WESTERN MIDWEST Family Looking for the recipe for a perfect family vacation? Start with hands-on attractions at places like Omaha’s zoo or planner Wichita’s botanical garden that make exploring fun for everyone. Add a memorable meal—steak grilled on a pitchfork, anyone? Top it with a hotel-cum-water park. And, voilà, you’ve got one big, happy (traveling) family. ZOO LOVE In Omaha, the Henry Doorly Zoo’s grand Desert Dome is home to craggy rocks and lots of lizards. background Omaha found the perfect recipe for family-pleasing vacations: Combine a world-class zoo with a great baseball stadium, grassy parks and vibrant festivals; throw in a lot of fun eateries; and finish with family-friendly hotels. The result is a destination that entertains all ages and creates lasting memories (866/937-6624; visitomaha.com). itinerary WESTERN MIDWEST Omaha skyline D A Y Omaha 1,200 species, an aquarium, an aviary, an Imax theater and the Skyfari, an open-air chairlift taking riders from one end of the zoo to the other. In summer, nearby Zesto’s eatery serves burgers and ice cream along In June, the Men’s NCAA College World with a heaping helping of nostalgia. Visitors getaway Series plays at the1 TD Ameritrade Park, walk up to the window to order, then dine at known for ample seating and legroom. If one of the picnic tables outside. Affordable HISTORY you’re visiting any other time of year, head Regency Lodge offers comfortable beds, an COMES ALIVE to the Henry Doorly Zoo. Inside the zoo, indoor pool and free breakfast. visitors find the spectacular Desert Dome, The Durham Museum’s family- friendly exhibits explore the D A Y streetcar and a passenger train encourage region’s history visitors to climb aboard and explore; an and development. old-fashioned soda fountain in the Great Hall sells phosphates and malts. For an outdoor adventure, wander 2 miles of paths through formal gardens and a wildflower meadow at The Durham Museum,2 housed in a stunning Lauritzen Gardens. Zio’s Pizzeria, at three remodeled Art Deco train station, explores locations around town, offers 42 toppings, so Nebraska’s pioneer history and railroading even the pickiest eaters can create a meal legacy with kid-friendly exhibits. An old they’ll find delicious. National Buffalo Museum Jamestown, North Dakota, earns its “Buffalo City” Laura Ingalls Wilder moniker in part because Historic Homes The of the National Buffalo guided tour gives an Museum herd, which in-depth look at the includes three albino Ingalls family and settlers’ bison (701/252-8648; lives on the prairie in De buffalomuseum.com). Smet, South Dakota. Kids 5 can try on costumes and 4 Places to get work a manual sewing Must-see machine (800/880-3383; hands-on discoverlaura.org). events Arbor Day Farm Historic barns, a cafe, a market and the family-friendly Tree Adventure fill a day in Nebraska City, Nebraska. BOTANICA, Free; admission charged for CUSTER STATE THE WICHITA Tree Adventure (402/873- PARK Watch GARDENS The 8717; arbordayfarm.org). cowboys bring new Downing in the herd Children’s Garden at this South encourages Dakota park’s climbing, digging annual Buffalo and pond- Roundup (below Fort4 Niobrara National hopping. It’s a fun right), or see the Wildlife Refuge Six addition to the bison and other major plant communi- 20-plus other wild residents ties, hundreds of bird gardens and year-round in species, bison and elk exhibits. In Kansas the Wildlife Loop converge here in Valentine, (316/264-0448; (605/255-4515; Nebraska. Get a map of botanica.org). custerstate the 3½-mile auto tour at park.com). the visitors center. Free (402/376-3789; fws.gov/ refuge/fort-niobrara). Konza Prairie Biological 4 Heartland Elk Guest Station Hike trails and view Ranch Guests find comfy bison and greater prairie lodgings, fishing, hiking chickens, by reservation, at and horses to visit at this a tallgrass prairie research working ranch outside station south of Manhattan, Valentine, Nebraska. Kansas (785/539-1961; Be sure to book a kpbs.konza.k-state.edu). cabin (402/376-2553; heartlandelk.com). North Dakota Heritage Center This museum on the grounds of the capitol in Bismarck explores North Dakota’s history. Dinosaurs populate the Adaptation Gallery: Geologic TIme, and play areas let kids ride a make-believe horse or put each other in jail (701/328- 2666; history.nd.gov). Metigoshe Drive-Inn Located just across the lake from Lake Metigoshe State Park in Bottineau, North Dakota, this drive-in is also accessible by canoe, boat or bike. Save room for a Cyclone ice cream treat (soft serve combined with fruit and candy) after 3Fun dinner your pizza burger at this Family-2 1Feel-good old-fashioned summer spots staple (701/263-4270). friendly musical stays evening Medora Musical Celebrating its 50th year, this outdoor evening show puts a spotlight on patriotic songs, country Great Wolf Lodge tunes, gospel music, dancing, Teddy Families flock to the Roosevelt history and Christian values. huge indoor water park In Medora, North Dakota (701/623- resort in the Village West 4444; medora.com). complex in Kansas City, Kansas (800/608-9653; greatwolf.com). Cedar Shore Resort Along the shore of Lake Prairie4 Rose Chuckwagon Francis Case in Oacoma, Supper Dig in to an all-you- South Dakota, a modern can-eat barbecue brisket resort offers rooms meal and enjoy the family- with balconies, plus a friendly show by the Prairie pool (888/697-6363; Rose Rangers in Benton, cedarshore.com). PITCHFORK Kansas. Arrive early for FONDUE DINNER wagon rides or to tour the Cowboy cooks Hopalong Cassidy impale steaks 10 at museum (316/778-2121; a time and plunge prairierosechuckwagon.com). them into 400° cooking oil. Load your plate with steak and all the fixings (right), then watch the sun set M I DWEST LI V I NG BEST 2015 over the Medora, OF THE ® ® F R O M T H E E D I T O R S O F ® midwestliving.com MIDWEST North Dakota, TRAVEL log0 LOOKING FOR MORE TRAVEL IDEAS? shadow buttes (800/633- 6721; medora.com). BESTOF THE MIDWEST Discover the Midwest’s newest attractions, eateries, hotels and must-see events and attractions, inns. 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