5 Fantastic Things To Check Out In Lincoln Before Summer Ends
- July 1, 2019
It takes forever to get here, then disappears in the blink of an eye, but you still have time to plan a family adventure or two before summer is over! If you’re tired of the same old pools and splash pads, and desperate to get the kids off their phones and out of the house for some quality time together, we’ve got you covered. The Lincoln Orthodontics team has put together a list featuring some of our favorite things to do around town in the summer, so take a look below for some fun-filled inspiration!
1222 S 27th St
Lincoln, NE 68502
The Children’s Zoo recently completed its largest expansion in history, and it’s given families all over Lincoln the chance to interact more creatively than ever before. There are four new areas, including an exciting giraffe feeding experience, an up-close encounter with tigers, an indoor adventure that allows families to climb with the spider monkey, and an open-air plaza where kids and adults alike can cool off in the splash stream. There are also new animals to get to know – the new giraffe herd has two girls and one boy, while the tiger family welcomed Kumar and Axl from the San Diego Zoo.
Especially exciting is the climbing structure that resembles a treehouse. Families can climb to different heights and look around the building, as well as crawl through tunnels that will go inside the actual spider monkey habitat. You may find yourself face to face with a monkey (don’t worry, you’re still separated by a barrier!)
The Splash Stream in the Plaza will soon provide kids with the perfect combination of fun, learning, and discovery. Visitors will be able to kick off their shoes to wade and play in the stream while exploring the heritage and history native to Nebraska and the Platte River like the Ogallala aquifer, leaf fossils, ancient footprints, and more. The Splash Stream is only a few inches deep and will have multiple areas for imaginative play.
1420 P Street
Lincoln, NE 68508
With three floors of interactive exhibits and over 23,000 square feet of exhibit space, the Children’s Museum has something for everyone, kid or kid at heart! There are separate areas for different age ranges, including the Grow Zone for little ones 3 and under. The Grow Zone is gated off from the rest of the exhibit floor, so you don’t have to worry about your toddler being run over by the big kids! The newly remodeled areas will be sure to keep your kids engaged during their visit.
The whole main floor is a kid-sized town and gives children the chance to visit banks, apple orchards, and engage in creative play as firefighters, doctors, police officers, and more. Upstairs, kids can explore and learn about all kinds of transportation, from the BNSF train exhibit, to the Lunar Lander and the Sky High Airport. This space also includes an Artist’s Studio that has rotating arts and crafts activities for parents and children to create and take home. Downstairs is an incredible 3-story Cuckoo Clock climber, prairie dog tunnels, and a water exhibit. This is the level where kids can run around and expend all their energy before you take them home!
Friday Nights Live at South Pointe Pavilions
SouthPointe Pavilions Shopping Center
2910 Pine Lake Road
Lincoln, NE 68516
Join SouthPointe Pavilions as they kick off their family-friendly summer live music series! Pack your lawn chairs, a blanket or two, and sit under the stars while enjoying different music every Friday night. You can bring snacks from home, grab takeout on the way, or take advantage of the food and drink available from Grandpa’s Kettle Corn and the Barnes & Noble Café. Be sure to bring a little extra to donate to the Child Advocacy Center throughout June, too! Click here for more information on Friday Night Live, including a complete line-up for the summer.
If you and your family aren’t already taking advantage of the Nebraska Passport Program, now is the perfect time! Set up to help travelers discover Nebraska’s hidden gems, the Passport offers a wide variety of travel adventures, including museums, parks, restaurants, wineries, retail stores, and more. At each Passport stop, you’ll receive a stamp, either in an actual Nebraska Passport booklet or a digital stamp on the Nebraska Passport app. You’re allowed to collect stamps in the booklet, the app, or both together. The stamps can be collected from May 1 to September 30, at which point you turn them in and receive fun prizes! There is no fee to participate in the Nebraska Passport program, and no purchase necessary to receive Passport stamps at the Passport stops. This is a wonderful way to get out there and explore Nebraska with your family!
The “Serving Hands” art installation
Gateway Mall
6100 O St
Lincoln, NE 68505
You may have noticed the Serving Hands sculptures while driving around Lincoln the past couple months. To learn more about the exhibit, visitors to the Gateway Mall from August 6-21 can explore the Serving Hands traveling exhibition in the Live 360° Reading Nook. This public art project celebrates the 50th anniversary of Campus Life in Lincoln with a total of 51 sculptures, including 39 6-foot sculptures and twelve small-scale models. The impressive sculptures are made of fiberglass and are truly a unique experience, especially for families who love artistic endeavors! A family favorite is the Spider Man sculpture near the Lincoln Children’s Zoo, complete with a shooting web!
Keep your child’s smile in shape this summer
Whatever you and your family are planning this summer, we want our orthodontic patients to have fun without losing sight of their treatment plan. That means keeping up with caring for their braces or aligners so that treatment isn’t interrupted, even if your regular routine is!
To help your child get through the summer with their braces and treatment schedule intact, we offer a few helpful recommendations like:
- Keep an orthodontic kit with you for braces-care on the go, and include a toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, and a little orthodontic wax.
- Put our phone numbers and email address in your phone or bookmark our homepage so we can walk you through any unexpected emergencies that may occur while you’re out and about.
- If your child is in braces, make sure they stick to treats that are orthodontist-approved, and avoid offering anything that’s too crunchy or chewy.
- Be sure your child’s dental hygiene routine is maintained and that they are brushing at least twice a day for two minutes and flossing every night before bed.
By following the tips we’ve outlined above, you can make the most of the summer without sacrificing yours or your child’s smile! And don’t forget that you can always count on our expert team for trusted support and advice if you ever have any questions or concerns. Lincoln Orthodontics is here to help you and/or your child achieve a healthy smile this summer, and throughout the rest of the year!
