Things to Do in Beatrice

Nearly 50 years old and recognized as one of the Best Zoos for Kids by Parents magazine, the Lincoln Children's Zoo continues to foster an exciting educational atmosphere that encourages kids to interact firsthand with their furry, scaly, and leafy neighbors. There's already an ample, varied herd of animals that will be joined by the rare Humboldt penguins—the zoo is one of only 16 zoos nationwide to feature the warm-climate tuxedoed birds—and the mischievous squirrel monkeys. Curious kids and professional petters will want to flock to the hands-on exhibits. Feed a llama from your hand and listen closely for his penny-stock tips at the Firsthand Farm, or watch a friendly ZooCrew handler parade small creatures before youngsters at Critter Encounter. Because plants and animals are still reconciling creative differences, you can visit bodacious buds separately at the nearby botanical gardens, where a wide variety of plant species bedeck their expansive green areas.

With one foot planted in traditional martial-arts pedagogy and the other roundhouse-kicking modern sports science, Tiger Rock Academy schools limbs with fast-paced, total-body fitness classes. The health-and-fitness program consists of YogaFit and Kisado, which blends martial arts, yoga, and nutritional counseling to build up the whole body and tone each strand of hair on the head. Martial arts classes for adults and kids cover counter aggressive forms such as taekwondo, jiu-jitsu and hanmudo, a style based on grappling and takedowns.

Slattery Vintage Estates takes fermented-grape lovers on a whirlwind tour of more than 50 Nebraska wines and then offers them a convenient place to lay their heads at the end of the juice-drenched day. Like the swanky tent that Queen Elizabeth stayed in during the Buckingham Palace renovation, the B&B Bungalows ensconce overnighters within charming, antique surroundings. Wooden decks with porches that overlook the vineyard elevate the private 10’x14’ tents, sporting ornate rugs, vintage dressers, and softly swaddled, full-size antique beds, accommodating every comfort concern. Each tent is fully equipped with electricity, with lamps, lanterns, and fans or heaters getting a charge from their own brand of juice.

Six climate-controlled indoor courts and twelve hard-surface outdoor battlegrounds host racket-swingers aged 5 and older at the $3 million Nebraska Tennis Academy facilities, nestled within the sprawling 215-acre confines of the Abbot Sports Complex. The academy's certified instructors foster adults' skills with drills designed to initiate new players, introduce new strokes, and elevate heart rates with tennis-oriented workouts. They also mold minors with a comprehensive Junior Development curriculum that prepares students for high-school play, more intense sessions for those committed to competing at a high level, and Quick Start classes—which tailor court dimensions, equipment, and scoring systems to the skills and sizes of players aged 5 to 11. During downtime, visitors can burn calories in the full-service health and fitness center or make macaroni portraits of Andre Agassi in the players' lounge.

Owners Tataya and Thomas Radtke originally began Yoga Body & Balance in the living room of their home. Since then, they have expanded to new location with enough space to host the studio's eclectic assortment of yoga classes and bodywork treatments. Having studied Hatha, Ashtanga, and Anusara yoga, Tataya supervises varied sessions for a range of ages and skill levels, from gentle, introspective styles to vigorous, athletically based classes. This extensive range of opportunities allows students of various flexibilities to pursue a style that corresponds with the desired realism of their Gumby Halloween costume.

In addition to yoga, the center also treats visitors with various types of bodywork, such as Thai massage, Lakota raindrop technique, and sustained bear hugs. Alongside acupuncture sessions with a licensed therapist, these treatments work to target the symptoms of physical pain while also addressing the energetic imbalances believed to cause them.

Marc Kornbluh knows glass. The Tisch School of the Arts graduate and renowned artist has learned to manipulate the medium until it takes on the form of just about any shape, whether it’s a cluster of flowers, a spiky fish, or a seashell perched on a smooth orb. In his humble downtown studio space, Kornbluh expertly wields torches as he melts glass into submission, creating stunning pieces that pop in craft fairs, gallery shows, and elegant doghouse foyers across the country.