11 Fun Family Activities in Salt Lake City, Utah
If you are looking for fun things to do in Salt Lake City, Utah with your family, there is a lot to see and do! Check out these 12 fun family activities that you can enjoy while visiting the city. And if you live here, this is a great list to start checking off with the kids.
1. Clark Planetarium
The kid in me loves this place! With free hands-on exhibits, a state-of-the-art theater and Planet Fun store, Clark Planetarium is for sure on the top of my list for fun family activities in Salt Lake City. It is located right downtown and has plenty of parking with the attached parking garage.
Traipse across a moonscape in the Hansen Dome Theatre, or watch a 3D film about space in the IMAX theater. We have visited the Clark Planetarium many times just for the IMAX. They are always updating and adding new movies. It’s one of my favorite things to do here, and there are always tickets available, so you don’t really have to plan ahead, other than deciding which movie you want to see most.
Located within The Gateway, Clark Planetarium is one of the top attractions in Salt Lake City. It is open every day and offers numerous activities and events for the whole family to enjoy.
2. Hogle Zoo
Utah’s Hogle Zoo is a great place for families to enjoy a day of fun and learning. It has a variety of animal attractions and activities, including public giraffe feedings.
There are also a few special events throughout the year. One of them is Zoo Lights, where you can see over 200 lighted animal and holiday-themed displays. This is always a fun activity for the family in the wintertime.
3. Discovery Gateway Children’s Museum
Discovery Gateway Children’s Museum is a contemporary interactive learning center that provides families with fun and engaging workshops and exhibits. It is a place where kids are encouraged to explore science, technology, engineering, art, and math through play.
The museum has an impressive collection of exhibits including a new ’I Dig Dinos’ dinosaur exhibit where children can actually dig fossils and observe them under a microscope. There is also a ‘Saving Lives From The Sky’ helicopter exhibit with a real Intermountain Healthcare Life Flight Helicopter.
4. Utah Olympic Park
Head up toward Park City to visit Utah Olympic Park. Utah Olympic Park was built for the 2002 Winter Games and still serves as a training center for bobsled, skeleton, luge and ski jumping events.
For only $65, take your adrenaline pumping with a Jumpside Session Pass, which gives you 2.5 hours of unlimited use of Alpine Slide, Extreme Tubing, Freestyle Zipline and the Discovery Course. If you want to try something really unique, you can even ride as a passenger on the bobsled track that they train on for the Olympics.
Also make time to check out the George Eccles Salt Lake 2002 Olympic Winter Games Museum and Alf Engen Ski Museum, which are both located in the Quinney Winter Sports Center. They have lots of great exhibits to see.
5. Tracy Aviary
Tracy Aviary is the largest and oldest freestanding aviary in the United States. The history and size make this a unique destination right downtown in Salt Lake City. Located in Liberty Park, it’s a fun and educational way to spend the day.
The aviary is home to over 400 birds from around the world, including many endangered species. Free bird shows and encounters are available throughout the day.
6. Natural History Museum of Utah
The Natural History Museum is a must-visit for any family who loves dinosaurs, and want to learn more about the natural history of Utah. The museum showcases the largest horned dinosaur skull collection in the world, along with dozens of reconstructed skeletons and fossils from Utah’s rich fossil beds. Its dinosaur fossil collection is impressive, and there are plenty of interactive exhibits to keep kids engaged.
The museum’s ten permanent exhibitions explore culture and nature from the perspective of the sky, local accents, life, land, first inhabitants, mineral treasures, the past, the Great Salt Lake and more.
7. All Star Bowling & Entertainment
All Star Bowling & Entertainment features many attractions for families and kids (or adults) all ages. This place has state-of-the-art bowling lanes and bumpers. It also offers an arcade, laser tag, bumper cars, an escape room, mini golf, and a great restaurant!
You could literally spend all day here, and not get to everything. This is a great rainy-day activity, and just a super fun place to go overall. This is my go-to when I want to bowl, or just have a day of fun. Bring the family and make a day of it. Before you go, check out their website for current specials.
8. Loveland Living Planet Aquarium
A world-class attraction, Loveland Living Planet Aquarium is home to 4,000 animals from around the globe. It features five unique ecosystems: Journey to South America, Expedition: Asia, Ocean Explorer, Antarctic Adventure and Discover Utah. One of my favorites is the shark exhibit. But you can also check out some cute sloths, which is one of the things that makes this aquarium unique.
Guests will also be able to explore these habitats through modern visual, audible and sensory technologies including a 4D experience. The Aquarium is partnering with MMI to install 64 Motion EFX seats and 2 Motion Floors to give you the EECO Voyager virtual reality experience. They have an Ocean Odyssey and Amazon Adventure currently. Tickets are separate from aquarium entrance tickets. Check the viewing schedule and purchase tickets before you arrive, to skip right past the lines.
9. Top Golf
Top Golf is another fun family activity in Salt Lake City. It’s located in Midvale, just south of downtown. Want a little healthy competition? This a very fun and engaging way to spend time with your family and friends. It’s also a great activity for people of all skill levels, from beginners to aspiring pros.
The idea is simple — players use microchipped balls to hit giant dartboard-like targets. The farther the ball goes and closer it lands, the more points you earn. You definitely don’t have to be a skilled golfer to have fun here.
In addition to the fun golf games, there is also table service to get food and drinks while you enjoy hitting some golf balls. If you’re bringing the kids, check out the Angry Birds Top Golf game. They will absolutely love seeing playing this interactive golf game.
Before you go, check online to make sure they have reservations available. It can get very busy depending on what day and time you choose.
10. Hike in Mill Creek Canyon
Mill Creek Canyon is a beautiful swath of land just east of Salt Lake City. It offers scenic views, incredible hiking trails, allowances for dogs, and plenty of lovely picnic areas, if you want to pack your lunch.
One of the most popular hikes in Mill Creek Canyon is Desolation Overlook, which can be done year-round. The 5.2-mile out and back offers great views of the canyon and Salt Lake Valley. The hike isn’t too difficult so it is a perfect hike to go on with the whole family. Just be aware, you may need spikes in the winter if there is snow on the ground. Always better to pack safe.
11. Thanksgiving Point
Last but not least, we have Thanksgiving Point, as a fun family activity to do in Salt Lake City. Well actually it’s located about 25 minutes south of the city, but definitely worth the drive. They host different events and activities, year-round.
There are a ton of activities to do with the whole family including, the museum of ancient life, museum of natural curiosity, the mammoth screen theatre, a butterfly biosphere and incredibly beautiful gardens that you can stroll around. They have a tulip festival annually, and in the winter they have a light festival called Luminaria.
This is a place that is fun any time of year to bring the family. Check out their website to see what current events and attractions they have available.
Final Thoughts
Well there you have it. As you can see, there are plenty of fun family activities in Salt Lake City. Whether you’re seeking some adrenaline thrills, a nice relaxing hike on a summer afternoon, or a fun indoor activity day, one of the activities on this list should have you covered.
Let me know what you end up doing, and if you have any other suggestions for fun activities to do with the family, and I’ll them to the list.