Enjoy Utah!

FREE CLASS: Utah Ghost Towns and Abandoned Mines

2013-06-14T12:36:00.001-06:00

Last night I attended a class by Mojave Underground, abandoned mine explorers of the American west, at the Kearns library. They talked about Utah’s ghost towns and abandoned mines, and gave tips and tricks on visiting them.

Their class gave me an increased desire to get out and explore more of Utah, and to visit these towns rich in history.

They will be presenting this free class all Summer long at various Salt Lake County libraries. You don’t need to preregister or sign up; simply show up with a notepad ready to take notes:

Monday June 17th – 7pm West Valley City Library
Tuesday June 18th – 7pm Columbus Library
Tuesday June 25th – 7pm Riverton Library
Wednesday June 26th – 7pm Whitmore Library
Saturday June 29th – 4pm Draper Library
Monday July 1st – 6pm Magna Library
Monday July 15th – 7pm West Jordan Library
Saturday August 3rd – 10:30am Sandy Library
Wednesday August 21st – 7pm Hunter Library

Connect with Mojave Underground:

Utah 4th of July Events 2013

2013-06-13T17:16:00.001-06:00

Below is a list of 4th of July celebrations happening in Utah. If you know of one I may have missed, please email me at contact@enjoyutah.org. Thanks!

Check back often.....more to come as I find them!

Salt Lake County

Salt Lake Bees baseball games (Contact Steve Nord at (801) 325-7222 for discount tickets and package specials)
Riverton Town Days (June 27 – July 6)
Magna Fourth Of July Celebration (July 2-5)
South Salt Lake FreedomFest and 5K Run (July 3-4)
Snowbird Pancake Breakfast (July 4)
Millcreek Celebration (July 4)
Sugarhouse Park (July 4)
Sandy City Celebrations (July 4)
Liberty Days at This Is The Place (July 4)
Brighton Breakfast and Parade (July 4)
West Jordan Independence Day Festival (July 4-6)

Tooele County

Tooele Independence Day Festivities (July 1-5)
Grantsville Celebrations (July 1-4)
5K Freedom Run (July 4)
Archery 3D Fun Shoot (July 4)
Wind Runners Barrel Club Racers (July 5)
Fridays on Vine (July 5)

Wasatch/Summit County

Oakley Rodeo (July 2-6)
The Canyons Celebration (July 3)
Park City Parade and Celebration (July 4)

Utah County

Freedom Festival Children’s Parade (June 29)
Freedom Festival Freedom Days (July 3-5)
Freedom Festival Parade (July 4)
Stadium of Fire with Kelly Clarkson and Carly Rae Jeppson (July 4) – LISTEN TO Now 97.9 FM to win tickets!
Fireworks at Thanksgiving Point (July 4)
Freedom Festival Balloon Fest (July 4-6)

Davis County

Layton Liberty Days (June 30 – July 4)
West Bountiful Concert (July 3)
West Bountiful Fireworks (July 3)
Centerville Celebrations (July 3-4)
Clearfield City Breakfast, Fun Walk, Parade and more (July 4)
West Bountiful Parade (July 4)
Kaysville Celebrations (July 4)

Weber County

Riverdale Old Glory Days (June 28 – July 4)

Carbon County

Pleasant Valley Days (July 4 – 6)

Sanpete County

Manti Celebrations (June 27, July 4)
Moroni Celebrations (June 28 – July 4)
Mt Pleasant Hub City Days (June 29 – July 6)
Gunnison Celebrations (July 3-4)

Washington County

St George Mom has listed the events she has found in Southern Utah

Check back often! More events and communities to be added as we hear about them. If you know of an event we have missed, please leave a comment on this post, or email us at contact@enjoyutah.org.

REVIEW: “Annie” at the Draper Historic Theatre

2013-06-13T15:38:00.001-06:00

Bridgette Biggers as Annie projected tremendous emotion in her singing as a lonely orphan girl.

Fans of the movie and/or musical Annie will love the Draper Historic Theatre’s production, playing now through June 22, 2013.

This was our first time attending a production at the Draper Historic Theatre, and we were impressed by their friendly staff and historical feel of the theatre. We look forward to attending many more productions there, and can’t wait to see what else they have in store! You can purchase tickets ahead of time online, or you can purchase them at the counter when you arrive. Seating is general admission, so get there early for best seating.

We have always been a fan of the movie and songs of Annie, so when we were invited to check out Annie on stage, we were more than excited! The hardest thing about attending this production was not getting up and singing at the top of your lungs with the actors and actresses!

There’s something about seeing a production on stage and in person, compared to watching the movie at home. Bridgette Biggers played the role of Annie, and projected tremendous emotion in her singing as a lonely orphan girl. You can’t feel that kind of emotion through the television or movie screen; It’s something that can only be experienced in person. Listening to and watching Biggers sing “Maybe” brought a tear to my eye that I have never experienced in any other production of Annie. This was not Biggers’ first time playing in Annie. She played the role of orphan Kate in the Taylorsville Art Council’s production of Annie. She has also played in other roles such as Gracie Smythe and Young Fan in Centerpoint Legacy Theatre’s A Christmas Carol, and Lehi City Arts Council’s Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

Molly the orphan was played by Claire Burnham, and was the cutest Molly we’ve seen yet! She brought attitude and spunk to the role, and made it hard to look away from her when she was on stage. She even kept character during the final bow at the end of the show, and has us smiling whenever she made an appearance. As we were leaving, we had to make a special effort to find her and tell her how much we enjoyed watching her.

Another actress we were impressed with and loved every moment she was on stage was Emily Anderson, who played the role of Miss Hannigan. She really dove into her role as the head of the orphanage, and was very passionate with her hatred towards the orphans.

I would love to be able to go through and name what I loved about everybody else, because the rest of the cast also did a fabulous job!

Annie at the Draper Historic Theatre was directed by Jamie Victor, with choreography by Chalese Craig, and Stacy Snider as the Music Director. This dynamic trio worked together to create an emotional masterpiece worthy of seeing multiple times. Once you’ve seen it, you’ll want to return again and again with other family and friends.

Annie is playing at the Draper Historic Theatre now until June 22, 2013. Tickets can be purchased online or at the door. The Draper Historic Theatre is located at 12366 South 900 East in Draper, UT.

I was provided with a pair of tickets to attend and review the production. I was not compensated for my review, nor was I required or persuaded to write any specific type of review. The opinions and views expressed in this review are all my own.

Echelon Edge Grand Re-Opening Celebration

2013-06-13T15:30:00.001-06:00

Wednesday June 26th, 2013, Echelon Edge will be having it’s grand re-opening celebration. From 12pm to 8pm there will be an open house with scholarships, prizes, food and entertainment.

Stay Connected During Summer

2013-06-13T12:11:00.001-06:00

With the Summer months here, the last thing most of us want to do is be home in our house. There is so much to do outside that most of our time is spent outside exploring and enjoying Utah!

That is also true for me! During the Summer months, you are not going to see as many posts from me on the blog; instead, you will see increased activity on my social media sites. It is the easiest way for me to pass along events and fun things to do while I am out and about exploring and having fun. I will still be posting on the blog, but most of the things I find out about will either be posted to our calendar, or to my social media sites.

Make sure you are connected to us via social media so that you don’t miss out on anything fun! Here is where you can find us and connect with us the most during the next few months of Summer:

Zooby-Doo Date Night

2013-06-13T11:55:00.001-06:00

The BYU Museum of Peoples and Cultures (MPC) is proud to announce a brand new mystery date night! The MPC invites couples to celebrate our most exciting date night yet on Friday, June 22^nd at 6:00 p.m.

“This is our newest and coolest date night,” Samantha Gilbert, promotions manager at the MPC, said. “Zooby-Doo offers a unique “Scooby-Doo” themed mystery night that will be fun for everyone.”

Zooby-Doo offers fun prizes, mystery solving, and delicious food. Couples will have the chance to race around Provo in teams as they look for clues, interview suspects and catch the culprit. New friends, an adventure and a fantastic dinner will all be included in this exciting night of fun!

“We are really excited about adding this to our list of date nights,” Gilbert said. “We anticipate much success at Zooby-Doo because it is our biggest date night ever.”

Tickets for Zooby-Doo are $26 a couple and will be available for purchase at the WSC information desk beginning Monday, June 17th. Tickets must be purchased before the event as no tickets will be sold at the door.

The MPC hosts events to serve the academic mission of BYU and care for anthropological, archaeological, and ethnographic collections in the custody of the University. Educating visitors through thrilling events allows the MPC to branch out in creative ways that benefit the BYU community.

For more information, visit Facebook.com/byu.mpc or mpc.byu.edu. The MPC is located at 100 E. 700 N. in Provo, Utah.

Summer Celebration: Be Your Own Superhero!

2013-06-12T21:38:00.001-06:00

Neighborhood House’s Summer Celebration—Be Your Own Superhero!

On Thursday, June 13^th, the gates of Neighborhood House will open to the community for its annual Summer Celebration. We will celebrate our 119^th year anniversary of providing quality, affordable care by transforming our property into a festival with:

live entertainment
kids’ games and activities
carnival food
art and crafts
community resource tables
raffles, and more!

There will also be a variety of aging-friendly activities for adult caregivers and their loved ones.

Concurrently we are celebrating our 35^th year of providing adult day services. This is especially significant as it is also the 35^th year adult day services have existed nationally. “We are honored to have been operating for 119 years as a non-profit daycare and 35 years as an adult day center”, said Jennifer Nuttall. “As you may know, about 2/3rds of our operating costs are covered externally, either by public and private grants, or donations from the community. This statistic speaks volumes about the commitment of the Salt Lake City community to help individuals in need. Summer Celebration is our way of giving back”.

Activities will run from 5 PM to 7 PM at our downtown facility which is located at 1050 W 500 S in Salt Lake. All activities, resources, and entertainment will be provided free of cost. This Summer Celebration is superhero themed, so don’t forget your capes and costumes!

Neighborhood House is a 501(c)3 charity that provides quality, affordable day care for children and adults, based on ability to pay. For 118 years, the services of Neighborhood House help families address the care, education and social needs of loved ones. Neighborhood House is the state’s oldest and largest nonprofit provider of care services; over 400 individuals are directly served by on an annual basis by way of a the sliding fee scale.

2013 Outdoor Summer Concerts at the Ogden Nature Center

2013-06-10T09:22:00.001-06:00

Outdoor concerts at the Ogden Nature Center combine gorgeous sunsets and an unrivaled outdoor setting with lively, fresh musicians! Held in the glen behind the Ogden Nature Center’s rustic Visitor Center, these summer evenings will find you lounging on a picnic blanket with toes in the grass, tapping away to great live music. Bring your family and friends, a picnic dinner, drinks, low-rise chairs or a blanket, and enjoy two fabulous summer nights at the Ogden Nature Center.

Kristin Andreassen -- Thursday, June 20 at 7 pm, gates open at 6 pm

Listen at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCed-z1XuDo
Kristin Andreassen is an award-winning songwriter and composer whose music is influenced by American traditional music, including the old time string band tunes. Kristin has toured throughout North America, Australia & Europe with her string band Uncle Earl and with her “folk noir” trio Sometymes Why. Kristin is originally from Portland, Oregon and now lives in Brooklyn, New York.

Todo Mundo -- Thursday, August 1 at 7 pm, gates open at 6 pm

Listen at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EApYXJND-Jc
Todo Mundo (“All the World”), whose Organic Fire was voted “Best World Music Album” at the 2011 San Diego Music Awards, blends the musical flavors of Rumba, Reggae, Samba, Gypsy, and other South American and Caribbean rhythms into an irresistible groove. The band is known for their high energy performances, which are led by singer and guitarist Santiago Orozco, a native of Colombia, and vocalist Governor Tiggy, from Jamaica.

Tickets:
$20 for adults
$12 for children (12 and under)

Tickets may be purchased online at www.ogdennaturecenter.org by phone at 801-621-7595 or in person at the Ogden Nature Center, 966 W. 12th Street, Ogden.

Pre-packed picnic dinners to enjoy at the concerts may also be ordered when you purchase concert tickets online or by phone. The boxed dinners will be prepared by Union Grill and must be reserved by Tuesday, June 18th for Kristin Andreasson and by Tuesday, July 30th for Todo Mundo.

Choices are:
Vegetarian Pasta Salad with Homemade Focaccia Bread for 2 - $15
Fruit, Cheese, and Crackers for 2 - $15
Seating is general admission on the lawn. Low-rise chairs, picnics, beverages and blankets are all welcome. The concert will be held rain or shine and tickets are nonrefundable.

Special thanks to the following organizations for making the Ogden Nature Center Summer Concerts possible:
Weber County RAMP
Mary Evans
Joan Evans Ahlf
Only In Ogden
The Standard Examiner
Golden Beverage
Summit Hotel & Conference Center

Utah Fathers Day Events 2013

2013-06-10T08:39:00.001-06:00

Below is a calendar of events going on between now and Father's Day. Show dad you love him by spending quality time with him doing something fun! (For a complete calendar listing, go to our Calendar Page.)

Fun Ideas Dad Would Love:

REVIEW AND GIVEAWAY: Easy Vacation Planning using the OneNote Travel Notebook

2013-06-10T07:00:00.000-06:00

This year when planning my Summer vacations, I have been using a new tool from Microsoft Office 365 called the OneNote Travel Notebook. It’s a FREE vacation planning tool that was designed by Microsoft in partnership with Travel + Leisure magazine, where you can organize all of your thoughts, ideas, itinerary, packing list, To Do list, etc., and collaborate with other users to create the perfect vacation.

The best thing about the OneNote Travel Notebook is that it’s stored on a SkyDrive, and can be accessed anywhere, including your mobile device! I have an android phone, and downloaded the OneNote app to access my vacation planning notebook on the go.

Download the OneNote Travel Notebook for free.

HOW TO USE THE OneNote Travel Notebook:

Planning Your Trip:

When you open the OneNote Travel Notebook, it has tabs at the top to help you get started, and you can add pages within the tabs to help keep everything organized. The template is already premade to help you get started on everything you need to plan your vacation. The tabs prompt you on all of your vacation planning needs, such as Top 10 places to travel, a research tab for hotels, a schedule tab to plan your trip itinerary, a reserve tab for booking flights as well as keeping track of confirmation numbers, a budget tab, packing list, reminder tab, a journal tab, photo tab and more.
Share the Notebook with family and friends who are involved in the trip so they can add ideas, flight information, etc. You can even share with others who have traveled to that place so they can add ideas on where to go, what to see, best places to eat, and best hotels to stay in.

During Your Trip:

Access all of your notes and itinerary schedule during your trip from your mobile device. No more carrying around multiple pieces of paper; using the SkyDrive, everything you need is on your mobile device.
Add notes, photos and audio/video notes to the Journal section for referencing and sharing your trip with others when you return home. (This is especially helpful for bloggers that write about their travels when they return home!)

After Your Trip:

All of your photos, notes, videos and audio notes are organized in one central location, which makes it easy to print a photo book about your trip, put together a slide show, print photos and other “after trip” tasks.
Because everybody on the trip was also using the OneNote Travel Notebook during your trip, all of the photos, notes, etc. are in one central location. Print a photo book or create a slideshow about your trip to share with others. No more emailing everybody after the trip to remind them to email you their pictures!

My vacation planned using the OneNote Travel Notebook:

I am the Camp Director for a young women’s group in our area, and the OneNote Travel Notebook was perfect for planning this week-long trip.

On my Research tab, I created a Pinterest ideas board. Instead of having to continuously log in to my Pinterest account, I created a snip of the image from Pinterest, added it to my OneNote Travel Notebook, and linked to the correct URL from there. That way, all of my ideas were in one place, instead of having to look through many other ideas to get to the ones I need.

I was also able to create my To Do list, shopping list, menu plans, transportation schedule and divide responsibilities between all those that are in charge. It was convenient to be able to pull up the To Buy list on my mobile device while I was at the grocery store.

Another important tab I created was Meeting Notes. There is where I compiled a list of what to go over at the next meeting, make notes during the meeting (including audio and video notes), and a checklist of what To Do before the next meeting.

My favorite things about the OneNote Travel Notebook:

There is no predetermined space for typing. Click anywhere in the notebook, and add a note, picture, audio clip or anything to that space
It’s available anywhere using the SkyDrive. I love that I can create To Do lists, packing lists, research on hotels, and book flights on my home computer, then access it on my mobile device when I am at the grocery store picking up travel items.
Collaborating with others is easy. I share it with everybody involved in the trip, and they can access it and add notes and other items to the Notebook.
You can insert Microsoft Word, Excel and other files directly to the Notebook, and access them easily with one click. Instead of searching around on my computer for the files I need, it’s all in one convenient place that I can access from anywhere.
There is no clicking on “save” to save all of your information. It is saved automatically using the SkyDrive, so if you forget to save it or your computer shuts down, your information isn’t lost.
When you insert a photo or screenshot, you can create a link from that image to direct you where to find more information.
You are not limited to the template given. You can create additional tabs and pages within the tabs to customize it according to your specific trip.
Everything is all in one place, including photos and notes during your trip.

There are other OneNote Notebooks available for download as well, such as Wedding, DIY, Recipe and Student. You can check them all out HERE.

Read more about OneNote Notebooks. To see how OneNote works and how it can be used in conjunction with other Office applications, watch a short video.

This is a sponsored post from One2One Network and Microsoft Office 365. All opinions are my own.

GIVEAWAY: One year subscription to Office 365 Home Premium

One lucky Enjoy Utah reader will be chosen at random to receive a one year subscription to Office 365 Home Premium ($99.99 value). You must have access to a computer with Windows 7 or 8 to be able to download Office 365.

Use the entry form below to enter.

Go online to purchase the Office 365 Home Premium.

Office 365 Home Premium Includes

The latest and most complete set of Office applications: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Outlook, Publisher and Access
One license for the entire household to use Office on up to five devices, including Windows tablets, PCs or Macs, and get Office on Demand from any Internet-connected PC
An additional 20 GB of SkyDrive cloud storage, nearly three times the amount available with a free SkyDrive account
60 free Skype world calling minutes per month to call mobile phones, landlines or PCs around the world
Future upgrades, so you always use the latest time-saving technology
Fast, fluid design that responds to touch and stylus as naturally as it does to keyboard and mouse
Automatic save to SkyDrive, so your documents — and even your personal settings — are always available from virtually anywhere and on your favorite devices

Top 10 Features

If you are reading, not writing or editing, click or tap View, then Read Mode in Word to hide the writing tools and menus.
Re-open a document or presentation, and keep reading right where you left off with Resume reading in Word and PowerPoint.
Like a data assistant that finishes your work for you, Flash Fill in Excel detects what you want to do and enters the rest of your data in one fell swoop, following patterns in your data.
Dress up your data with conditional formatting such as bars and color scales through the Quick Analysis Lens in Excel.
Tired of trying to precisely match the colors of shapes and pictures in PowerPoint? Let Eyedropper in PowerPoint do the work for you.
With an improved Presenter View in PowerPoint, the audience views your slides on a main screen, while you control the show on another screen that only you can see.
Inline replies in Outlook allow you to reply with one click by typing your response right in the Reading Pane.
Grab a quick glance at your schedule, an appointment or your to-do list with peeks in Outlook, without having to switch from email to calendar or other modes.
If the sound of typing is distracting, you can handwrite notes in OneNote instead of typing them. This is also useful if you’re faster at writing than at typing.
Instead of re-typing information or relying on links to documents, feel free to embed files in OneNote to keep them handy online or offline.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Utah Outdoor Summer Concerts – 2013

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Deer Valley Summer concerts are a popular Summer activity

Below is a list of outdoor summer concerts in Utah. Please check with the organizer for exact and complete details on fees and conditions.

If you know of a place we have forgot, please email us at contact@enjoyutah.org or leave a comment on this post.

Check back often! This list will grow over the summer as we hear of more places doing outdoor summer concerts.

Salt Lake County
Much of this list came from Marsha Maxwell with About SLC. Thanks!

Utah County

Thanksgiving Point Concert Series $

Wasatch/Summit County

Davis County

Weber County

Ogden Nature Center

Tooele County

Coming soon! If you know of one, please leave a comment on this blog or email us at contact@enjoyutah.org. Thanks!

Washington County

Coming soon! If you know of one, please leave a comment on this blog or email us at contact@enjoyutah.org. Thanks!

More to come! If you know of one we have forgot, please email us at contact@enjoyutah.org.

Utah Outdoor Summer Movies 2013

2013-06-07T13:39:00.001-06:00

Below is a list of outdoor summer movies happening in Utah. In most cases, the movie is free, but please check with the organization in charge of the event to verify fees.

If you know of a park/place we have forgot, please leave a comment on this post, or email us at contact@enjoyutah.org and we will get it added.

Salt Lake County

Redwood Drive-In
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off – Snowbird (June 7)
Beetlejuice – Liberty Park (June 7)
Bend It Like Beckham – Canyon Rim Park (June 7)
Drop Dead Fred – Eastwood Elementary (June 14)
Life of Pi – Hidden Valley Park (June 14)
Groundhog Day – Snowbird (June 14)
The Lorax – Pleasant Green Park (June 14)
Enchanted - Antczak Park (June 14)
The Little Rascals – Lindsey Gardens (June 14)
NeverEnding Story – Evergreen Park (June 21)
Troop Beverly Hills – Jordan Park (June 21)
Despicable Me – Snowbird (June 21)
Hugo – Big Cottonwood Park (June 28)
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory – Snowbird (June 28)
Hotel Transylvania – Pleasant Green Park (June 28)
Willie Wonka – Reservoir Park (June 28)
Puss In Boots – Buttercup Park (June 28)
Batman 1966 – Canyon Rim Park (July 5)
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone – Snowbird (July 5)
Men In Black 3 – Pleasant Green Park (July 5)
Hook – Riverside Park (July 5)
Labyrinth – Fairmont Park (July 12)
Cool Runnings – Snowbird (July 12)
Hotel Transylvania - Mill Hollow Park (July 12)
Rise Of The Guardians – Pleasant Green Park (July 12)
Secondhand Lions – Willow Creek Park (July 12)
The Amazing Spiderman – Utah State Capitol (July 12)
Ice Age: Continental Drift – Eastwood Elementary (July 12)
Goonies – Evergreen Park (July 19)
Up – Snowbird (July 19)
A League Of Their Own – Wasatch Hollow (July 19)
Here Comes The Boom – Pleasant Green Park (July 19)
Brave – Highpoint Park (July 26)
Mrs. Doubtfire – Snowbird (July 26)
Wreck It Ralph – Pleasant Green Park (July 26)
Wreck It Ralph – Utah State Capitol (July 26)
Toy Story 2 – Big Cottonwood Park (July 26)
Best Exotic Marigold Hotel – Canyon Rim Park (August 2)
Where The Wild Things Are – Snowbird (August 2)
Pioneer Park Picture Show (movie TBA) – Pioneer Park (August 2)
The Avengers – Pleasant Green Park (August 2)
World’s Fastest Indian – Utah State Capitol (August 9)
How To Train Your Dragon – Snowbird (August 9)
Madagascar 3 – Bywater Park (August 9)
Pioneer Park Picture Show (movie TBA) – Pioneer Park (August 9)
Indiana Jones Series – Pleasant Green Park (August 9)
PeeWee’s Big Adventure – Evergreen Park (August 9)
Radio – Bicentennial Park (August 16)
Ghostbusters – Snowbird (August 16)
Pioneer Park Picture Show (movie TBA) – Pioneer Park (August 16)
American Graffiti – Big Cottonwood Park (August 16)
Hotel Transylvania – Utah State Capitol – (August 23)
Enchanted – Canyon Rim Park (August 23)
Pioneer Park Picture Show (movie TBA) – Pioneer Park (August 2e)
Oz The Great and Powerful – Magna Copper Park (August 23)
The Lorax – Eastwood Elementary (August 30)
Hotel Transylvania – Eastridge Park (August 30)
Silent Movie Festival – Sandy Amphitheater (September 11)
Wreck It Ralph – Falcon Park (September 20)

Weber County

Movie TBA – Riverdale Park (July 3)

Davis County

The Muppets – Founders Park (June 14)
Rise Of The Guardians – Kaysville Heritage Park (June 15)
Rise Of The Guardians – Founders Park (June 21)
Thunderstruck – Founders Park (June 28)
Brave – Founders Park (July 19)
Brave – Kaysville Heritage Park (July 20)
Wreck It Ralph – Founders Park (July 26)
Dolphin Tale – Founders Park (August 2)
Hotel Transylvania – Founders Park (August 9)
Escape From Planet Earth – Founders Park (August 16)
Shrek Forever After – Kaysville Heritage Park (August 17)
Hotel Transylvania – Kaysville Heritage Park (September 21)

Tooele County

Erda Drive-In Theater
Movie TBA – Tooele City Park (July 2)

Utah County

Little Rascals - Rock Canyon Park (August 5)
Princess Diaries - Rock Canyon Park (August 12)
Newsies - Rock Canyon Park (August 19)
Oz, The Great and Powerful - Rock Canyon Park (August 26)

Washington County

COMING SOON!

MORE COUNTIES AND MOVIES TO COME! Check back later!

If you know of a park/place we have forgot, please leave a comment on this post, or email us at contact@enjoyutah.org and we will get it added.

Heber Valley Pow Wow Returns for Ninth Year

2013-06-07T09:23:00.001-06:00

Top Native American Dancers, Drummers and Singers to Compete at Soldier Hollow
Photo credit: Erika Haight Event Photographer

MIDWAY, UTAH (June 6, 2013) — The Soldier Hollow Legacy Foundation will host a three-day powwow in Utah June 14-16. The Heber Valley Pow Wow allows top dancers, drummers and singers, primarily from the Western United States, to compete for nearly $10,000 in cash prizes.

The annual Pow Wow, which also includes a Mountain Man Rendezvous, gets underway Friday, June 14, at 5 p.m. and continues Saturday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. until the winners are announced at 4 p.m.

Unique to the Heber Valley Pow Wow and Mountain Man Rendezvous are special demonstration sessions where Native American dancers and singers demonstrate dancing and drumming, and Mountain Men demonstrate fire starting, all with explanations of the traditions and meanings of these activities. The powwow also provides Native American families the opportunity to conduct appropriate ceremonies and share their experiences.

Admission starts at $7, and family passes are available for $20.

For more information, visit www.heberpw.com.

Photo credit for all photos in this post: Erika Haight Event Photographer

Z’Tejas Southwestern Grill Celebrates Father’s Day

2013-06-06T15:25:00.001-06:00

Z'TEJAS SOUTHWESTERN GRILL CELEBRATES FATHER'S DAY WITH GIFT FOR DADS

SALT LAKE CITY (June 5, 2013) - Z'Tejas, Salt Lake City's southwestern grill, celebrates Father's Day with a special gift for dads. Families that celebrate Dad by dining at Z'Tejas on Father's Day, Sunday, June 16, will receive a $25 gift card for Dad to use at a future visit.

Z'Tejas is a favorite downtown dining destination for fresh, innovative food and quality service at a good price. The restaurant offers weekend brunch featuring hand-mixed drinks and delicious dishes, including:

SCRAMBLED EGGS & JALAPEÑO BACON STUFFED RELLENO - Grilled poblano pepper stuffed with scrambled eggs and jalapeño bacon, topped with Cotija cream sauce, served with hot tortillas and puréed black beans.

HUEVOS DIVORCIADOS - Eggs cooked any style atop crispy corn tortillas with ranchero and spicy tomatillo sauces, served with breakfast potatoes.

BLOODY MARY STYLE - Poached eggs on top of cornbread with chorizo and chipotle hollandaise, served with fried spinach and breakfast potatoes.

STUFFED FRENCH TOAST - Crunchy Texas French toast stuffed with raspberry cream cheese on a bed of warm prickly pear syrup, topped with whipped cream.

The fine print: Limit one $25 gift card per dad. $25 gift card expires July 31, 2013. Must purchase two entrees to qualify.

What: Z'Tejas celebrates Father's Day: dads will receive a $25 gift card for a future visit when the family celebrates Dad on Father's Day.

When: Sunday, June 16

Where: Z'Tejas Southwestern Grill
Gateway Mall
191 South Rio Grande Street

801-456-0450

Archeology Field Day at Camp Floyd State Park

2013-06-06T15:18:00.001-06:00

Camp Floyd’s first Archeology Field Day is designed to allow visitors the opportunity to learn more about the archeological digs performed at Camp Floyd by Brigham Young University from 1982 to 1993. Most of the artifacts in Camp Floyd’s collection were discovered in these excavations.

Participate in a mock archeological dig, etch your own petroglyph, view Camp Floyd artifacts which are usually in storage, make adobe bricks, participate in a scavenger hunt, and more! Archaeology day will be June 15, 2013, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. All activities will be continuous during that time. A re-enactor will tell the story of Camp Floyd at 11 a.m. and 1p.m. These activities also fulfill requirements 8c and 9b of the Archeology Merit Badge for Boy Scouts. All activities outside the museums are free of charge. Standard museum entrance fees of $2 per person or $6 per family still apply. Food concession will be available to purchase at the event.

Established in 1858, Camp Floyd housed the largest concentration of U.S. troops then in the United State. The army was sent to Utah to suppress a rumored Mormon rebellion which never took place. The army was recalled back east in 1861 for the Civil War. Today, the park museum houses artifacts and exhibits from this historic event.

Camp Floyd State Park is located in the town of Fairfield, 22 miles southwest of Lehi on State Highway 73. For more information about the event or park, please contact the park at 801-768-8932.

REVIEW, GIVEAWAY, AND PRINTABLE: Night At The Wax Museum at The Empress Theatre

2013-06-02T15:15:00.001-06:00

Last night we were excited to attend a production of Night At The Wax Museum at The Empress Theatre. We saw this on the 2013 schedule last December when we went to see The Christmas Box, and have been looking forward to seeing it ever since. We were not disappointed! A huge thanks to The Empress Theatre for inviting us back to review another fantastic show!

This was the perfect “end-of-school-year” activity to do with my kids. They are seven and nine years old, and their last day of school is Thursday. Seeing Night At The Wax Museum peaked their interest about historical figures, and motivated them to learn more about these characters over summer vacation. My daughter just learned about Ancient Egypt in school, and was excited when they talked about Cleopatra’s canopic jars. We are adding this research project to our Summer To Do List.

The story is about a group of kids who fail history class, and to make up for it, they have to work at a museum over the summer. They are less than excited about doing so, and have no idea what’s in store for them at the museum.

After reading an inscription on Cleopatra’s bracelet, the wax figures are brought to life and cause chaos throughout the museum for all those involved. Historical figures on the hunt for a secret treasure, a rekindled high school flame, greedy landlords and a group of ladies determined to bring interest to history are just some of the events that unfold during Night At The Wax Museum.

“Take history and mix it all together in a place where it has no business being, the present,” said Michele Brown, director of Night At The Wax Museum. “It’s historical entropy brought to light in a way that can only result in laughter and surprise.”

Families of all ages will enjoy this production, and walk away with peaked interest in learning about history and the characters that shaped the world we know today.

“The show is to be enjoyed by all ages,” Brown said. “So please, take your adult hats off and put back on your child hats. Let yourself go, and get caught up in the silliness.”

Night At The Wax Museum is the first full length play directed by Michele Brown. It was written last year by Craig Sodaro, writer of over 150 plays. Unlike many other shows at The Empress, Night At The Wax Museum is not a musical.

My son, of course, loved the pirates. Blackbeard, played by Marcus Rood, was loud and commanding; exactly as we imagine Blackbeard himself was in his prime pirating days. Rood also played a pirate at The Empress Theatre in Pirates Of Penzance in 2007.

My daughter loved Calamity Jane, played by Sheridan Walk, and wants to learn more about her over the summer break. She just got a pair of cowgirl boots a few days before seeing Night At The Wax Museum, and even wore them to the show. Walk was also seen in the ensemble of Big The Musical, and Night At The Wax Museum is her first straight play.

Night At The Wax Museum is playing at The Empress Theatre on Mondays, Fridays and Saturdays until June 22, 2013. Tickets can be purchased online, or at The Empress Theatre box office in Magna, UT.

SPECIAL EVENT: Come dressed as your favorite historical character to "Night at the Wax Museum" on Mon June 3 and get in for just $8!! And be eligible to win comp tickets to an upcoming show!! Don't miss the fun :)

WIN a pair of tickets to see Night At The Wax Museum at The Empress Theatre

The Empress Theatre has provided a pair of tickets for one lucky Enjoy Utah reader! Enter below, and don’t forget to refer your family and friends! This giveaway ends on Friday June 7th 2013 at 11am, so make sure to enter now!

How to enter:

You must “like” The Empress Theatre on Facebook to be entered into this drawing.
Other extra entries are as below.
Deadline to enter is Friday June 7, 2013 at noon.
Winner has 24 hours to respond to email and claim their prize. If winner does not respond within 24 hours, another winner will be chosen.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Summer History Project:

Start Summer break by attending a production of Night At The Wax Museum at The Empress Theatre, which will get your kids excited about a summer-long history project. They will enjoy learning about the exciting historical figures they see come to life in Night At The Wax Museum.

Use our FREE Historical Figures printable to hang on your fridge and keep track of your research. Go to your local library to check out books, or scour the internet for fun projects. Click on image above to print

I was provided two tickets to attend Night At The Wax Museum at The Empress Theatre. I was not compensated for my review, nor was I required or persuaded to write any specific type of review. The opinions and views expressed in this review are all my own.

Utah High School Rodeo Association State Finals

2013-06-02T13:16:00.001-06:00

Utah High School Rodeo Association Hosts State Finals
June 12–15 at Wasatch County Rodeo Grounds

Top 4 Qualifiers in Each Event Compete for Spot on the National Team;

Utah’s Team Seeks Eighth National Title

Who: Utah High School Rodeo Association

What: The Utah High School Rodeo Association (UHSRA) will host state finals June 12-15 at the Wasatch County Rodeo Grounds.

State qualifiers in each event will compete at the state rodeo finals. The top four qualifiers in each event at the state finals will compete at High School National Finals in Rock Springs, Wyo. July 14 - 20

In addition to a week of rodeo competition, the UHSRA will recognize/support student athletes who have excelled in both the arena and the classroom by awarding scholarships to further their education into college.

This year, the UHSRA will sponsor a Special Needs rodeo on June 14 at 4 p.m. The rodeo will feature horse rides, baby animals, bull riding, barrel racing and roping events. Each of the contestants will receive a prize and will also participate in the Grand entry at the rodeo that evening.

When: June 12-15, 2013

Wednesday-Friday performances start at 10 a.m. and 7 p.m.

Special Needs Rodeo is Friday at 4 p.m.

Cow Cutting Championship Round is Saturday at 1 p.m.

Championship Performance Top 10 begins Saturday at 5 p.m.

Where: Wasatch County Rodeo Grounds, 590 South 600 West, Heber City, Utah 84032

For more information about the UHSRA, visit www.uhsra.org.

(Pictures obtained from www.uhsra.org)

Longest Day Event To Raise Funds For Alzheimer’s

2013-06-02T13:06:00.001-06:00

On Friday, June 21, the Alzheimer’s Association Utah Chapter, invites everyone to honor those living with Alzheimer’s disease and take one day to make a difference.

The Longest Day®is an event scheduled to take place on the longest day of the year - the summer solstice - that offers 16 hours of daylight from sunrise to sunset. The Association chose that day in recognition of caregivers, who spend every day from sunrise to sunset and into the night providing care for someone they love who is living with Alzheimer’s.

Self-organized teams will unite in 16 hours of consecutive activity and commit to raising awareness and funds for the care, support and research efforts of the Alzheimer’s Association of Utah. Participants can swim, run, ride or walk. Organize a tennis, soccer, basketball or volleyball tournament. Art aficionados can plan a day of painting and pottery. Card sharks can host a rummy or bridge game. Last year, a team rocked in rockers on the porch of a restaurant for 16 hours.

Each team will complete in an activity of their choosing and are invited to register online at www.thelongestday.alz.org.

“The Longest Day offers us an opportunity to give up one day to raise money, awareness and an understanding of this disease,” said Jack Jenks, executive director Alzheimer’s Association Utah Chapter. “Teams will show people with Alzheimer’s and other dementias who are impacted by the disease that we’re all united in the cause.”

The Alzheimer's Association is the leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer's care, support and research. Its mission is to eliminate Alzheimer's disease through the advancement of research; to provide and enhance care and support for all affected; and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health. For more information, visit www.alz.org/utah

Far-Out Museums

2013-05-31T08:18:00.001-06:00

The Wasatch Front has some really fun museums. We aren't going to highlight the well-known Discovery Museum, the Leonardo, or the Museum of Ancient Life at Thanksgiving Point. This week we celebrate lesser-known, less flashy museums that deserve your time as well. At these museums, you'll find fabulous displays and lots and lots of history. To find out more about each museum, including directions and photos, click on the link!
Here are 7 of our favorites:
Benson Grist Mill (near Grantsville): We found this museum quite by accident. A five story mill, a water wheel, and a scavenger hunt for the kids are the highlights of this stop. As you drive out to the Firefighter's Museum (see below), plan a 45 minute stop at the gristmill, too. (Free)
The Firefighter's Museum (Grantsville): This may be the most underrated museum we've visited. We spent over an hour wandering among hundreds of old fire engines from all around Utah. During our visit, we didn't see a soul-- not even a museum worker! The machines are beautiful, and no one seems to know about this one. (Free)
Pioneer Memorial Museum (Salt Lake City): Run by the Daughter's of the Utah Pioneers, this museum has more pioneer artifacts than anywhere we've ever been. See Brigham Young's wagon and the original Eagle Gate monument inside. (Free)
Fort Douglas Museum (Salt Lake City): We were very impressed by this small museum. The displays inside are nice, but the helicopters and tanks from many periods in Utah's history were really fun for our kids. (Free)
LDS Church History Museum (Salt Lake City): The LDS History Museum holds some amazing artifacts from Utah's history. A lifesize statue of the Angel Moroni, Brigham Young's sunglasses, and the death masks of Joseph and Hyrum Smith were a few of our favorites.
Hill Aerospace Museum (Ogden): This museum reminds me a lot of the Firefighter's museum, but instead of fire engines, you will be looking at massive airplanes. If you have boys that like machines, this is a must visit museum. Of the museums mentioned here, this is the most interactive and busiest. (Free)
BYU Museum of Paleontology (Provo): This museum is small, but it has some amazing fossil exhibits like a T-rex head, triceratops head, and a giant sloth. Our boys love that there are lots of things to touch, which isn't always the case at museums. (Free) For other museum reviews, go to Utah Valley Family Adventures, or take this direct link to our Museum tab.
*Though all of our featured museums are "Free," all gladly accept donations when you attend!

MYSTERY SOLVED! Baby Big Foot or Darth Vader at Accident Scene?

2013-05-30T08:31:00.001-06:00

Yesterday we posted about a video that was circulating around Facebook and other social media outlets. What appears to be a small animal or “robot” of some kind was captured by local television station KSL at an auto accident scene.

We contacted KSL, and they too saw the interesting “creature” in the video. They had their news anchor that was at the scene take a look at it, and discovered the true identity of this “creature”.

Trust me when I say this, that you are not going to want to know the answer to what it really is. It is definitely a lot more fun believing a Baby Bigfoot or small Darth Vader was captured on television. Kind of like learning the truth about the tooth fairy; it’s a lot more fun and magical to believe than to know the truth. That is why I waited until today to reveal the answer. I wanted to give you at least one magical night believing that something mysterious was captured on camera on Utah.

Here is the answer KSL sent to us:

“Well, the mystery has been solved. Our news anchor Sandra studied the footage and said it is a firefighter going down the hill. That Darth Vader look is actually his helmet. –Susan”

If you look close enough, you can see that it’s a firefighter with a helmet on sitting on the hill, with his/her back turned towards us, looking down. You can even see writing on the back of the jacket.

In the photo to the right, you can see firefighters with their backs turned towards us. Notice the yellow writing on the back of their jackets. You can see that in the picture above of “the creature”.

Well, another mystery solved. Like I said, the magic goes away once you find out what it really is. It’s a lot more fun believing than knowing!

Do you have a mystery that is unique to Utah? Email us at contact@enjoyutah.org and we would love to write about it!

Read about more of Utah’s Mysteries and Urban Legends.

Rock Collecting in Utah’s West Desert

2013-05-29T19:08:00.001-06:00

A few weeks ago we explored Utah’s West desert, and traveled along the historic Pony Express Trail. (You can read more about that adventure and how to get out there HERE, as this post is going to be dedicated to the rock treasures we found in that same area.)

On that adventure, we weren’t feeling brave enough to venture any further than Simpson Springs, so we went back on Memorial Day to attempt the adventure beyond Simpson Springs, and to the Dugway Geode Beds. We took along a rock expert who showed us the best places for rock collecting, and to show us what we were looking for.

What to bring on your Rock Collecting Adventure:

Rock hammer
Safety goggles
Small bucket for collecting rocks
Larger bucket to store rocks in
Shovel and/or pick
Sunscreen, hats and other protectors from the sun. This is desert area, and it gets super hot!
Signed waiver if you plan to collect geodes in the rock quarry at the Dugway Geode Beds. You can contact The Bug House at (435) 864-2402 or email bughouse@xmission.com. There are places to collect geodes without obtaining permission, but the best spot is in the rock quarry.
Make sure your vehicle is ready for the trip, and you have enough provisions such as food and water. Read our tips on our West Desert post.

Wonderstones

Wonderstones are colorful rocks that are found in many places, including Utah’s West desert. The best place to find wonderstones in their natural state are near Vernon. They are beautiful volcanic rocks consisting of volcanic glass particles that have been welded or stuck together by heat, creating beautiful colors and shapes.

“Tumbled” Wonderstones

Many rock collectors like to polish and shine the rocks they find. Because of the material that wonderstones are made up of, if you try to polish them or rub them together, they crumble under the pressure.That is where “tumbled” wonderstones come in. Millions of years ago in Lake Bonneville, wonderstones were “tumbled” in the pressure of the Lake, and became polished and shined. Tumbled Wonderstones are smooth and polished, which is a rare site to see. One of the only places on Earth to find naturally tumbled Wonderstones is in Utah’s West desert. Before you reach Simpson Springs, you will find a rock quarry full of naturally tumbled and polished wonderstones.

Geodes

Geodes are certainly a treasure to find. Breaking open a geode and finding sparkling, shining crystals is fun at any age! One of the best places to find geodes is at the Dugway Geode Beds. It is about 25 miles West of the Simpson Springs Pony Express Station. Follow the sign, and you can’t miss it.

Geodes are rocks that volcanic gas gets trapped inside and forms crystals and hollow cavities. You will want to look for round rocks that aren’t very heavy. The best geodes are going to have bubble-like formations on the outside. This is how you can tell there are hollow, crystal-filled cavities inside.

If you find a rock that you think might be a good geode, break it open with your rock hammer to find out what’s inside. Make sure you are wearing your safety goggles, and that you are a safe distance from others; rock fragments will go flying in the air.

The rock expert we went with took us to a place where some of the best geodes are found. You do need permission before going, so make sure to do that ahead of time, as you will need a signed waiver.

There are plenty of places at the Dugway Geode Beds to look around and find geodes without permission, so you could also do that if you choose to do so.

Native American Artifacts

This area was full of ancient civilizations and Native American tribes. This is also the route the Pony Express riders traveled.

Please be advised that if you DO find any ancient artifacts, please leave them where they are. It is a federal offense to remove historical artifacts from this area.

Utah Mystery: Baby Bigfoot / Darth Vader at Accident Scene?!

2013-05-29T13:47:00.001-06:00

There was a lot of speculation and wondering among many social media platforms today. What was this mysterious “creature” caught on tape by local news station, KSL?!

Over the weekend, a handful of people died in horrible Memorial weekend accidents. The Utah Highway Patrol refers to the time period between Memorial weekend and Labor Day weekend the “100 deadliest days” because of the numbers of deaths on Utah roads.

KSL was in Eagle Mountain reporting on one of those accidents, and caught what appears to be what people are calling “Baby Bigfoot”, or “Darth Vader”, on camera. Some even say it looks like a monkey?

Go to the KSL website and watch the video. At about 40 seconds, Sgt. Spencer Cannon of the Utah County Sheriff’s office is speaking about the accident. Watch his right ear (your left), and when it goes to the next video clip at about 43 seconds, that is the part of the screen where the “creature” appears. It seems to realize it’s being filmed, and ducks quickly behind the bushes.

What do YOU think it is?! The mystery has been solved, but watch the video a few times and try to figure it out for yourself before going to our answer post to find out what it really is. It’s a lot more magical and fun to believe than to know!

All credit for coverage of the accident goes to KSL, and no copyright infringement is intended. Our hearts go out to the family of the victim and all those involved, and our intent is not to “make light” of a horrible accident, but to bring attention to a Utah Mystery or Urban Legend.

Mornings At The Museum

2013-05-24T11:12:00.001-06:00

Summer begins for BYU's Museum of Peoples and Cultures on Tuesday, June 4th, when it kicks off "Mornings @ the Museum"— a free program created to provide a fun and educational summer activity for families throughout Utah Valley.

The one-hour program designed for children ages 5-12, accompanied by an adult, consists of educational stories and hands-on, take-home activities. Three rotating themes will be presented each week during the summer: Ancient Egypt, Masks from Around the World, and Clothes.

"This is our seventh year conducting the program," said Kari Nelson, Curator of Education at the MPC. "It’s always popular with both parents and children and we have a lot of fun doing it."

Mornings @ the Museum have been chosen this summer to highlight the museum’s current exhibits: Mexican Masks: Concealing Faces, Revealing Expressions and Entwined: A Vibrant Heritage of the Modern Maya.

"Mornings @ the Museum" will be offered Tuesdays and Thursdays at 11 a.m. from June 4th until August 1st. Space is limited, so call the MPC's Education Office at 801.422.0022 to make a reservation. Reservations are required.

The MPC hosts educational events to serve the academic mission of BYU by training students to teach about and care for anthropological and archaeological collections in the custody of the University. Educating visitors through thrilling events allows the MPC to branch out in creative ways that benefit the BYU community.

For more information, visit Facebook.com/byu.mpc or mpc.byu.edu. The museum is located at 100 E. 700 N. in Provo, Utah.

FREE Skin Cancer Screenings

2013-05-24T10:05:00.001-06:00

The University of Utah South Jordan Health Center is having another free event, and this time it’s FREE Skin Cancer Screenings. This is recommended for ages 50 and older, and you must reserve your spot to attend. Information below:

Summer Fun in Utah!

2013-05-23T17:12:00.001-06:00

Looking for something FUN to do this summer? Below is a listing of many summer fun activities to keep your kids busy! Check back often, as this list is sure to grow weekly!

If you know of something that we may have missed, email us at contact@enjoyutah.org

Enjoy Utah FREE Android App
Download our FREE Android app to keep track of events and fun things to do while on the go! (Don’t worry, we haven’t forgot about our iPhone users. We are still looking at our options for building an iPhone app. Stay tuned!)

Summer Pinterest Board
Browse through our Pinterest board of all things Summer Fun!

Planning Your Summer Fun
By having a plan, you will look back on the summer with fun memories instead of "should have's".

Kids’ Summer Movie Clubs 2013
A list of the programs you want to make sure and take advantage of this summer!

Fun Ideas:

History Bingo
Have fun learning about these exciting historical figures, and keep track by printing this Historical Figures Bingo card. Kick off the project by seeing Night At The Wax Museum at The Empress Theatre.
Bake Cookies In Your Car
A fun and eye-opening project for a hot day.
Summer Bingo
Keep busy all summer long with this bingo sheet and resources of fun summer ideas!
Solar Powered S'mores
No need for a fire....these s'mores cook all by themselves wrapped in foil using the sun's hot rays!
Summer Reading Programs (2013 info coming soon!)
Summer vacation doesn't have to mean a break from learning. Encourage your kids to read with these summer reading programs.
Travel The World.....Through Your Mailbox
Kids love getting mail, and this is a great way to keep their writing skills up during summer vacation.
Utah Road Trip Scavenger Hunt
A scavenger hunt created by Utah Deal Diva to help you keep your kids busy on your next road trip!
Fun Road Trip Games and Ideas
Going on a road trip? I am a big supporter of NO electronics in the car, even on long road trips. There are SO many things for kids to be doing instead of zoning out with electronics, including having great discussions with their parents! Some of our best conversations with our kids have been when we have them "trapped" in the car! This website will give you lots of fun ideas, including activities, games, songs, travel puzzles, tools and templates, printables and free activity books to take with you on your road trip. You can even download the FREE Utah Kids Travel Passport booklet.
FREE Summer Road Trip Book
Download a free summer road trip book full of games and other activities to keep your kids busy on those long drives you have planned this summer.
101 Bits Of Summer Fun
A free downloadable book to keep your kids busy all summer long!
Alphabet Summer Book
This is one of the coolest ideas I have seen! It gives you a TON of ideas of things to do this Summer! It's a downloadable book from a local idea FULL of summer ideas for every letter of the alphabet.

Fun Places To Go:

Outdoor Summer Movies
Parks around Utah offer movies under the stars. Check out our list of parks and other places that are offering summer movies. Grab a blanket and a snack, and pack up the family for a night under the stars!

Outdoor Summer Concerts
Grab a picnic, a blanket and the family, and enjoy an outdoor summer concert. Many of these are free at a park.

Hiking
A list of favorite hikes from contributors and Randy and Natalie Ockey with Utah Valley Family Adventures. View their list of Favorite Hikes, and More Favorite Hikes.

Splash Pads
Splash pads are the new thing when it comes to keeping cool this summer. Here is our list of where to find splash pads in your area.

Utah State Parks “State of Adventure” Scavenger Hunt
Visit this summer, and earn points and prizes for completing certain tasks. Compete against other families in your neighborhood! Makes a great story for “What I Did Over Summer Vacation” when school starts back up in the Fall!

Geocaching
Learn all about Geocaching and how to get started with this guest post from Darcey with LiveLoveCache.

Biking Trails In Utah
The top five recommendations from local biker, Patrick Sisk, who is participating in the upcoming Tour de Cure.

Fairs and Festivals
Summer in Utah means a whole lot of fairs and festivals going on.

Farmers Markets
Many farmers markets in Utah are more than just selling local produce. Enjoy theme days, parades, crafts and more!

Enjoy Utah!'s Family Vacation Series
Are you at a loss for where to vacation this summer, and don't want to travel too far from home? Every Tuesday we post an idea of where to vacation in or close to Utah.

2013 LDS Pageants
Pageants are a fun way to get away for the weekend and also enjoy a play at the same time.

Summer Outdoor Movies (2013 info coming soon!)
Enjoy FREE movies at your local park, all summer long!

Summer Camps
Here is our list of summer day camps happening around the State.

Waterfall Hikes
There are many hikes in Utah that lead you to beautiful waterfalls.

Car Shows
Summer in Utah means car shows all over the state, mostly every weekend.