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30 + Fun and Free Things to do in Salt Lake this Summer

June 2, 2015 By Michelle Barneck Leave a Comment

Who doesn’t need a list of free things to keep the family busy this summer? And best of all they won’t deplete the budget! There are tons of fun things to do in this great valley of ours and this includes some of my very favorites. We’re talking letting some secrets out of the bag. That’s why many of the activities are in the South end of the valley. There are things that start tomorrow and other activities that go all the way to October!

All activities free unless otherwise noted!

Upcoming 2015 Local Events:

Mulligans (South Jordan Location) free games June 3rd 4-6 pm (1/2 price 6-9 pm)

South Jordan Country Fest June 4-6, 2015

Wynona Concert June 6 8:30 pm
Free Day at South Jordan fitness and aquatic center June 6th
Kids Korner Bounce houses etc June 5th 6pm to dark on June 6th (face painting $1)
Mutton bustin’, bingo, community stage, skate competition, car show, fireworks, and more

Library Summer Reading Kickoff Event June 6th 10 am – 2 pm Viridian Event Center (live music, crafts, bounce houses)

Library Summer Events

Western Stampede July 2-4, 2015

10:30am Parade (Redwood Road from City Hall to 7000 S.)
9pm Movie at Veterans Memorial Park
10pm Fireworks at Veterans Memorial Park

Fun at the Farmstead – Holt Farmstead July 10th

Hired Guns entertainment 7 pm
Maleficent Movie 9:30 pm

Natural History Museum of Utah Free Day July 13th

Outdoor Activities:

Wheeler Farm Free (Cow Milking Experience Mon-Sat at 5 pm $1)

Utah Splash Pads

picture from newscastic.com

Veterans Memorial Park/Wild West Jordan Playground 1985 West 7800 South

Skye Park 4800 West Skye Drive South Jordan

Liberty Park (duck pond, seven canyons fountain, playgrounds, rides and concessions for a fee)

Go fishing, feed ducks, or enjoy a picnic at the park at the Sandy Urban Fishery 1000 West 9800 South Sandy (Facts & Rules)

Ride Bikes or Rollerblade Jordan River Parkway

Donut falls picture from visitsaltlake.com

Hike Donut Falls

Hike Silver Lake

Hike Ensign Peak

Play in the sand and swim at Blackridge Reservoir aka Herriman Beach

Movies in the Park South Jordan, other Utah locations

Gardener Village Farmers Market Saturdays 9 am -1 pm June -October

South Jordan Towne Center Farmers Market 1600 West Towne Center Drive (10600 South) Saturdays 8 am – 2 pm August – October

Jordan Landing

Summer Concerts Fridays through September 6-10 pm
Cruise Night Car Show first Wednesday of the month April-Oct

Museums/Indoor Activities:

Gale Center activities 10300 South Beckstead Lane South Jordan Terrific Tuesday last Tuesday of each month 10-11 am

Visit Temple Square and see “Meet the Mormons” at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building

Clark Planetarium

BYU Monte L. Bean Life Science Museum

UMOCA – Utah Museum of Contemporary Art

V Chocolates Factory Tour

Sweet’s Candy Co. Factory Tour

Salt Lake County Zoo, Arts, and Parks Free Events Listing by date (Concerts, free days at museums and zoo, library activities, etc.)

kidsbowlfree.com 15 and under 2 games per day free through August 31 10 am – 1 pm

Thanksgiving Point $2 Tuesdays in August – good for gardens, Museum of Ancient Life, Farm Country, etc.

Jungle Jim’s Playland $2 Tuesdays from 11-4

Now there are no excuses! You’ve got a huge list of free things to do in Salt Lake (or thereabouts). Get out there and have some fun this summer!

15 Fun Family Reunion Games

June 12, 2014 By Michelle Barneck 10 Comments

Summer is here, tis the season for family reunions. Planning one can be difficult so let us ease your anxiety with a few fun and creative activity ideas. We love playing games and what better way to bond and get to know family. We’ve rounded up our fifteen favorite family reunion games including some for the family history buff, the spunky kids and the strategist. Take a look over our list and let us know what you think.

Get to Know Your Family Games

We’d Like to Welcome

A great icebreaker. Stand if you fit the description read aloud (ie. loves to cook, has been to Disneyland, can play the piano, etc)

Did You Know

People write down interesting facts about themselves and you guess who it is.

Family History Photo Swap

Have people bring pictures of family members, homes, etc and let people guess who/what they are.

Family Face Bingo

A twist on a classic that comes with a template to add in pictures of your family members.

Who am I?

Everyone gets a sticky with a name and people have to answer questions (Are I taller than you? Do I have kids?) to help them guess who it is.

Active/Outdoor Family Reunion Games

Frisbee Golf with Free Printable

A snap to put together with a few laundry baskets and frisbees.

Human Foosball

I’m pretty sure this would be a complete crack up.

Water Balloon Toss

The classic. I remember doing this since I was young.

Rainbow Tag

The basic gist…hide colored popsicle sticks with a face paint crayon. Players find the sticks and mark their faces with that color. First one to find all the colors wins.

Frisbee Dodge

Like dodge ball, but with frisbees.

Shoe Pile Scramble

Another one I remember from my youth. Put all the shoes in a pile and run to find and put yours on first.

Frisbee Tic Tac Toe

Painters tape and a dollar store shower curtain. Done.

Teamwork Family Reunion Games

Roll Out the Marble

A fun relay to see who can get their marble from here to there first.

Spaghetti Structures

See who can build the tallest structure with spaghetti and marshmallows.

Pulling Together

Work together to make the tallest stack.

Did your favorite make the list? Do you have a classic game that has spanned the years of family reunions?

9 Terrific Teeth Toys to Make Brushing and Dentist Trips Fun

May 23, 2014 By Michelle Barneck 5 Comments

Post sponsored by Burg Pediatric Dentistry and may contain affiliate links.

Do your kiddos have trouble finding brushing fun? Or perhaps a fear of dentist appointments? (Let’s face it, no one likes the sound of that drill.) Oh good, they are normal kids. Sometimes our daily tasks are boring and need a little spice which is why we rounded up nine terrific teeth toys to help make brushing and preparing for dentist trips fun. We’ve got a little something for everyone from the cuddler to the brainiac. Here are our favorite tooth toys.

1. Play-Doh Doctor Drill ‘N Fill

Taking the reins as the dentist? Yes, please. Even I love this one. Drilling, applying braces, you name it. It’s fun!

2. Playmobil Dentist`s Office

My kiddos love little playmobile guys. I love that they expand their imagination and actually hold up pretty well!

3. Crocodile Dentist

I swear this one came out when I was a kid. Nothing like bringing back something from your childhood for your kids.

4. Alma’s Designs Dentist Kit

This soft set is adorable and safe for even the little ones.

5. Dentist Barbie

Two words people…real sounds. 😉 Coming to you straight from the 90’s.

6. Stuffed Animals with Teeth

They have these at Burg (our pediatric dentist) and they are hilarious. Basically a stuffed animal with dentures.

7. Dentist Costume

For the kids who can’t get enough dress ups.

8. Teeth Kit for Older Kids

Looks really cool with a real model of the mouth and cool facts about enamel and such.

9. Chattering Teeth

The classic. Wind them up and let them go.

Well, that about does it for teeth toys. Use them to teach them what to expect at the dentist, how to brush, or heck use them as a bribe to get no cavitites or sit still while they are having cavities filled. We don’t judge.

Which toy on the list was your favorite? Do you have any of them at your house?

5 Ways to Get Kids Excited to Brush and Floss

February 13, 2014 By Michelle Barneck Leave a Comment

Sponsored by Burg Pediatric Dentistry.

Anyone else’s kids think brushing is a sprint to see who can finish first? There are times when I have sent them up to brush their teeth and they come out of the bathroom claiming to be done by the time I get to the top of the stairs. Nice try. My job is to not only get them to be a bit more thorough in their dental care, but make it less of a job for both of us.

I set out to find some things to make brushing and flossing more appealing and dare I say fun? Here are the top five things that have helped in our house.

1. Choose a fun toothbrush in their favorite color or character. There are tons of options that cost a couple bucks or less. We’ve had the superhero pack shown on the right and they were $1 a brush. I love the ones with the suction cups that stick to the counter.

2. Use tasty toothpaste. I asked a dentist what toothpaste was best and he said the most important thing is not the brand of toothpaste, but brushing for two minutes. So, let them choose a flavor or color they are excited about.

3. Use a timer. It will show kiddos how long to brush without having to nag them. They’ll feel in control, but get in the two minutes of brushing they need. I love this tooth timer. Is it not the cutest? We got a similar one during our checkup at Burg Pediatric Dentistry. The kids love it.

4. Use flossers. Sometimes normal floss is overwhelming for little hands. Get fun colors or character flossers that they can use by themselves. We got Angry Birds flossers at the dollar store.They even have flavored flossers available.

5. Positive reinforcement is key. Get a fun toothbrushing chart or use little awards like this free tooth award printable to recognize improvements and special efforts.

What things help make brushing fun at your house?

Disclosure: I was compensated for this post. All ideas and opinions are my own.

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