The Ultimate Family Adventure to Salt Lake City

Salt Lake City is one of our favorite cities to visit, as Cassidy has family and friends there.

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The Ultimate Family Adventure to Salt Lake City

Taking the kids to Salt Lake City is fun with all the fun parks, attractions, and excellent weather. Winters are mild and summers are hot but dry, so no matter what month you visit, you can enjoy both indoor and outdoor fun. The Hogle Zoo is great for animal lovers and the Lagoon Amusement Park is fun for all.

The city boasts over 100 parks including Liberty with an aviary, museum, and paddleboats, and the 33.5-acre Jordan Park with playgrounds and gardens. Great Salt Lake State Park on the lake is also a fun place to visit. But don’t bring your extra gear or bags. Drop them off at a Salt Lake City luggage storage unit first.

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Parks

• This is the Place Heritage Park

Founded in 1847 when Brigham Young first came to the area, this park is fun and historic. Head to Heritage Village to see the Indian Village with a huge, air-conditioned teepee with fun activities. Kids eight and over can take a one-hour horseback trail ride. Pan for gold, ride a train, and feed goats too!

• Thanksgiving Point

See Utah’s first insectarium, Butterfly Biosphere with hundreds of exotic butterflies as well as tarantulas, beetles, and other creepy critters. Visit the Museum of Ancient Life where you can see dinosaurs. Watch the cows get milked at Farm Country where the kids can enjoy a pony ride. 

• Liberty Park

In this 80-acre park, you can find the Tracy Aviary and Botanical Gardens with over 400 birds in 135 species. The pond has two islands you can visit if you rent a paddleboat and you can explore the Chase Home Museum, too. The playgrounds have ADA access as well as a water feature to enjoy in the summer.

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Museums

• Natural History Museum

Natural history museums are always fun because they have dinosaurs, bugs, and other creatures. This one has 10 permanent exhibits including Utah Futures, Our Backyard, Sky, Native Voices, Gems and Minerals, First Peoples, Land, Life, Great Salt Lake, and Past Worlds. There is a little of everything here. 

• Museum of Natural Curiosity

With a rainforest, waterworks, Kidopolis, and the children’s discovery center, everyone’s curiosity will be piqued at this museum. In fact, they have over 400 interactive exhibits to enjoy. The kids can crawl in a 45-foot monkey head, see ancient ruins, perform tricks in a magic show, and get souvenirs at the gift shop. 

• Discovery Gateway Children’s Museum

All the exhibits at Gateway are hands-on and interactive so the kids will never be bored. The second floor has a garden where they can play music, visit the kid’s town, build things in the construction zone, or feed animals on the farm. The third floor has a story factory where kids get to direct and star in their own play.

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Outdoor Fun

• Wheeler Historic Farm

This farm is nothing but fun, but your kids will learn things anyway without even trying. The fun fort is the farm favorite with its huge playground. But the woods and creek are also a blast to explore. They even take you on a wagon ride. The farm has 75 acres to appreciate where you can walk some trails before enjoying a picnic.

• Gilgal Sculpture Garden

The kids will love these sculptures like the Sphinx, Elijah’s Cave, the Eagles, and the Birdhouse. Altogether there are a dozen sculptures and more than 70 engraved stones to see. The garden full of flowers and other flora is also stunning, especially during the spring. And the best part? It’s all free! 

• Salt Lake Trolley Tour

Take the Trolley Adventure with the kids and you will have a unique memory to treasure forever. Ride on the old-fashioned red trolley for 90 minutes while the guides give you detailed information about the sights. See historic buildings in Temple Square, a scenic overlook and monument on Capitol Hill, and more.

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Theme Parks

• Lagoon Amusement Park

With 45 amusement rides and 10 roller coasters, Lagoon Park is an all-day affair. The tiny tots can enjoy a dozen rides like the Kontiki, Bulgy, and Scamper. They also have a bunch of live shows and entertainment, eateries, and gift shops for those unique souvenirs. And don’t miss Lagoona Beach in the summer!

• Evermore Park

This is not just a theme park; Evermore is a place where you can choose the fantasy village you want to visit and interact with the characters. It is like a real-life video game. You will go on quests, meet the citizens from your town, and be a hero by saving a princess. Also, see the bird and reptile show or ride a horse. 

• Boondocks Food & Fun

For more than just kiddie rides and games, Boondocks is aiming to please everyone with bumper boats, go-karts, batting cages, and miniature golf too. Or play a galactic laser tag with the kids before letting them wear themselves out at Kiddie Cove. The XD Dark Ride 7D is fun for the older kids and the arcade is fun for everyone.

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Animal Parks

• Hogle Zoo

Everyone loves the zoo so this 42-acre park should make the whole family happy. They have over 800 animals, from the African Cape porcupine to the white rhino. One of the favorite areas is the African Savanna with zebras, giraffes, lions, and ostriches. The Asian Highlands has tigers, leopards, and even some red pandas. 

• SeaQuest Interactive Aquarium

This animal park is like a giant petting zoo. They have quite a few different adventures you and the kids can enjoy. Meet Chip and Dale the sea otters. Or swim with Flapjack the stingray. Hang out with Flash the sloth. Or meet Honey, the kinkajou! You can even play with a porcupine named Quilliam!

• Loveland Living Planet Aquarium

Get up close with some animals at the Loveland Aquarium. They will let you feed the penguins and pet the stingrays. You will be amazed at the size of some of the sharks and the giant squid and you can even go see a clouded leopard and binturong with the otters. Stop at the Reef Café and get souvenirs before you go. 

Make sure you get your camera out of your luggage before dropping it off for safekeeping. You will want to take a lot of pics of the sights to share with your friends on social media. And of course, take a bunch of family photos, too!

Sources

https://www.slc.gov/parks/find-a-park/

https://www.visitutah.com/plan-your-trip/traveling-with-children

https://www.familyvacationcritic.com/salt-lake-city-family-vacation/dat/

https://www.visitsaltlake.com/things-to-do/things-to-do-with-kids/?&svap=29214&svat=cl&gclid=Cj0KCQiAvP6ABhCjARIsAH37rbRtjfT2MsBu9fLFNxEqpnMumqeLoAAW2D05w3jqOVOTVCVfauVekj0aAmLKEALw_wcB

https://www.travelingmom.com/family-vacation-destinations/western-states-destinations/fun-family-activities-in-salt-lake-city/

https://www.familyvacationcritic.com/salt-lake-city-family-vacation/dat/