Featuring extraordinary golf courses, outdoorsy Utah activities, Jurassic-era dinosaur tracks, a childrens museum, and more, St. George is a haven of fun for golfers, fearless teens, and active kids. And the fun doesnt stop on Christmas Day. Come enjoy More Mountain Time, whether it is on a ski slope, a snowshoeing trail or in an alpine spa destination. Candlelight Christmas at This is the Place Heritage Park: Dec. 7-23 from 5-9 PM. Private Utah High Country Rafting Adventure from Provo. Things can be a little quieter down here this time of year. Spanning over a massive area of 21 acres, Red Butte Garden is the largest botanical garden in the Intermountain West offering enchanting colors of blooms and the most romantic scenery for couples. Traditionally a sing-along, this has been changed to a performance only due to the pandemic. Youll find holiday markets, festivals, concerts, pop up bars, dance performances, musicals, and more to celebrate the holiday season in Salt Lake. The holiday market is only open for one weekend in December and its this weekend, from Dec. 1 to Dec. 4. Sled for free at the iconic hill at Sugarhouse Park inSalt Lake City. Go as far as you want on Little Cottonwood Trail up Little Cottonwood Canyon. Whether youre looking for a break, vacation or quest for fun this winter, Utah is the place, as always, for adventure whatever you plan to do or wherever the trail takes you along the way. If you dont feel like trudging up a hill 17 times (itisgood exercise though) head up to Woodward Park City to their state-of-the-art tubing lanes. Park City is one of the most popular destinations for cross country skiers, although Nordic centers can be found all over Northern Utah. All Rights Reserved, 11 Utah Christmas events you might want to check out this year, The 2023 Utah Legislature has wrapped. Red Hills Desert Garden Lights(St. George): Nov. 26-Jan. 2 at 5-10 pm. The Bonneville Salt Flats are among the most interesting things to see in Utah, but the conditions here can be quite extreme, so come prepared. Book ariver tripor reserve that popularcampsiteyour family loves. It is a fundraising event for the Primary Childrens Hospital, too. Yep you read that right. Discover deals on the best attractions, breweries, and locations in Salt Lake! If theyre not in space suits, however, you can go ahead and ask for a brief tour. Recommended Hotel Nearby: SpringHill Suites by Marriott Salt Lake City Draper, 350 State StreetSalt Lake City, UT 84103(801) 538-1800. Well, you should absolutely watch Utah Shakespeare Festivals world-class outdoor performances for an unforgettable time! Whether you're a local, new in town or just cruising through we've got loads of great tips and events. Here are just a few of our favorite annual holiday events to check out here in Salt Lake. Explore all the different shelves offering some of the best books, stories, and novels. The Gallivan Center, an outdoor skating rink, falls within the free-fare zone of Salt Lake's public transportation.This means on chilly nights families can opt for a short ride on the TRAX light rail from this . Learn more about why Bryce Canyon and the surrounding areas are the perfect place for winter hiking, cross-country skiing and snowmobiling. Recommended Hotel Nearby: Best Western Plus Greenwell Inn, 12500 Sand Dune RoadKanab, UT 84741(435) 648-2800. Pro tip:Pack your own lunch and a thermos of hot chocolate to keep spirits up and costs down. How to Visit Southern Utah in Winter The Natural History Museum of Utah is a grand museum found within the University of Utahs research park. Get some ideas from our road tripitineraries, bucket lists and family-friendly hikes. Lights, train rides, live Nativities, and Santa. Park City Mountain Resort is the largest ski resort in the US! Explore the solar system, black holes, alien landscapes, and distant galaxies through interactive and mind-churning exhibits and activities at the planetarium. Recommended Hotel Nearby: Ramada by Wyndham Cedar City. Snowmobiling is one of the most popular winter sports in Northern Utah, thanks to an abundance of snow, trails, and easy access. 1661 East Murray-Holladay Road (4800 South), Where: Various locations in Salt Lake City. We are a family of 5 with three boys who love to be outside. Use that energy to build a snow fort. Liberty Park is popular for hosting food . The Park City Mountain Resort Alpine Coaster is an elevated track featuring toboggan-style cars that take you through more than . Finally! Actually, deals are everywhere, with free events taking place throughout Utah. Its a contender for ultimate winter family photo, and a winter wonderland the kids wont soon forget. Zion offers horseback riding, glamping, scenic drives, nature walks, picnic sites, and lodging. FREE hot chocolate and doughnuts and wagon rides. A lot of the fun things to do in Utah are in Moab, such as off-roading, hiking, and even whitewater rafting. Theater nerd or not, youll find that witnessing the Shakespeare Festival can be surprisingly one of the best things to do in Utah. Visitors are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance. If youre curious about the extravagance of Hindu festivals, you can also join the temples grand celebrations of Holi and Diwali! You might think the cold is unavoidable and the terrain impassable during the winter months, but if you can surpass these doubts you might just be rewarded with your best hike of the year. If you were looking for cheap yet visually appealing destinations, Red Hills Desert Garden opens its doors to you for free! Book a dog sled tour with the pups and witness their story as they pull your sled through the area's snow blanketed open spaces. Previous Group This year there will be displays and limited lights (due to construction). This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park is home to tons of great stuff to do in Utah, such as sandboarding, ATV riding, camping, hiking, star gazing, wildlife watching, horseback riding, and more. The Galliavan Center offers ice skating opportunities, bringing you closer to the wintry season. Pleasant fall wraps Utah in colorful foliage along the scenic drives. Families, on the other hand, have an endless array of cultural institutions to choose from. Temple Square Lights: SLCFREE Limited Lights due to construction. Whether youre in northern or southern Utah, as long as there is snow there is very likely an outfitter that can rent the gear you need; or better yet, guide you to their favorite spots. The Salt Lake Tabernacle will have a unique Peace on Earth Christmas Nativity. From Olympic fame and luxury to innovation and extreme adventure, discover a vast winter playground on three resorts. The real Up house was built in 2011 by Bangerter Homes with permission from Disney. Navajos have been here since AD 1,400. No matter how you like to get outside, Utah Valley has From train rides and quilt shops to fairy gardens and A weird uncle and a blunt grandmother are a given. It is free and easy to tour the grounds and see the lights any night of the season. Smaller resorts likeNordic ValleyandBrian Headeven offer free season passes for kids 10 and under. More than 200 lighted animal and holiday-themed displays illuminate the holiday season. In Utah, a Pueblo name that means people of the mountains, well show you how to take a break from whatever work, weather, the world or just about anything else throws at you. Gingerbread House Contest Display (Brigham City): Dec. 2-Jan 3. Everyone in the family will get fired up about this one. With over 7,300 acres intended just for fun, Park City offers endless winter opportunities such as sleigh rides, ski-in-ski-out access to historic Main Street, ski and snowboard lessons, snowmobile tours, cable cars, warm restaurants, cabins, special events, and more! Bonus: you can ride the carousel and sometimes see a few animals. In the winter months, Utah's five national parks and their surrounding country are full of solitude and with an adventurous spirit to shrug off mild doses of moody weather you can count on having red rock country all to yourself. If youre visiting Utah any time from June to early October, the festival hosts the summer-fall tradition of plays, Greenshows, seminars, camps, and classes at Cedar City. Recommended Hotel Nearby: Cathedral Valley Inn, 375 Red Hills ParkwaySt. Recommended Hotel Nearby: Best Western Plus Wendover Inn. Showings run every 15 minutes from 4:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Family Destinations Guide is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. When the Utah sun becomes unbearable, head over to one of Kanabs cool places, literally and figuratively. Yes, Temple Square in Salt Lake City is open for the Christmas season. Holly Days Festival(Vernal): November 26: A day full of fun,FREEactivities throughout the Vernal area including a light parade and fireworks. Just because the Salt Lake 2002 Olympic Winter Games are in the past doesnt mean that the Utah Olympic spirit is has been snuffed out. Plan a winter Southeastern Utah trip. Your browser is not supported for this experience.We recommend using Chrome, Firefox, Edge, or Safari. Recommended Hotel Nearby: Hampton Inn Kanab, Related: Things to Do in Zion National Park, See Ticket Price for Tour that Includes This Activity. While Utah's Greater Zion offers a few hundred trails, weve highlighted seven of the best hikes in the state's southwestern corner, from deep canyons to high peaks. While Utah's Greater Zion offers a few hundred trails, weve highlighted seven of the best hikes in the state's southwestern corner, from deep canyons to high peaks. What if you and/or the kids are caught somewhere between feeling confident on the slopes and too energetic to go snowshoeing? If you cant make it to Christkindlmarkt, head for the Holiday Market at Rio Grande where local vendors offer up their wares. Recommended for Things to Do in December because: The City Creek Center is a gorgeous large mall wtih all the top stores such as Michael Kors and Tiffany and Co. Jennifer's expert tip:. Copyright 2023 Utah Office of Tourism. See All Itineraries Previous Group We look for fun, easy adventures throughout the state of Utah and beyond. Time: 2-3 hours. Anna and Elsa fans will appreciate the frozen wonderland all lit up at night in blue and pink. Want to avoid the Utah national park crowds? The crew typically carries out their simulations during winter months, and youre welcome to take photos from a distance. A lot of the fun things to do in Utah are in Moab, such as off-roading, hiking, and even whitewater rafting. Head to Utah County and check out the beautiful Bridal Veil Falls in its icy glory. Now you are ready for total snowball war. The museum is home to 5,000 desert plants, a replica slot canyon, a stream with native and endangered fish, and prehistoric dinosaur tracks from 200 million years ago. Take a contemplative walk around the grounds and catch the hourly docent-led tours inside the Utah State Capitol. And camping is an excellent option for those who want to explore the lake at a leisurely pace. More than 6,000 lights are used to create a breathtaking display along a mile-long walk in Ashton Gardens. You can spend a day or a whole week here exploring the myriad trails, each offering their own sights, sounds and adventures. Gingerbread House Display: University Place Mall in Orem. If youve been dreaming of Martian-like deserts, rust-colored gargantuan rock formations, and blooming succulents for your next vacation, Utah is your best bet. How about you take that fascination to the next level by going where dinosaurs once roamed? Recommended Hotel Nearby: University Guest House & Conference Center, 12033 Lone Peak ParkwayDraper UT, 84020(801) 355-3474. Imagine a desert of peach-pink sand surrounded by rust-colored cliffs and contrasted by pastel blue skies. More than 6,000 lights illuminate a milelong walk through the Ashton Gardens at Thanksgiving Point. Less than an hour's drive from Salt Lake City, Heber Valley is the perfect Utah snowmobile base camp for newbies and experienced riders alike. Eagle Point is a Utah favorite location. Things To Do Lodging Tours & Guides Deals Events Store Maps & Brochures Share Events So, you're looking for things to do in Utah . One can of food per person donation encouraged. For most travelers, Southern Utah winters prevent comfortable camping, and occasional snowfall can make outdoor adventure a little more challenging. A local favorite for celebrating the season, families can enjoy breakfast with Santa and other holiday characters on select days in December at this annual holiday event in Salt Lake. Explore snowshoeing. It spans over a million acres, dates back to 200 million years in the distant past, and bears an incredible wealth of fossils and artifacts. With a little extra planning, good layers, and the right equipment, however, you can enjoy Utah's national parks in the solitude of winter. The performances will happen throughout December. AndShesDopeToo is a worldwide adventure community of women run by Jennifer and Taylor Killian from Ogden, Utah. Beginning the day after Thanksgiving, Christmas comes to Temple Square with turning on the lights. And you can visit Santa as part of your admission price to Zoo Lights. Deer Valley. Live Nativity at Christmas Celebration: Dec. 15 at 6:00 and 7:30 pm FREE. I'll be graduating with my associate's degree in December of 2021 after 2 years of school. With its iconic reddish and tan-colored canyon walls, desert, woodlands, and forests, this massive national park has a wealth of sights to offer. St. George is a city on the southwest corner of the Arizona border and is known for its recreational opportunities all year round. The ski lift may be closer, but the Provo River, one of the best fisheries in Utah and the country, is mere minutes down the road from Sundance Mountain Resort. After an adventure packed vacation of skiing, sliding, exploring and marvelling, the only thing left to do is relax and recount your favorite moments. However, you dont have to get too far out of town to get lost down a ski track. FREE, Twas the Lights Before Christmas: Riverton Nov. 30-Dec. 31 FREE. For 30 years, filmmakers and audiences have been traveling to Utah to see some of the most innovative storytelling in cinema at theSundance Film Festival. For more information, see our Privacy Policy. The market is open from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. for one weekend only in December as local and visitors alike get into the spirit of the holiday season. Walk around downtown and vote on your favorite gingerbread creations. To put it simply, the riding in Utah is epic. Since hosting the 2002 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games, in many ways the Olympic spirit and world-class athletes that seized Utah have never left. We were there in late December 2021 and it was chilly but not particularly cold during the day. Nativities Nativity in the Glen (SLC): Dec. 3 from 6-9 PM. Time slots are available every half hour, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Lights on at 6:30 pm. The only challenge is deciding if you want to stay in a slope-side lodge or a hotel in the city.