Top Rated Attractions in Salt Lake City

The largest and most central property of the city's public park system, this 80 acre Liberty Park offers recreational activities for all. Children applaud the Children's Garden and boating pond, playground, amusement park and snack bar. Older visitors enjoy the swimming pool and the tennis park's 16 lighted courts. Recent developments have added a well-conceived interactive map that uses pools and fountains to depict the topography of Utah. Liberty Park is also home to the ever-popular Tracy Aviary, the Chase Mill and the Chase Home Museum of Folk Art.

Operated by the University of Utah, these botanical gardens offer visitors panoramic valley views and an extensive collection of plants, trees, flowers and shrubs from around the world. The gardens and arboretum remain open all year with displays changing to fit the season. The visitors' center offers frequent educational programs, miles of hiking trail beckon outdoor enthusiasts and light shows, chamber concerts and guided treks entertain guests throughout the year.

Occupying an impressive limestone structure built in 1905; this interactive museum offers the young and young-at-heart an entertaining look at the universe. An ideal reward for kids who behaved well while touring nearby Temple Square, the museum encourages participation with simulated space flights, star shows and dancing laser lights. Its Hansen Dome Theater boasts of over 200 seats and is the first of its kind to give viewers the pleasure of exploring the universe in three dimension without the use of glasses. The theater has spectacular projectors and its state-of-the-art acoustics are second to none. In addition, the Clark Planetarium is home to an ATK IMAX Theater which showcases Hollywood blockbusters along with informative films. The films generated by the Clark Planetarium have reached corners of the globe, and some of their applauded shows are Perfect Little Planet, Gateway to the Stars, Extreme Planets and the Ultimate Universe. Astronomy courses are available for all ages in the summer and special programs are scheduled throughout the year.

A teeming nature preserve in Salt Lake County, this serene park rests along the southern shore of the Great Salt Lake. Sheltering a sprawling marina, the Great Salt Lake State Park began operations in 1978, and has been popular with bathers since the Mormon Pioneers first arrived in the middle of the 19th century. A small visitors' center offers a museum, local information and a video about the lake, while the private SaltAir development provides a few shops, food outlets, and space for events. A breeding ground for hundreds of thousands of migratory birds, the park is sheathed in extensive wetlands, and has been a popular site with birders.

Stretching along the banks of the Jordan River, this interesting International Peace Garden and park encourages visitors to consider the many cultures contributing to the prosperity of the Salt Lake Basin. More than 25 cultures are represented with statues, structures and garden plots. Visitors can stroll among windmills, pagodas and Viking tombs and pause for contemplation in front of statues depicting a preaching Buddha or Hans Christian Andersen. Learn something new about Utah.

One of the city's largest parks, the Sugar House Park is a spacious retreat and is also among the prettiest parks to see, in any season. Several large pavilions are available for booking, but call early since they tend to go fast. There is a creek running through the park, which feeds into a duck pond on the west end. Stop by for a jog around the paved roads, or walk around the trail that lines the park's outer edge. Or, simply lie in the grass and watch the many squirrels.