4-day America's Mountain City Trip for Families

Day 1: Intro to the Mountains and Downtown City Culture

Start with a quick hike for jaw-dropping valley views, then spend the afternoon at one of the country’s best children’s museums, and close the day at  Salt Lake City Public Library's rooftop, all free.

Morning: Ensign Peak Hike

What it is: A short, family-friendly summit hike just minutes from downtown. Ensign Peak is 0.8 miles round trip with panoramic views of the Salt Lake Valley, the Great Salt Lake, and the Wasatch Range from the top.

Why it’s worth it: It’s the best 45 minutes you can spend on arrival day — the views give kids (and parents) an immediate sense of just how dramatically Salt Lake is nestled between mountain ranges. It’s short enough for young children and rewarding enough that nobody feels short-changed.

How long it takes: 45 minutes round trip — allow 1 hour with photo stops

• Ensign Peak Trailhead · 375 N Ensign Vista Dr · Free · Open dawn to dusk
• Pack water and sunscreen — no shade on the trail
• Arrive before 9 AM on weekends to get parking and beat the heat

Pro tip: The very top has a small monument — great family photo spot with the entire valley as your backdrop.

Lunch: Red Rock Brewing Company

What it is: Red Rock Brewing Company is a downtown brewpub with a spacious patio, full kids’ menu, and reliable comfort food — burgers, pizzas, pasta — after a morning hike.

Why it’s worth it: Award-winning kitchen, outdoor seating, and genuinely kid-welcoming service make it a stress-free refuel stop. Adults get craft beer; kids get their own menu.

How long it takes: 45–60 minutes

• 400 S Main St
• Open daily for lunch and dinner
• Reservations recommended on weekends

Afternoon: Discovery Gateway Children's Museum

What it is: Discovery Gateway is a 60,000 sq ft hands-on children’s museum downtown packed with interactive exhibits for all ages. Highlights include the “I Dig Dinos” fossil excavation exhibit and the Stillson River Railroad — the largest model train exhibit in the Intermountain West.

Why it’s worth it: It’s genuinely designed for the 8–12 age range, not just toddlers. The paleontology lab puts kids in actual lab coats to excavate fossils; the railroad exhibit is intricate enough to fascinate tweens and adults alike. It’s easy to lose 2–3 hours here without anyone getting bored.

How long it takes: 2–3 hours

• 444 W 100 S · Downtown Salt Lake City · Tues–Sun
• Check website for current admission prices and any free/discounted days
• Combine with the Salt Lake Attractions Pass for best value

Pro tip: Visit on a weekday afternoon if possible — weekends can be packed 

Evening: Salt Lake City Main Library Rooftop - panoramic views

What it is: Salt Lake City Main Library is one of the ten most architecturally beautiful libraries in the world. The rooftop terrace is free to access and offers 360° views of the Wasatch Mountains at sunset.

Why it’s worth it: It’s one of the best free experiences in Salt Lake City, full stop. The building’s curved glass facade and rooftop garden are stunning at golden hour, and Hugo Coffee on the ground floor is a perfect pit stop for parents.

How long it takes: 30–45 minutes for the rooftop stroll; budget more if kids want to browse

• 210 E 400 S
• Free admission
• Open until 9 PM Mon–Thurs, 6 PM Fri–Sat

What about dinner?

After a long day orienting to the city we know families are looking for something that fits into their favorites. Check out our family friendly restaurants list and let the kids choose!

Day 1 Tips:

• Ensign Peak is best before 9 AM in summer — limited shade and parking fills fast
• Discovery Gateway is closed Mondays — verify hours before visiting
• The Library rooftop is open year-round; sunset timing varies by season

Day 2: High-Country Hiking + Dinosaurs

Drive up a dramatic canyon to Utah’s most photogenic waterfall, grab lunch at a mountain lodge, then spend the afternoon eye-to-eye with 80-foot dinosaurs at one of the country’s best natural history museums.

Morning: Donut Falls Trail

Fuel up first and get some Donuts for the trail at one of Salt Lake’s excellent coffee shops or bakeries before heading into the mountains. 

What it is: A 1.5-mile round-trip hike in Big Cottonwood Canyon to Donut Falls — a waterfall that literally flows through a donut-shaped hole in the rock. The trail passes through a forested canyon with fun water crossings.

Why it’s worth it: This is the hike that makes kids say “whoa.” The rock formation is genuinely unlike anything else, the canyon is shaded and cool even on warm days and the hike gives kids just enough adventure without being dangerous. It’s Instagram-famous for a reason.

How long it takes: 1.5–2 hours round trip including photo stops

• Big Cottonwood Canyon Rd · ~25 minutes from downtown · Free trail
• Parking fills by 9–10 AM on summer weekends — arrive early

Lunch: ​Silver Fork Lodge & Restaurant

What it is: Silver Fork Lodge & Restaurant is a rustic mountain lodge restaurant in Big Cottonwood Canyon serving breakfast and lunch with a full kids’ menu, mountain views, and a cabin atmosphere that feels like a reward for the morning hike.

Why it’s worth it: You’re already in the canyon — this is one of the few sit-down dining options close by. The pancake stack is legendary, and eating with canyon walls around you beats any chain restaurant in town.

How long it takes: 45–60 minutes

• 11332 E Big Cottonwood Canyon Rd, Brighton
• Check seasonal hours
• No reservation needed for groups under 8

Afternoon: ​Natural History Museum of Utah

What it is: The Natural History Museum of Utah houses one of the world’s best dinosaur collections — full articulated skeletons up to 80 feet long, a hands-on fossil dig pit, interactive science exhibits, and floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the Wasatch foothills.

Why it’s worth it: The dinosaur floor alone justifies the trip. Kids can observe through glass into an actual working paleontology lab while scientists prepare real specimens. The building’s architecture is also stunning — it cascades down a hillside and the top floor view of Salt Lake Valley is one of the best in the city.

How long it takes: 2–3 hours

• 301 Wakara Way · University of Utah campus · Open daily
• Admission ~$25 adults, $21 kids 3-12.· Check for discounted days and Attractions Pass eligibility
• Parking in the adjacent lot is free for museum visitors

Pro tip: Be sure to check out the ancient timeline on the way in (or out) for millions of years of history

Evening: City Creek Canyon Stroll

What it is: City Creek Canyon is a paved out-and-back trail starting at Memory Grove Park, just 200 steps from downtown. A bubbling creek, shaded paths, and mountain scenery make it an effortless wind-down after a museum-heavy afternoon.

Why it’s worth it: The transition from downtown sidewalk to mountain canyon in under five minutes is genuinely magical — kids are always surprised by how quickly the city disappears. It’s quiet, flat, and completely at your own pace.

How long it takes: 30 minutes to 1.5 hours — go as far as your family wants, then turn around

• Access from Memory Grove Park · 200 N Canyon Rd · Free · Open dawn to dusk
• Alternating car-free days — check slcgov.com before driving into the canyon

Pro Tip: Hydrate extra before, during, and after hiking — SLC’s elevation plus dry air hit harder than expected

Day 2 Tips:

• Donut Falls + Silver Fork + NHMU makes for a full day — start the hike by 8 AM
• NHMU closes at 5 PM on some days; arrive by 2 PM to get full value
• City Creek Canyon is best in the evening when the afternoon heat has passed

Day 3: Interactive Museums + Outdoor Parks

A morning split between birds and open space at Tracy Aviary and Liberty Park, an adventure-themed lunch at Trolley Square, and an afternoon your family chooses — fine art with hands-on activities, or free science exhibits at the planetarium.

Morning: Tracy Aviary + Liberty Park

What it is: Tracy Aviary is Utah’s only free-flight bird park, home to 400+ birds from 135 species — including flamingos, bald eagles, and Andean condors. It sits inside Liberty Park, Salt Lake’s largest park, which adds 80 acres of playground, splash pad, paddleboat rentals, and a duck pond.

Why it’s worth it: Combining Tracy Aviary with Liberty Park gives kids two completely different experiences in one location — close encounters with exotic birds, then immediate access to open-air play space and water features. It’s a rare combo that works for every age in the group.

How long it takes: Tracy Aviary: 1–1.5 hours · Liberty Park playground/splash pad: 1–1.5 hours · Combined morning block: 2.5–3 hours

• Tracy Aviary: 589 E 1300 S · Open daily · Admission ~$15 adults, ~$11 kids
• Liberty Park: 900 E 1300 S · Free · Splash pad open Memorial Day–Labor Day · Paddleboat rentals available

Pro tip: Tracy Aviary does free-flight bird shows on weekends — check their schedule for times.

Lunch: The Old Spaghetti Factory at Trolley Square

What it is: The Old Spaghetti Factory serves classic Italian-American comfort food inside Trolley Square — a converted 1908 trolley barn. The dining room is literally inside a vintage streetcar.

Why it’s worth it: Full meals include soup or salad, bread, entrée, and dessert — genuinely great value for families. Eating inside a trolley car makes it an experience, not just a lunch stop. The building itself is a Salt Lake landmark.

How long it takes: 45–60 minutes

• 602 E 500 S, Trolley Square
• Open daily for lunch and dinner
• Kids’ menu available

Evening: Dinner at Squatters Pub Brewery

What it is: Squatters Pub Brewery is one of Salt Lake’s original craft breweries, open since 1989, with award-winning beer for parents and a solid kids’ menu in a relaxed, historic downtown space.

Why it’s worth it: Squatters is a Salt Lake institution — the kind of place locals bring visitors because it reliably delivers. It’s unfussy, genuinely family-welcoming, and never feels rushed at the table.

How long it takes: 45–60 minutes

• 147 W 300 S
• Open daily
• No reservation needed for groups under 6

Day 3 Tips:

• Tracy Aviary’s bird shows run on weekends only — check the schedule in advance
• Liberty Park splash pad is seasonal (Memorial Day–Labor Day) — verify before planning around it
• Clark Planetarium dome show tickets sell out on weekends; buy online before arriving

Day 4: Epic Morning Hike + Cultural Finale

Tackle a panoramic trail locals use as their everyday escape, refuel at one of Salt Lake’s best casual dining spots, and close the trip with free history at Temple Square or a hands-on heritage park.

Morning: Bonneville Shoreline Trail

What it is: The Bonneville Shoreline Trail follows the ancient shoreline of Lake Bonneville along the base of the Wasatch Range. Starting from the Terrace Hills trailhead gives panoramic valley views and rolling terrain — go as far as your family wants and turn back.

Why it’s worth it: This is the trail Salt Lake residents hike after work — wide, well-maintained, and surprisingly dramatic for how accessible it is. The views look back over the entire city against the backdrop of the lake and western desert. It’s a fitting final-day hike that feels like a locals’ send-off.

How long it takes: 1–2 hours — fully flexible; out-and-back means you set the distance

• Terrace Hills Trailhead
• 3800 Wasatch Blvd
• Free parking
• Trail is exposed — go early in summer to avoid midday heat
• Dogs are welcome on-leash

Pro tip: Go 0.5 miles in for a panoramic bench viewpoint — perfect turnaround for younger kids.

Lunch:  Downtown Food Halls (Post-Hike)

What it is: Hall Pass, Woodbine Food Hall, and the Gallivan Center food truck plaza are Salt Lake’s best flexible lunch options — multiple vendors in one location means everyone in the family picks something different.

Why it’s worth it: After a morning hike, nobody wants to negotiate one restaurant. Food halls solve the picky-eater problem and let the group decompress over different cuisines in a relaxed, no-pressure setting.

How long it takes: 45–60 minutes

• Hall Pass: 516 S 300 W 
• Woodbine: 404 S West Temple
• Gallivan Center food trucks: 239 S Main St (check event calendar for food truck days)

Afternoon: Unique Salt Lake History 

Evening: Dinner and Departure

What it is: Make sure you fuel up before departing. Red Iguana (or Red Iguana 2) is a Salt Lake institution for Mexican cuisine — famous for seven different house-made mole sauces, a festive atmosphere, and serving the city for over 40 years.

Why it’s worth it: Red Iguana is a true local institution, not a chain. The moles are genuinely unlike anything else in the state. The colorful decor and celebratory energy make it the perfect last-night send-off — a meal families actually remember.

How long it takes: 1–1.5 hours — waits can be long; arrive early or book ahead

• 736 W North Temple
• Open Tues–Sun
• Reservations strongly recommended for groups
• Red Iguana 2: 866 W South Temple
• Same menu, an expansion because they are so popular

Day 4 Tips:

• Bonneville Shoreline is exposed — start before 9 AM in midsummer
• Temple Square is free but tours fill up; join one as soon as you arrive
• Red Iguana waits regularly exceed 45 minutes without a reservation — book online before your trip