Arts & Museums
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Art Museums
Fill your rainy day with beauty and bold colors at one of the state’s many art museums and galleries. See a mix of beloved classics and groundbreaking pieces at the Utah Museum of Fine Art, or immerse yourself in the nearby Utah Museum of Contemporary Art. Utah’s unmatched natural beauty has inspired countless pieces and collections which you can view at local galleries like Ogden’s Contemporary Art Center, Ephraim’s Granary Arts and many more.
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Dinosaur Museums
Spend the day walking amongst the giants of Utah’s past. No matter which part of the state you’re in, you won’t be far from astounding collections of fossil records, mounted skeletons or preserved dig sites. See reconstructed dinosaur skeletons at the Utah Museum of Natural History in Salt Lake City or get your hands dirty at Moab Giants Dinosaur Museum’s interactive dig site. Kids, adults and everyone in between will marvel at these remnants from Utah’s prehistoric past.
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See a Movie
Cozy up indoors to enjoy the most classic rainy day pastime. An at-home marathon of movies filmed in Utah is hard to beat, but don’t forget about Utah’s huge selection of independent theaters and film festivals. The Sundance Film Festival runs each year during the chilliest days of January, with showings at theaters all around the Wasatch Front. You can also visit local theaters like Salt Lake City’s Broadway Centre Cinemas or Ogden’s Cinema 502.
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Visit the Planetarium
Travel through space and time inside one of Utah’s planetariums. Learn about the natural forces at work on Earth, throughout the solar system and beyond. Interactive displays, exhibits and educational films await curious minds of all ages. The Clark Planetarium in downtown Salt Lake City has 3-D IMAX films about space, laser light shows and three levels stocked full of activities. You can also attend a star party on the observation deck of Ogden’s Ott Planetarium or embark on a simulated space mission at the Christa McAuliffe Space Center in Pleasant Grove.
"You've heard about Utah's world-class outdoor recreation and spectacular landscapes. But have you experienced Utah's thriving restaurant scene, rich selection of museums, cultural attractions and luxury travel experiences?"
Eva's, Salt Lake City
Eccles Theater in downtown Salt Lake City.
Trolley Square
Indoor Adventure
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Ice Skating
Staying indoors can still mean staying active! Lace up your skates and get ready to glide across one of Utah’s indoor ice skating rinks. The Olympic Oval in Kearns keeps its rink open for most of the year with gear rentals for beginners and fun events like blacklight curling. Salt Lake City’s Steiner Aquatic Center has an Olympic-sized rink offering public skate sessions and private lessons. Remember, even indoor rinks can get chilly, so don’t forget gloves and warm socks.
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Rock Climbing
Home to some of the world’s most renowned rock climbing areas, it’s no surprise that Utah also has a thriving indoor climbing community. Get your adrenaline pumping at one of the world-class indoor climbing and bouldering facilities across the state. Check out one of the Front Climbing Club’s three locations in Salt Lake City, Murray and Ogden, or Momentum in Salt Lake City and Lehi. For indoor climbing farther south, head to Contact Climbing in St. George.
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Surfing
Utahns are notoriously passionate skiers, hikers and climbers, but you may be surprised that surfing also makes the list. Even thousands of miles from the nearest beach you can catch waves at one of Utah’s indoor surfing facilities. Ogden’s Flowrider and Utah County’s Provo Beach offer day passes and lessons for participants of all ages.
