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Kidz Eye View of Utah
“Family-Friendly Utah”
by John Wood
Utah has more snow at their resorts than anywhere in the country right now. Everybody sing: "Walking in a winter wonderland." And, coincidentally, there are a myriad of family-friendly activities to do — now, more exciting than ever, thanks to the 2002 Winter Olympics. For the Winter Olympics, Utah is excited to host 2,345 athletes and 1,200 officials from 80 National Olympic Committees; and thanks to the Paralympic Olympic Games in March, Utah will host another 1,100 athletes and officials from 40 regions. And, yes, Virginia, there are still plenty of rooms at the inns for regular folks like us.
Trip planning is easy using www.Utah.com. Salt Lake City, Park City and Moab in particular have a lot to offer for family vacations and get-a-ways year-round.
Salt Lake City
Salt Lake City is known as the "Crossroads of the West". Why? In 1869, that golden spike, driven at Promontory Summit, some 80 miles northwest of the city, forever linked the East and the West by railroad making transcontinental immigration more accessible — Utah was on the map. The environment, like the people, is family-friendly, quite impressive and invigorating for big-city dwellers. I stayed at the Little America Hotel across the street from its big brother the Grand America Hotel (what gender are hotels anyway?). Exquisite accommodations, fine dining, kid-friendly breakfast buffet, and home to much of the Olympic brass during the winter events (800-621-4460 or www.littleamerica.com).
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 Little girl feeding an Australian parrot (Lory) |
Historic Temple Square, the symbolic heart of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints, may not be a biggie with the little ones but the majesty rivals European cathedrals. Free tours of the Square include a visit to the Tabernacle, and the church gardens.
Don't miss the Church Museum of Art and History (free admission. For more information call 801-240-4615).
On the southwest corner of Liberty Park ensconced on seven wooded acres you will find the Tracy Aviary, America's only public bird park that contains more than 450 birds from around the world (Shows are free, call for times 801-596-8500 or www.tracyaviary.org).
Old Desert Village is located 15 minutes from downtown and replicates a pioneer town 150 years ago. The antique buildings were moved to the site from around the state and during the summer, historians and volunteers staff the town in authentic dress and perform traditional tasks (Seasonal, call for activities 801-582-2443).
I was surprised to learn that the Kennecott Copper Mine is the largest man-made excavation on earth and it can be seen from outer space! The open pit copper mine covers 1,900 acres and is twice as deep as the world's tallest building. All copper all the time! (The Visitors Center is open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week from April through October; $4 automobiles. Call for information 801-252-3234.)
A 7.5 mile causeway across the Great Salt Lake takes you to Antelope Island State Park a haven to a variety of wildlife including bison. Camping, biking, horseback riding, and floating in the Great Salt Lake (remember you can't sink) are treats for the outdoorsy families (day rate $7 per car). Call 800-322-3770 or www.co.davis.ut.us for summer camping reservations).
Thanksgiving Point
Utah's best-kept entertainment value may very well be Thanksgiving Point. Located 30 minutes south of Salt Lake City on a 55-acre escape from the city. Harken back to a kinder, gentler time — big folk will love the gardens, waterfalls, and Johnny Miller's custom designed golf course; little folk will love the animal park and Discovery Garden featuring Noah's Ark with squirting water fountains, trains, mazes and more. (Call 888-672-6040 or see www.thanksgivingpoint.com.)
And everyone will love the Museum of Ancient Life! More bones than you can…shake a bone at, and more skeletal displays than any other dinosaur museum in the world. This place is THE place to get Jurassic and beyond — Steven Spielberg had taken flak on the size of his Velociraptors, until the bigger, badder, Utah Raptor was discovered. Interactive and hands-on, this museum, hands-down, beats them all big and small. (Museum: 801-766-5000 or www.dinosaurpoint.com.)
Olympic Park
The Utah Olympic Park 25 minutes from the Olympic Village in Salt Lake City and 8 miles north of Park City is a site to behold, year round actually, because it's the training facility for America's Olympic hopefuls as well as athletes from around the world. The Day Lodge features fun lecture/demos by experienced skiers with visual aids in the history of winter sports. Before and after the Olympics, one can tour the K90 and K120 ski jumps as well as the bobsleigh, luge and skeleton tracks. During the summer months, freestyle aerialists perform at the training pool (yep, they somersault off the plastic-covered jumps into the pool!), and one-hour guided tours of the park are available. Call 435-658-4200 for more information.
Park City
One hundred and twenty years ago Park City was a silver mining town and since one third of the medal events will take place on the mountainsides there, you might say people are coming from around the world to mine for gold as well as silver and bronze. In a town of 20,000 pillows and 100 plus restaurants, you'll not worry about finding a place to lay your head or fill your face. There's so much for families to do year-round in the curious mixture of quaint, rustic, yet totally happening artsy town of Park City.
Park City Mountain Resort (www.parkcitymountain.com) has a ton o' summer fun with an alpine slide, a little wheeled sled that careens down a 2,800' long concrete track — a blast! Miniature Golf, rock climbing, chair rides and a great Kids Center and you are set. Even old Scrooge would crack a smile at all the winter fun activities: skiing, sledding and snowboarding with talented teachers and crack classes for the novice. A lot of thought and planning went into this facility.
If you want to get an eagle-eye view of your magnificent surroundings, pack up the family for an early morning balloon ride with High Adventures Hot Air Balloons (435-645-7433 or www.high-adventures.com). Experienced operators will take you on a one-hour plus ride that is a real thrill.
The Canyons Resort has all the amenities you will ever need and has been selected by NBC's Today Show as the site for its Olympic broadcast center (888-226-9667 or www.thecanyons.com). Robert Redford's Zoom Restaurant (435-649-9108) has indoor/outdoor seating great food and atmosphere and who knows, maybe you'll catch a peek at the Sundance Kid himself. For more information on Park City call 800-453-1360 or www.parkcityinfo.com.
Moab
Moab transcends time, space and a few other things that we are not yet in touch with. Located 250 miles south of Salt Lake City, at a somewhat serene and mystical point of our planet, Moab is the only town located on the Colorado River. Dead Horse Point is breathtaking from above as one imagines its locations for "Thelma and Louise" and "Mission Impossible 2", and how the heck did the Colorado River cut through this stuff anyhow?
 Canyonlands by Night & Day |
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Canyonlands by Night & Day has a really cool Jeep and Jet-Boat combination tour that by day includes an informative sweep down the Colorado, four-wheel trek of the summit, and by night features a floating movie. Use your attentive-discretion on the evening tour for the little-uns. For information, call Canyonlands by Night & Day at 800-394-9978; or see their website at www.canyonlandsbynight.com
Moab's Skyway will give you a 12 minute 1,000' chairlift ride to a breathtaking view of the valley — hear it's great on the 4th of July. For more information, see www.discovermoab.com and www.moab-utah.com/skyway.
How amazing is Utah? As amazing as you want it to be — a little something for everyone in the family. Now America has an opportunity to see some of the best athletes in the world compete for gold right in our own backyard. Utah is ready and Utah rocks!
For additional information contact www.visitsaltlake.com or www.Utah.com. A comprehensive resource book is Fun With the Family by Michael Rutter, The Globe Pequot Press, $12.95; www.globe-pequot.com.
— John Wood
www.kidzmusic.com
NOTE: The prices listed above were accurate as of posting; we suggest you call for current rates before your trip.