We've highlighted 14 of Utah's largest attractions, and our list ranges from the familiar -- a home-grown amusement park and the state's only zoo -- to the unusual, including a dinosaur sculpture garden, a historic tourist railroad, and indoor vertical wind tunnel. Plus: a living history villages, a desert-based aquarium, the region's largest horticulture gardens, and more.
Red Butte Garden
Address » 300 Wakara Way, Salt Lake City.
With more than 100 acres of gardens, the University of Utah-operated venue is the largest botanical garden in the Intermountain West. Special events include Monday Family Night dance and music concerts, summer children's camps, and a fall bulb and native plant sale.
Hours » Monday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-7:30 p.m.; Sunday 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; 7 a.m. early morning hours Tuesdays and Thursdays June-August
Admission » $6 adults; $4 children ages 3-17/seniors; free children under 3, and U. students, faculty/staff; group discounts available; annual membership is $30 per person, $40 per duo.
Information » 801-585-0556; www.redbuttegarden.org
Lagoon Amusement Park
Address » 375 Lagoon Drive, Farmington.
More than 40 rides offer thrills at Lagoon, the home-grown amusement park that has been drawing Utah families to the park since 1896, with attractions such as water slides, a Pioneer Village and three musical stages. New this year: the Jumping Dragon, a roundabout motion ride with a 58 foot radius.
Hours » 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday; 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturday
Cost » $41.95 (51 inches in height to age 64); $28.95 (seniors); $35.95 (kinders, age 4 to 50 inches in height); $21.95 (toddler, age 3 and under); plus $8 per car parking; group rates, season parking passes available.
Information » 801-451-8000; www.lagoonpark.com
The Living Planet Aquarium
Address » 725 E. 10600 South, Sandy
"Journey to South America" is the current special exhibit at Utah's only aquarium. Permanent exhibits feature sharks, rays, seahorses and jellyfish as well as octopus, eels, starfish, amphibians, trout and other freshwater species.
Hours » 10 a.m.-8 p.m., Friday and Saturday; 10 a.m.-7 p.m., Sunday-Thursday
Cost » $8 adults; $7 seniors, students and military; $6 children 3 to 17; free, children 2 and younger; annual memberships are $16, adults; $12, children.
Information » 801-355-3474, www.thelivingplanet.com
Utah Olympic Park
Address » 3419 Olympic Parkway, Park City
View Olympic competition sites and the winter sports center, which houses the Alf Engen Ski Museum, 2002 Eccles Olympic Winter Games Museum, a retail shop and theater. You might see athletes in training, or take seasonal rides on the bobsled, an alpine slide and a zip line.
Hours » 9 a.m.-6 p.m. daily
Cost » Free; guided tours $7, adults; $5, seniors and youths; $25 for a family of five. Freestyle show is $10 per adult, $7 for senior and youth. Costs for rides vary.
Information » 435-658-4200; www.olyparks.com
Ogden Dinosaur Park
Address » 1544 East Park Blvd., Ogden
A sculpture garden featuring more than 100 dinosaur replicas brought to life with robotics and sound, plus an education center and the Elizabeth Dee Shaw Stewart Museum. Summer activities include a Reptile Rescue event and dino day camps.
Hours » 10 a.m.-7 p.m., Monday -- Saturday (grounds open until 8); noon-5 p.m. Sunday (grounds open until 6 ).
Cost » $7 adults, $6 seniors and students; $5 children age 2-12. Infants 1 and younger are free.
Information » 801-629-8873, www.dinosaurpark.org
Heber Valley Railroad
Address » 450 S. 600 West, Heber City
This historic tourist railroad offers rides through the Heber Valley and Provo Canyon. Special summer events include the Comedy Murder Mystery, the Sunset BBQ Special and the Hay Train.
Cost » Fares vary; event fares $48 for adults and seniors; $30 children 3-12.
Information » 800-888-8499, 435-654-5601, www.hebervalleyrailroad.org
Thanksgiving Point
Address » 3003 N. Thanksgiving Way, Lehi
In addition to shops, a golf course and eateries, Thanksgiving Point features a Museum of Ancient Life, a farm and 15 gardens. Regular events include: Museum Mondays; Family Night on the Farm; Monday Night in the Gardens. Special events this summer include the Scottish Festival June 12-13.
Hours » 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays
Cost » Museum $8-$10; Farm $3.50; free for children 2 and younger; Gardens, $6-$10
Information » 888-672-6040, 801-768-2300, www.thanksgivingpoint.com
This Is The Place Heritage Park
Address » 2601 E. Sunnyside Ave., Salt Lake City
Historic pioneer buildings located near the site where Mormon pioneers first entered the Salt Lake valley. Park activities include a train tour of the pioneer village and various events.
Hours » 9 a.m.-5 p.m., seven days a week from May-September.
Cost » $8 adults; $6 children and seniors. Admission includes unlimited train ride and three activities. Reduced prices on Sundays when the park offers a limited program: $5 adults; $3 children and seniors.
Information » 801-582-1847, www.thisistheplace.org
Tracy Aviary
Address » 589 E. 1300 South, Salt Lake City
This 70-year-old aviary in Salt Lake City's Liberty Park is one of two free-standing aviaries in the United States. The aviary offers exhibits and a free flight bird show at 11:30 a.m. and a $2 pelican encounter at 2:30 p.m. daily. Summer camps are June 15-Aug. 3.
Hours » 9 a.m.-6 p.m. daily
Admission » $5 adults; $3 children; free for children 3 and younger. Wagons and wheelchairs available for rental.
Information » 801-596-8500, www.tracyaviary.org
Discovery Gateway Children's Museum
Address » 444 W.100 South, Salt Lake City
The museum features four floors and 60,000 square feet of children-friendly interactive activities that inspire learning. Daily art and science workshops offered free with admission.
Hours » 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Monday-Thursday; 10 a.m.-8 p.m., Friday and Saturday; noon-6 p.m., Sunday
Admission » $8.50; free to members and children 1 and younger; $7.50 for pre-registered groups or $3.50 for pre-registered school groups.
Information » 801-456-KIDS, www.discoverygateway.org
Hogle Zoo
Address » 2600 E. Sunnyside Ave., Salt Lake City
This summer's special attraction at Utah's only zoo is the new Madagascar exhibit featuring lemurs, tenrecs, hissing cockroaches, radiated tortoises, tree boas and rare and mysterious fossa.
Hours » Gate open daily from 9 a.m.--5 p.m.; grounds open from 9 a.m.--6:30 p.m.
Admission » $9 adults; $7 seniors or children; free to children 2 and younger. Train rides, $1; carousel rides, $2
Information » 801-582-1631, www.hoglezoo.org
Ogden Junction/Solomon Center
Address » 2261 Kiesel Ave., Ogden
The Odgen complex houses a restaurant, bowling alley a Megaplex movie theater and Utah's only indoor skydiving and vertical wind tunnel.
Hours » Noon-10 p.m. Monday-Thursday; noon-11 p.m. Friday and Saturday
Cost » For IFLY, $49 for 45 minutes of gear rental, training and flight.
Information » 801-399-4653; www.iflyutah.com
American West Heritage Center
Address » 4025 S. Highway 89-91, Wellsville
Daily adventures at the center include living history depicting life on a Utah farm, circa 1917, including pony rides, and encounters with mountain men, pioneers and Shoshone Indians. Summer camps begin June 15, with a Spirit of '47 Pioneer Jubilee July 24.
Hours » 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Tuesday-Saturday. Times vary with special events and festivals.
Cost » $7 adults, $5 for students and seniors; free for children 3 and younger. Fees vary for festivals and special events.
Information » 435-245-6050, www.awhc.org
Utah Museum of Natural History
Address » 1390 E. Presidents Circle, Salt Lake City
An active research institution and museum at the University of Utah, which cares for more than 1.5 million objects, and presents exhibits, special events and on-site and outreach programs. "Toadally Frogs!" is the featured exhibit through Sept. 14.
Hours » 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Monday-Saturday; noon-5 p.m., Sunday
Cost » $7, adults; $3.50, seniors and children ages 3-17; free for children age 3 or younger. First Monday of every month is free.
Information » 801-581-6927, www.umnh.utah.edu
