Sure, Utah offers fantastic skiing and snowboarding during the winter but we also have SO MANY great activities and fun destinations to visit during the summer, too! If you live in, or will be visiting, Utah and need some fun outing suggestions, here are 8 great places to visit this summer with the family:
National and State Parks and Monuments
So many beautiful parks to choose from all over the state. Bryce Canyon, Zion, Canyonlands, and Arches National parks are breathtaking, to say the least! Also visit Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park near the Arizona border (many films and commercials have been shot in this scenic area!) and the Natural Bridges National Monument for some amazing formations.
Bear Lake
Who doesn’t love a trip to the lake with the family during the summer? Located on the border between UT and ID, Bear Lake is a natural freshwater lake and is a popular place to fish, jet ski, sail, and swim!
Salt Lake City Temple Square
Ever heard of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (or their nickname, Mormons)? SLC hosts one of their most visited temples from people all over the world. While you won’t be able to tour the inside of their castle-esque temple (Mormons view temples as extremely sacred houses of the Lord here on Earth), they do have two large visitors centers you can visit, as well as the old Tabernacle, Conference Center tour, and the Capitol building isn’t far up the street, too.
Temple Square grounds are beautiful to walk through and to enjoy a picnic with the family during a warm summer day. Then go across the street to City Creek Mall for some shopping!
Hogle Zoo
Also located in SLC, the Hogle Zoo is home to more than 800 animals so there’s something to see for everyone in the family.
Utah Olympic Park
This Park was used as the venue for the 2002 Winter Olympics and where the Sundance Film Festival is held annually in January. Today, it offers year-round activities for kids and adults, including zip lining and hiking during the summer!
Homestead Crater
Scuba diving or swimming in Homestead Crater should definitely be on your to-do list. Located in Midway, UT, the Crater (which is actually a caldera) is a natural geothermal spring covered by a 55-foot tall limestone dome. The water in the crater pool is almost 65 feet deep and it’s the only warm water diving site in the continental US.
Thanksgiving Point
Located only a half hour south of SLC, Thanksgiving Point is a 501 nonprofit farm, garden, and museum complex in Lehi. Their Museum of Ancient Life, Farm Country, and Ashton Gardens are definitively worth a visit.
Water Parks
What’s summer without some water fun? Utah has a few very fun, family friendly water parks that are a must-visit. Seven Peaks in SLC and Cowabunga Bay in Draper are the two I recommend.
Have you visited Utah? Where would you recommend our readers visit? Leave us a comment and let us know!