City: Omaha, NE

Category: Tours & Attractions

Telephone: (402) 346-4002

Address: 100 Bancroft St.

Insider Pick:

Description: Located on what used to be a desolate area of Omaha’s riverfront, Lauritzen Gardens now boasts more than 100 acres of flora and fauna coupled with a stunning view of the Missouri River valley. The botanical gardens are open year round and play host to a variety of special events including a yearly antiques show, a poinsettia show, and a regularly changing schedule of art exhibits from artists who focus their work on the natural world.Outdoors, visitors will find a wide variety of meticulously groomed gardens. The rose garden is a popular destination for summer weddings. A railroad garden designed by landscape architect Paul Busse features replicas of buildings on the Omaha skyline created completely from natural materials as well as a to-scale model train that runs through the garden.Kenefick Park continues the train theme and features a slice of Union Pacific and Omaha history. The park, located outside the museum gates, has free admission and houses two of the largest, most powerful locomotives ever to run on the UP line: Centennial No. 6900 and Big Boy. Interpretive signage tells the story of the trains, and natural grasses and plants decorate the landscape.