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Best Indoor Activities in Salt Lake City for Families

Best Indoor Activities in Salt Lake City for Families

Whether it's rain, snow or summer heat, discover the city's favorite indoor playgrounds and interactive museums the whole family will love.

Written By Rebecca Kathryn Sharp

Activate | Courtesy of Activate

Families visiting Salt Lake Valley rarely need a rainy-day backup plan. With an average of 222 days of sunshine a year, and much of the Wasatch Front's precipitation falling as snow rather than rain, you could hit the slopes or pound the hiking trails every day of your vacation without worrying about a washout.

But even the most outdoorsy parents and children need a day to enjoy an indoor family adventure in Salt Lake City – one day when you don't have to wrestle everyone into three layers of zipped-up insulation and can give those tired muscles a well-deserved rest.

Salt Lake City and the wider valley are home to an array of immersive, creative and interactive places. Find art experiences for your constantly curious kiddos, dinosaur discoveries and space exhibits for the future scientists in your family and plenty of indoor activity hubs for little ones with seemingly endless reserves of energy.

1. Immerse in Artistic Labyrinths at Dreamscapes in Salt Lake City

Dreamscapes is Utah's first large-scale, environmentally-sustainable immersive art attraction, bringing a surreal, labyrinthine fantasy to life. Created by the nonprofit Utah Arts Alliance, the experience was designed by more than 100 local artists and volunteers using more than 68,000 pounds of reclaimed materials.

Families can easily spend up to two hours exploring the installations and completing optional side quests. Younger children can enjoy the tactile displays and sensory rooms, while older kids will love completing the side quests and aesthetic backdrops.

The attraction features more than 20 themed rooms and exhibits, including:

The Underwater World
The Alien Forest and Luminous Caves
The Dragon-Guarded Ball Pit
The Whimsical Miniature Library
The Mirror Maze

Keep in mind that Dreamscapes constantly changes, from small tweaks every few weeks to brand new installations over the years. You can visit again and again and always experience something new. Since opening in 2017, Dreamscapes has moved locations several times and now occupies a 14,000-square-foot space at The Gateway in Salt Lake City. Book tickets online.

Quirky creatures guide you through glowing caverns and surreal dimensions at Dreamscapes.

Photo: Courtesy of Utah Arts Alliance

Handcrafted by local Utah artists using reclaimed and upcycled materials, every corner of Dreamscapes is a testament to sustainable creativity.

Photo: Courtesy of Utah Arts Alliance

The ball pit (guarded by the Magus the Dragon) gives visitors the chance to submerge in a sea of color and imagination.

Photo: Courtesy of Utah Arts Alliance

2. Witness Mind-Bending Optical Tricks at the Museum of Illusions in SLC

Families can enjoy multiple indoor adventures in Salt Lake City without leaving The Gateway. Although the Museum of Illusions isn't exclusive to Salt Lake, its location here is the second-largest in North America. Spread across three floors, it features more than 80 optical tricks and interactive exhibits designed to challenge your perception of reality. Three experiences also pay homage to Utah, including the “Reversed Room,” which recreates a vintage soda shop.

Some of the experiences at the Museum of Illusions include:

The Vortex Tunnel — don’t lose your balance!
The Ames Room — or the “Big-Little Room”
The Infinity Room — mirrors and twinkling lights
The Smart Playroom — features puzzle tables

Children under four enter for free, and the museum is stroller-friendly. Take advantage of staff members who are on hand to snap photos. Find family ticket bundles on the website.

Walk the ceiling and flip your world completely upside down at the Museum of Illusions.

Photo: Courtesy of Museum of Illusions

3. Explore Space and Science at the Clark Planetarium in Salt Lake City

The final activity housed at The Gateway is the beloved Clark Planetarium. This is where your little astronauts can explore the universe without leaving Earth, with interactive science exhibits and two massive theaters.

The best part? General admission to all three exhibit floors is free, making this an easy addition to a family day out in downtown Salt Lake City. It also closes at 11 p.m. on weekends, so it’s an ideal evening activity. Highlights include:

The Kinetic Tornado Simulator — school-aged kids love this!
KidSpace — designed for two- to four-year-olds, featuring a climbable rocket ship.
Hansen Dome Theatre — 55-foot ceiling dome with 3D and laser light shows.
Northrop Grumman IMAX® Theatre — 70 feet wide by 50 feet tall IMAX® screen showing documentary films on nature and science.

Check the Clark Planetarium website for showtimes and to purchase theater tickets (usually ranging from $7 to $10).

Touch a real meteorite, create your own twisting tornado and sit back under the giant dome theater at Clark Planetarium.

Photo: Courtesy of Clark Planetarium

4. Discover Dinosaurs and Natural Wonders at the Natural History Museum of Utah in SLC

Utah's prehistoric past comes to life at the Natural History Museum of Utah, perched in the foothills above Salt Lake City. This is a must for science-loving families, with impressive fossils, ancient creatures and interactive exhibits exploring the (mostly local) natural world.

There are several floors to explore, with exhibits covering everything from Utah's geological history to its Indigenous cultures and diverse ecosystems. Don't miss:

Past Worlds: Meet prehistoric creatures through fossils and dinosaur skeletons, including specimens discovered in Utah.
First Peoples: Explore the history, cultures and continuing presence of Utah's Native American communities.
Great Salt Lake: Discover the ecology and environmental importance of Utah’s famous inland sea.
Our Backyard: Learn about the plants, animals and landscapes that make Utah unique.

Younger children will enjoy the dinosaur displays and hands-on discoveries, while school-aged kids and teens can spend hours exploring the science and history behind the exhibits. Families can purchase admission tickets online through the museum's website.

Journey into Utah’s prehistoric past and stand in the shadow of towering dinosaurs.

Photo: Michael Kunde/Visit Salt Lake

Discover the living story of our desert home with hands-on exhibits at the Natural History Museum of Utah.

Journey from the prehistoric giants of the Past Worlds exhibit to the shimmering waters and ancient shorelines of the Great Salt Lake.

Photo: Natural History Museum of Utah

5. Try Indoor Rock Climbing at the Bouldering Project in the Granary District

Heading to the Bouldering Project might sound counterintuitive on a “day off,” but an indoor family adventure in Salt Lake City doesn’t have to mean inactive. Bouldering is a form of rock climbing that involves shorter walls with thick, padded flooring instead of ropes and harnesses. It's a fun way for kids and beginners to test their strength, balance and problem-solving skills without heading straight for the rugged mountains.

Families new to bouldering can buy a day pass online to try it out. Rent shoes, chalk and any other equipment you might need. While you’re free to climb the walls without an instructor, signing up for a 90-minute intro class is recommended for first-timers. Note that there is a 2:1 youth-to-adult ratio for climbers under 14 years old.

The Bouldering Project sits inside the evo Hotel in Salt Lake City’s Granary District—the go-to lodging for adventurers. It features dining options, a sauna, fitness classes and even an indoor skate park open to both hotel guests and day visitors.

Scale expansive walls and connect with Salt Lake’s climbing community at the Bouldering Project in the Granary District.

Photo: Jeremiah Watt

6. Take on Interactive Games and Challenges at Activate in Taylorsville

Forget traditional arcade games. Activate in Taylorsville takes family competition to another level with high-tech, interactive game rooms that combine physical challenges, puzzles and technology. Think of it as stepping inside a giant video game, one where your body is your controller.

Teams move between 15 rooms, taking on short challenges lasting one to three minutes that test speed, coordination, memory and problem-solving skills. Some games require quick reflexes as you jump and dodge obstacles, while others demand a little teamwork and strategic thinking.

It’s ideal for families of up to five, and you can choose your difficulty rating from Level 1 to 10 based on your children’s ages. Finally, a gaming activity where parents can join in!

Sessions are typically booked for a set 75 minutes, so check Activate's website for availability and to reserve your family's game time.

Step into a real-life video game where you run, dodge and jump through adrenaline-pumping challenges at Activate.

Photo: Courtesy of Activate

7. Solve Puzzles Together at Escape on 13th in Salt Lake City

For families who enjoy a little mystery, Escape on 13th offers a top-rated indoor escape room experience in Salt Lake City. Like Activate, you won't just watch an adventure unfold on a screen; you'll become part of the story. Families can work together to solve puzzles, uncover clues and complete the mission before time runs out.

Escape on 13th is unlike any other escape room you’ve probably tried before. It offers high-production, movie-quality environments. The “Curse of Anubis” room is ideal for Indiana Jones fans, and “Walk the Plank” sails you to the high seas. All bookings are 100% private, so you can complete them as a family. Escape on 13th recommends their puzzles for kids aged eight and up, but their “Arcadia” retro arcade room is ideal for children as young as six.

Bookings are approximately 60 minutes for family sizes of two to 10. Check Escape on 13th's website for room descriptions and reservations.

8. Burn Energy with Action-Packed Fun at Slick City Action Park in Millcreek

Utah's outdoor recreation scene has some serious competition from Slick City Action Park. Trading mountain slopes for indoor slides, this is the place to bring children of all ages who would rather be moving than browsing museum exhibits.

Slick City is the state's very first indoor "waterless water park" and dry-slide playground. Its 10 giant slides offer twisting, turning and racing experiences that bring a little adrenaline to a family day off. Other attractions keep especially active kids entertained, like the Air Courts designed for high-flying basketball and dodgeball games.

Families can check Slick City's website for height requirements and online ticket purchases. CitySocks are required, which you can buy onsite.

Catch some air on giant indoor slides at Slick City Action Park.

Photo: Jonathan Castro

Family Fun in Salt Lake Valley, No Hiking or Ski Boots Required

These indoor family escapes are perfect for a rainy day in Salt Lake City, but they're also fantastic additions to any SLC itinerary. Spending a day indoors can be a great opportunity to stretch your mind, discover something new and enjoy a different kind of adventure together.

And if that day indoors also gives your family a chance to warm up, dry off and rest those tired muscles between ski days, that's a win-win.

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About the Author – Rebecca Kathryn Sharp

Rebecca Kathryn Sharp is a British travel and culture writer and author of the guidebook “111 Places in Salt Lake City That You Must Not Miss.” She runs the set-jetting site Offscreen Tourist and her writing has appeared on BBC Radio, Thrillist, Matador Network, Pit Magazine and more. Find her portfolio at rebeccakathrynsharp.com, and find her physical self drinking Italian spritzes watching “When Harry Met Sally.”