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Utah is home to some of the most mesmerizing landscapes, making it an ideal vacation destination for families.
The state checks all the boxes for a perfect getaway. From the awe-inspiring views of its National Parks to the interactive museums, there is always something to do when visiting the Beehive State. Take some advice from the locals. If you are spending some time in Utah and looking for some frugal family fun, these Cheap Family Activities are the places you should put on your list.
1. Great Salt Lake Tours, Salt Lake City
Fun Fact: Did you know the Great Salt Lake is so dense with salt that it is impossible to sink? That is just one of the many fun facts you will learn on this guided two-hour tour of the saltiest lake in the Western Hemisphere.
Tour highlights include stops at the Great Salt Lake State Marina, catching colorful sea monkeys, viewing natural migratory bird refuges, and visiting the former “Coney Island of the West,” the Saltair Resort. After the tour, visitors are encouraged to take a dip to feel how their skin tingles when they dry up.
2. Utah’s Hogle Zoo, Salt Lake City
The Hogle Zoo is Utah’s premier zoo. The park aims to uphold the highest standards of animal care while fostering a connection between animals and people.
The zoo is home to many species, including polar bears, giraffes, great apes, lions, tigers, and red pandas. Stop by the giraffe exhibit, where you can hand-feed these elegant giants. Then, visit fan favorites George and Princess, two rhino siblings living out their golden years.
3. Natural History Museum of Utah, Salt Lake City
Located on the University of Utah campus, guests can view thousands of artifacts that helped shape Utah’s fascinating history of dinosaurs and biodiversity. Exhibits include Utah’s first people, Native artwork, local ecosystems, and animals that call those ecosystems home.
The museum also has specialty programs centered around kids, including Boy Scout and Girl Scout workshops and family nights, where parents and kids can explore the museum after hours.
4. Tracy Aviary, Salt Lake City
Get ready to learn about our feathered friends of the sky when you step into Tracy Aviary Center. The center is home to over 100 birds of all different species. Visitors can enjoy bird shows, take tours, and hand-feed some of the residents. Some popular birds are flamingos, macaws, and many species native to the state.
5. Salt Lake Bees Baseball, Salt Lake City
Who doesn’t love a day at the ballpark? The Salt Lake City Bees is the Minor League affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels of Major League Baseball.
For those who have never been to a Minor League game, let me tell you, they are a blast. Not only do you get the entertainment of live baseball, but these games usually have free giveaways, carnival games, and funny contests between innings. Grab a hot dog, take a seat, and enjoy a fun night at the park.
6. Utah Days of 47 Rodeo, Salt Lake City
The Utah Days of 47 Rodeo is one of the state’s longest-standing traditions. Residents celebrate July 24, 1847, when early pioneers of the state settled into the Salt Lake Valley, seeking religious freedom.
Today, the event is filled with fun and adventure. Rodeo events include bareback riding, steer wrangling, team roping, saddle bronc, barrel racing, and bull riding. Put on your cowboy hat and strap on your spurs. This rodeo will make you feel like living in the Old West.
7. Clark Planetarium, Salt Lake City
Clark Planetarium is Utah’s number one place to learn and discover all things space and science-related. The 3-floor facility will teach you about gravity, let you observe a meteor shower, and look into the depths of the solar system.
Visitors can take in a show in one of the center’s theaters. The giant Hansen Dome will bring you up close and personal with different corners of our galaxy as you bob and weave through the Milky Way and other various constellations.
8. Loveland Living Planet Aquarium, Draper
The Loveland Living Planet Aquarium provides close encounters with some of the most unique ecosystems on the planet. Visitors will learn about the sea creatures that call these various habitats home.
The aquarium has various majestic creatures, including sharks, caimans, piranhas, seahorses, sea jellies, snakes, and sting rays. The facility also has clouded leopards, Asian small-clawed otters, and many species of sea birds.
9. Lagoon Amusement Park, Farmington
Lagoon Amusement Park provides fun for families of all ages. With rollercoasters, carnival games, live entertainment, and a waterpark, you can spend an entire day having the time of your life.
Top rides include Rattlesnake Rapids, Tipsy Teacups, Merry-go-Rounds, and Ferris wheels. Thrillseekers can ride daredevil rollercoasters like Wicked, Collosus, and Cannibal, which drop riders over 200 feet on inverted slopes and reach speeds up to 70 miles per hour.
10. Thanksgiving Point, Lehi
During a visit to Thanksgiving Point, there is plenty to learn and explore. The facility aims to spark curiosity through its Children’s Discovery Garden, Farm Country, Museum of Ancient Life, and Emporium.
Each area of the park provides a unique experience for families. Whether you want to learn about farm life and natural history or stroll through the flower gardens, you will enjoy an afternoon at Thanksgiving Point.
11. Museum of Natural Curiosity, Lehi
Every visit to the Museum of Natural Curiosity is an adventure. With over 400 interactive exhibits, it is the premier children’s museum in the state.
Kids can find hidden rainforest treasures, discover the power of wind and water, or understand the world’s natural wonders. Exhibits constantly change, so you never know what you will get into during your next visit.
12. Arches National Park, Moab
Arches National Park is home to one of Utah’s most iconic landmarks: the massive Delicate Arch, a 50-foot freestanding arch that has become the state’s recognized symbol. Delicate Arch might be the most famous, but Arches National Park has over 2,000 rare sandstone arches. Visitors can hike up to the arches, climb around the base, and take epic pictures of the breathtaking views.
Just outside of the park is the city of Moab. The town is filled with thrilling experiences like Jeep Tours, mountain bike rentals, white water rafting, and renting ATVs. If your family is looking for an adventure, Moab is the place to be.
13. Zion National Park, Springdale
Located in the state’s Southwest corner, Zion is home to awe-inspiring views and exhilarating hikes. Families can spend their trip to the park walking through the valley, going on bike rides, taking a scenic drive, or hiking one of the many trails.
The real highlights of the park are The Narrows and Angel’s Landing. Both are geared toward experienced hikers. The Narrows takes you through a tall slotted canyon, where you trek through rushing water, sometimes up to your waist. Angel’s Landing spirals hikers 1,400 feet into the sky, with nothing but chains to keep them from falling.
If your family is fearless and looking for an adrenaline pump, Zion is the perfect place to add to your list.
14. Splash Summit Water Park, Provo
Are you looking for a place to cool off in the summertime? If so, there is no better place to splash around in the water with your family than a trip to Splash Summit Water Park.
The park offers poolside cabana rentals for you to unwind and relax while your family explores the many slides, lazy rivers, and playgrounds. Some of the park’s most popular slides are Jagged Edge, Shotgun Falls, Boomerang, and Free Fall, where you plunge over 70 feet in this mind-blowing rush.
15. Antelope Island State Park, Davis County
Antelope Island State Park is ideal for families looking to hike, bike, or ride horses on the many trails and walkways. Located on the peninsula, these trails offer spectacular photo opportunities. Antelope Island is also home to free-ranging bison, mule deer, bighorn sheep, and antelope, so be sure to get your camera ready.
16. Ogden Nature Center, Ogden
This open nature preserve allows visitors to learn about the native Shoshone people and how homesteaders of the 19th century changed the land through farming. Visitors can spend their afternoon picnicking, bird watching, walking, or looking for wildlife like turtles, snakes, and salamanders.
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