Need a laid-back adventure? There are plenty of places to visit
A child inspects a display at the Museum of Ancient Life during "Two Dollar Tuesdays" at Thanksgiving Point in Lehi, Tuesday, Aug. 3, 2010. Every Tuesday in August is "Two Dollar Tuesdays" at Thanksgiving Point. PATRICK SMITH/Daily Herald
Utah Hogle Zoo is one of the Salt Lake Connect Pass venues. Salt Lake Visitors Bureau
Tulips start to bloom during the The Tulip Festival at Thanksgiving Point in Lehi on Tuesday, April 26, 2011. The festival features over a quarter million bulbs throughout 15 different themed gardens. JAMES ROH/Daily Herald
FILE - This June 3, 2003 file photo shows the Kennecott mine in Bingham Canyon, Utah. The Utah Air Quality Board will decide whether to allow Kennecott Utah Copper to increase emissions so it can expand mining operations near Salt Lake City. Kennecott officials say they want to expand this mine to increase its life by almost 20 years. It is the deepest open pit copper mine in the world at nearly a mile deep. Critics say the air quality in Salt Lake County is already some of the worst in the nation and the increased emissions should not be allowed. (AP Photo/Douglas C. Pizac, File)
1107-36 017 GCS Bean Museum Bean Museum, new exhibit for Y News- Cececila Fielding. Contact Patty Jones. July 27, 2011 Photo by Jonathan Hardy/BYU © BYU Photo 2011 All Rights Reserved photo@byu.edu (801) 419-3438
The Living Planet Aquarium in Sandy has recently recieved three river otters. They are now on display at the aquarium. Ph: The Living Planet Aquarium
The Allosaurus is the state fossil of Utah, and can be found on display at the Natural History Museum of Utah at the Rio Tinto Center. The Past Worlds gallery takes visitors on a journey spanning 225 million years of Utah's history Stuart Ruckman/NHMU
A goat shows the pink of its tongue to passing attendees during National Agriculture Day on Saturday, March 17, 2012, at Farm Country at Thanksgiving Point in Lehi, Utah. Families enjoyed making homemade pancakes, navigating scavenger hunts and spinning their own wool bracelets. JORDAN STEAD / Daily Herald
Clark Planetarium debuts the new Cosmic Light Show: "Led Zeppelin" on Friday, April 15, 2011, at 8 p.m.
With warmer weather comes the greater possibility for injury. And that scenario hit our house this past weekend.
Six-year-old Grace broke her collarbone falling off the neighbor’s swing set. So that means no bike (which she learned to ride without training wheels that same day), scooter, soccer games, or, well, pretty much anything active for the next six weeks.
So where does that leave our adventuring? It was a question I wasn’t sure I had an answer to, but after just one full day of watching movies, I was bound and determined to find some faux activities that would get her out of the house while at the same time allowing her bone the security it needs to heal. Check out some of these suggestions if you find yourself with a child who needs patching up.
Watch and Learn …
Utah Adventurer periodically looks to museums as an adventure, such as the Springville Museum of Art, the Monte L. Bean Museum at Brigham Young University and Thanksgiving Point’s Museum of Ancient Life.
Museums provide a great outlet for exploring without inherent risks. It’s a great way to children’s minds and get them out of the house. Some other examples to check out are the Natural History Museum of Utah, which is newly opened at its gorgeous new facility on the University of Utah campus; a tour of the Kennecott Copper Mine, which for $5 charitable donation per car, you can drive up to the top of the pit — one of the largest holes on the planet and visible from space — and look down on the trucks hauling out the ore, plus tour the small museum documenting the history of the mine.
Or check out the Clark Planetarium at The Gateway in Salt Lake City, which offers movies, laser shows and a museum with interactive exhibits on astronomy and space in general.
Wild Kingdom …
Just because there’s no monkeying around when you have a broken bone, doesn’t mean you can’t experience it in a different way. Like, say, watching actual monkeys monkeying around.
Utahns can visit a zoo, several farms, an aquarium and a bird aviary. Check it out:
Utah’s Hogle Zoo: The zoo is scheduled to open its new Arctic exhibit, featuring sea otters, polar bears and penguins on June 1. The construction has blocked off a large area of the zoo, so it will be exciting to visit once it has become whole again. My kids are always excited to visit in the summer after the wintertime, because they know the giraffes, elephants and other warm-climate animals will be back on exhibit.
The Living Planet Aquarium: Give your kids a little marine-centered education in their land-locked upbringing at the Living Planet Aquarium. You’ll want to be sure to get this visit in soon. The aquarium is scheduled to close in October for a few months while it moves into a new facility, which will be just off the 12300 South exit of I-15. Check out the newest members of the family — the river otters.
Tracy Aviary: If your kids like birds, you absolutely must visit Tracy Aviary, which is on the west side of Liberty Park in downtown Salt Lake. Walk along paved paths and see lots of native birds and ducks, as well as flamingos, bald eagles and tropical birds. It’s a beautiful way to spend a hot summer day as well, because there is lots of shade.
Farm Country, Wheeler Farm, This Is The Place Heritage Park: While Utah still has a lot of agriculture, visiting a farm can still be a unique, and eye-opening experience for kids. Thanksgiving Point’s Farm Country has educational experiences, along with farm animals, such as cows, pigs, chickens and horses available to touch and watch, and even ride. Wheeler Farm has similar experiences. This Is The Place Heritage Park is kicking off Baby Animal Season today and Saturday. Kids can hold baby chicks, and pet other baby animals, like lambs, goats and pigs. This Is The Place is a low-key place where you can go as slow or fast as you want, and the little crafts available there are simple and fun. Perfect for a girl who only has use of one arm.
How Does Your Garden Grow?
Spring is a great time to take notice of Mother Nature. Tulips and daffodils are beginning to bloom, trees are starting to bud, and it’s time to start getting vegetable gardens planted. Thanksgiving Point’s Tulip Festival is April 13-28, or check out Nielson’s Grove Park, which is full of tulip gardens as well as a museum.
With her one arm, Grace will surely be thrilled to drop vegetable plants into holes in the ground, and pat the dirt gently around them. It only takes one hand to water them, and pull small weeds. We’re planning a trip to the local nursery to pick up tomatoes, peppers, melons and cucumbers to plant.
There’s plenty to do, big or small, loud or quiet, peaceful or energy-inducing. It’s just getting out there and doing it.
Online references:
• Springville Museum of Art: smofa.org
• Monte L. Bean Museum: mlbean.byu.edu
• Natural History Museum of Utah: nhmu.utah.edu
• Museum of Ancient Life: www.thanksgivingpoint.org
• Kennecott Copper Mine: www.kennecott.com
• Clark Planetarium: www.clarkplanetarium.org
• Utah’s Hogle Zoo: www.hoglezoo.org
• The Living Planet Aquarium: www.thelivingplanet.org
• Tracy Aviary: www.tracyaviary.org
• Farm Country: www.thanksgivingpoint.org
• Wheeler Farm: www.wheelerfarm.com
• This Is The Place Heritage Park: www.thisistheplace.org
• Tulip Festival: www.thanksgivingpoint.org
• Nielson’s Grove Park: rec.orem.org