We recently attended a child's birthday party at the Lincoln Children's Museum, and since it was…read moreheld after hours (5:30-7:30 p.m.), the museum was closed to the general public. While that time slot wasn't the most ideal for our family's schedule, having the museum almost entirely to ourselves was a huge perk. The kids rarely had to wait to use an exhibit, which made for a much more enjoyable experience than visiting during normal operating hours. Overall, the kids had a great time running from exhibit to exhibit, but I did find some of the museum's displays a little underwhelming. A number of the stations could benefit from clearer signage explaining what you're supposed to do. In several cases, it wasn't immediately obvious how an activity was meant to be used or what made it interactive. Some of the exhibits also feel like they're due for an update. Having visited both, I personally think the Omaha Children's Museum offers a wider variety of exhibits and more engaging hands-on experiences, but Lincoln's museum still provided plenty to keep the kids entertained for a couple of hours. The birthday party area itself was pretty standard. It reminded me of a concession stand or cafeteria-style space with tables and chairs. The birthday family was able to decorate a gift table and bring in their own cake, but it didn't really feel like a space where you could create much of a themed party atmosphere. I'm not sure what the museum's decorating policies are, so that may have played a role. One thing that stood out was the lack of water for the adults. The kids had drinks, but there weren't bottled waters or even cups of water available for the parents. I had forgotten my water bottle and ended up filling one of the small paper cups at the drinking fountain, which wasn't my favorite option. The museum also made a couple of announcements over the PA system--one for dinner and another to let everyone know there were about 15 minutes left in the party--but they were so garbled that I couldn't understand either one. I only found out what had been said after talking to other parents. Even with the reduced noise level from having a private event, the announcements were difficult to make out. The building itself has an older feel, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it does show its age in places. Overall, the kids had a wonderful time, and that's ultimately what matters most. With some refreshed exhibits, clearer instructions at the activity stations, and a few improvements to the overall guest experience, I think the museum could be even better.

Having grown up going to the Omaha Children's Museum, as a mom, I really like the Lincoln…read moreChildren's Museum. It is so chill, fun, has so many creative spaces catering to all ages. I absolutely loved the careers area where they could learn about careers in ag, architecture, and engineering. Three full levels of fun!

The York Area Children's Museum is a wonderful museum for the price of admission, which is just $1…read moreper person. There are plenty of different exhibits for the kids to do such as a grocery store, diner, construction area, gas station, doctor's office, vets office, space room and a house. Like I said, its a good deal for the money, and with my kids as young as they are, they had more fun here than at the Omaha Children's Museum because it was way less crowded and they could actually enjoy it. It's truly a hidden gem for small kids in York, Nebraska and the surrounding area.

From the owner: Since it was established in 1999, the non-profit York Area Children's Museum's mission has been to…read moreprovide a safe, imaginative and affordable play opportunity for the youngest residents of our community. Our facility is fully accessible to all visitors of differing abilities! The exterior wheelchair ramps that allow access into the auditorium are located on the Southwest and Northwest sides of the building. Once inside of the building, the inclined platform wheelchair lift will allow access into YACM. For any questions or to book YACM for your next event, please email us at yorkacm@gmail.com, or please submit your request via the CONTACT US tab. Admission fee is just $1 per person. Cash or check are only accepted. No change is available on site. All children must be accompanied by an adult.

Last Christmas, we went back home to visit my parents and found ourselves with 3 little kids who…read morewere going stir crazy. Since it was literally 0 degrees outside, we decided to hit up this museum. There are a ton of different play areas, including a pizzeria, grocery store, dress-up area, doctor's office, and even an infant play area. Some of the toys have seen better days, but the kids did not care one bit. We went on a weekday afternoon and had the place to ourselves! Admission is $5 for each person over age 1, which seems reasonable since the kids could have stayed here for hours. Our kids were ranging in age from 8 months to 2.5 years old, but the museum also would be good for kids who are older. All in all, the kids had fun and there were quite a few tears when we had to leave.

Nice place to go with the little ones. Just make sure you check their Facebook page/give them a…read morecall to see when open play is for the day

From the owner: We are an indoor playroom in Fremont Ne. Bring your littles in and let them play while you and your…read morefriends enjoy some coffee and chat.

Fun place for kids to play inside Oak View Mall. There's separate areas for toddlers/crawlers and…read moreolder kids. Adults can wander around to watch or play in some areas. Non slip socks are required but seems like you don't have to buy them here if you bring them. It's a smaller playplace but nice that you don't have to keep an eye on kids in a huge area. $15 per kid and 2 adults free per group. They have drinks for sale from a fridge behind the counter, energy drinks for parents too!

We did not actually play here, so I will update my review when we do…read more We stopped in during a brief visit to Oakview. The kids looked pretty excited to see this new space. Unfortunately we didn't have enough time to make the $15 per kid pass worth it. I asked if they had hourly rates, or introductory pricing to see if they liked it and they didn't. I would have preferred to check it out before the investment. From the looks of it it looks like a massive indoor playplace. I would love to come back. They have memberships and I think if you have 5 and under kids this would be worth the price, but with my school age kids we would not take advantage enough. It is definitely something needed in this area of town.

It's clear when you walk in that this isn't your average children's play place. Playful Pines is…read moreintentionally designed with cleanliness and safety in mind. I think they have thought of every detail, including a mother's room, awesome work spaces for parents, snacks available to purchase, and free (good quality) coffee for parents. There are so many cool things for kids to play with: costumes, sensory activities, books, magnatiles, etc. I like that they have a maximum number of kids per session, so it doesn't get too crowded or unsafe. They also leave time between sessions to thoroughly clean. I am so impressed by Playful Pines, and I've recommended it many times since my visit.

We have been gifted some really great experiences lately and this actually marks the 3rd indoor…read morekids play cafe we've been to in the last 2 months or so... 4 if you count a trampoline park. I mention that to emphasize: this was our FAVORITE one. Ages of our kiddos - 6, 5, 1. It had something for all three of them to enjoy, but the environment for the parents was the WINNING spectacle for me. You shouldn't expect this to be a spontaneous drop-in, because they do abide by 2-hour play sessions, booked ahead of time... but it is so worth it. The 'crowd' was so manageable - way less chaotic and loud and rambunctious and overstuffed than another play cafe in town. The noises are buffered well by all the soft surfaces, and they had little nursing corners for new mamas and plenty of space for parents to sit and work/chat outside the play space, and IN it if you wanted. The thing that REALLY sold me here was the staff and hospitality. An hour into the play time, one of the young women running the desk actually joined the bigger kids and played alongside them. At some point, a kid fell and bumped his head, and she immediately went and grabbed an ice pack without prompting. They also have a stash of wipes/pull ups/diapers/cream etc just in case you run out while you're on site. Now that is just plain genius. We will happily return. Job well done!

Unity Moves is an amazing addition to the Elkhorn area for kids' indoor play places! They boast a…read morewide range of activities for all ages, thoughtfully spaced in various open rooms. A few example include pretend play areas, building block stations, an infant room, and an art room. Like other indoor play spaces, Unity Moves also includes snacks and drinks available for purchase, as well as, daily or monthly membership options. Additional fun events they have added this summer are Parents' Night Out, special visitor experiences and more! All in all, this is a welcomed site for the kiddos to have a safe space to play indoors!

I came here for a birthday party over the weekend. A 10am spot and it was a madhouse! But,…read morerespectfully, I imagine that place is busy from open to close! Parking is kind of nuts, and you have to cross a very busy entrance so keep any eye on the kiddos. Inside, we had a special birthday room to house our things and snacks, however there is a large "kiddie court" where you can purchase food and drink. There are over 1 dozen areas of the kids to play from the first green space, to slides, to hills to roll down, arcade, mini rooms like childrens museum, trampolines, multi-story ropes and ninja like courses. It's a super fun place! My kids are 7-10 and they're a little older for everything, but I'd for sure come here more often with littles.

Kipp Omaha, where we've been members for over a year, recently raised its membership fees,…read moreincluding a weekend upcharge. Play areas surround the central seating area for observers and adults with self-serve snacks and drinks (including an ICEE machine), but the arcade and mini-store areas obscure the line of signs. There are no booths, and the Wi-Fi connection is unreliable. Despite these issues, the place is always spotless. We've noticed a dedicated team of teens regularly cleaning up any unused areas or tables. There are no ball pits, but there are plenty of other activities for kids to enjoy. From the first green space to slides, hills to roll down, an arcade, trampolines with basketball hoops, and a 3-story playground, there's something for everyone. Kids aged 6-12 would do well here; there's also a centrally located toddler area for parents with multiple age groups. Weekends and the adjacent parking lots can get quite busy, but the online system shows limited time slots due to its popularity.