CHI Health Center Omaha – Free Activities

You may not have realized that there is so much to do in the vicinity of CHI Health Center Omaha in Omaha, Nebraska, because it isn’t as big of a city as New York City or Los Angeles. However, there are advantages to it not being as congested of a city. Prices will be lower for food and attractions, and there’s also a ton of free sights around the city to take advantage of.

When you’re in the area, check out some of the free activities listed below to help limit your spending.

 

Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge

You can actually see the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge from the CHI Health Center Omaha. This 3,000-foot bridge is the only fully pedestrian bridge that connects two states; in this case, Nebraska and Iowa.

On the Nebraska side, the bridge is connected to Omaha Plaza, which has an interactive water jet fountain, play area, and visitors center. There are also 150 miles of nature trails. With all of these outdoor activities, you’ll see many people jogging, biking, and walking their dogs along the trails and the bridge itself. If you enjoy exercising or want to spend some time outdoors, this is a great stop during your trip. It is also a cool spot to get some Instagrammable photos of the skyline and the state line marker on the bridge.

 

Lewis and Clark Landing

Steps from both the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge and the CHI Health Center Omaha is the Lewis and Clark Landing. The Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail Visitor Center is actually located next to the Bob Kerry Pedestrian Bridge, so guests can stop in there before heading into the park area. This building provides guests with information about Lewis and Clark’s famed expedition. There are also various exhibits, a garden, and a bookstore.

The park itself is a 23-acre landing along the Missouri River. There are more exhibits and monuments in this are, such as the Lewis and Clark Interpretive exhibits and Omaha Firefighters Memorial monument. Visitors can head up to the river-level plaza as well, which has great panoramic views. It is a beautiful and peaceful area to spend time outside.

 

Joslyn Art Museum

The Joslyn Art Museum is a six-minute drive from the CHI Health Center Omaha. This free museum has many European and American works of art from the 19th and 20th century. However, you can find artwork from ancient times to the present day as well.

Some pieces are in an outdoor exhibit area, which includes the kid-friendly Discovery Garden. When you visit, there are materials available to help you with a self-guided tour. There are also free, docent-guided tours that run on select days of the week.

 

KANEKO

KANEKO is made up of three turn-of-the-century warehouses that have been established as spaces of creativity by international artists Jun Kaneko and his wife, Ree, in 1998. Now known as KANEKO, this institution is a place that celebrates and promotes imagination and creativity. To view stunning artwork and performances at KANEKO, take a six-minute drive over from the CHI Health Center Omaha.

Exhibits at Kaneko are free to the public. Some lectures, such as TEDxOmaha, and films are free as well. However, there are performances and educational programs that are offered for affordable prices. Programming often changes at KANEKO, so check their website for the most up-to-date information.

 

Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts

The Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts is just over a mile from the CHI Health Center Omaha. This museum was founded by artists in 1981. Their goal is to connect the community to global discourses to further learn about cultures. To do so, they offer artist-driven programs to encourage creation and understanding of art. Public programs include artist-led workshops and classes, ARTalks, panel discussions, film screenings, performances, and more.

There are exhibits by local, national, and international artists. Artwork comes in various forms of media, such as paintings, film, performances, and A couple of permanent exhibits are the Omaha Mural Project and the Urban Fruit Trails, but many galleries rotate throughout the year. Check the museum’s website for the dates you are visiting to see what exhibits will be on display.

 

Local Festivals

Omaha hosts a lot of festivals throughout the year. Many of these events are free to attend and take place near the CHI Health Center Omaha. While attendance at the festivals is free, you’ll still want to bring some spending money for food, beverages, and possibly souvenirs. Here are a few events if you want to party with the locals.

Perhaps one of the easier festivals to catch due to the length it runs is Jazz on the Green. This event occurs every Thursday throughout the summer. Turner Park, which is a six-minute drive from CHI Health Center Omaha, hosts jazz concerts. Bring outside food and drinks and chill out to soulful jazz music.

Shakespeare on the Green is even easier to attend than Jazz on the Green because it runs for a larger chunk of time. Over three weeks in June, nightly Shakespeare plays are performed at Grace Young Park. Pre-show activities, as well as the show itself, are both free. You can even stay afterward to take part in a forum about the show. The Nebraska Shakespeare Festival, Inc. actually hosts many Shakespeare events throughout the year, so head over to their website to see if they are hosting any other free activities while you are in Omaha.

For foodies, there’s a free three-day festival at the end of May and the beginning of June called the Taste of Omaha. This is a massive food festival that takes over the Heartland of America Park and the Lewis and Clark Landing. Both parks are very close to the CHI Health Center Omaha. During the event, six stages are set up for concerts throughout the two parks, and all of these performances are free to watch. Just bring some spending money to try food from some of Omaha’s most popular eateries.

Also taking place in June is the Omaha Summer Arts Festival at Gene Leahy Mall. This three-day festival features hundreds of visual artists displaying and selling their artwork. Free concerts will also be happening on two stages.

Lastly, the Intertribal Powwow is a free festival that celebrates Native American culture. Native American tribes come from all over Nebraska come to celebrate the culture. During this event, guests will learn about Native American history and myths, listen to music, watch traditional dances, and eat authentic food.

 

Boys Town

In 1921, Father Edward J. Flanagan purchased Overlook Farm, and it became what is now known as Boys Town. Father Flanagan started many schools and churches and had homes built in this area to help the youth of Nebraska become more positive and productive. Today this is a National Historic Landmark District that over 100,000 guests visit each year. It is a glimpse into the past and allows visitors to see how at-risk children had their lives transformed over the course of a century.

It’s a 20-minute drive to Boys Town from CHI Health Center Omaha. When you arrive, there are a few attractions you can visit. The landscape of the town itself makes for a gorgeous drive with open farmland, gardens, fountains, and statues. Stop at the Visitors Center for an information guide before heading to the various buildings. This will allow you to take a self-guided tour of the town.

Some of the places you will want to visit while you’re in Boys Town include the Hall of History, Dowd Memorial Chapel, Garden of the Bible, Chambers Protestant Chapel, Father Flanagan House, and Father Flanagan’s Garden.