I don’t know about you, but I get SAD in winter. Seasonal affective disorder to the MAX. I don’t know if it is the early darkness, or the bitter-to-the-bone coldness. Either way, if I don’t get out of the house I go a little crazy. So I compiled a list of a ton of fun things to do in Utah in winter to help keep my heart from freezing, and my head out of the darkness.
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Indoor swimming
Check out your local rec centers for their winter hours! Murray park, Cottonwood Heights, Dimple Dell, Holiday Lions, American Fork, Oquirrh Park in Kearns.
Ice skating
Indoor rinks include: Cottonwood Heights rec center, Country Ice in Murray, Utah Olympic Oval in Kearns, or an outside rink at the Gallivan plaza. Check out more locations here.
Clark Planetarium
Admission to wander the exhibit is free. For $5-$9, check out an IMAX movie or cosmic laser show in their dome theatre.
Hall Pass
A casual food hall with bars and different little eateries. The art and vibe in there is worth a check out if you are near the gateway!
Crystal Hot Springs
Just about an hour north from Salt Lake City, these outdoor pools and water slide are warm all year round.
Utah Crater
Swim, soak, snorkel, or scuba in this 94 degree hot spring. Located in Midway, just about an hour east of Salt Lake City. They even offer Paddleboard Yoga.
Midway Ice Castles
Usually open around January-Early March, totally weather dependent. These beauties are stunning at sunset! Here is their website for more information.
Scheels
This place is so fun to explore! Check out their animals, and the giant fish take. They also have a shooting range, and a ferris wheel.
Classic Skating
Bring your scooter, or rent some skates! They have hours of fun here: bounce houses, jungle jim, arcade games, laser tag, two giant skate rinks. You know you loved this place when you were a kid!
Discovery Gateway Children’s Museum
They have many fun and entertaining exhibits for kids to play for hours! We love the water play, the farm, and especially the life sized Life Flight Helicopter on the roof top!
Sea Quest
We absolutely LOVE this interactive aquarium located in Layton Hills Mall. Remi loves to feed all the animals, especially the sting rays!
The living planet aquarium
We love to watch the jellies swim and the penguins do their thing. I am dying to do yoga with the sharks. Remi could spend a good hour in the indoor play place, and they actually have some pretty decent lunch at their cafe.
Museum of Natural curiosity at Thanksgiving Point
This is one of our favorite places to play for a few hours! There are so many fun things to do in kidopolis– the vet clinic is Remi’s favorite. They also have a great water works, and cute little events like tales for tots!
The Shops at South Town
They have a small little playground on the upper level for free, or an awesome big playground called Luv 2 Play— that even offer DropNShop if you need a little break! Impact Ninja Gym is a Ninja warrior type gym that offers open gym time for kids and adults. Dreamscapes is an immersive and colorful labyrinth I am stoked to experience. You can also Catch a ride on Andy’s Electric train for $4! Round1 has bowling, arcade games, ping-pong, billards darts and more!
If you are in mood for some stellar pizza, try the Detroit style pizza at Via 313, or the artesian style and a cold brew at SlackWater–both right outside of the mall.
Momentum Indoor Climbing Gym
They have locations in Sandy, Lehi and Millcreek, and they welcome all levels of climbers. They offer rock climbing and bouldering. Fun for a family night, or a date night away from the kiddos!
Snow Tubing
After all, we have the best snow on Earth– we might as well enjoy it! Everyone from infants to grandparents can enjoy tubing down the hill. Soldier hollow, Cherry Peak, Brian Head, or Nordic Valley in Eden, Utah are some of the many places to tube!
Sledding
Some of the best sledding hills around the valley are arguably: Sugar house park, Flat Iron Park in Sandy, Popperton Park, Creekside Park, Bennion Park or Mountainview Park in Cottonwood Heights. I’d love to hear your hidden gems too!
Mrs. Cavanaugh’s Chocolate factory tour
For a $5 fee you can tour the factory, and learn how chocolate is made. The tour also includes a $4 voucher to spend in their chocolate + ice-cream shop after the tour. Located in North Salt Lake, by appointments only.
Check out your local library
Check out some new books to take home and read as a family! There are also a ton of fun events and classes such as: scavenger hunts, knitting, origami, yoga or storytime!
ARCADES
Nickel Mania has locations in Murray, West Jordan and Springville. Nicklecade is located in Sandy and Taylorsville. Boondocks in Draper has a good arcade area, as well as laser tag. Arcade Galactic is located in Valley Fair Mall. Spend some time as a family at Dave and Buster’s, or get a sitter and check out Quarters arcade bar.
ALL STAR BOWLING & ENTERTAINMENT
Bowling, food and arcade games with five different locations around the valley. West Valley, Sandy, Draper, Toole, and West Jordan! Enjoy bowling and grubbing with your whole family or enjoy a date night at the 21+ Pins and Ales brew pub.
Night Riding at Brighton
Of course day skiing is amazing and a half– there is nothing like night riding under the stars at Brighton! Usually less crowded, and they have killer deals during the week, making it affordable for the entire family to go.
Indoor Jungle Gyms + Trampoline parks
We personally love KidsTopia in Bluffdale, and Airborne Trampoline Park in Draper. I have also heard good things about KTR in MIdvale, Get Air in Salt Lake City + Kaysville, Kids Empire in Midvale and Hang Time in Orem.
Flowrider Utah
Indoor surfing and body boarding in Ogden, Utah. Two for Tuesdays gets you two hours of surfing for $22! I want to check this out ASAP!!
Get bundled up and go play in the snow!
Have a snowball fight, build a snowman, make a snow angel! Try out snow shoeing, or a beautiful winter hike. Go snowmobiling or four-wheeling. Then bundle up and have some hot-coco or soup.
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