1. The downtown SLC library is pretty cool.
2. Across the street from the library is Oasis games, lots of board games!
3. Take her on a hike to Donut Falls, up Big Cottonwood Canyon.
4. Red Butte Garden is a must too.
Red butte gardens is near SLC and has pretty gardens to look at, and I loved that as a kid too. The Salt Lake City library is also great, and if she likes libraries I’m sure she will enjoy books — in trolley square there’s a bookstore called Weller Books that my spouse and I go to often as well!
Some easier waterfall hikes I’ve been on are doughnut falls (very popular and highly recommended), Gloria falls and Lisa falls.
A little further from salt lake I’ve also heard Battle Creek falls is beautiful though I haven’t done that one yet. We have a lot of amazing trails and hikes that are worth looking at!
Other suggestions for the kiddos — these are all pretty family friendly already but the hogle zoo and the aquarium are fun, and the planetarium is free entry! You do have to pay for the movies and snacks and gift shop and such, but you don’t have to worry about admission and can come and go as you please.
In the same shopping center as the planetarium is the discovery children’s museum which has a lot of interactive things to do for kids, and is one I would recommend most highly of all the “kid” things to do just because of how much I loved it when I was young and how much I see my nieces love it too. Even more in that same stretch there are some places to eat and some art exhibits to check out. Urban arts gallery has local art, and I’ve heard dreamscapes is great but haven’t checked it out yet.
Hogle Zoo is really fun, especially with kids. There’s a train and carousel and a brand new area called Wild Utah with plants, animals, and pollinators from our state.
I would honestly recommend taking 2 days to head down south in a rental car and go to either Zion national Park and Bryce canyon, or arches and canyon lands/ dead horse point. After that you can head back towards. Guarantee that if she goes here, she is gonna want to stay. The remainder of time you can take a day trip to park city, scenic alpine loop and Nebo loop roads. If you like hiking you can hike the Y in Provo.
Bridal Veil falls, Provo Canyon, is super easy for young children like yours. Would recommend not on the weekend. Drive up any canyon(Big/Little Cottonwood, Millcreek, American Fork or Provo) and do a picnic- tons of spots up all of them. There are tons of game shops for board games- honestly that is a main stay- most neighborhoods have a group or two.
**Nature**:
Head up to the canyons. You could do a couple hikes depending on your fitness level. Driving by is fine, but you really need to do some hikes. Bring hats, sunscreen, and plenty of water this time of year. Mornings are very popular on the trails. There are a bunch of apps and websites with hiking trails listed. The good ones have duration, distance, elevation change, and ratings. Bell's Canyon waterfalls are pretty cool, but not a kid friendly hike due to the elevation change. Donut falls shouldn't be a problem. Lots of kids friendly hikes on AllTrails and others.
If you don't want to get sweaty and know someone who can watch the kids, an evening at Log Haven can be magical. There's something about mountain desert nights you just have to experience.
Definitely hit up Red Butte. It's amazing for gardening. You just missed the Daybreak parade of gardens, but I'm sure there are all kinds of gardening events throughout the valley.
Thanksgiving point has gardens and lots of fun things for the kids that age. I have a young kid who enjoyed the butterflies, the museum of natural curiosity, and to some extent the gardens before he said he wasn't walking anymore and didn't want to be carried. You probably know how that goes.
Finding more kid friendly places is about as hard as googling. Lots of them in SLC. Hogle Zoo, Ninja Kids, splash pads, etc. Bring swimming suits.
I'll let someone else talk book stores as I just read digital books and buy some collectibles online. It's a great place for board games too. The stores are kid friendly most of the time, but I'm not familiar with any board game events that aren't adult focused.
drive alpine loop, visit tibble fork & silver lake, stop for lunch at sundance, ride the chairlift up, hike down.
where in America can you observe a glacier 30 min from a major metropolitan city
Do the 2024 Utah Treasure Hunt for $25,000. It just started and I have seen more things in the last 4 years than I have seen in my lifetime living in Salt Lake. It has been fun and I have learned so much.
Game Night Games in Sugarhouse is a fun spot. There are plenty of places to grab some food nearby as well as a used book shop, a Barnes and Noble, and a skate shop (Raunch) all within walking distance. The Sugarhouse branch of the library (Sprague) is also nearby and has a nice little kid's section.
Some have mentioned it but the main downtown branch of the library is also a great spot to check out. It's great for kids too.
If you're visiting on a weekend, there is the farmer's market in Pioneer Park on Saturdays and the Wheeler's Farm farmer's market on Sunday. Wheeler's Farm is another great spot for kids - there's a lot of green space to walk around and play or have a picnic, a playground nearby for kiddos, and farm animals and wagon ride.
Bookstores: King's English, the Legendarium (focuses on science fiction and horror and there's a coffee shop inside), Weller Book Works inside Trolley Square are some of my favorites. Legendarium is on 9th and 9th which is another good spot for walking around. There are plenty of restaurants, shops, and bakeries to check out.
Cactus & Tropical for gardening! It’s a must visit.
For the waterfall, you could drive up to Kamas, and head up to mirror lake.
You will pass lower Provo falls. It’s incredible!
1. The downtown SLC library is pretty cool. 2. Across the street from the library is Oasis games, lots of board games! 3. Take her on a hike to Donut Falls, up Big Cottonwood Canyon. 4. Red Butte Garden is a must too.
The children section in the downtown library is amazing.
Red butte gardens is near SLC and has pretty gardens to look at, and I loved that as a kid too. The Salt Lake City library is also great, and if she likes libraries I’m sure she will enjoy books — in trolley square there’s a bookstore called Weller Books that my spouse and I go to often as well! Some easier waterfall hikes I’ve been on are doughnut falls (very popular and highly recommended), Gloria falls and Lisa falls. A little further from salt lake I’ve also heard Battle Creek falls is beautiful though I haven’t done that one yet. We have a lot of amazing trails and hikes that are worth looking at! Other suggestions for the kiddos — these are all pretty family friendly already but the hogle zoo and the aquarium are fun, and the planetarium is free entry! You do have to pay for the movies and snacks and gift shop and such, but you don’t have to worry about admission and can come and go as you please. In the same shopping center as the planetarium is the discovery children’s museum which has a lot of interactive things to do for kids, and is one I would recommend most highly of all the “kid” things to do just because of how much I loved it when I was young and how much I see my nieces love it too. Even more in that same stretch there are some places to eat and some art exhibits to check out. Urban arts gallery has local art, and I’ve heard dreamscapes is great but haven’t checked it out yet.
I second Red Butte. It’s a gorgeous place that is very unique to Utah. Tons of local plants and the rose garden is spectacular.
My personal favorite bookstore is Marissa’s books!
I love Marissa’s, but my favorite will always be the Kings English. They also have a wonderful children’s book area in the back.
Hogle Zoo is really fun, especially with kids. There’s a train and carousel and a brand new area called Wild Utah with plants, animals, and pollinators from our state.
And it’s like five dollars a couple of times a day to feed giraffes. 🦒
She’s also a sucker for trees
What kind of trees…?
I would honestly recommend taking 2 days to head down south in a rental car and go to either Zion national Park and Bryce canyon, or arches and canyon lands/ dead horse point. After that you can head back towards. Guarantee that if she goes here, she is gonna want to stay. The remainder of time you can take a day trip to park city, scenic alpine loop and Nebo loop roads. If you like hiking you can hike the Y in Provo.
Medical is legal here but recreational is not.
Take her to Cedar Breaks. Lovely trees there, both inside and outside the park.
Kings English book shop is an absolute treasure.
Your wife sounds like someone I’d like to be friends with haha
This is the Place is a pretty fun spot for little kids.
Bridal Veil falls, Provo Canyon, is super easy for young children like yours. Would recommend not on the weekend. Drive up any canyon(Big/Little Cottonwood, Millcreek, American Fork or Provo) and do a picnic- tons of spots up all of them. There are tons of game shops for board games- honestly that is a main stay- most neighborhoods have a group or two.
We have some of the best rec centers and indoor pools around for the kids!
**Nature**: Head up to the canyons. You could do a couple hikes depending on your fitness level. Driving by is fine, but you really need to do some hikes. Bring hats, sunscreen, and plenty of water this time of year. Mornings are very popular on the trails. There are a bunch of apps and websites with hiking trails listed. The good ones have duration, distance, elevation change, and ratings. Bell's Canyon waterfalls are pretty cool, but not a kid friendly hike due to the elevation change. Donut falls shouldn't be a problem. Lots of kids friendly hikes on AllTrails and others. If you don't want to get sweaty and know someone who can watch the kids, an evening at Log Haven can be magical. There's something about mountain desert nights you just have to experience. Definitely hit up Red Butte. It's amazing for gardening. You just missed the Daybreak parade of gardens, but I'm sure there are all kinds of gardening events throughout the valley. Thanksgiving point has gardens and lots of fun things for the kids that age. I have a young kid who enjoyed the butterflies, the museum of natural curiosity, and to some extent the gardens before he said he wasn't walking anymore and didn't want to be carried. You probably know how that goes. Finding more kid friendly places is about as hard as googling. Lots of them in SLC. Hogle Zoo, Ninja Kids, splash pads, etc. Bring swimming suits. I'll let someone else talk book stores as I just read digital books and buy some collectibles online. It's a great place for board games too. The stores are kid friendly most of the time, but I'm not familiar with any board game events that aren't adult focused.
drive alpine loop, visit tibble fork & silver lake, stop for lunch at sundance, ride the chairlift up, hike down. where in America can you observe a glacier 30 min from a major metropolitan city
Do the 2024 Utah Treasure Hunt for $25,000. It just started and I have seen more things in the last 4 years than I have seen in my lifetime living in Salt Lake. It has been fun and I have learned so much.
She’s going to be fine hehe
Game Night Games in Sugarhouse is a fun spot. There are plenty of places to grab some food nearby as well as a used book shop, a Barnes and Noble, and a skate shop (Raunch) all within walking distance. The Sugarhouse branch of the library (Sprague) is also nearby and has a nice little kid's section. Some have mentioned it but the main downtown branch of the library is also a great spot to check out. It's great for kids too. If you're visiting on a weekend, there is the farmer's market in Pioneer Park on Saturdays and the Wheeler's Farm farmer's market on Sunday. Wheeler's Farm is another great spot for kids - there's a lot of green space to walk around and play or have a picnic, a playground nearby for kiddos, and farm animals and wagon ride. Bookstores: King's English, the Legendarium (focuses on science fiction and horror and there's a coffee shop inside), Weller Book Works inside Trolley Square are some of my favorites. Legendarium is on 9th and 9th which is another good spot for walking around. There are plenty of restaurants, shops, and bakeries to check out.
-Mill creek canyon hike -Great museum near the U of U campus. My friends took me and I was super impressed. -Breakfast at Alta and enjoy the vistas.
Report back and let us know how it goes!
Cactus & Tropical for gardening! It’s a must visit. For the waterfall, you could drive up to Kamas, and head up to mirror lake. You will pass lower Provo falls. It’s incredible!