Things to Do in Utah

Park City Mountain Resort is the second largest ski resort in America and is a major American skiing destination. The resort covers the 7,300-acre mountain and offers over 330 trails. Several runs are used for training by the U.S. ski team and it was the host for 2002 Winter Olympics snowboarding and some slalom events.

Night skiing is available on selected runs, with the remaining slopes operating from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm daily during the winter. Park City Mountain provides lessons at their Park City Ski and Snowboard School, where students of all ages and abilities can learn on trails appropriate to their skill level.

Address: 1345 Lowell Ave, Park City, UT 84060, Phone: 800-222-7275

The Natural History Museum of Utah in Salt Lake City holds more than 1.5 million artifacts. In the paleontology section, visitors can see items with a focus on the Intermountain West, while the anthropology section houses specimens dating back to 11,500 BC. The vertebrate zoology section offers mammal, bird, reptile, and amphibian samples, and in the botany section, guests can view frozen swatches used for DNA research.

The malacology section holds examples from the six classes of marine mollusks, while the minerology section displays beautiful minerals from around the globe. The entomology section similarly contains representative samples of insect life from six continents. Aside from exhibits, the museum conducts educational and recreational programming for all ages and has both a gift shop and in-house cafe.

Address: 301 Wakara Way, Salt Lake City, UT 84108, Phone: 801-581-4303

Recommended Activities for Families

The Hill Aerospace Museum's unique layout is in the shape of an aircraft, which is fitting for an establishment that operates as a field museum for the U.S. Air Force. Hill Aerospace houses over 4,000 historical objects from five eras, although at any given time only 20% of the collection is on display.

The artifacts include artwork, the majority of which is located in the Lindquist Art Gallery, and the museum hosts a Plane Talk lecture series, where speakers cover topics related to aerospace and defense. The Utah Aviation Hall of Fame is also on site.

Address: Hill Aerospace Museum, 7961 Wardleigh Road, Building 1955, Hill AFB, UT 84056, Phone: 801-825-5817

As the country’s largest no-kill center,Best Friends Animal Sanctuaryy is home to approximately 1,700 animals available for adoption. Homeless animals like dogs and cats, bunnies and birds, horses and barnyard animals are sent here from all across America. Best Friends is also home to recovering wildlife and special needs animals.

The sanctuary houses animals in groups (Dogtown, Cat World, Horse Haven, Bunny House, Marshall’s Piggy Paradise, and Parrot Garden) to promote exercise and socialization. In the visitors center, guests can sign up for tours, learn about the animals, and participate in events such as bunny yoga, Thanksgiving dinner, and Paint Your Pet’s Portrait.

Address: Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, 5001 Angel Canyon Rd, Kanab, UT 84741, Phone: 435-644-2001

Located on the campus of Brigham Young University in Provo, the Monte L. Bean Life Science Museum specializes in the science behind life on our planet. Exhibits cover topics such as how Earth's characteristics sustain life and how all life is interconnected, the causes underlying extinction, the ideological view that humanity is the planet's steward, and the predator-prey relationship.

The museum also has a play area for toddlers, plus two galleries, one with a collection of over 100 bird species and one with wildlife art. Bean Life Science Museum’s schedule includes popular items such as in-house live shows (animal or reptile), lectures, and Night at the Museum events.

Address: Bean Life Science Museum, 645 E 1430 N, Provo, UT 84602, Phone: 801-422-5050

Clark Planetarium is a far cry from the light shows of yesteryear and while the planetarium does hold cosmic light shows during the evening from Thursday to Saturday, they are courtesy of the latest technology. The facility’s Hansen Dome Theatre is similarly of the moment, using 3D computer animation and digital projection to provide a 360-degree experience.

The IMAX theatre displays 3D films on a gigantic, five-story screen alongside 14,000 watts of digital sound. The planetarium also offers community programs to the public and hosts free astronomy exhibits with models of the solar system and NASA equipment as well as interactive elements.

Address: Clark Planetarium, 110 South 400 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84101, Phone: 385-468-7827

Attractions for Couples

The Utah Museum of Contemporary Art (Utah MOCA) is located in Salt Lake City, where it provides a wonderful showcase for local and national artists. In addition to hosting many exhibitions during the year, the museum also offers a range of services to art enthusiasts.

These include Stroller Tours, school tours and special tours for children with special needs. You can attend a wide variety of workshops and courses including Family Art Saturday, hands-on Art Classes and much more. There is also an Art Shop where you can buy paintings, sculptures and even wearable art.

Address: Utah MOCA, 20 S. West Temple, Salt Lake City, UT 84101, Phone: 801 328 4201

The Utah Symphony is a major internationally recognized American symphony and an integral part of the American West’s cultural landscape. The symphony supports and provides educational programming and conducts tours throughout the region to promote the arts, especially music.

Along with performances at Abravanel Hall, the Utah Symphony holds summer concerts at Park City’s Deer Valley Music Festival. The symphony records extensively and has been nominated for Grammy Awards a number of times. Business or business attire is common at concerts, although jeans through formal wear are also seen. Concerts run for 90 to 120 minutes, including intermission, and VIP packages are available.

Address: Utah Symphony, 123 West South Temple, Salt Lake City, UT 84101, Phone: 801-533-6683

The Gifford Homestead is located in the heart of the Fruita Valley and lets guests experience a Mormon settlement as it existed in the valley at the turn of the 20th century. The homestead features rock walls and includes a farmhouse as well as a garden, smokehouse, barn, and pasture.

The farmhouse is illustrative of the favored austere design and contains a front room where the kitchen is located as well as two small bedrooms on the ground floor, while the two bedrooms upstairs are only accessible by an outdoor ladder. The homestead has a sales outlet where guests can buy locally made food goods and replica pioneer artifacts.

Address: Gifford Homestead, 52 West Headquarters Drive, Torrey UT 84775, Phone: 435-425-3791

If you are a photographer, don't miss:

Bluff Fort Historic Site gives visitors a chance to learn about both the fort itself and the treacherous Hole-in-the-Rock expedition. Cabins were built with their windows and doors facing inwards towards the fort’s square to offer protection from invading forces.

The Bluff City meeting house served all communal purposes and was a school, church, and public meeting venue, while the Bluff co-op sold food and staples to residents. The fort was dismantled in 1883, but the community persevered and switched from farming to ranching. During the 1890s, residents constructed Victorian-style houses, which have been restored along with the fort. The site includes a visitors center and a gift shop.

Address: Bluff Fort Historic Site, 550 East Black Locust, Bluff, UT 84512, Phone: 435-672-9995