By Jane Quansah and Elliot Grow
BYU students sometime complain about there being nothing to do, and with good weather and long summer days, that’s the last thing anyone would want. Luckily, there are plenty of fun things to do in Provo and surrounding areas this summer.
Thanksgiving Point
3003 N. Thanksgiving Way, Lehi
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Thanksgiving Point is a source of entertainment as well as a relaxing place for people of all ages. Golf, movies, shopping and nature walks can be found at Thanksgiving Point. There is a museum of ancient life with exhibits of fossil specimens representing every geological period from Precambrian to modern times.
For more information visit thanksgivingpoint.org.
Sundance Resort
8841 N. Alpine Loop Rd., Provo
23-minute drive (all drive times are from BYU)
Nestled at the base of Timpanogos, Sundance Resort is one of Utah’s most visited resorts. Sundance offers winter skiing and summer activities including scenic daytime lift rides, full moon lift rides, hiking trails, mountain biking, art classes and horseback riding. For more information visit sundanceresort.com.
Provo Beach Resort
4801 N. University Ave., Provo
8-minute drive
Provo Beach Resort is one of Utah’s unique resorts . Located in Riverwoods Mall, the resort offers redemption games, dining, indoor flow-riders and golf simulators. The resort is open until 11 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 p.m. on Saturday.
“The resort helps people have fun, strengthen families and relationships and enjoy the environment,” said Christian Brinton, an assistant floor manager. “Come and give it a try, and build relationships in a clean and wholesome environment.”
For more information visit provobeachresort.com.
Twilight Concert Series
Pioneer Park, 350 W. 300 South, Salt Lake City
50-minute drive
The Twilight Concert Series consists of seven free concerts that take place over seven weeks in Salt Lake City. In the past the concerts featured artists such as Modest Mouse, Nada Surf and Matisyahu.
The series starts July 14 and runs every Thursday evening through Aug. 25. Gates open at 5 p.m. and the music begins at 7 p.m. Admission is free.
This year’s line-up consists of Explosions in the Sky, No Age, July 14. The Decemberists, Typhoon, July 21. Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros, July 28. Thurston Moore, Kurt Vile and The Violators, Aug. 4. Bright Eyes, Wild Nothing, Aug. 11. Ghostland Observatory, Phantogram, Aug. 18 and Lupe Fiasco, Aug. 25.
For more information, visit twilightconcertseries.com.
Hatch Family Chocolate Shop
390 E. 4th Avenue, Salt Lake City
60-minute drive
Steve and Katie Hatch own and run the chocolate shop. It became famous when it aired on TLC’s “Little Chocolatiers.” One of the most popular treats is the hot chocolate.
“Depending on the time of the year — winter time the hot chocolate is popular,” said Anna Werkhausen who has been an employee for about a year. “Summertime it’s the frozen hot chocolate.”
Wheeler Historic Farm
6351 S. 900 East, Salt Lake City
47-minute drive
The Wheeler Historic Farm has more than just animals to see. It offers Historic House Tours that teach visitors about living in the 19th century, as well as historic information about Wheeler Farm. Cow milking demonstrations and tractor-drawn wagon rides are available. Admission for ages 2 and older is $2. The farm is open Monday through Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
For more information, visit wheelerfarm.com.
Alpine Slide and Coaster
1345 Lowell Avenue, Park City
60-minute drive
The Alpine Slide is at the Park City Mountain Resort in Park City. The slide is about 3,000 feet and has four different tracks. The price for a ride is $11. The Alpine Coaster takes you farther than a mile weaving and looping with sharp turns around 30 mph. Combo passes are available for $25 and $27.
For more information, visit parkcitymountain.com.
Airborne Trampoline Area
2674 South Pony Express #3, Draper
35-minute drive
Airborne has three landing platforms and more than 75 trampolines that include basketball and dodgeball arenas. Airborne offers eight-on-eight dodgeball and is hoping to start a league soon.
“Airborne is Utah’s biggest, baddest and best wall-to-wall trampoline arena,” said Billy Meadows, a manager of Airborne.
Birthday parties start at $120 for an hour and a half of jumping. For groups of 10 or more the cost is $6 plus tax per hour. Groups with 20 or more are $5 plus tax per hour.
For more information, visit airbornesports.com.
Homestead Crater
700 N. Homestead Dr., Midway
44-minute drive
Homestead Resort in Midway is about 44 minutes northeast through Provo Canyon. Celebrating its 125 year-anniversary, there are activities for all ages. One popular feature is a crater where people can swim and scuba dive. The resort offers golfing, biking and horseback riding. Prices are affordable.
“It is a great retreat away from the city,” said Tonya Olpin, the director of sales and marketing. “It is a great place to create experiences.”
For more information, visit homesteadresort.com.
Temple Square
15 E. South Temple, Salt Lake City
50-minute drive
The world headquarters for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints attracts many tourists to Salt Lake City. Temple Square is open every day of the year with the help of hundreds of volunteers and missionaries who explain Mormon pioneer heritage. It is free to all visitors.
For some LDS visitors, Temple Square is a spiritual refuge.
“The short videos in the visitor’s center and the displays in there help me connect to the spirit that exists there so it makes it more than just sightseeing,” said Kwasi Koranteng, a BYU-Idaho student studying accounting.
At Temple Square, guided tours and presentations feature historic sites, interactive exhibits, art displays, 70-mm films, parks and gardens. It also features the largest genealogy library of its kind in the world and the renowned Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra perform at Temple Square.
For more information, visit visittemplesquare.com.
