The Lauritzen Gardens is a picturesque set of botanical grounds with a range of interactive exhibits and activities. It has several types of intriguing gardens as well as a 4-acre (1.6-hectare) arboretum that is ideal for fun forest hikes. Learn about different types of plants and flowers in this large, scenic park.
Enter the Visitor and Education Center for an overview of the gardens and their ecosystems. Visit the center’s floral display hall, educational wing and horticultural library. The building also contains the ConAgra Café, which serves sandwiches, salads and desserts. Browse the adjacent gift shop for presents, garden items and toys, among other products.
Venture outside to glimpse the stunning botanical gardens. In summer, pay to take a 1-hour narrated tram tour around the 100-acre (40-hectare) park. Take photos of the impressive specimens in the Rose Garden and inspect the vegetation in the Herb Garden.
Let your kids get involved with planting and harvesting in the Children’s Garden. They will love the trains operating in the Model Railroad Garden. Enjoy the utter serenity beside the Woodland Waterfall and sit by the ponds in the Garden in the Glen and the Garden of Memories.
Embark on a trek through the arboretum for its diverse terrains, including savannah, prairie and maple linden forest. Bring your binoculars to examine the migratory birds that pass through here. The marsh area has plenty of tadpoles and frogs in spring.
The Lauritzen Gardens is near the Missouri River in the Riverview district, toward the southeastern outskirts of Omaha. There is a fee to enter the gardens, which are open daily from morning until late afternoon. Visit some of the other nearby attractions, such as Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium, the 9-hole Spring Lake Golf Course and the Western Historic Trails Center.
