20 Things to Do in Salt Lake City, Park City, & Provo for the Ultimate Family Vacation in Utah

Salt Lake City, Utah and the mountains and cities surrounding it are where most of my fond childhood staycation memories were made. After living near Salt Lake City on and off for the last 25 years and working in the tourism industry in Utah Valley for a time, I have become very familiar with things to do in the area that I would recommend to any visiting family.

Here are 20 of my family's favorite things to do in Salt Lake City and other popular activities that make the Wasatch Front in Utah one of the best family vacation destinations in the US. If you’re wondering what the top attractions to visit in Salt Lake City and nearby areas are, this list is for you. If you’re just looking for a great family vacation spot, this list is for you!

Things to Do in Salt Lake City/Northern UT for Families

This list comprises the top attractions to visit in Salt Lake City and areas north of it. The places mentioned are especially great for traveling families who love fun and adventure. To save money visiting several of these SLC attractions, consider getting the Salt Lake City Connect Pass.

1. Temple Square

Temple Square is one of the top attractions to visit in Salt Lake City and one of the most popular places to visit in all of Utah. Learn about Utah’s religious culture and the history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (commonly known as Mormonism) by strolling through the grounds near the temple, visiting an interactive museum, or seeing a free live performance from the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square (formerly known as the Mormon Tabernacle Choir). Enjoy free views of the city at the top of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building where you can dine at the Roof Restaurant or Garden Restaurant. During Christmastime, seeing the lights at Temple Square makes it one of the busiest and most exciting times in downtown Salt Lake City.

2. Hale Center Theatre

Hale Center Theatre is Utah’s best local theater company. They put on musicals and plays throughout the year with high quality performers, costumes, and sets. The stage is circular with seating all around it, which provides a unique and immersive experience while watching the show. In the past Hale Center has put on spectacular shows such as Mary Poppins, Phantom of the Opera, and The Wizard of Oz. Check the current season on their website to see what will be playing during your visit to Salt Lake City.

3. Tour Downtown SLC

Spend a day seeing the many attractions in downtown Salt Lake City. Some great things to see in SLC that make it one of the best family vacation destinations year round include Liberty Park, The Gateway, Trolley Square, City Creek Center, Capitol Building, and Madeleine Cathedral. Visiting each of these places will give your family variety—shopping, beautiful architecture, fun city parks, and cultural experiences. You can either book a Salt Lake City tour that includes most of these sights or explore them on your own, utilizing public transportation (UTA) to get to each location.

4. Lagoon Amusement Park

Visiting Lagoon is sure to make for a fun family vacation and is a place my family tries to visit every year. Lagoon is the only place to find permanent roller coasters in Utah, making it a hotspot for families all summer long. Along with many kiddie rides, there is also a swimming area inside Lagoon with a lazy river and water slides. Thrill seekers will want to ride Rocket, Samurai, Wicked, Cannibal, Colossus, Cliffhanger, and The Spider. Classic rides your family can enjoy together include White Roller Coaster, Tidal Wave, Rattlesnake Rapids, and Sky Ride.

5. Jazz Basketball

The Utah Jazz, an NBA team, is one of only a few Utah professional sports teams, which is no surprise considering how fanatic Utahns are about basketball in general. Hardcore fans from all over Utah and neighboring states flock to the Vivint Smart Home Arena in downtown SLC where home games are played. If yours is a sports-loving family, time your trip to Salt Lake City to coincide with a game.

6. Clark Planetarium

The Clark Planetarium is one of the best things to do in Salt Lake City with kids. If your family loves outer space, you won’t want to miss a visit here! The highlight features of the planetarium are the IMAX and Dome theaters that make sure there’s not a bad seat in the house. After the show, explore science exhibits to learn about the solar system and the world.

7. Attend a Holiday Event

No matter the season, there is always something to celebrate in Salt Lake City! Did you know that Utah even has its own holiday, not celebrated anywhere else in the world? It’s called Pioneer Day, celebrated on July 24th to commemorate the pioneers who first settled in the state in 1847. The most popular event on the 24th is the Days of ‘47 parade in downtown SLC. Other big holiday events in Utah include Freedom Festival in Provo for Independence Day (complete with hot air balloons and a parade in the morning and Stadium of Fire at night), the Christkindlmarkt at This is the Place, Luminaria at Thanksgiving Point, and the Temple Square lights in December.

8. Grizzlies Hockey

Hockey isn’t as major in Utah as basketball is, but there is a professional East Coast Hockey League team that is fun to watch live—the Utah Grizzlies. Join the Grizzlies’ solid fan base in cheering on their team for a fun family night out. Splurge on a luxury suite that comes with food, VIP parking, and a private room for your family and friends to stretch out and enjoy the game.

9. Salt Lake City Aquarium

Aquariums are often part of a fun vacation for kids. Loveland Living Planet Aquarium, just south of Salt Lake City, is an excellent choice! They have a large variety of animals, including local fish, sea animals, and land animals. Exciting animals to watch are the clouded leopards, the jellyfish, and the penguins. You can even meet the penguins and feed them by signing up for a 50-minute penguin encounter!

10. Real Salt Lake Soccer

Real Salt Lake is another professional sports team in Utah and is part of the Major League Soccer Western Conference. Watch a home game in the giant stadium in Sandy, Utah, just a few miles south of Salt Lake City. While in the area, have some family fun at the The Shops at South Town, Scheel’s, or Jordan Commons and then grab a bite to eat at one of the many fast casual restaurants there.

11. Crystal Hot Springs

My family tries to fit swimming into every family vacation and the bigger the pool the better! One of the most exciting places to swim north of Salt Lake City is Crystal Hot Springs, where you can splash around any time of the year. This outdoor location has several warm water pools, hot tubs, and a water slide.

12. Salt Lake City Zoo

Zoos are always part of the best vacations for kids—the Hogle Zoo in Utah is no exception! Find all your family’s favorite animals from giraffes (that you can feed!) to elephants to lions and 800 others. With so much to see, you’ll want to make sure to grab a map so you can plan to visit the animals your family loves most.

13. Red Butte Garden

Take in the sights and smells at Utah’s largest botanical garden—Red Butte Garden, located near the University of Utah, overlooking the Salt Lake Valley. This gorgeous garden has seasonal plants and flowers all year long, as well as events to match the time of year. Book a private garden tour for your family to learn about the flowers from an employee or just get a general admission ticket and explore on your own.

14. Tracy Aviary

Another great Salt Lake City attraction for interacting with animals is Tracy Aviary—a zoo-like venue focused on birds! They have a wide collection of live birds, ranging from flamingos to owls to peacocks. Wandering through Tracy Aviary is an incredible experience that allows visitors to witness birds from all over the world. Stick around for a bird show, featuring hawks, macaws, and other talented birds.

Things to Do Near Salt Lake City for Families

Although there are plenty of things to do in Salt Lake City, your family will definitely want to branch out and explore nearby cities (such as Provo and Park City) and outdoor adventures in Utah, including a myriad of activities in the Wasatch Mountains.

15. Brigham Young University

Visiting BYU Provo is a tradition for alumni with kids and is a lot of fun for anyone traveling as a family! Catch a BYU football game at the LaVell Edwards Stadium (Go Cougs!), explore the Bean Life Science Museum with hundreds of animals, take a tour of the pristine campus in a golf cart, buy a souvenir at the BYU Bookstore, or discover dinosaur bones at the Museum of Paleontology. Make time to hike the Y on the mountain—it’s not only fun to reach the giant letter, but it also provides stunning views of Utah Valley—and then reward yourself with Graham Canyon ice cream and a famous mint brownie from the Creamery on 9th.

Located only ten minutes from BYU, Utah Valley University is worth visiting to see the Roots of Knowledge stained glass windows in their library. There are 80 stunning panels of stained glass that depict dozens of historical scenes with intricate detail. Your family will be blown away at this unexpected treasure.

16. Ski Resorts & 2002 Olympics Locations

There are 11 major ski resorts within 20-60 miles of Salt Lake City, offering fun activities in both summer and winter. Here is a breakdown of the best ski resorts for families, based on amount of activities and affordability.

Brighton

Brighton is a great place to ski for families on a budget. They offer free skiing for kids 10 and under, as well as more affordable adult day tickets. New to skiing? Sign your family up for adult or kid skiing lessons. If you aren’t visiting Brighton during the winter, enjoy scenic views from the ski lift. During the fall, make sure you drive all the way to Guardsman Pass for some of the most gorgeous fall scenery—imagine rows upon rows of yellow leaves from aspen trees filling the air.

Snowbird

Snowbird is one of the best family resorts that offers tons of activities during the summer. My family has hilarious memories of riding the mechanical bull, and exciting memories of racing down the alpine slide, jumping on the extra bouncy bungee trampolines, and braving the ropes course. During the winter, Snowbird receives some of the most snowfall of all the ski resorts in Utah and is an excellent option for skiing.

Sundance

Sundance is a smaller ski resort that offers incredible scenery any time of year. During the summer, take the ski lift to the top to enjoy nachos with a view from Bearclaw Cabin or hop off the ski lift early to reach the trailhead for Stewart Falls. Make ceramics, jewelry and other art at the Sundance Art Studio or enjoy their epic course of ziplines any time of year. Winter of course brings skiing and snowboarding with a bunny hill for learners and one of the highest percentages of beginner terrain compared to other Utah ski resorts.

Park City Mountain

For families who love skiing and plan to visit SLC in the winter, this is one of the greatest resorts. They have the most number terrain parks, the second highest amount of skiable acres (after Powder Mountain near Ogden), the most lifts, the most runs, and half of their terrain is advanced. Park City Mountain Resort is where many celebrities go during the Sundance Film Festival every January and was also used during the 2002 Winter Olympics for skiing and snowboarding competitions. Find some of the best things to do in Park City in summer here—the mountain coaster, alpine slide, and mountain biking trails for all skill levels.

Other 2002 Olympics locations that offer family winter activities throughout the area include Provo Rec Center (ice skating and hockey), the Kearns Olympic Oval (ice skating), Utah Olympic Park (winter sports and an Olympic museum), and Soldier Hollow (downhill snow tubing).

17. Thanksgiving Point

It’s always hard to describe Thanksgiving Point because there is so much to do there for families of all ages and interests. Their Museum of Natural Curiosity and Butterfly Biosphere make it one of the best vacation spots for toddlers and kids (unless, of course, they’re scared of butterflies landing on them like my nephew is). Teens and adults love seeing the Museum of Ancient Life and the beautiful Ashton Gardens. Visit during the winter to explore Luminaria, during the spring to enjoy the Tulip Festival, or during the fall to have a fun time at Cornbelly’s.

18. Take a Hike

Hiking is one of the best outdoor activities around Salt Lake City. Once you see the mountains surrounding Salt Lake Valley and Utah Valley, you’ll understand why! There are many trails around Salt Lake City, so choose wisely—does your family want stunning views of the valley below or a beautiful waterfall? Is your family used to hiking in high altitudes or are you beginners looking for a fun nature escape?

My favorite areas for hiking are Little Cottonwood Canyon, the Alpine Loop, Provo Canyon, and the outskirts of Salt Lake City. Popular family friendly trails within these areas include Stewart Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, Doughnut Falls, Living Room Trail, Ensign Peak, and White Pine Trail. Mount Timpanogos is another great hike, but only suitable for families who hike often, have a whole day to dedicate to this trail, and are able to climb to over 11,000 feet. When my family did this hike together, we met the family of mountain goats pictured above.

19. Play in a Lake

There are many lakes throughout the Wasatch Front, some more worth visiting than others. These are a few of my family’s favorites to visit.

Tibble Fork Reservoir

This small lake located within American Fork Canyon is nestled behind the mountains and lined with evergreens. No motorized watercraft is allowed, which makes it great for families who love kayaking, swimming, and stand-up paddleboarding. Tibble Fork is very popular among locals, so try visiting on a weekday or go early in the morning to make sure you get a parking spot.

Bear Lake

If you’re looking for the best family beach vacation, try a lake instead of the ocean! Bear Lake is a family vacation destination a few hours north of Salt Lake City, near the city of Logan. The water is clear, the surrounding towns are fun to explore, and there are dozens of options for giant cabins that will fit your whole family. The mountainous setting around the massive lake adds to the enchantment. My family enjoyed renting a trampoline in the middle of the lake for a few hours. Swimming, boating, and picnicking on the shore are other great activities at Bear Lake.

Jordanelle Reservoir

If you’re in Park City, Utah during the summer, you’ll love soaking up the sun at the nearby Jordanelle Reservoir. Renting a jet-ski on this lake is one of my family’s favorite summer traditions. They also have a bounce park in the middle of the water, boating rentals, and a small island you can swim to or kayak around. The sandy beaches here aren’t as big as the ones at Bear Lake, so be sure to reserve a picnic table on the grassy hill to relax at between playing in the water.

Great Salt Lake

No list about visiting Utah would be complete without mentioning the Great Salt Lake—the largest salt water lake in the western hemisphere. Honestly, this lake draws more people from outside Utah to it than those living in the state because of its extreme saltiness. However, it is worth experiencing at least once. While there, visit Antelope Island State Park or Great Salt Lake State Park to float on the salty water and see beautiful views of the lake.

20. Timpanogos Cave

If you have an adventurous family, make sure to hike to Timpanogos Cave National Monument together (different from Mount Timpanogos mentioned above). The hike is steep and a bit strenuous, but once you reach the top you can explore an underground world of unique cave features. Be sure to buy tickets in advance for entry to the cave and bring a jacket—the cave is a chilly 45 degrees year round!

Tips for Planning Your Utah Family Vacation

Now that you know the best things to do in Salt Lake City, here are some tips to help you make the most of your time exploring and having fun on your family vacation!

• On your hunt for the best places to see, don’t forget to plan eating at the best family-friendly restaurants. Some noteworthy options include Leatherby’s (especially for their giant servings of ice cream), Apollo Burger or Crown Burger (both made famous for their pastrami burgers), Benihana (Japanese hibachi grill with entertaining chefs and a shrimp-catching contest), and The Pie Pizzeria (for hungry families that want to load up on Utah’s best pizza).

• Rent a car to easily get to all the attractions your family wants to see. Driving from Salt Lake City to Park City and Provo takes about 40 minutes each. Many locations within the mountains can only be reached by car, except for several ski resorts that offer shuttles during the winter ski season.

• Fly into the SLC Airport, close to downtown Salt Lake City. They recently built a brand new terminal and have direct flights through Delta from all over the United States.

• Experience two different lodging options during your trip—a hotel in downtown SLC and a Park City vacation rental, either through VRBO or Airbnb. This way your family can experience city life and the mountain resort lifestyle. Great hotels in downtown SLC are Little America, Grand America, and Sheraton. If you want to get a Provo hotel, I would recommend Provo Marriott, located downtown near one of Provo’s historic temples.

• Don’t expect to visit a national park if you only have a week in the area. The closest national park to Salt Lake City is Capitol Reef, over three hours away. Salt Lake City to Zion National Park is over five hours away. If you want to experience Utah’s national parks on a different trip or an extension to this trip, see my “Mighty Five” Utah National Park Guide. Another national park near Salt Lake City is Yellowstone, which is about four hours north of it.

• Due to Utah’s large Christian population, Sundays are dedicated to worship services and many businesses are closed. Stores, gas stations, and most outdoor locations will be open, but be sure to check the hours of operation for attractions and restaurants you plan to visit on a Sunday to make sure they will be open.

Did I miss any of your family’s favorite things to do in Salt Lake City? Let me know in the comments!

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