With the excitement of a college city and the friendliness of a small town, Nebraska’s capital is a great place for travelers of all ages to experience.
Top Attractions
Lincoln is a great city for families, who go wild about the 400 animals at the Lincoln Children’s Zoo. Let your imagination roam free at the 45,000 square foot Lincoln Children’s Museum, where learning is encouraged through play and hands-on exhibits. If you’re kid-free, pay a visit to O Street, which has an abundance of bars, dives, and pubs with a range of local craft brews to cutting edge dance clubs.
Other must-sees are Husker’s Memorial Stadium and the Museum of American Speed, known as the very best racing museum in the country.
Free Things to Do
Lincoln is a great city to see on a budget. You can spend your time in the city without spending much money with these free activities:
National Museum of Roller Skating
Check out the National Museum of Roller Skating with photos, artwork, awards, and many different types of memorabilia, including the largest collection of historical roller skates dating back to 1819. The museum is open Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. – 5p.m.
Visit Lincoln’s 125 Parks
Take a stroll to look at the 30,000 plants in the Sunken Gardens, including perennials, roses and springtime annuals, which are planted each spring with a different design theme. Also visit the Hamann Rose Garden at Antelope Park and Strolling Garden and explore the 21 monuments of the Veterans Memorial Garden.
Nebraska Capitol
Many don’t know that Nebraska’s capitol is unique from other cities. Aside from being the first state capitol building constructed without the “federal dome” style, Nebraska is the only state with a one-house, nonpartisan legislature. Free tours of this architectural marvel are offered daily on the hour.
The Railyard on Canopy Street
In the downtown Haymarket District you’ll find the Railyard, a public space that serves as a free ice skating rink in the winter and an entertainment courtyard in warmer months. Above the courtyard a 35-by-15-foot digital screen (The Cube) will broadcast movies, sporting events and more.
The Sheldon Museum of Art
With a permanent collection including the likes of Georgia O’Keefe, Jackson Pollock and Andy Warhol, it’s hard to believe that the Sheldon Museum of Art provides free admission to allow visitors to experience one of the most extensive collections of American art in the world. The museum and adjacent sculpture garden can be found in the center of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln campus.
Cheap Eats
There’s a wide variety of restaurants in Lincoln that offer tasty food at a great value. Here are some top budget-friendly picks:
Doozy’s Best sandwich shop in downtown Lincoln
101 N 14th St # 3, Lincoln, NE 68508
Pho Nguyen Flavorful and fresh Vietnamese fare
611 N 27th St # 5, Lincoln, NE 68503
Cook’s Café All-America brunch with generous servings and speedy service
1300 N. 66th, Lincoln, NE 68504
Nitro Burger Half food truck, half diner on wheels
Check Facebook for location information.
Yiayia’s Pizza Beer & Wine Tasty thin-crust pies with unique topping combinations
1423 O St, Lincoln, NE 68508
