Making Memories: Part I

 

Time passes quickly. I know writers are supposed to avoid tired, worn out cliches like that. But the sentiment is definitely apt. When the 2026-27 school year begins, Kinley will be a freshman in high school. Brooke will leave elementary school behind for her first foray into middle school as a sixth grader.

And we know we're not getting any younger. So we decided to make a few memories while the girls were still willing - and able - to spend a few days with us. With their packed schedules - no matter the season - carving out time is a challenge. Last year, we took the girls on a short trip to Branson, Missouri. This year, the destination was Omaha. 

Thankfully, Kinley and Brooke were patient with the old people. And, as the society pages in the old weekly newspapers would report, "A good time was had by all." 

We left Topeka on Memorial Day. A flag-filled park in Auburn, Nebraska, caught our eye. We "crashed" the community's Memorial Day celebration in Legion Park. And it gave us a beautiful place to stretch our legs.

Legion Memorial Park is designated as a National Historic Park Site (one of six in the state of Nebraska). The granite and limestone building structures were part of the Works Progress Administration projects of President Roosevelt. On Memorial Day, there were hundreds of flags lining sidewalks and dotting the grass throughout the park. 

Our next stop was the Lee G. Simmons Wildlife Safari Park near Ashland, Nebraska. It's a four-mile, drive-through wildlife park, featuring elk and buffalo. 

We did see both elk and buffalo, but they were far enough away that the photos aren't memorable.

There are also a few places to park - like the Pelican Wetlands.

American White Pelicans can be seen fishing in groups, where they swim in circles to concentrate the fish and simultaneously dip their heads below the surface to catch them. During mating season, they produce temporary growths on the top of their bills. (You can see that better in the photo below.)

There was also an enclosure for black bears (maybe one black bear ... we only saw the one).

Our next destination was the Holy Family Shrine near Gretna, Nebraska. Randy and I visited their twice when Jill and Eric lived in Omaha just after they were married. 

The structure of the chapel reminds us of the one we visited in Eureka Springs, Ark., a few years ago. (I wrote about the Holy Family Shrine in more detail HERE and HERE.)

The Holy Family Shrine was built not far off I-80. The idea for the shrine was conceived in 1993, and the visitor center was completed in 1997. The visitor center is built into a hillside, bringing to mind Jesus' burial in the tomb following his crucifixion. After the original chapel collapsed in a windstorm in 2000, the rebuild took two and a half years to complete.

On Good Friday 2009, they erected a crucifix outside the shrine. It is approximately 40 feet tall, one foot for every day of Lent. The figure of Christ is just over 8 feet tall.

Since we'd last been there, they'd added a walkway with the Stations of the Cross. Even though we are firmly United Methodist - not Catholic - I think the symbolism and beauty are well worth the short detour off I-80.

Next stop was Lauritzen Gardens in Omaha. We began in the 17,500-square-foot Marjorie K. Daugherty Conservatory, which features a glass dome that houses thousands of tropical and rare plants. The grounds feature more than 20 distinct outdoor areas, including the Rose Garden, Japanese Garden, Victorian Garden, Song of the Lark Meadow and an arboretum.

We probably didn't do our best planning in regards to this stop. By the time we arrived, it was pretty hot. And remember what I mentioned about old people? Well, sometimes it's not just plants that do some withering in the heat. And, honestly, the teen and pre-teen were fading, too. 

But we did get a few 4-H photos taken.

We chose the Inner Rail Food Hall for supper. With eight different food vendors, everyone could choose what they wanted. We liked that so well that we returned for another supper later in the week.

As intended, we arrived at the Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium the next day at opening time to try to capitalize on the cooler morning, at least for as long as it lasted.

This was another destination we'd explored when Jill and Eric lived in Omaha, but this was B.C. - before children, so it was fun to experience with the girls.

The zoo consistently ranks as one of the country's best zoos, and we would concur. It spans 160 acres and houses more than 33,000 animals. In the photo above, we're in front of the Desert Dome, the world's largest indoor desert and the largest glazed geodesic dome. It recreates ecosystems from the Namib, Australian, and Sonoran deserts.

 

All four of us chose the Suzanne and Walter Scott Aquarium as our favorite zoo spot. It features the largest aquarium inside of a zoo, complete with an underwater tunnel that lets guests walk beneath sharks, fish and sea turtles. 

And Brooke tried some more photos for 4-H - bonus!

At the time we arrived, a zoo keeper was inside the puffins enclosure, so it was fun to watch her feeding and interacting with the animals.

The penguins seemed to be watching us as much as we were watching them.

They have a huge enclosure for apes, gorillas and monkeys.

 

 

This guy seemed protective of his celery.

I also loved the butterfly house. (Others were probably not as enamored.)

  

We saw the usual lions and tigers and bears - oh my! - along with elephants and giraffes. We also cooled off with some Dole Whip.

And we saved some steps riding the Skyfari.

We ended the day watching two films in the Imax theater. There was a method to our plan. The theater was near the exit. We watched Coral Sea Adventure and Wild Asia: Life at Extremes in the air-conditioning as the afternoon temperatures continued to climb.

After a rest and showers for grandparents and girls, we ate at Cheesecake Factory. Of course, we had meals. But the highlights were the desserts. Brooke isn't a cheesecake lover, so she ordered the chocolate cake. But the rest of us got cheesecake. (Half of the desserts ended up going back to the hotel refrigerators for another day-end treat.)

Grandpa's Banana Creme cheesecake is also shown above.

Yes, I should have taken the photos when they arrived at the table - pristine and photogenic. Come to think of it, it's a good thing that a guy asked to take our photo at the zoo just as we were getting started. It would have been a less photogenic picture at the end of the zoo day. 

More from our trip tomorrow.