2db1a2a.html)

Don’t want to drive that far?

Waubonsie State Park, the Hitchcock Nature Center, Schramm State Park, Platte River State Park, and many others are under/about an hour away from most places in Omaha.

I recommend looking out for cool birds, unique mushrooms and other wildlife while you visit.

If you’re not an "outdoorsy" person, well we still have you covered.

At the moment, there’s loads of great shows on Netflix and other streaming services to watch!

Have a night in, cook a new recipe, and watch one of: Scoob, Waco (a fantastic documentary), Extraction, or something completely different!

Another recommendation for more relaxed individuals is to try some new social media challenges that have gone viral during the pandemic.

This link here, an article by the New York Times, showcases a ton of great challenges: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/22/style/challenges-social-media-coronavirus.html

I also recommend my favorite: the “learn a new skill” challenge.

This can include learning how to juggle, learning new words in a new language, how to throw playing cards, bottle flip, learn how to drive stick shift and much more.

Lastly, I recommend to everyone reading, outdoorsmen or not, to spend some time calling and seeing your friends and family.

Everyone may be just as bored as you are, so tagging along with a small group of people to do these activities, either in-person or remotely, can help make a mundane activity into an incredible one!

Either way, I truly believe there are loads of activities just waiting to be done right now, and during this long weekend.

So, please, go have fun, be outdoors (remain six feet apart if possible), and enjoy your weekend! We all need a little fun every once in a while!

(If I missed any activities that you or your families love doing, comment them below!)