Things to Do in Lincoln

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.

Award-winning dancer and teacher Shelley Fritz opened The DelRay Ballroom and Lounge to share her love of dance with the Lincoln community. Her space hosts music, cocktails, and ballroom dance lessons every night of the week, and is staffed by experienced dance instructors such as herself who aim to share their passion for waltz, cha-cha, Argentine Tango, and West Coast swing with students.

Beatrice Country Club’s 18-hole course unfurls across 7,169 yards of Nebraska countryside for a par 72 course that blends elements of woodland golf and a traditional, links-style layout. The majority of the course’s fairways tunnel through tight tree lines that temper aggressive impulses at the tee box like a caddy studying to be an anger-management therapist. Encroaching timbers vanish for a stretch, during which relatively open fairways run alongside water hazards and thickets of tall grass, affecting the landscape of golf’s seminal Scottish links. With five tee options, the course caters to clubbers of all stripes. Arching drives trace the sky at the onsite driving range, where duffers prepare for their round and practice balls efficiently sign waivers before launching themselves into the stratosphere.

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.