It’s a winter heatwave! The forecast is calling for upper forties and lower fifties for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday which sounds like a weekend outdoors to me! Not sure what to do during an unusually warm third weekend in January, check out these five Omaha activities and get outside before the snow comes back!

1) Free admission to the Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium on Saturday, January 17th from 10am-4pm. Spend your 48 degree Saturday with the lions and tigers or if that’s still not warm enough for you, head to the Lied Jungle and check out some tropical plants and animals. Added bonus: you can get moving on your New Year’s resolution of exercising more while you walk around the 130 acres of plants, animals, and Dip ‘n Dots (walk quickly past the Dip ‘n Dots unless you’ve walked all the way to the rhino enclosure, in that case, you deserve a treat).

2) Visit Lauritzen Gardens’ newest exhibit (opening Saturday January 17th) Nature Connects 2 featuring giant Lego sculptures among the gardens. An unusual combination of 300,000 Lego bricks and nature, this garden walk through is one the whole family can enjoy.

3) Take a hike man! No really, take a hike. Grab some boots and hit the trail. Depending on your level of adventure and/or appropriate footwear there are plenty of places to get out and see what nature in winter has to offer. Get off the concrete path and traipse through Platte River State Park in Louisville, NE or keep to the scenic sidewalk at Lake Zorinksy. Be on the look out for the beautiful structure of trees and shrubs that is normally hidden by foliage. Don’t forget to bring the kiddos and fiddo along!

4) Don’t feeling like foraging into nature on your own? Check out Fontanelle Forest’s activities for the warm weekend. Saturday morning join the Plant Identification Hike at 10am or bring the family to Family Sundays: Birds in Winter.

5) Want to experience nature but not REALLY experience nature? Take a walk around your neighborhood! It’s going to be fifty degrees in January people! Don’t let this opportunity pass. Get out the kid’s bikes, strap on the helmets and push them out the garage. I’m sure your furry four legged friend would also like to take spin around the block.

Whatever you decide to do this weekend, take time to breath in some fresh air and observe the beauty of winter even without a blanket of snow – you won’t regret it. If you take any snap shots of your warm winter weekend, share them on our Facebook page! We would love to see your outdoor January adventures.