Summer Fun (Provo, Ogden, Logan: where to stay, homes, university)

[Jcoombs]

I have lived in utah for about a year and a half now with my husband. My parents are FINALLY coming to visit in August of all months.. as they were terrified they would experience any type of cold weather. I have had foot surgery and am stuck in a walking boot for 3 more weeks... I should be out of it the week they get here, but have limited things I can do. I want to show my parents Salt lake and the area and have some fun... ANY IDEAS OF THINGS WE COULD GO SEE AND DO? My parents are NOT LDS and like to see/do things.... PLEASE HELP!!!!! WIlling to travel!!

[Zionide]

-Red Butte Garden (garden walk or any concert that's here that week)
-Weekend trip to any national park or in southern Utah, or Moab
-Drive Logan Canyon to Bear Lake
-Park Silly Sunday Market in Park City
-Utah Museum of Fine Arts
-Living Planet Aquarium
-Utah Heritage Foundation walking tour of historic SLC homes (they try to make them wheelchair accessible, if you're still in a boot)
-LDS Church office building observation deck
-Trolley Square and Gateway shopping
-Mormon Tabernacle Choir practice (Thursday nights?)
-Any concert at Deer Valley that week?
-Tram ride at Snowbird
-Spa day at the Homestead or Zermatt in Midway/Heber Valley (good antique shopping, too)
-Some August events/festivals off the top of my head: Raspberry Days (Bear Lake/Garden City); Peach Days (Brigham City); Ophir Day (Ophir, Tooele County)
-Kennecott mine tour
-Promontory Point/Golden Spike
-Springville Art Museum

[dcisive]

#1 on my list when my folks came for their 1st visit was up Provo Canyon to Bridal Veil Falls and up to Sundance for dinner at their top restaurant. It provided a wonderful adult experience indeed. Great scenery and it will be reasonable in temperature as well being up the canyon a ways. Might be nice to head home through the Alpine Loop from there. A nice diversion from the city, and IMHO what Utah is really all about........

[SouthernBelleInUtah]

Zionide has given you a great list. I am not LDS but I and my family love walking through Temple Square. The gardens are extensive and beautiful and there are lots of fountains for my grandkids to dabble their hands in. I'd go very early in the a.m. before it gets too hot.

The Kennecot mine is a unique experience - it is one of 2 manmade objects that can be seen from outer space w/o a telescope (the other is the Great Wall of China). It is impossibly deep and just spectactular to view from the top. Interesting little museum there as well.

Drive up north to Antelope Island, about 1 hr., to view the lake up close. You can't get under water as you float. Let them take a bathing suit and see how fun it is to float completely on top of the water. Small snack stand there as well.

Ogden has the railroad museum, Hill AFB has the airforce museum (not "the" official one). Ogden has a hostoric downtown from what I've been told.

[kaytidid]

A horse drawn carriage ride through the downtown sites is just so much fun!!

[osugirl2]

Originally Posted by kaytidid

A horse drawn carriage ride through the downtown sites is just so much fun!!

I bet that would be even better at Christmas, thought that doesn't really fit "summer fun".....lol

[kaytidid]

It is AWESOME at Christmas, but even in the summer it is still a terrific time!

[markg91359]

Zionide did such a great job listing things that I'm reluctant too. But here's my list as well:

1. Church Conference Center (see if you can hear an organ recital). Go up on the roof of the conference center with your parents and look at the area that has been planted in plants native to the prairie. Its quite a sight.

2. State Capitol Building is considered one of the finest in the western states. You might take a brief tour of the building.

3. Gateway Mall and shops.

4. Drive up Mill Creek Canyon and consider either brunch on Sunday at Log Haven or if you want to be cheaper just a picnic lunch at one of the many sites there.

5. Kennecott Copper Mine.

6. Picnic lunch at Wasatch State Park near Heber.

7. Ride the Heber Creeper Steam Train.

8. Car trip beginning in Salt Lake. Drive south to Provo. Go up the Provo River Canyon. Stop at Bridal Veil Falls for a view. Drive onward through Heber and Park City. Than down Parley's Canyon and back to Salt Lake.

9. Trolley Square is torn up for renovations. However, lunch there at the Spaghetti Factory is always good.

10. Red Butte Creek Gardens.

11. Drive and park in City Creek Canyon.

12. Drive around the University of Utah with special attention to the stadium and the role played in the 2002 Olympics.

[Jcoombs]

thanks everyone. Some of those ideas I had on my TO DO list, but there were some new ones I'll have to look into. I did have a moab trip down, any suggestions as to where to stay and a good jeep tour company? In my research there were so many.. I want to make sure we get to see the arches and some of the other great views.
Again.. thanks so much!

[SouthernBelleInUtah]

If you got to Moab you might as well go to Bluffdale. The Edge of the Cedars State Park Museum has a very good collection of Native Amer pots. They also have a 1,000 y/o feather cloak and lots of sandals but these are rarely on display. And from there (several B&Bs in Bluffdale), go near sunset to -oh, I've forgotten the name- the next town down the road. You ride through spectacular red rock cliffs as the sun sets. There is a nice little restaurant at the base of the cliffs.