10 Best Things to Do in Salt Lake City with Toddlers and Kids

LOOKING FOR THINGS TO DO IN SALT LAKE CITY WITH TODDLERS?

We can help! We’ve been traveling with kids since 2015 and have spent time in Salt Lake City since we were kids! It’s such a diverse city and there are so many fun things to do in Salt Lake City with toddlers and kids.

Older kids would also enjoy many of the activities we did so don’t worry if you’re traveling with a variety of ages. Salt Lake City is such a fun place to visit.

There are lots of fun outdoor places to explore like Red Butte Garden, Great Salt Lake State Park, Antelope Island State Park, and the Bonneville Shoreline Trail. There are lots of great indoor activities as well if you are visiting during the hot summer days.

Things to Do in Salt Lake City with Toddlers and Kids

1. Salt Lake Trolley Tour

SLC Trolley is a great stop in Salt Lake with toddlers

We had so much fun on our Salt Lake Trolley Tour. The tour lasts about two hours and takes you through the historical districts of Salt Lake City. Rowen and Raven thought it was so cool that they got to ride around on the trolley.

They also provide a treat part way through the tour, which we all loved. There are some stops on the tour that give you time to get off the trolley to stretch your legs and explore. We stopped at Union Square, the Capitol, and the Cathedral of the Madeleine.

We got a great tour of downtown Salt Lake City and Temple Square.

Toddlers enjoying the SLC Trolley, a great stop in Salt Lake with toddlers

It was also nice to get to sit back and enjoy the ride rather than worrying about navigating and finding parking. It is a great tour that adults and kids alike will love. Their tours do fill up so it is best to make a reservation ahead of time if you can.

▶ Book Your Trolley Tour Here!

2. Fillings & Emulsions

Macaroons from Filling & Emulsions, a great stop in Salt Lake with toddlers

The blue macarons really caught Rowen and Raven’s eyes as we walked into Fillings & Emulsions. Then the red ones and then the yellow ones and then the pink ones.

It was like Christmas morning. Our favorite macaron flavors were raspberry chocolate, pistachio black cherry, and blackberry marshmallow.

Toddlers enjoying macaroons from Filling & Emulsions, a great stop in Salt Lake with toddlers

Along with delicious and picture-perfect macarons, the menu is full of unique combinations of French culinary and Latin flavors. They also have a very unique baked good – the churro dulce de leche cruffin. We would highly recommend trying it!

3. Discovery Gateway Children’s Museum

Discovery Gateway Children's Museum, a great stop in Salt Lake with toddlers

Discovery Gateway is the children’s museum in Salt Lake City. It is a child’s play space heaven and is the perfect place toddlers and kids. There are 60,000 square feet of playhouses, farms, grocery stores, science projects, and more.

The interactive exhibits help kids develop creativity, discovery, and experiential education all while they have a great time.

Toddlers playing at the Discovery Gateway, a great stop in Salt Lake with toddlers

My kids especially loved the water play exhibit which has a large water table with different interactive components and the kid’s eye view exhibit which has a child-sized house, grocery store, and more.

If you are looking for other kid-friendly museums, be sure to check out the Natural History Museum of Utah.

4. Loveland Living Planet Aquarium

The Loveland Living Planet Aquarium is in Draper which is about 20 minutes south of Salt Lake, but the drive is worth it. The aquarium has over 4,500 animals representing 550 species.

There are five different exhibits but our favorite by far was the 300,000-gallon shark exhibit. Inside the exhibit, there is a glass tunnel that you can walk through to get a closer view of the sharks, sea turtles, stingrays, and fish.

The penguins were also awesome. They were so active in their exhibit and very entertaining to watch.

5. Clark Planetarium

The Clark Planetarium gives toddlers and kids the opportunity for hands-on learning about our Earth, the moon, space weather, and more. Rowen and Raven especially loved the Restless Planet Exhibit.

We got to stand inside a tornado, watch lightning strike, watch the earth rotate, and touch real geological items from the Earth.

The best part of the Planetarium is that general admission is free. There are some movies that you can watch that do require a purchased ticket. This is one of the great free things to do in Salt Lake City with toddlers and kids.

6. Hogle Zoo

In almost every city we visit, we try to make it to the zoo. Utah’s Hogle Zoo in Salt Lake was a zoo that Rowen and Raven loved. There are eight different exhibits that give the kids the opportunity to get close to the animals.

We loved seeing the giraffes, elephants, and polar bears. When you first get to the zoo, get the schedule of the daily programs. They are a good break from walking around and the kids will love the presentation.

Another fun place your family will enjoy if you are looking for more outdoor activities is the This is the Place Heritage Park.

7. Salt Lake City Public Library

There are so many fun things to do in Salt Lake City with toddlers and kids at the public library. The first thing you will see as you arrive at the library is absolutely amazing architecture. It has curved glass walls covering about 176,368 square feet.

As you enter the doors you will see the Urban Room. It is a five-story, open space that will give you a great look at the library as a whole along with a hanging sculpture containing 1,500 books and butterflies.

The kids’ section of the library is in the basement. It is filled with books and a great playroom filled with blocks, forts, and large stuffed animals.

The library has lots of fun things to do in Salt Lake City with toddlers and kids

If the weather is nice, head to the rooftop terrace for great views of the Salt Lake valley. You can either climb the spiral staircase or take the elevator to the top floor. You can also observe active beehives and walk through the rooftop garden.

If your little one needs to get some energy out, check out the outdoor plaza full of water features, gardens, and plenty of places to play. This is such a kid-friendly place in Salt Lake.

8. Liberty Park

Liberty Park is the oldest park in Utah and second-largest park in Salt Lake City at 100 acres. There are so many fun things to do in Salt Lake City with toddlers and kids here. There are walking paths all around the park great for getting some exercise and fresh air.

Our favorite part of Liberty Park was the park and splash pad. There are two different playgrounds, designed for older kids and toddlers. There are musical instruments which were so fun and unique. Pack a lunch to enjoy at the grass area or picnic tables.

If the weather is nice, you can also explore the Seven Canyons Fountain. It represents the seven canyons in Salt Lake filled with waterfalls, lakes, rivers, and more. There is also a swimming pool in the park.

9. Tracy Aviary

Tracy Aviary, a great stop in Salt Lake with toddlers

Located in Liberty Park, the Tracy Aviary is an 8-acre aviary housing numerous different exhibits ranging from Destination Argentina to the Owl Forest to the King of the Andres.

We loved getting to see the Andean condor. We even learned that six different countries have made the Andean condor their national bird. They also have different programs throughout the day so be sure to get a schedule when you arrive or online. We really enjoyed the outdoor bird show.

Birds from the Tracy Aviary, a great stop in Salt Lake with toddlers

10. Heber Valley Historic Railroad

The Heber Valley Railroad, a great stop in Salt Lake with toddlers

The Heber Valley Historic Railroad is about a 50-minute drive from Salt Lake City and is a great place in Salt Lake toddlers will love. Your drive to Heber will take you through the beautiful mountains and past Park City, the site of the 2002 Winter Olympics.

There are lots of fun things to do at the Utah Olympic Park and Park City Mountain Resort as you make your way to Heber.

This historic railroad was the only way to ship to market livestock produced in the area during the late 1800s but today, the railroad runs family train excursions between Heber City and Vivian Park.

Toddlers on the Heber Valley Railroad, a great stop in Salt Lake with toddlers

They offer a variety of different programs ranging from family Monday night trains to seasonal events like the Pumpkin Train and the North Pole Express. They usually sell out a week or so before the train ride, so you will want to get your tickets ahead of time.

Conclusion: Best Things to Do in Salt Lake City with Kids and Toddlers

We hope you have found this guide helpful in exploring Salt Lake City. There are so many fun things to do in Salt Lake City with your toddlers and kids. If you are willing to drive a little more south you can also find lots of great activities at Thanksgiving Point that the whole family will enjoy.

There are also lots of great hiking trails and places to let your kids explore at Big Cottonwood Canyon and Little Cottonwood Canyon. These are great places to enjoy the snow near Salt Lake City in winter.

While the Salt Lake Temple is the focal point of the town, there are lots of fun things to do within a short drive of the downtown area including exploring the scenic drive, beautiful mountains, and enjoy a short hike.

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