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 yearly 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 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.
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Watch a Live Performance
Support Utah’s thriving performing arts scene and see a live musical or play at one of the state’s top-tier theaters. At Eccles Theater, you can experience the Great White Way in Salt Lake City with Broadway at The Eccles, which shows everything from Broadway classics to the hottest new shows. Check out Hale Center Theatre in Sandy or Pioneer Theatre Company on the University of Utah campus for a mix of musical theater and straight plays. Salt Lake City boasts world-class talent that rivals large cities nationwide if you love classical music, dance and singing. Hear the award-winning Utah Symphony play at Abravanel Hall, or accompany the Utah Opera and Ballet West companies at the historic Capitol Theater.
"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?"
Shop & Dine
Indoor Shopping
Peruse outlet malls, antique shops and handcrafted boutiques to pass the time during rainy or winter days. City Creek Center in downtown Salt Lake City has over 90 stores and restaurants sprawled across two city blocks, with a retractable ceiling to keep out inclement weather. Don’t miss the quirky shops and good eats at nearby Trolley Square. You can find indoor shopping centers and independent stores in every corner of the state.
Learn more about shopping in Utah.
Check Out a New Restaurant
In the past decade, Salt Lake City has transformed into a food lover's paradise, featuring independent restaurants, cozy cafés, and hip bars. Each district offers diverse options, whether you crave unique small plates, creative cocktails, or family-style portions. Outside Salt Lake, Ogden presents a vibrant food scene, blending locally owned comfort classics with trendy culinary explorations. Meanwhile, Park City combines a dynamic food scene with its renowned ski resorts and cultural charm for upscale dining. Go a little further south, and you’ll find that Utah County's food scene is a delightful mix of local flavors and culinary innovation, offering a range of dining experiences from quaint eateries to trendy establishments. Read more about dining in Utah.
Learn more about dining in Utah.
Try a New Recipe at Home
Cooking a homemade meal with friends and family is a surefire way to brighten even the gloomiest of days. Utah has some of the best dining options, but you can experience the same culinary excellence from home by following their recipes. Try making classic Utah dinner recipes like Goulding’s famous fry bread and Navajo tacos or Tona Sushi’s sauteed garlic edamame. Want to satisfy your craving for Caputo’s sea salt chocolate chip cookies without leaving the house? Follow this recipe to deliver chocolatey goodness straight to your table. Finish off the evening with a round of homemade cocktails.
Eva's, Salt Lake City
Eccles Theater in downtown Salt Lake City.
Trolley Square
Indoor Adventure
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Go To A Basketball or Hockey Game
You don’t have to be a die-hard sports fan to have a great time at a live sporting event. For a fun night in the middle of Downtown Salt Lake City, check out a Utah Jazz game at the Delta Center. Throughout its history, Utah’s NBA team has included All-Star MVPs like Karl Malone, John Stockton, Andrei Kirilenko, Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert– to name a few. If you’re a hockey fan, check out Utah’s professional team, The Grizzlies, at the Maverik Center in West Valley, a state-of-the-art arena.
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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 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, 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 state's world-class indoor climbing and bouldering facilities. 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.
