Things to Do in Fremont

At That Pottery Place, the definition of an artist’s canvas expands to include everything from mugs to coin banks. The studio invites budding van Goghs to choose from more than 200 pottery designs and cloak their selection with lead-free paint from a rainbow of more than 50 colors. Stencils, stamps, and idea books stand ready to inspire artists who are facing creative blocks or giving their muse the silent treatment. After participants fully realize their visions, they entrust their work to the studio’s professionals, who glaze and fire each piece, readying it for pickup within a week.

In addition to pottery painting, That Pottery Place lets guests channel their creativity with mosaics, whose tiles and gems can be grouted or glued to mirrors and frames. Whatever the project, crafters can tote along their own snacks and drinks to fuel their creativity or throw at copycats. For more structured crafting, the studio organizes kids’ art classes and camps, and for celebrants seeking a hands-on event, they host parties.

Strike Zone's expert staff and instructors bolster ballplayers' confidence and batting averages with clinics that hone in on the fundamentals of America's pastime. A wide variety of clinics strengthen pitch records, agility, and overall skills with specially tailored drills, and a workout room allows athletes to bulk up with weight machines and free weights. With leagues for all ages, players can always find a fair match against equally skilled friends or the ghosts of legendary stadium organists, and a host of batting cages helps batters hone their home-run-hitting prowess. The on-site pro shop outfits Strike Zone members with all the necessary gear for all-star glory, such as cleats, bats, and a Harry Caray impersonator to narrate important life decisions.

In 1962, founder and director Milton C. Anderson’s original incarnation of The Young Americans was as a show choir that went on to perform on renowned stages, such as the one on The Ed Sullivan Show. As he saw more and more schools cutting funding for their performing arts programs, he began holding workshops for school-age children in 1992. Today, these courses have spread across the country and into Europe, Australia, and Japan.

The Young Americans World Tour Summer Camp has become a fixture in the Omaha area at the Midland University, and earned a feature on The Morning Blend in 2011. During both day and overnight camps, aspiring performers immerse themselves in arts-laden workshops and classes, rather than spending their summer days frying eggs on the sidewalk. The Premier Day Camp gives kids a general overview of the performing arts, while the two overnight camps focus on Hollywood and Broadway performing. All camps culminate in a final performance, during which campers can amaze their family, friends, and imaginary family and friends with their newly honed skills.

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.

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.

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.